The International Skateboarding Film Festival (ISFF) culminated with the International Skateboarding Film Awards on October 25, 2011 at in Los Angeles, CA. The International Skateboarding Film Festival and Awards was originally the Skate Film Festival, but creator and director, Fabrice La Mao renamed it to reflect the international scope of the film contributors and of skateboarding. Veteran filmmakers, complete novices and everyone in between were all encouraged to enter.
With the long history of moving skateboard imagery, Fabrice Le Mao along with filmmakers, photographers, skateboarders and others professionals in the industry, created the ISFF and Awards to recognize and celebrate skateboard films and their creators.
Skateboarding Film Festival Awards
Films were screened October 21-25 and the festival concluded with the International Skateboard Film Festival Awards at the Music Box in Hollywood on October 25, 2011. Skate legends were there to present awards, including Lance Mountain and Geoff Rowley. The awards event also included Stacy Peralta presenting a preview of his Bones Brigade documentary and a screening of Waiting for Lightning, a documentary about skateboarder, Danny Way, by Jacob Rosenberg.
The Skateboard Video
Skateboard videos are both a part of and reflection of the skateboard culture and sport of skateboarding. Whether film, VHS or DVD, they document the music, style, and vibe of the particular time during which they are created, and ultimately capture the process of skating as a visual medium in motion in time. Film has been a major part of the creative skateboarding culture since Powell-Peralta released Bones Brigade Video Show in 1984, considered a pivotal moment for the art form. Powell-Peralta had released their first video Skateboarding in the Eighties, in 1982, culminating in Powell-Peralta's Search for Animal Chin (1987). These films were archetypal, and defined the skateboard film as a genre and art.
Skate Video and Films – Old School
There were some skateboarding films that preceded the Powell-Peralta videos, including SkaterDater (1965), a short romance and skateboarding/ coming of age film that won a Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival in 1966 for best short film. Spinn'in Wheels (1975) was a full-length feature about the development of the sport during the 1970s. However entertaining these films were, they did not capture the immediacy, culture, and essence of the sport.
The development of video and Hi-8 technology helped to document skateboarding and its culture, and made it easier to disseminate and distribute copies. Skateboard companies could produce videos to display the skaters' skills and express the companies' particular styles. Video technology revolutionized the ability to document the action with its ease of use and reduced production costs and filming became more accessible. The ability to copy videos spread the imagery of skaters, places and styles in wider circles.
The Skateboard Video
As videos became more prevalent, skaters were able to watch and re-watch to analyze and absorb the techniques for executing new tricks. The taste for new imagery and tricks along with the accessibility of video spread of the skate culture and pushed the development of skating well beyond California. There were skaters, scenery, music and urban environments being captured all across the U.S. particularly on the East Coast and the decidedly American sport and culture of skateboarding resonated with creative people worldwide.
Skateboard Videos Spread
There were videos that captured this moment in time in skateboarding that are classics: Curb Dogs #1 and #2 (1987) featured early skateboard, BMX freestyle and snowboard and has some of the most simplistic but groundbreaking riding. Videos that are quintessence of that era include: Shackle Me Not (1988, H Street) and Hokus Pokus (1989, H Street); Wheels of Fire (1988, Santa Cruz); Speed Freaks (1989, Santa Cruz); Virtual Reality (1993, Plan B); and Eastern Exposure 3:Underachievers (1996, Dan Wolfe). Other highly influential videos of this time include Video Days (1991, Blind), Questionable (1992, Plan B), and Tincan Folklore (1996, Stereo).
Skate Films Became New Classics
Development of the digital SLR camera and advances in computer technology brought about better editing, higher resolution images and CGI technology. As the technology and skating mutually pushed the other's progression, there were films that excelled in encapsulating the spirit of their particular time and the sport. Certain films considered classics include: Photosynthesis (2000, Alien Workshop); In Bloom (2002, Transworld); Yeah Right (2003, Girl); DC Video (2004, DC); Baker:3 (2005); Strongest of the Strange (2005, Pontus Alv); Bag of Suck (2007, Enjoi); and the epic Fully Flared (2007. Lakai).
New classics also include Strange World (2009, Zero) Cataclysmic Abyss (2007, Foundation), and A Happy Medium (2008, Buster O'Shea).
Any skater queried for their opinion on the most influential videos and there's a good chance at least one of these videos would be mentioned among their top five skate videos. The 2011 crop of films include some truly soon-to-be legends.
The Skateboard Film Festival– The Academy
The people who decide the winning videos have a difficult job, but they have decades of combined experience in skateboarding, film making, photography and involvement in the skateboarding industry.
- Stacy Peralta – Professional Skateboarder, Co-owner of Powell-Peralta, Inc., Writer and film Director
- C.R. Stecyk – Photographer, Journalist, Writer, Artist, Co-founder of Juxtapoz Magazine and Thrasher Magazine
- Grant Brittain – Photographer and Co-founder of The Skateboard Mag
- Fred Mortagne – Photographer and Director
- Bryce Kanights – Photographer and Co-founder Skatedaily.net
- Ed Templeton – Professional Skateborader, Entrepreneur, Artist and Photgrapher
- Ricki Bedenbaugh– Director
- Greg Hunt – Director and Photographer
- Mike Manzoori –Director
- Jamie Thomas – Professional Skateboarder. Skateboard Industry Magnate and Owner of Black Box Distribtion
- Ty Evans – Director
- Geoff Rowley – Professional Skateboarder, Entrepreneur, Director, Co-owner Flip Skateboards
- Short or Web Video – Greg Hunt, Dylan Rieder for dylan, Gravis
- Brand Movie – John Minor, filmer and for Stay Gold, Emerica
- Commercial – Dario Rezk, filmer and Torey Pudwill, skater for Big Bang , Plan B
- Editing – Phil Evans for Format Perspective
- Original Screenplay – Mike Manzoori for Aimless, Etnies
- Independent and Emerging – James Holman and Alex Pasquini for Altered Focus Burma
- Skate Shop Video – Don Luong, filmer and Furnace Skateshop for Ta-Ha
- Photography – "French" Fred Mortagne, filmer for skater Javier Mendizabal's, Cliché skateboards commercial
- Documentary – Pontus Alv for In Search of the Miraculous
- Director – Pontus Alv for In Search of the Miraculous
- Soundtrack – Pontus Alv for In Search of the Miraculous
Submissions for the 2012 Festival and Awards will be made public on the ISFF website; "Like" their Facebook page to stay on top of happenings, or follow them on Twitter. Webisodes from the 2011 are available at Vans Off the Wall TV
Leigh Roche - Leigh began skateboarding in the 70s and brings years of knowledge to writing shreditorial on Sk8boarding & BMX.
Join the Conversation