Bella Vita

Born of mistral winds and witness to the birth of western civilization, the waves of the Italian coast have carried merchants, fishermen, travelers and kings. Preserved like a roman ruin, the surf of the Italian coast now carries surfer, artist, and environmentalist Chris del Moro on a pilgrimage back to his ancestral homeland to explore a culture where old-world-convention and traditional craftsmanship have matured into a modern surf lifestyle and destination.

A visual epic captured in stunning 35mm, Bella Vita is an intimate and powerful journey of self-discovery, seeped in culture, tradition, and passion- where family comes first.

Filmmaker Jason Baffa (Singlefin: Yellow, One Beach & One California Day) has shown that great indie film can come from one film-camera and a back-pack. For bella vita, the team was beefed up to two 35mm film-cams, a few smaller digital cinema units and a van to replace the back pack. Long-time friend and collaborator Scott Kassenoff commandeered the D.P. role and the difficult task to quickly, with limited resources, make everything beautiful. As always, he delivered. With the help of JT “The Bear” Taylor and the passionate L.A. producing team, Greg Schultz, Anh-Thu Le & Scott Griest with support in Italy from Castellani Wine, Panalight & Jeep.

Chris Del Moro fronts an all-star cast of surf travelers including his good friends, Dave Rastovich and Lauren Hill, the part-Italian Coffin Brothers, and introducing the all-Italian Leonardo Fioravanti and Alessandro Ponzanelli. The film also explores the recent history of Italian surfing, including the fracas brothers and Allesandro Forte- and introducing the unofficial mayor of Marina Di Pisa, Nico Pinzauti.

$5, suggested donation

• Post-film Q&A with director Jason Baffa
• Pre-film music by Cameron & the Trenton St. Collaborative
• Free bike valet courtesy of Bike Newport (tune-ups for a small charge)
• Tallulah on Thames taco cart & Le Petit Gourmet will be on-site selling food
• Picnics welcome

Rain Venue: Jane Pickens Theater, 49 Touro Street, Newport

Then on Saturday, July 12… Water Brothers Surf Fest IV from 2–8PM at Fort Adams in Newport!