The 2024 Flotsam Festival opens on 1 May with a program of events related to the Gold Coast’s rich surf heritage and world-class waves through photography and film.
The multi-venue arts trail will include indoor and outdoor spaces along the coastline through Coolangatta, Kirra, Tugun, Currumbin, Palm Beach, and Burleigh. Among the events will be a water photography with award winning and National Geographic photographer Craig Parry, scheduled for Saturday, 11 May between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the Kirra Hill Community and Cultural Centre. Running throughout the Festival – and also at the Kirra Hill Community and Cultural Centre – is an exhibition of the top 12 images selected from Surfing Australia’s Surf Photo of the Year awards.
The Flotsam International Masters of Surf will present a roll call of over 30 of the main luminaries of the surf photography genre, including Art Brewer, Russell Ord, Brent Bielmann, Chris Burkard, Chris Van Lennep, Jeff Flindt, Damea Dorsey, Christa Funk, Todd Glaser, John Witzig, Corey Wilson, Sean Davey, Jeff Divine, Helio Antonio, Tom Servais, Mike Coots, Rambo Estrada, and many others. Set to launch at a cocktail function at the new Kirra Beach House, the exhibition will feature a single image from each designated Master, with select items from the collection going under the hammer to benefit each photographer’s chosen beneficiary.
Filmmakers George Greenough, Jack McCoy, Taylor Steele and Andrew Kidman will also have work featured in showcase events during the festival, bringing with them a host of special guests and – in the case of Kidman – live music scores to classic films.
Click here for full details of this year’s events.
