FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS: SDSFF FEATURES ARTIST JOE HODNICKI

 Joe had me at Dawn Patrol...and the fact that he laughed at that joke makes me dig him all the more.

   The San Diego Surf Film Festival is honored to announce Joe Hodnicki as our featured artist for our inaugural festival May 11th-13th at Bird's Surf Shed in beautiful San Diego, California.  I realize I knew Joe's artwork before I knew him.  I first saw the Dawn Patrol image a couple years back and I was floored.  I figured I would to run into him sooner or later and the fact that I had to wait until Grain Surfboard's Re-Evolution last September seemed like a long time but it was well worth it.  Kindred spirits we became quick friends.  And then Joe starts popping up everywhere.  After Maine, I see him cruising around the New York Surf Film Festival, creating amazing handplane art at Sacred Craft, designing the upcoming X-Games logo...everywhere.  I figured before he gets too busy I would approach him about designing our logo based on San Diego's contribution to surf design.  He agreed wholeheartedly and nailed it.

   I am excited to see all the artwork Joe creates for the festival.  I even got a sneak peak at another one and it is good.  So good.  Joe has been handed the tricky task of moderating the entire surf art family and will be presiding over the SDSFF art lounge.  But being a part of the San Diego Surf Film Festival is much more multi-dimensional than just rad art.  It is about family and following your dreams and after reading what Joe has to say about a recent artwork of his, I think you will understand why we are extremely proud to welcome the entire Hodnicki family into ours.
Thank you Joe.
PMK

For more info and artwork check out Joe's site:http://www.sharingthestoke.com/

WELCOME TO THE SAN DIEGO SURF FILM FESTIVAL

I am so relieved to be writing this initial blog simply to escape the task at hand. I am supposed to be composing the "ABOUT" section for the website (the only thing left to do, Ed reminds me, again) but I find it way more difficult than I had imagined. Putting down how I feel about surfing, cinema and San Diego in a neat, tidy little package? And then making it sound interesting enough to you guys to come out and support the 2012 San Diego Surf Film Festival? Gnarly.
I guess this is what it is really all "ABOUT" from my perspective.
Surfing, cinema and San Diego...in one word, SACRED.
I do not ever remember a time when I didn't go in the ocean. It has been the only ritual that has stayed with me to this very day. Surfing is the most amazing thing there is that is why we are all reading this, right? Who doesn't like getting barreled? Ok, so we agree to move on?
Cinema, I used to make collages out of my surf mags and put together insane mixed cassette tapes...BAM, filmmaker. I didn't have a choice but to love cinema. That was easy but this next one is a bit tougher.
San Diego, I was born and raised here and am humbled by the amazing souls that have helped to shape my home town. This is the best city in the world...truly. It is 70 degrees and 2-3' 80% of the time. I can think of no other home but San Diego.
Well, I hope this makes sense and you all come out to Bird's Surf Shed May 11-13, 2012 for the San Diego Surf Film Festival to celebrate surfing, cinema and San Diego.
Cheers
PMK