For the last 12 months we’ve been uncovering Australia’s lost surf films in order to build an Australian and New Zealand Surf Film Archive. These images represent an important part of our cultural history, and we want to preserve and share them with the whole community. 

To get the best results we’re going back to the original negative, or best available print. We’ve bought a specialised 4k scanner and are working with one of Australia’s best colourists, Billy Wychgel, at Elements Post. Everything is going to be scanned to archival specifications and all usage will be approved. The film is 50-60 years old already and is degrading. Now is the time. This is our history and we have to look after it.

Check out some of the remastered footage here.

We have also asked Ben Brown to design us a limited-edition poster which we’re screen-printing with care and love at Aisle6ix Industries. This poster is going to be stunning. It’ll come in two sizes and every poster will come with a digital download of a film we’re making about the whole process.

If you’re a business, you can become a founding supporter of the archive; your logo will feature on the site and we’ll promote your association with Australia’s core surfing history on our social media.

Over $25,000 has now been raised to directly finding, scanning and restoring our surfing history. If you’d like to donate or find out more, please click here.

You can see some of the footage we’ve already scanned on our social media (@lightsoundartfilm) and we’re uncovering all sorts of hidden gems. We know you’ll love it and hope you’ll come on this journey to help save our surfing history!

To view the campaign teaser clip, please click here.