Flotsam Surf Film & Photography Festival 2025 hits the Gold Coast
The annual Flotsam Surf Film & Photography Festival 2025 is set to kick off on May 1, rolling out a two-week froth of film, photography and surf culture from Coolangatta to Burleigh Heads.
Now in its fourth year, Flotsam emerged as a recovery effort post-Covid -19 restrictions to support the Gold Coast community, and has since grown into one of the world’s most immersive explorations of surf art and culture.
The opening weekend is stacked with free community events for all ages to enjoy.
Flotsam organisers say that even with Cyclone Alfred wreaking havoc, one silver lining has been a scroll-worthy swell for the ages.
The aftermath has left Snapper Rocks with no sandbanks and as a result, the World Tour’s anticipated return to Snapper being rerouted to Burleigh Point.
And the region isn’t being left behind. Flotsam will soak the coastline in surf culture, filling indoor and outdoor spaces, cultural hubs and local businesses with a mix of film, photography, music and storytelling.
Flotsam Festival kicks off in true Gold Coast style with a blowout Block Party across Coolangatta’s best-loved haunts on May 1.
There's all kinds of events scheduled, but for photographers the highlights are likely to be the launch of Defining Moments, a 1,352-page photo book by renowned world adventure photographer Tony “Harro” Harrington.
To celebrate the launch, the Festival has wrapped The Pink Hotel’s fenceline in Harro’s images, creating an immersive outdoor gallery showcasing his work. It runs from May 1 - Wed, May 14.
Another festival highlight is likely to be the International Masters of Surf exhibition.
Curated by celebrated surf photographer Ted Grambeau, International Masters of Surf is a handpicked roll call of the world’s foremost lens folk each contributing a single image that exemplifies their contribution to the history of surf photography.
It features work by Chris Burkard, Russell Ord, Sean Davey, Art Brewer, Andrew Sheild, Cait Myers and more.
Next up is Beneath the Surface: A Freediver’s Lens which also runs from May 1 - May 14. This collaborative exhibition at Wades World Photographics in Coolangatta, unveils the breathtaking diversity of marine life, from vibrant coral reefs to elusive ocean dwellers, capturing the delicate balance of our underwater ecosystems.
There's also the Stoked Exhibition, which embodies surf photography, film, and art to create ocean conservation awareness and the importance of protecting surfing ecosystems.
In addition, Flotsam: (Surf) Girls On Film features a stellar lineup of female creator-led panels and a curated selection of international shorts, photo projections, and film celebrating women women in surf.
Revered surfboard shaper, artist and photographer Richard Harvey takes us on an Indonesian Odyssey to Bali in the golden era of ’74 – ’75, for his exhibition Spirit of Adventure – Indonesian Odyssey 74 – 75, which runs throughout the festival.