Kona Surf Film Festival kicks off Saturday

The 13th annual Kona Surf Film Festival is Saturday in Kailua-Kona.

The international surf film festival showcases independent short and feature films from established and emerging surf filmmakers from around the globe. The festival runs 4 to 10 p.m. at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel.

“The Kona Surf Film Festival is a chance for filmmakers to expose their work to surfers and non surfers alike in a super fun festival atmosphere. The films are really diverse and creative, with awesome stories, action and soundtracks. Add to that the live music, good vibes, and occasional surf celeb and it’s a great time for sure,” festival founder and program director, Chad Campbell said.

Campbell, a surfer and filmmaker, founded the festival in 2003 to showcase surfing and bring together Hawaii’s surfing family. The festival also benefits the surfing community on the Big Island, and beyond. In the past, the event has raised money for various organizations including Kulana Huli Honua, the Betty Kanuha Foundation, Protect Kohanaiki Ohana, Seathos, and the Surfrider Foundation.

This year’s event includes 16 films playing on two screens and six live acts.

The 2016 festival will host art and photography installations by local and international artists, and the night will kick off with live music at the hotel’s oceanside luau grounds. There will also be food and drinks available for purchase.

Attendees should bring a beach chair and blankets for films shown under the stars, as well as a sweatshirt. Coolers are not permitted.

Tickets are $10 presale/$15 at the door for ages 6-14; adults are $20 presale/$25 at the door; children age 6 and younger are free. To purchase tickets visit www.konasurffilmfestival.org

Info: www.konasurffilmfestival.org