O’side film festival to feature 70 indie films

Over 70 independent films will be featured during the annual Oceanside International Film Festival that starts Aug. 3.

The films, produced in countries as far away as Australia and India, range from Sci-Fi to comedies, organizers said. The festival will also include documentaries exploring surf culture and the military.

One of the featured documentaries is “Out In The Line-Up,” an Australian film that investigates homophobia in surfing. The film, directed by Ian Thomson, follows surfers David Wakefield and Thomas Castets as they travel the world speaking to professional surfers and experts on the issue.

The film has won several awards, including Best Action Sports Film at the Newport Beach Film Festival and an Audience Award for Best Film at the San Diego Surf Film Festival.

Other surfing-themed films at the festival will include: “3mates7seas” from Sydney, Australia; “Waves N’ Craves” from Oceanside”; and “Flux: Redefining Women’s Surfing” from Orange County.

Those who didn’t get a chance to see the documentary “Patrol Base Jaker” last year about Camp Pendleton Marines in Afghanistan will get another chance this year. The film focuses on the Marines’ counter-insurgency operations in Helmand Province.

The film will be screened during the festival’s opening ceremony Aug. 3, at the Star Theatre, 402 North Coast Highway in Oceanside.

In 2013, “Patrol Base Jaker” won the festival’s Best Full Length Documentary and Best Picture awards.

The festival runs Aug. 3-10 at Star Theatre and the Sunshine Brooks Theatre, 217 North Coast Highway.

Festival admission is $10-$50; military rate $10 for one day; $35 for festival pass.

For more information, visit www.ocaf.info.