New Film Fund Champions Female Voices in Surf Cinema

Discover the new Women of the Sea Film Fund, offering £10,000 to female filmmakers for surf stories. Apply and support women in surf cinema.

New Film Fund Champions Female Voices in Surf Cinema

A new initiative, the Women of the Sea Film Fund, has officially launched, offering a significant financial boost to female filmmakers looking to tell stories within surf culture. This collaboration between Finisterre and the London Surf / Film Festival aims to address the historical underrepresentation of women in surf filmmaking and celebrate their unique perspectives.

Key Takeaways

  • A £10,000 grant is available for the winning film project.

  • The fund is open to emerging and established women filmmakers in the UK, Ireland, USA, and Canada.

  • Submissions are accepted until March 8, 2026.

  • The winning film will premiere at the London Surf / Film Festival in 2026.

Elevating Untold Stories

The Women of the Sea Film Fund is designed to empower women both in front of and behind the camera. With a grant of £10,000 (or its equivalent in Euros, USD, or CAD), the selected filmmaker will have the resources to bring their vision to life. The resulting short film, between 10 and 15 minutes in length, will be showcased at the London Surf / Film Festival 2026, providing a global platform for these narratives.

A Call for Diverse Perspectives

While women have become increasingly prominent in competitive surfing and big wave riding, their stories have historically been a smaller part of the broader surf culture narrative. This fund seeks to change that by encouraging filmmakers to explore any facet of surf culture that highlights the experiences and achievements of women. Bronwen Foster-Butler, CMO of Finisterre, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "We’re proud to partner with LS/FF for a fourth year, opening doors for female-led storytelling." She added a particular interest in stories from colder climates or rugged coastlines, reflecting Finisterre's origins in cold-water surfing.

Past Successes and Future Goals

Previous recipients of grants from similar initiatives include "Granny Grommets" by Leah Rustomjee, "Salt" by Alice Ward, and "Surf, Eat, Repeat" by Karen Song. These films have explored themes of community, identity, and the strength of women in the water. Demi Taylor, Director of the London Surf / Film Festival, emphasized the importance of such funds in accelerating gender parity within the film industry, noting that "at the current rate of progress, it will be decades before gender parity is reached across key creative positions in filmmaking."

The application window for the Women of the Sea Film Fund closes on International Women's Day, March 8, 2026. Filmmakers are invited to submit their pitches for consideration.

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