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The Rising Dawn
with Director Nadi Saddy and Special Guests
Q&A follows film screening
Admission:
$5 for California Surf Museum Members
$10 General Admission
Doors open at 6pm
Film screening begins about 6:30pm
To RSVP, please call 760-721-6876
This film tells Souleymane Sidibé's story of surfing the Ivory Coast as the nation’s most talented surfer. In a region where the ocean’s deities are worshiped and feared, he pioneers the country’s emerging surf culture, inspires youth to overcome inequality and cultural barriers to access the transformative power of surfing and pushes the limit of the sport in his country. The film uncovers untamed waves, the vibrant communities shaping the country’s surf culture and immerses viewers in this fascinating movement when both a conservative country and a controversial sport attempt to get up and ride the next wave. The film examines the dynamics of colonialism, youth empowerment and culture through the lens of surfing.
This film received the “Best Original Soundtrack Award” at the 2025 London Film Festival. The music was composed by Ivorian virtuoso Steven Amoikon, a graduate of Berklee College of Music, drawing from African musical traditions and ancestral heritage, reinterpreting them through a distinctly contemporary language.
Founded in 2022 by Nadi Saddy and Souleymane Sidibé, Surf Côte d’Ivoire, the nonprofit organization behind this film, is dedicated to promoting and developing surf culture in Côte d’Ivoire.
Click here to read more and view the trailer.
Run time 60 minutes.
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