The seventh annual Surfalorus Film Festival returns to the Outer Banks today for three nights of surf films, live music, surfcraft, shapers, surf-inspired art, some fire and other family-friendly fun. 

Festival organizers will be collecting for Hurricane Florence in Wilmington, the festival’s headquarters, throughout the  event, which runs through Sept. 22.

Film curators selected Jeff and Michael Zimbalist’s pioneer surf documentary “Momentum Generation,” Outer Banks local Logan Marshall’s “OUTER” and Graham Nash’s “Can’t Steal Our Vibe” to be featured.

The free festival kicks off tonight, Sept. 20, upstairs at Jennette’s Pier, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. with live music by members of Blurky’s Quirky Friends and local surfboard shapers and artists showcasing their handcrafted goods. The surf documentary, “Momentum Generation,” will make its North Carolina premier on Thursday at Surfalorus. During the showing, Surfalorus guests can enjoy kombucha from Haypoint Live Culture Foods and froyo from Surfin’ Spoon. 

The Surfalorus Lifetime Achievement award will be given on Thursday evening at Jennette’s Pier. This award will be presented to a filmmaker who has had a significant impact on surf culture in North Carolina. 

“We were blown away by the caliber of films submitted this year,” said Rachel Taylor, Cucalorus’ programming director. “It’s amazing how you can take this limited category, oceanography and surfing, and find such a breadth of people and places represented.” 

The free festival kicks off Sept. 20 upstairs at Jennette’s Pier, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. with live music by members of Blurky’s Quirky Friends and local surfboard shapers and artists showcasing their handcrafted goods. The surf documentary, “Momentum Generation,” will make its North Carolina premier on Thursday at Surfalorus. During the showing, Surfalorus guests can enjoy kombucha from Haypoint Live Culture Foods and froyo from Surfin’ Spoon. 

The Surfalorus Lifetime Achievement award will be given on Thursday evening at Jennette’s Pier. This award will be presented to a filmmaker who has had a significant impact on surf culture in North Carolina. 

On Friday, Surfalorus will travel to Dare County Arts Council in Manteo for an evening of surfboard history. Charlie Huff will be spinning old school surf vinyl while guests immerse in surf art and a series of short surf flicks, including Graham Nash’s “Can’t Steal Our Vibe.” Film festivalgoers will watch these shorts surrounded by an extraordinary display of surfboards spanning the evolution of surfcraft from ancient to modern, curated by Steve Wise. Throughout Friday evening, Surfalorus guests will be invited to vote for their favorite short film. 

“I am stoked for this year’s event,” said Outer Banks Boarding Company owner and surfboard shaper Lynn Shell. “The exhibit will not only be a collection of vintage boards, but a chronological timeline up to present day designs and technologies.” 

Surfalorus will conclude with a night of surf films under the moonlight in the backyard of the Outer Banks Brewing Station in Kill Devil Hills. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. so guests can enjoy dinner and drinks from the brewery, peruse surf art, local shapers and their boards and then settle in for an evening of films, including Logan Marshall’s feature film “OUTER.” 

Saturday night’s intermission will include presenting awards for Best Feature Film, Best Soundtrack, Best Short and Surfalorus Emerging Filmmaker of the Year followed by a poi fire performance by Outer Banks local Panda Daniels before the feature film. 

The Surfalorus after party will kickoff at 10 p.m. at the Outer Banks Brewing Station with live music by southern-fried salsa surfabilly legends The Cashmere Jungle Lords. 

The following artists and surfboard shapers will be showcasing their talents throughout the event: seashell jewelry artist Salt Hippy, surf fin acrylic artist Angel Fritz, resin jewelry artist Mark Slagle, surf photographer Daniel Pullen, literary artists Jesse and Whitney Hines, sculptor Dumay Gorham, and acrylic artist Dawn Moraga along with surfboard shapers David Rohde, Mike Rowe, Rascoe Hunt, Murray Ross, Lynn Shell, Bob Sykes, Asher Hunt, and Graham Leggat. 

All three evenings of Surfalorus will also feature a raffle. Raffle tickets are $1 each or seven tickets for $5. They can be purchased at the screenings. Winners will be announced on Saturday evening. 

Surfalorus is a collaboration between Dare County Arts Council and Wilmington-based Cucalorus, which will host its 24th annual festival Nov. 7-11. 

For more information call 252-473 5558 or visit Surfalorus.com or DareArts.org/surfalorusfilmfestival. 

– Annual Surfalorus Board Exhibit at Dare County Arts Council. Photo courtesy of Tatum Clements.