Dreams, Destiny, and Surfing: The Premier of Fe de Agua

Dreams really do come true, and the recently produced film, Fe de Agua, shows us how. On Friday, May 7, 2010, Fe de Agua premiered at Aqua in Tamarindo, and the reception to the film was positively overwhelming. Over 450 people came to show their support and to watch the story of a how a young boy from Guanacaste became a professional surfer. Everyone was blown away by what they saw! 

The evening at Aqua included not only a viewing of the 20-minute film, but also skits and presentations from the cast, giving the audience a chance to get to know the people who helped create this movie. Over 50 children and 400 adults were in attendance, all of who enjoyed the premier. The actors and crewmembers made a night of it, with SNL-inspired interviews, skits, and a “live” television show right before the film was shown. Watching the cast members from Costa Rica, especially Guanacaste’s Carlos Daniels Anjulo and Rosendo Rosales, talk about their experiences with this film was truly touching.

Produced by Guana Productions, Fe de Agua is a work of art and very well produced. The entire cast is from Costa Rica, none of which have had an experience like this before. Their performances were genuine and amazing. The film outlines the life of professional surfer Mauricio (played by Jonathan Yonkers), who is destined to take his place cutting grass next to his father, but instead, takes destiny in his own hands by following his own dream of surfing. With the guidance and inspiration of another surfer, Javier (Marko Briceño), Mauricio goes on to become a professional surfer. Not only does the film highlight the passion involved in both surfing and following your dreams, it also showcases the breathtaking landscapes and cultural beauty of Guanacaste.

The film truly comes from the hearts of the people that created it. No one was paid for his or her work, and everyone in the cast and crew volunteered their time to make this movie possible. The cast and crew even paid their own admittance fee to the Aqua premier! Their dedication in spreading their message extends outside of the premier as well. A scholarship has been established in connection to Fe De Agua in order to help promising, competitive young surfers realize their dream of becoming professionals. The scholarship fund also has support and partnerships with outside organizations such as CEPIA, Federación de Surf de Costa Rica, Surfrider International, and CATURGUA.

To help fund this program, Fe de Agua has a “100 for 100” program, where they are looking for 100 people to donate $100. By donating, participants become investors in the film and will receive both a copy of the film and a T-shirt. There will also be additional private screenings of the film in Tamarindo, as well as a premier and press release in San Jose next month. Twenty percent of all proceeds will go to the scholarship fund.

Future plans for Fe de Agua and Guana Productions include submitting the film to international film festivals, and creating a film festival in Tamarindo within the next year. Producer and art director, Natasha Pachano, stated that, “their goal is to bring film and art to Guanacaste, and show the world the beauty and culture of the Guanacaste area”. With Fe de Agua, they are certainly off to an excellent start! Visit www.fedeagua.com to see the website for the film, and to learn more about its production and the people involved.