Noosa filmmaker Samuel Fairbank’s much-loved short film Book of Hunter has been inspiring viewers across the globe, and in turn sparked his passion to make a committed jump into filmmaking.
It will feature as an exclusive screening at the Ocean Film Festival World Tour, which is coming to The J Noosa on Wednesday 12 and Thursday 13 of March.
Through its stunning cinematography and powerful narratives, the festival aims to inspire a deeper connection with the ocean and encourage audiences to take action to protect this vital ecosystem.
Book of Hunter beautifully captures the story of a Noosa boy, Hunter Williams, and his deep love of surfing in his hometown, making it a perfect addition for local audiences.
Samuel said, “The film is coming back to Noosa after going to Portugal, Hawaii, Spain, the UK, and a few other places. So it’s pretty exciting for it to come full circle back home and more people here are going to get to see it again.”
He said Hunter was such a unique kid.
“If you ever get the chance to speak to Hunter, he’s like a wise old man trapped in a young man’s body and everyone seems to say the same thing. He’s full of these nuggets of wisdom that you don’t see coming,” Samuel said.
“You don’t expect it from someone who’s 11 years old now. But he and his family are such a unique family. Their perspective on life, their love of surfing, their appreciation for nature, the value they place on community and being together, and experiencing Noosa and experiencing the world together. That’s not something I’ve really seen in many other people. So that’s kind of what struck me about Hunter when we became friends when we started surfing together.”
After watching Book of Hunter at the Noosa International Surf Film Festival in 2024, surf journalist Phil Jarratt claimed, “His innocent charm is totally beguiling and I hope he manages to retain it through the terrible teens, because surfing needs more Hunters.”
Samuel seemed to agree, as he said surfers like himself in Noosa may have become a bit jaded.
“In making this film, I guess I wanted to break down the stereotypes,” he said.
“I think we get a bit jaded in Noosa because it’s such a popular place. It’s a bit overwhelming sometimes. But when you talk to Hunter, it’s like a wonderland. It’s like an incredible playground where he gets to meet beautiful people and experience nature and the ocean all together. So it’s funny because in the film he actually says, ‘It’s never too busy’. Which if you ask any other surfer, it’s absolutely not what any of them would say.
“But it’s just Hunter’s perspective, you know? I think it’s helped me to break down some of that jading that’s happened over the years and come back to being a kid again where you just appreciate the wonder of everything.”
Since the creation of Book of Hunter, Samuel’s taken a more committed jump into filmmaking specifically.
“At the moment I’m working on a few other films with local surfers. They will hopefully come out later this year or next year perhaps for the festival,” he said.
“Book of Hunter really sparked a love of actually making a film with a story that people can soak up. So that’s what I’m doing now. You can find me under my name Samuel Fairbank on my website, on Instagram as well or even YouTube where I’ll put out some of these films.”
Ocean Film Festival World Tour founder Jemima Robinson said this year the festival will showcase three incredible Australian films.
“It’s a fantastic accomplishment for Australian filmmakers to have their work celebrated alongside international stories,” Jemima said.
The stunning White Rock highlights a bold conservation effort to save Australia’s Great Southern Reef by transforming the ecological crisis into sustainable solutions. The poetic and heartfelt Goddess offers an ode to the underwater world, inviting audiences to fall in love with the sea’s vibrant life. Meanwhile, Astronaut in the Ocean profiles bodyboarder Shane Ackerman, whose fearless pursuit of the waves embodies the pure joy of ocean passion.
These Australian stories join an inspiring selection from around the globe.
Audiences will witness the transformative journey of Hawaiian photographer and surfer Mike Coots in The Call, discover how surfing brings empowerment and hope to Liberian youth in We the Surfers, follow a poignant Alaskan journey of human impact in Footprints on Katmai, and be mesmerised by the ethereal underwater ballet captured in Aquaballet.
Event details:
What: The Ocean Film Festival World Tour in Noosa
Venue: The J, 60 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads
When: Wednesday, 12 March 2025: 7pm – 10pm and Thursday, 13 March 7pm – 10pm
For tickets, venues, and the full tour schedule, visit www.oceanfilmfestivalworldtour.com.
