First-time Fairy Meadow film-maker Georgia Matts is in the running to win an Australian Surfing Award.
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Her film Smile and Wave has been nominated in the 2017 best video/film category in the awards presented by Surfing Australia.
The nomination came as a pleasant surprise to Matts, who screened the surfing road movie at Rockaway Beach Surf Club in New York City last August.
The 24-year-old film-maker also screened Smile and Wave in her home town of Wollongong in late June.
‘’That night was probably the best night of my life,’’ Matts said.
‘’It was great to see all my friends and family drop by Towradgi Beach Hotel to support me and our film.
Even if I don’t win it is still awesome that I was nominated.
- Georgia Matts
‘’This [nomination] is something else alltogether. I did not expect it. It’s been awhile since the film was screened in New York and I really haven’t really promoted it that much through social media.
‘’I’m super happy all the hard work has paid off. Even if I don’t win it is still awesome that I was nominated. Someone has obviously appreciated what I’ve made.
‘’It’s good to see the film is still in people’s minds.’’
Smile and Wave tries to highlight purely the ''tremendous'' surfing ability of female surfers.
Matts captures this by telling the surfing story of her two best friends, Skye Burgess and Sarah Baum.
Over almost three years the trio travelled up and down the coast of New South Wales surfing and filming their adventures. Matts also joined the couple in Baum's home country of South Africa for two months.
‘’Initially I just wanted to make a film about my friends but as time went on I wanted to do a film highlighting just female surfers and surfing,’’ Matts said.
‘’There’s not enough female surf films around. It’s getting better but we still need to tell stories about female surfers and their journey. We’ve concentrated just on the boys for way too long.’’
Matts, who is also an Illawarra Mercury photographer, said the nomination had her contemplating making another movie down the track.
‘’At this stage I’ll concentrate on photography but when I come up with a good idea for a film I’ll definitely look to do another film,’’ she said.
The Australian Surfing Awards will be presented during a gala evening on the Gold Coast on March 6.