Desert Surf Films was a program curated by Executive Director Susan Sutton – on Friday and Saturday, August 28-29, in the Ballroom Marfa courtyard. Desert Surf Films included two visionary films from the early ’70s, Alby Falzon and David Elfick’s Morning of the Earth and Elfick’s Crystal Voyager, along with shorts from Sam Falls and Ian Lewis. The program was a recognition of these classic features’ place in the history of international avant-garde cinema, and as near-perfect encapsulations of the transcendent surfing experience.

Daniel Chamberlin of Marfa Public Radio’s Inter-Dimensional Music program played dolphin-themed New Age, surf-folk and Balearic psychedelia before and after the screenings.

The schedule for Desert Surf Films was as follows:

Friday, August 28

Morning of the Earth

The classic 1971 surf film by Alby Falzon and David Elfick. Presented on 16mm.

Endless Bummer (2009)

A short film by Sam Falls and Joe Zorrilla.

Saturday, August 29

Crystal Voyager

The epic 1973 Australian surf film, directed by David Elfick, and filmed, written and narrated by surfer, photographer and filmmaker George Greenough.

The Adventures of NASASA (2015)

A short film by Ian Lewis.

This event was free and open to the public.