This is one of the most anticipated documentaries of this seventh program of the Brest Surf Film Festival. Constantin Gross and Lukas Steinbrecher painted the portrait of three practitioners with unique histories in Tarifa (Spain), Biarritz and Derry (Northern Ireland).
Where did the idea for this documentary come from?
Constantin Gross: “I wanted, with my childhood and surfing friend, Lukas, to talk about surfing in Europe. We started in 2016, and then covid arrived and somewhat complicated and modified our filming. We are very attached to Europe and wanted to show several facets of surfing, from the angle of the socio-political context.”
Your goal is to open up your message, well beyond surfing…
“We wanted to make a documentary that was aimed at everyone and not just practitioners. Faced with the rise of nationalism, migration difficulties, Brexit and discrimination, we wanted to approach these different subjects through the prism of surfing which embodies freedom in all its forms.”
Majid, a kitesurfing instructor in Tarifa, Spain, longs to reunite with his family, who remained in Morocco for visa reasons. In Biarritz, tired of enduring the clichés, Margaux and her friends organize the first LGBT surf festival in Europe. In Derry, Northern Ireland, shaper Rosy faces economic turmoil caused by Brexit. Why these three stories?
“We grew up in a Europe without borders. We wanted to tell about these changes and also show the good side of Europe. These three stories (we have so many others) were collected during the six years that this documentary required of us. I have great pleasure in coming to the Brest festival for the first time. I hope I’ll find time to go surfing in the area since I’m staying until Sunday! “.
Who will you be accompanied on stage in Brest?
“One of the protagonists of the documentary, the shaper Rosy, will be by my side to present the film. It’s important to share this kind of moment.”
Practical
Brest Surf Film Festival, from Wednesday May 8 to Saturday May 11, from 6 p.m. to midnight, in Océanopolis. Catering on site. Tickets on brestsurffilmfestival.com
