San Luis Obispo International Film Festival 2009

Inspired by the passion of two young Navy officers, director Peyton Wilson captures Jay and Meagan as they pursue their childhood dream of becoming naval aviators flying the F-14 Tomcat. Shot in epic Hi Definition, the aerial footage and stunning cockpit photography provide a dramatic backdrop for the more universal story of what it’s like to fight for your dreams. From dogfights in the Nevada desert, to night landings on aircraft carriers in the Atlantic, what begins as a story of realizing a childhood dream turns into a story of fighting for one's life. Peyton Wilson is returning home to San Luis Obispo for the screening, and will be joined by fighter pilots, Jay "FaceShot" and Paco (also a producer.) Recently screened to a sold-out audience at the Santa Barbara Film Festival and won Audience Awards at the Newport Rhode Island and San Diego Film Festivals.

Sponsored by Sycamore Mineral Springs, The Cliffs Resort, Inn at Morro Bay, Sea Venture Resort and Apple Farm Also Sponsored by WestPac Companies, Dolphin Bay Resort, LandShark Lager, Sprechers Brewing Company, Stella Artois, Peachy Canyon Winery, Moondoggies, Central Coast Surfboards, San Luis Surf and the Custom House Restaurant. Surf Nite in SLO is back with a double-whammy of great films and special guests from around the world! This year's theme is SURFING DOWN UNDER, featuring Cyrus Sutton's new film, UNDER THE SUN. Special guests from Australia will be Nat Young and his son Beau. Opening the evening, is Heather Hudson and Peck Euwer's new film, THE WOMEN AND THE WAVES, featuring notable surf personality, Linda Benson among many others. Anna Trent Moore, surfer and daughter of the late Buzzy Trent, will MC the event and Q & A sessions. A great raffle and live auction of a Dewey Weber surfboard, the same model and style Nat Young rode for Dewey Weber, all presented in the beautiful historic Fremont Theatre in downtown SLO. A rockin' after-party will be a great chance to meet visiting surf legends (more to be announced soon) and enjoy musical entertainment by Aussie surfer/musician, Beau Young and other great musicians. This event has sold out three years in a row, so don't wait to buy your tickets…buy them now at www.slofilmfest.org. The Women and the Waves Can girls really surf? This film takes on this male-dominated sport and holds it own. Surfer girls, women who surf, women who don’t, female athletes, and the men who love them gain insight into what it’s like to “Surf like a Girl!” This inspiring film, features generations of women surfers who have chosen to paddle head first into the male dominated sport of surfing and found a place of their own. This brand-new film by Santa Barbara filmmakers, Heather Hudson and Peck Euwer, premiered in January at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. Heather and Peck will be in attendance, along with Linda Benson, "Zeuf" from KPIG, Anna Moore and other special guests TBA. Documentary. USA. 48 min. Under the Sun "Whether you're a beach bum or a CEO, we're all surfers and in a world where money talks, embracing the surf industry may be the only way to preserve the lifestyles we have grown to love." Cyrus Sutton Shot in Byron Bay and the Gold Coast, on the Pacific Shore of Australia, 25-year old Cyrus Sutton's new film explores the commercialization of surfing subcultures through two opposing surf towns, with completely different outlooks on life. The Gold Coast is home of the Superbank (the world's most perfect wave) and the highest concentration of professional competitive surfers on the planet. But travel only an hour south and you'll find Byron Bay, a hippy mecca and home to a small group of the finest corporately-sponsored free surfers on Earth. Beneath the surface lies a tale of conflict, ambition and the creation of a way of life which has become a multi-billion dollar industry. With Sutton's creative artwork intertwined with gorgeous surf footage, and interviews with legendary surfers Nat Young, Dave Rastovich, Rabbit Bartholomew, Beau Young and others, it's no surprise that Under the Sun won Best Action Sports Film at the Newport Beach Film Festival and Best Independent Film at the Huntington Beach Surf Film Festival in 2008. We are delighted to welcome Cyrus, Nat, Beau and other special guests to the 4th Annual SLOIFF Surf Nite in SLO. Documentary. Australia. 60 min. Nat Young Nat Young is considered one of the greatest ambassadors in the history of surfing. The first surfer from Australia to be crowned the World Surfing Champion in 1966, Nat Young's win was a major upset to the reigning Americans, some of who weren't sure how an unknown surfer from 'down under' could possibly win the title. He went on to win it again in 1970, as well as three Australian titles in 1966, 67 and 69. He also won the Bells Beach Surf Classic a record four times. Nat has written several books about surfing and sailboarding, including Surf Rage, inspired by an unfortunate incident in 2000. Beau Young Nat's son Beau, won the World Long board title in 2000 and 2003 and has gone on to become a successful musician, with two albums and tours through Japan, Italy, France and Spain. He continues to gain a widespread audience for his sound and diversity within the folk rock genre.