Meet the autistic surfer who’s inspired generations of groms
“Everybody that surfs in Southern California knows Curt, he’s famous,” explains pro Dane Reynolds.
Curt Harper was diagnosed with autism aged just two years old. Now aged 50, he’s been surfing for four decades and has helped to nurture and inspire multiple generations of SoCal surfers, including Reynolds, Timmy Curran and Bobby Martinez.
Filmmakers Jordan Tappis and Brendan Hearne have turned his story into the brilliant short documentary, Curt.
Autism affects 1 in 42 boys, making it hard for them to communicate verbally and non-verbally, and making interacting with the world around them challenging. But Curt has never let that come in the way of his surfing, competing for Hurley and ferrying countless young groms to and from the beach near his home in Santa Monica over the years.
Curt is a powerful reminder that even the biggest challenges shouldn’t get in the way of doing what you love, supporting others and helping build community.
Find out more about the film.
You might like
In Portugal, a DIY longboarding festival is keeping surfing’s radical roots alive
Gliding Barnacles — Set in Figueira da Foz, the five day get together was born out of the local scene’s desire to protect the local environment and their coastal breaks. Ellie Howard traces its growth and all round celebration of creativity.
Exploring girlhood and land ancestry in Sudan’s cotton fields
Cotton Queen – A new feature debut from filmmaker Suzannah Mirghani explores the legacy of colonialism and the fight for self-determination through the tender eyes of a teenage girl.
Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters joins team of new Palestinian resistance documentary
Freedom Theatre — Directed by Rishi Pelham, the film spotlights a theatre operating in the Jenin refugee camp.
UK’s first ever Latino film festival is coming to London
LoLaFF — Taking place between October 2-6, it will feature 55 filmmakers from Latin America, with an opening night at the Barbican.
Youthful joy & end-of-era poignancy at a London school prom
Leavers — For several years, Lewis Khan documented young people as they celebrated the last of their school days and the completion of their exams. The series is now collated in a new self-published photobook and short film.
A major Nan Goldin exhibition is coming to London
You Never Did Anything Wrong — Opening at the Hayward Gallery in November, the show will debut a new film from the artist and activist, alongside a slate of recent work.