The birth and rise of São Tomé’s first generation of surfers.

The birth and rise of São Tomé’s first generation of surfers
— from wooden boards to the World Junior Surf Championships.

Miguel “Micha” Ribeiro is both an observer and a player in the birth and rise of the surf culture in the west african archipelago nation of São Tomé e Príncipe. Merging an indigenous tradition of riding waves, with the figure of it’s most talented young surfer Jejé Camblé, surfing in São Tomé grows from a cultural link between a group of kids in Santana, all the way to the first ever participation in the World Junior Surfing Championship.

This documentary follows the personal memories of the moments lived by Micha during the central years of São Tomé’s surf — from it’s appearence as a cultural link between a group of kids from Santana, up to the first ever participation in the World Junior Surfing Championship.

Surf Próprio — Teaser
48"
Surf Próprio
55' 27"
with Miguel "Micha" Ribeiro, Jéjé Vidal Camblé and the Boys of Santana

Director, DP, Editor João de Sousa
Produced by LeJoy Originals and Nukué
Cinematography Assistant João Castela
Line Producer Tomás Valle
Sound Post-Production, Mixing Mastering Gil Amado
Malcolm Campbell, shaper and surfer who, in the 70's, together with his brother Duncan, conspired in their father’s garage to create a futuristic, hydrodynamic system called the “Bonzer", shares his thoughts on surfing, shaping and the Bonzers past, present and future, during one of his yearly trips to Portugal.
Bonzer(s)
9'
with Malcolm Campbell, António 'Manila'

Director, DP, Editor João de Sousa
Produced by LeJoy Originals
Music Gram Parsons, Tom Waits and Tommy Guerrero
SHORTS COMPETITION 2019 San Diego Surf Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2019 San Diego Surf Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2019 Sunshine Gold Coast Surf Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2019 Brisbane Surf Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2019 Honolulu Surf Film Festival

Archival footage and photography courtesy of Campbell Bros
Photography João de Sousa
Produced by LeJoy Originals, MSD Surfboards

© 2019


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Belinda Baggs and Adam Kobayashi journey through the coasts of São Tomé and Príncipe in search for a wave never surfed before.

The Current
23'
with Belinda Baggs, Adam Kobayashi, Jejé "Vidal" Camblé and Miguel Ribeiro

Director, Editor João de Sousa
Produced by Nuno Miranda and LeJoy Originals
Executive Producer Miguel Ribeiro

Additional Cinematography Adam Kobayashi and Paulo Pichel
Sound Recording & Mix Gil Amado
Line Producer Sarah Klimsch
Special thanks to João dos Prazeres, Alexandra, Domingos, Lindo, José Carlos and Marie, Paulo Pichel, Edu Guerra, Chun, Nilson, Tiago Bavaresco, Dinis Sottomayor and Patagonia
OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2018 Festival de Cinema de Aventura

Photography João de Sousa and Miguel Ribeiro
Produced by Nuno Miranda, Miguel Ribeiro and LeJoy Originals

© 2015


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Flores Azores (and a brief history of paradise)
2’ 40"
Director, DP, Editor João de Sousa
Produced by LeJoy Originals
Produced by LeJoy Originals

© 2015


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