A FILM festival tomorrow will celebrate the deep-rooted surfing culture on North East beaches.

Courtesy of the Tynemouth Surf Film Festival, the Hatton Gallery at Newcastle University will showcase the artistic talents of wave riders and surf film-makers from around the globe.

The four featured films will give an insight into the ups and downs of the surf world and offer a sneak peek at the stunning waters that only the most creative and experienced surfers can master.

Rise, one of the favoured films, was directed by our own photographer and surf fan Lewis Arnold. It documents a surf voyage made by North East locals as they explore lesser known UK and European surfing hotspots.

In particular, there is spectacular footage of the North East coast.

Surfers against Sewage will also show their film Protect Our Waves, which demonstrates the fragile beauty of the North East’s coastline.

The organisation is very active in the area and works hard to keep our beaches in stunning, flag- winning condition.

Tynemouth-born, ex-British champion Gabe Davies will attend the festival.

Non-local contributions include Cornish surfer Mickey Smith’s award-winning Dark Side of the Lens, an expression of a surfer’s senses being awoken by the waves surrounding him.

The final piece premiered at last October’s Tynemouth Film Festival and was hailed a must-see for the artsy cinema lover. Thrills, Spills And What Not was created by Dane Reynolds, a teen surf sensation from California.

The free event takes place between 7pm and 9pm and is the start to a surf-filled weekend in Tynemouth with Surfers Against Sewage holding a beach clean-up on Longsands from midday on Saturday.