This article is part of the introductory editorial series at the ONA Short Film Festival. On September 5th, 6th and 7th, the Venetian Island of San Servolo will showcase stories of outdoor sports, nature and environmental awareness. Athleta will still be Media Partner of this wonderful event devoted to the seventh art.

Surf culture is adrenaline, action and style, but it’s also storytelling. Ben Lalande brings to the ONA Short Film Festival the short films ‘OBIBINI’ and ‘PRIMITIVE’ – two journeys into different surf dimensions that manage to combine individual experiences, collective revolutions and the global power of this ever-inspiring sports scene.

The creativity of this young Canadian filmmaker takes us to the Ghanaian and Canadian shores, showing the impact of surfing on their new generations and contemporary evolutions. Women empowerment and family legacy are the two main themes of these fascinating documentaries, and highlight the universal value of a practice that never stops to change meaning across time and space, becoming a tool of social and civil progress, as well as a school of life.

Lalande told us about his relationship with surfing and the ramifications of this connection in his visual and narrative research. Enjoy his words before watching ‘OBIBINI’ and ‘PRIMITIVE’.

Your relationship with surf culture is evident, can you tell us something about this special connection?

“I’m originally from Canada’s East Coast, and that area is not particularly known for surfing. I come from Quebec City and to get to the nearest ocean you’ve to travel 6 hours and arrive in Maine, United States. I grew up going there, during the high school years I was able to surf two or three times a year. I loved doing that. Then I decided to go to college in the U.S., and from then on, I was able to really dive into surfing. Today a lot of my friends and people are involved in the surf culture. They’re filmmakers, athletes, musicians, etc. That’s why, even though lately I’ve been focusing on commercial projects not related to surfing, I’m very happy to bring two productions related to it to ONA. Surfing is a big part of who I am, it has shaped me as a human being.”

How do you transpose the surf culture into the seventh art?

“I love classic surf films, where everything is energy and action, they also manage to share positive messages, but they’re also a sort of empty boxes…. In productions like ‘OBIBINI’ and ‘PRIMITIVE’ I tell surf stories that add narrative and cultural layers to the simple sports dimension. I feel that surfing is becoming more and more accessible, its new generation is global: we can’t just talk about Hawaii or Australia, we also have to talk about continents and countrys that still seems atypical, such as Africa and Canada. Women’s surfing is another chapter of this modern evolution that fascinates me, that’s why I decided to explore it with the Ghanaian community of the Obibini Surf Club. In both movies I didn’t want to tell stories of top athletes, but different human beings journeys inspired by surfing.”

At ONA you will present the short films OBIBINI and PRIMITIVE, can you introduce them to our audience?

“OBIBINI is about a community of Ghanaian female surfers. It was exciting for me to spend time in the waves with them. They surf beautifully on old and broken boards, and they revolutionize local society by their example. In other places I’ve always experienced the distrust of surfers, a lot of them just think about their personal style and spots. These girls aren’t interested in the opinion of others, they want to surf and work hard in order to do it. It’s amazing to witness the impact they have on the people around them. In the Ghanaian shores everyone welcomed me, there is a different cultural perspective that enchanted me. Then, PRIMITIVE is the second film that will be presented at ONA, and it tells the story of Kalum Bruhweiler, a Canadian surfer from Tofino. He keeps alive a family legacy based on the total relationship with nature. His modern story made me realize that we don’t need everything in life. All we need is family, surfing and the courage to put ourselves out there. His testimony is a reminder for contemporary society, showing an ancient but still possible lifestyle that makes you strong mentally and physically. Both films taught me some great life lessons, and I hope they do the same for viewers.”

Now you will meet the waves of San Servolo Island, what are your feelings thinking about Venice and the ONA Short Film Festival?

“It’s funny, because it’s been a while since I last physically attended a Festival. In recent years my films have been selected for different Festivals, but I’ve never been able to attend them. It’ll be a new ‘first time’. I’m excited. It’s quite strange to present your films and talk about them in front of an audience, the spotlights are on you and special feelings run through you…. It’s always interesting to find yourself in that position. I’m looking forward to meeting the other ONA creatives and sharing stories with them. Then, in Italy I’ve only been to Milan. I’m looking forward to seeing Venice and being on the Island of San Servolo…”

Visit onafilmfestival.com to get more information and attend this evocative event.