Coastal Surge film festival highlights local talent

The inaugural Central Coast Surge Film Festival was held at Avoca Beach Picture Theatre on Thursday, June 29, to the great pleasure of local filmgoers.

The sold-out red-carpet event featured three Central Coastproduced films between 30 and 50 minutes long: Kaye Harrison’s documentary Music Central; Toni Houston and Sarah Beard’s documentary Bouddi Wild Swim; and Amelia Foxton and Glenn Fraser’s comedic-horror film Mother Tongue.

All the films were written, directed, shot and produced on the Central Coast using local talent.

Experienced documentary makers Toni Houston and Sarah Beard premiered their open-water opus Bouddi Wild Swim.

“Both Toni and I have made films all around the world for the past 30 years but it was an utter and complete delight to make a film here on the Central Coast, where we live,” Beard said.

Kaye Harrison’s film Music Central presents the creativity and humanity of the Central

Coast’s burgeoning musical community.

Harrison was excited to share that the film would be screened to a national audience on ABC TV in the Compass slot, on July 23 at 6.30pm.

Star power was offered by Stephen Hunter – internationally-renowned character actor and star of Peter Jackson’s Hobbit Trilogy. Hunter travelled to the Coast for the event and congratulated the filmmakers on the quality of a brilliant festival.

After each film, a fun Q&A session was held with the filmmakers, cast and crew.

“It’s amazing to have crowds from Sydney and the Central Coast here to see the three wonderful films we have on,” Director Glenn Fraser said. Writer/producer Amelia Foxton said they all worked on really low budgets but all pulled together some amazing talent to make it happen.

“Ideally, we’d love to see this concept picked up by Stan or the like as a limited-run series and even more, we’re confident we could shoot it all right here on the Coast,” she said.

“It’s wonderful to have a collaboration from so many wonderful filmmakers on the Central Coast coming together to show our masterpieces.”

The festival and films were made possible through the Creative Art Central 2022 creative arts commissions administered by Central Coast Council.

Creative Art Central has been designed to inspire local creatives to deliver new and contemporary creative works that demonstrate a solid connection to the community and opportunities for participation.