Film production company FINCH, Producer Camilla Mazzaferro and Director Christopher Nelius debuted their ‘Girls Can’t Surf’ documentary on Australian streaming service Stan and promoted the film’s launch on the platform with a powerful trailer across owned and paid social channels.
As well as streaming on Stan, the film received global distribution in the UK, France, Spain, South Africa and Brazil and will be available in the USA in December.
The film follows the struggle, fight and eventful success of a band of renegade women surfers who took on the male-dominated professional surfing world to drive for equality of opportunity and change the sport.
It features female surfing greats such as Jodie Cooper, Frieda Zamba, Pauline Menczer, Lisa Andersen, Pam Burridge, Wendy Botha, Layne Beachley and is a choppy ride of clashing personalities, sexism and a struggle for equality as the woman fight against the establishment to make their dreams of professional women’s competition come to reality.
The choice of launching the film on the platform followed its official selection at the Tribeca Film Festival back in June 2020, its Australian premier at the Sydney Film Festival’s summer program in January 2021 and its nomination for Best Documentary at the AACTA Awards (held on 8 December).
The film, which was distributed by Madman Entertainment, opened in over 100 screens across the country and has become the year’s highest grossing Australian feature documentary.
“We’re so proud to have Chris’s film in our growing slate of documentaries,” commented Producer Camilla Mazzaferro. “We are focused on telling stories that have real impact, and this film has opened up a critical dialogue around gender inequality in sport while being exceptionally warm and entertaining. It’s exciting to know that it will be reaching new audiences and continuing to have such a positive impact on the issue of gender parity. We hope everyone has a lot of fun watching these audacious women.”
“Despite a few Covid challenges, the journey with Girls Can’t Surf this year has been a real joy. Especially seeing so many people come out to see it in cinemas earlier in the year,” added Director Nelius. “I’m even more thrilled that it’s now streaming on Stan, the purveyor of so many great Australian films and shows. I can’t wait for people to experience the story of these inspiring and hilarious Aussie women from the comfort of their couches with cosy slippers on.”
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