Beachside Screening

5th January 2024

Beachside Screening

A Magical Evening of Cinema

From 5:30pm - Dening Park - East of the Surf Club

Join us for a beachside screening with the ocean as our backdrop, we'll be showcasing a selection of great films right next the sandy shores of Byron Bay. It's a memorable way to experience cinema, outdoors amidst the natural elements.

Don't miss this special event where the gentle sea breeze and the sound of the waves will be our soundtrack for the evening, creating a laid-back, unforgettable viewing experience.

This very special community outdoor activation was made possible through the support of Festivals Australia. The evening starts with a live set from local duo - MT WARNING.

A selection of short films from local, Australian, and international filmmakers, which have delighted audiences in past festivals, come together in a two-part showcase designed to captivate and connect.

Our family-friendly first half celebrates the universal theme of connection — to family, friends, community, home, the natural world, and to the core of our own being.

As twilight deepens into night, our program will flow into its second phase, where the allure of water takes center stage. Immerse yourself in stories of surfing and profound bonds with the ocean, exploring our intrinsic link to the very element that sustains and surrounds us. Whether you're a film aficionado, a lover of nature, or simply in search of a shared experience with your community, this is an evening is a celebration of the magic of film, bringing us together to experience the visions and voices of diverse filmmakers.

Parking in Byron is free after 6pm - but being peak season you may want to use your locals knowledge to forget about circling the streets and to just find a spot an easy wander away.

Please bring a cushion, a picnic, snacks or takeaway from a local business - but we ask that you take your rubbish with you.

Our LED screen means we can withstand a little uncertainty from the weather, we’ve waterproofed our stage, and plan to go ahead in anything but torrential weather - check our Facebook Feed on the night - for the latest information.

During the event, we'll be seeking donations for the Far North Coast RFS Volunteers in Byron, Ballina, and Tweed. Funds raised will go to helping providing them with much-needed funds to purchase additional equipment and other essentials. This is your chance to show gratitude and support for their tireless efforts in keeping our communities safe.

Films Include

  • #CHILDBOSS

    Director: Angels Blake

    #CHILDBOSS is an inspiring documentary about three businesses from the Northern Rivers region of Australia, all of which are owned by young entrepreneurs who are smashing down traditional ways of working and showing the world how incredible and capable young people are.

  • BAMA

    Director: Jahvis Loveday

    After the first day of private school in the city, a young aboriginal boy reflects on his fear of losing the magic of family and community after being so far away from them.

  • ELDERS

    Director: Tony Briggs

    Two Elders feel that their grandson is old enough to start learning vitally important lessons that will equip him with the necessary tools to maintain the future survival of his culture. His classroom is the expansive country of his ancestors. But is he ready for the challenge that is placed before him, and will he know what to do when the time comes?

  • LOTUS

    Directors: Angelika Fürstler & Austin Ahlborg

    Immersed underwater in the sacred Mayan Cenotes Lotus reflects the story of the director’s near-death experience - of growth from pain, anxiety, fear to surrender, coherence, harmony & flow. Just like the lotus seed grows from dark waters to become the most beautiful flower, we too have the ability to grow to our full potential. Lotus is an invitation to dive deep within, reconnect with the soul and experience the profound power of life.

  • BREATHE

    Director: Ashley McLeod

    A reflective film, looking at ourselves, our impact on the environment and our path forward

  • THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES

    Director: Mirabai Nicholson-McKellar

    Follow the life of a worker bee from birth to cleaner, natural air conditioner, to an undertaker, acting as security and then finally leaving the hive to forage for nectar and pollen. You’ll never look at a jar of honey in the same way again.

  • I LOVE TO DANCE

    Director: Trevor Worden

    A young woman who uses dance to combat anxiety.

  • THE SILENCE OF THE RIVER

    Director: Francesca Canepa

    Juan, a 9 year-old Peruvian boy, lives with his silent dad in a floating house on the breathtaking Amazon River. This idyllic background sets an allegorical journey into the rainforest jungle, where nature, gender, truth and all things begin to reveal the identity of his dad.

  • MURPHED

    Director: Hadley Perkins

    Murphy is on an open road adventure with his love, Murphette, when he finds himself drawn into an infinite pursuit in order to fix his broken down bus. The road is paved, the future is in sight and it’s a race to the finish line.

  • TWO KINDS OF WATER

    Director: Dan McDougall

    The intimate connection between a Senegalese fishing family and the perilous yet life-giving waters of West Africa's coastline. The film vividly captures their daily battles with climate change and over-fishing, highlighting the unbreakable bond between the fisherman, his family, and the ocean that sustains their community.

  • SILENCE

    Director: Olivier La Combe

    Adryen is an amateur apneist (freediver). Far from clichés about this discipline, he tells us about his sensations and takes us into deep immersion, in search of his first 60 meters.

  • HEAVEN IS ON MY SIDE

    Director: Marco Espirito Santo

    A short film on gratitude and big-wave surfing featuring João “Massas” de Macedo, “Heaven Is On My Side” is simultaneously a documentary and a meditation on environmental consciousness through Macedo's experience at the world’s biggest wave in Nazaré, Portugal.

  • MOMENTO

    Director: Cassie De Colling

    A short surf film inspired by reflection, womanhood and Mother Nature.

  • BLUE AND GOLD

    Director: Caleb Graham

    North coast man Luke Morgan, dedicated the first part of his life to the ocean, but in his 30's discovered Gold Prospecting - and has been dedicated and passionate about this pursuit ever since.

  • DANCING ON WATER

    Director: Joshua Hauser

    Dive deep into the paternal bond between Warrick and Felicity Palmateer - despite all the obstacles and challenges they have come to face in life, the ocean has always kept them grounded, and most importantly a place of healing. It's a beautiful story and at times dives deep into some real, raw and honest matters.