SURF AND CELLULOID Locals get to prove it on film BY KATIE BELL

Hammersurf, a surf clothing and board manufacturer based in Portland, Oregon, has announced they’ll be unveiling the results of Proven in the Northeast, an amateur surf, skate, and snow film contest, at the Stadium, on Portland’s Congress Street, August 21. Based on the success of the other Portland’s Proven in the Northwest last year, the board-film contest has spread east in 2005 to celebrate both Portlands’ attitudes toward board sports and the environment, as well as collect some great films to bring the board-sport community together for some big airs and big waves.

Ten films from the Northeast have been selected as finalists, with hometowns stretching from Bar Harbor, to Newport, Rhode Island, and the contest will premier clips of their work, as well as a full-length screening of the winning film. The winner will receive a custom surfboard from Hammersurf, in addition to big film kahuna status.

It’s not only about the glory, though. The $5 admission to the film fest will help support the Northern New England Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit environmental organization that protects the ocean and beaches for surfers, and a charity to which Hammersurf donates two percent of their online sales nationwide.

"Surfrider is so glad to be the beneficiary of the event," says Peter Slovinsky, Chairman of the Northern New England Chapter of Surfrider Foundation. "The proceeds will help us keep monitoring water quality and fighting recent increases in pollution along parts of our coasts."

Ben Keller, a local board-sports filmmaker hopes the festival will be "a gathering of like-minded folks interested in board and film," not just a board-sport bash.

Next year’s "Proven in the Northeast" is already being organized and Keller hopes that the success of this year’s festival will bring more entries, support more board-sport-friendly causes, and continue to enrich the community through board and film.