Screening Panel
The NYSFF Screening Panel is made up of both international and local surfers with a wide range of credentials ranging from magazine editors to filmmakers, journalists and photojournalists, recognized artists, surfboard shapers, pro athletes, agents, distributors, local surf shop owners and more. The panel will judge the NYSFF 2011 Official Selections across a growing categories list this year including, but not limited to: Best Feature, Best Short, Best Cinematography, Best Musical Score, and Best Animation. Attendees will continue to vote for Viewer’s Choice Awards in both the Feature and Short Film categories
Additions to the NYSFF Official Screening Panel for 2011:
Micah Abrams, is an Emmy-winning writer and editor whose work appears regularly online, on TV, and in print. He’s the Senior Editor for Action Sports at ESPN.com and the screenwriter for the annual Warren Miller Entertainment feature film. Formerly El Porto-based, he now commutes to Rockaway. Micah’s an accomplished skier, an avid surfer, and can still fall hard enough on a skateboard to make other skaters wince.
Allan Weisbecker, was a Hollywood staff writer for over twenty years on shows such as Miami Vice and Crime Story, respected journalist + photojournalist for a diverse spread of magazines including Men’s Journal, Smithsonian, Surfer’s Journal and Popular Photography, and has authored three books in print including In Search of Captain Zero and comic novel Cosmic Banditos.
Stuart Cornuelle, Managing Editor at SURFING Magazine, grew up in Honolulu, and now live in Portland, Oregon. He thinks there are two types of surf film: the type you watch before paddling out and the type you watch under any other circumstance. The latter type is much harder to create, and making a film that fits in both categories seems nearly impossible.
Grant Washburn was one of the earliest surfers to join Maverick’s pioneer Jeff Clark at the big wave spot. He was raised in Wilton Connecticut, and spent summers at the New Jersey shore, where he found a love for the ocean that would guide his life. Grant completed his first documentary film in 1998. “Maverick’s,” a seven year project detailing the rise of the infamous big wave arena, became an instant classic. Surfing the giant waves alongside the best in the world, Grant narrates the film he directed and produced. Other projects include the Imax film “Adventures in Wild California,” the big screen feature “Riding Giants,” and the large format book “Inside Maverick’s” which he co-wrote and edited. Recently completed films include “Quest for Fear,” a personal project documenting his adventures in Africa, a permament installation of shorts at the San Mateo County History Musuem, and broadcast shows for The History Channel and Nickolodeon. He is currently collaborating on several productions including a Feature Film based on the life of Jay Moriarity.
Ron Schein is an overworked, undersurfed surf journalist/artist/model/actor/ dancer. He’s a regularcontributor on DailyStoke.com, and his rants, raves, reviews and interviews can be seen throughout the surf blogosphere and on his personal weblog, philoSURFical.com. A lifelong New York surfer and professional surfing fanatic, Ron is an eternal gromet, splitting his waking hours between chasing waves and contests. A consummate barrel dodger, he can even be found dodging barrels in his dreams.
Donaldson Miele, is the founder of Mutiny Media, Inc. has represented the largest catalog of surf titles in the industry for the past fifteen years. Since 2006, he and partner Ryan Ray have produced fourteen films under their Seven Films banner. ”Dono” as he’s known to friends, is happily married with two beautiful daughters. He remains an unrepentant East Coast transplant, self-professed industry outsider and opinionated critic. By his estimate, he’s spent thousands of hours viewing surfing fare. Ironically, given the choice, he would much rather be a professional vert skater than surf professionally.
Buzzy Kerbox is one of the all-time surfing legends and watermen from Hawaii. Buzzy won the 1974 Smirnoff Pro Am on Oahu’s North Shore moving from Sunset to Waimea. It was Buzzy and Laird Hamilton that pioneered tow-in surfing at Phantoms and then Jaws that opened it to the world.
Lisa Andersen won four World Champion titles in a row from 1994 to 1997. Born in Amityville, New York, and later moving to Florida, Lisa eventually moved to California on her own at the age of 16 to then light the world on fire with her fantastic surfing. Lisa was the first surfer to take four consecutive championships since Australian Mark Richards. “Andersen wasn’t just the best female surfer in the world; she was one of the best professional surfers ever.” - Surfline.
Nick Carroll, a surf journalist/writer, grew up surfing with his younger brother Tom at the peak of Newport beach in northern Sydney. Nick writing has inspired many surfers to not only surf better, but also grasp some unique insights into surfing from Nick’s very talented perspective. Nick has written many books including “The Complete Guide to Surfing Your Best: Vol. 2 “, “The Next Wave: The World of Surfing” and “Fearlessness: The Story of Lisa Andersen” just to name a few.
Derek Hynd is one of surfing’s greatest pioneers & legends on all levels, from surfing the wave to putting it on the page. There are few, if any, that can do this. We all wait to hear the next chapter from Derek, being his surfing or his words. A supreme legend that continues to shake our core and always make us think.
Peter Townend, “PT” is one of the original members of The Bronzed Aussies, and was considered to be the best surfer in the world throughout the 70′s and 80′s. PT made history when at the age of 23 he became the 1976 IPS World Surfing Champion. PT’s career in surfing has seen him wear many hats advancing surfing for not only for the USA but also the world. President of Surf Industry Manufactures Association (SIMA) for two years and helped found Surfing America. PT was inducted into Huntington Beach Walk of Fame, the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame in 2001, as well as the International Surfing Hall of Fame.
Keiko Beatie is a contributing writer for various film publications and is a Creative Consultant, Curator, Jury Member and Programmer for a number of film festivals. She curates film for Laguna Art Museum and is also the producer for films events at the prestigious Surfing Heritage Foundation in San Clemente, California, the largest surfboard collection and surf archive in the world.
Gerry Lopez is the one and only Mr Pipeline. One of the greatest surfers of all time and still pioneering surf and snow in many ways. Gerry also started the Lightning Bolt Surfboards brand that pretty much every surfer in 70′s wanted one…well, the same can be said today. Gerry starred in mammy movies and is also an author, penning the book Surf Is Where You Find It in 2008.
Kristen Foster is EVP and head of the music division at global entertainment communications firm PMK*BNC. She spends her days creating PR campaigns for big name musicians like Eric Clapton, John Legend, Joan Jett, Harry Connick Jr and has even added musician/surfer Timmy Curran to her client list. She has also worked on numerous rock documentaries including films about the Foo Fighters, Rush and the Doors. But her clients have learned that her love of music takes a backseat when the waves are breaking.
Joining our [growing] past NYSFF screening panel members: