That’s a Wrap! NISFF 2025 Brought the Stoke

What an incredible ride! The Noosa International Surfilm Festival 2025 has wrapped—and we're still riding the high.

From near full houses to global surf stories, live music, and emerging talent, this year’s festival was a celebration of creativity, connection, and the power of film to bring people together.

Over four unforgettable days, we travelled the world without leaving Noosa. From icy lineups in Iceland to warm waters in West Africa, the films took us far and wide. Audiences were blown away by the quality and variety—plus live sets by Blakboi and the energy of the crowd made each night electric.

Noosaisff highlights reel 2025

Festival Highlights

🎬 Powerful films, stunning visuals, and moving stories

🌊 GromShorts made its debut—spotlighting surf filmmakers under 18

🏆 Beautifully handcrafted Erika Mayer trophies for the winning films

🎶 Live music, filmmaker Q&As, and the After Party we never wanted to end

📸 Captured beautifully by Misha Robb Maas & Walkandsee Media

Award-Winning Films 2025

Best Short Film (The Event Artisan Award): Let Me Live – Keith Malloy (USA)

Best Mid-Length Film (Your Digital Team Award): Dreading South – Mat Ireland (AUS)
Best Cinematography (Suter Smith Cleine Award): Creatures of Habit – Nate Laverty (CAN)
Best Feature Film (NAB Award): The Big Sea – Lewis Arnold (UK)

The Magic Behind the Scenes

Filmmakers from around the globe joined us in Noosa, and their experience went far beyond screenings. With stunning accommodation, breakfast feasts, a river cruise, and an exclusive filmmakers’ lunch, the festival created space for real connection—and the ideas and collaborations that were sparked? That’s what it’s all about.

The Filmmakers’ Forum at Halse Lodge brought local creatives face-to-face with international legends, with local filmmaker Samuel Fairbank leading the charge.

The new GromShorts competition saw two young surf storytellers step into the spotlight:

🥇 Heirloom – Hunter Williams (11)
🥈 Where the Girls Are – Zion Poy (17)

The After Party We’ll Be Talking About for a While...

Set at the iconic Halse Lodge, our festival After Party featured the stunning Paul Smith pop-up photo exhibition, vibrant convos with judges, filmmakers and surf legends, and smooth sounds by Mario. It rolled into the night and no one wanted it to end.

A special shout-out to Lewis Arnold, who flew in from the UK for the Australian premiere of The Big Sea—his talk about the back story of filming Cancer Alley was one of the most powerful moments of the festival.

We’re Already Dreaming of 2026

Thank you to everyone who came, supported, submitted, volunteered, judged, partnered, played tunes, took photos, shared stories and made it happen. NISFF 2025 was one for the books—and we can’t wait to do it all again.

Testimonials

“This (NOOSAISFF2024) was just a complete joy, to all involved, the talent is breathtaking. Thank you Hunter for your incredibly articulated speech that ended the weekend with sentiment in all of our hearts, you are what it’s all about buddy. Bring it back ’25, NOOSAISFF!”
@mummy-byrant
“This film festival has been amazaaaziinnggg!!”
@the_kid_specialist
“Congratulations to our Screen Collective member, Jesca Maas, on the successful launch of the first-ever Noosa International Surfilm Festival! It was inspiring to see Jesca’s vision come to life this past weekend. The festival brought together:
• Captivating surf films from around the world
• Talented filmmakers sharing their stories
• Local and Australian surf legends Engaging Q&A sessions and discussions.
Thank you to everyone who supported this fantastic celebration of surf culture and cinema. We’re excited to see how this festival grows in the coming years.”
Sunshine Coast Screen Collective.
“Last year I said this, and I’m stoked to say that she’s done it again!: ‘Jesca Maas gets things done. She did an amazing job running the Yallingup Surf Film Festival, rallying local businesses and community, engaging with film makers and prominent surfing figures and managing a dizzying array of logistics with good humour, style and meticulous efficiency. I’ve no doubt Jesca will bring this same energy and enthusiasm to the Noosa International Surf Film Festival, ensuring it becomes an essential surf culture event. Jesca’s a class act.’ The inaugural festival
(NOOSAISFF2024) was a great success, a class act indeed! Congrats!”
Tim Baker, Surf Author & Journalist