SheChange Documentary Breaks Big Wave Surfing Boundaries
“There’s a reason why people come here…to the edge between water and land, life and death.”
If you follow big wave surfing, you know Sachi Cunningham.
She’s the one swimming at Mavericks with a 25-pound camera. Now, she’s working to bring to life a story that’s eight years in the making.
SheChange is a film about female big wave surfers fighting for equity in one of the most dangerous sports on earth. It’s also about the exceptional woman behind the lens.
The feature-length documentary showcases some of the best footage ever seen of big wave meccas, communicating the true stakes and otherworldly beauty of these breaks.
It follows four pioneering female big wave surfers who pave the way to representation and equal pay in surfing and beyond.
Throughout their careers, pro surfers Bianca Valenti, Paige Alms, Keala Kennelly and Andrea Moller have tackled the heaviest waves on earth and waited for a chance to compete at the deadliest of them all: Mavericks.
“We call ourselves the badass big wave bitches. Hashtag that.” –Keala Kennelly
They’ve proven their chops in the world’s biggest waves and taken their advocacy from the lineup to the Coastal Commission hearing room.
SheChange explores in unprecedented depth—the kind only a woman who has been there herself can access—what drives these surfers, the adversity they’ve faced, and the payoff when a wave of consequence is made.
Portrait of Sachi Cunningham by Nick Paz. © Sachi Cunningham
The film is now a finalist for Docpitch 2022, with a $45K prize on the line. If SheChange wins the popular vote, 100% of funding will go towards production and post-production costs to bring this project to life.
Your vote can help this important and epic story reach the masses and make its mark on history. Voting ends Sunday, May 8 @ 11:59 PM PT. The winners will be announced via a live stream on Wednesday, May 11.
Paige Alms at Jaws (Pe’ahi, Maui). © Sachi Cunningham
