SLOIFF Presents: Bud Browne Tribute - March 13th, 2008

by Wendy Eidson
(San Luis Obispo)

San Luis Obispo, CA (January 21, 2007) — The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival is delighted to present an historic and exciting night honoring the world’s first surf filmmaker, 95-year old Bud Browne. Now a local resident of the Central Coast, Bud will be honored here by many surfing greats, including surfers Gerry Lopez, Peter Cole, Ricky Grigg, Fred Van Dyke, Walter Hoffman, surf cinematographer Jack McCoy, and surfer/shaper, Dick Brewer. Buzzy Trent’s daughter, Anna Moore is helping to coordinate the event.

On Thursday, March 13, 2008, this group of legendary surfers from around the world, will take the stage at the grand Fremont Theatre in downtown San Luis Obispo to pay tribute to the man who inspired modern surf culture by creating the first commercial surf films ever. Surfing the 50’s will be the featured film, and the evening will also include a raffle, Q & A session and a post-screening Surf Party in the old Pier One building on Monterey St. (generously donated by Copeland Properties) with live music, surf films and the opportunity to meet the surf celebrities in attendance.

There are few that would deny that Bud Browne single handedly documented the birth of big wave surfing as a sport in and of itself. Known and revered as the father of the surf film, Bud’s contribution toward the documentation of surf history is immeasurable. Receiving his film degree at USC, and documenting surfing from Malibu to Australia and Hawaii from the early forties through the nineties, his film career spans a period of over sixty years where his contribution to the sport is unrivaled.


The surf movies he produced during the fifties and sixties defined a generation of its time. Having filmed surfing from the birth of big wave riding through the short board evolution, Bud Browne was long regarded as the first. He was not only recognized in his time as the best, but is also revered in the industry as a surfing National Treasure. His work continues to shed light not only on a unique time, but also on its key players, some of who will be attending the tribute to Bud Browne at the upcoming SLOIFF. The huge body of work that Bud Browne produced will continue to inspire and move others by the daring and adventure of its time.

In 1994, Bud edited and re-released the best material from the eight surf films produced between 1953-60, taking a year and a half to assemble Surfing the 50’s, narrated by John Kelly and Peter Cole. Many great surfers and surf spots are featured in this 70-minute color film that will be featured at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival in honor of Bud Browne.

More information and updates can be obtained at the festival’s website www.slofilmfest.org, by visiting the SLOIFF office at 861 Palm St., next to the Palm Theatre, or by calling (805) 546-3456. Tickets and film passes will go on sale on February 5. For more information on the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, contact SLOIFF Festival Director Wendy Eidson at festivaldirector@slofilmfest.org or (805) 235-1507.