North Preston Surf chronicled in FIN film selection
Posted Sep 18, 2021 04:44:00 PM.
What started as an effort to get a more diverse group involved in the surf community in North Preston has now become a feature FIN-selected documentary.
Freedom Swell – which follows North Preston Surf's co-founder LaMeia Reddick – shows the efforts of the North Preston resident, volunteers and community members as they attempt to empower African Nova Scotian youth to connect with the ocean around them.
“I'm feeling really excited about this coming out. This is an opportunity for people to have a fuller picture of the program. People, even within the community, have heard about it but don't know the full story,” said Reddick.
“I'm looking forward to this screening, but there's also some pressure. It's a difficult subject to discuss, and I might be the talk of the town.”
The lack of diversity in the community has roots in racism and a number of other factors, which will be explored in the film.
“This movie has been a year-and-a-half in the making, and finally folks will get to see this passion project,” said film co-director Marie Wright, who helmed and produced with sister Meaghan.
“So many people put so much work into this one, and I'm excited for the community to see it.”
The sisters have had documentaries in FIN before, including 2018 film Transform, an autobiographical look at spinal injuries.
“We are really excited to get back into a theatre. With the restrictions and things online last year, we missed some things,” she said. “Hearing the audience's reaction is one of my favourite things. It's just so rewarding.”
This also served as an opportunity for audiences to see the community of North Preston differently.
“A lot of the media has showcased North Preston in a pretty negative light. I'm excited to bring this story forward, and hopefully push positive impacts to the forefront,” she said.
“LaMeia is our protagonist and co-writer, and we're thankful she knew us and trusted us to do this special project with her.”
Reddick said it was an easy decision to trust the filmmaker sisters with this project.
“I knew the calibre of their work. I knew they could deliver visually. I'm a filmmaker too, and I needed that level of cinematography,” she said.
“We knew each other prior and had worked on projects together. There was a trust and openness, and I was comfortable sharing this story with them. It was a challenging process, but we learned a lot.”
Reddick says this story is personal and beautiful to her, and she's happy it's getting out there.
“I'm just here speaking my truth, and that's what's at the heart of this. To have voices present, and a place and space to have these conversations, is a privilege in itself,” she said.
“But there's also a sense of responsibility when it comes to raising questions of discrimination and a lack of representation.”
The film may push people to look around them and possibly try to fix other inequalities they notice.
“Once we show how white the surf community has been, I hope people can look at other sports, the arts and culture industry and more, and have deep reflection,” she said.
“I really just hope the film and its themes inspire action. At the end of the day, the story needs people to do things to enact change.”
Reddick is so happy with the film and the fact it's getting out there at FIN: Atlantic International Film Festival. It has also been picked up by the CBC.
“I hope this shows that stories like this can keep breaking through, and keep being supported and funded when there's passion behind them,” she said.
“We need to think beyond the film and have engagement with what is being seen. People included myself are committed locally, and we want to hear people's thoughts. It's an opportunity to learn more about North Preston, and challenge ourselves to look at networks and clubs in our own lives, see who isn't there, and invite them in.”
Freedom Swell plays Sunday, September 19th, 2021, as part of FIN at Park Lane Cinemas at 12 p.m. It is also available on FIN Stream from the 16th to the 23rd. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
