Great Barrington— On Friday, May 31st at 11 a.m. , there will be a screening of the documentary “Maya and the Wave” (2022 | 95 minutes) as part of the Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF.
) Brazilian big wave surfer Maya Gabeira grew up with a dream to surf competitively. She succeeded through years of training and discipline, but she did not do so without having to confront chauvinism in the male-dominated sport. After a brush with death which led to an outcry against female surfers, she made record-breaking history after recovering from severe physical and mental trauma, including multiple spinal surgeries.
As an ESPY award winner and seven-time “Big Wave Award” champion, she is one of the most influential female surfers of all time. “Maya and the Wave” gives viewers a chance to get up close and personal with a deeply passionate athlete and what it truly means to be a female athlete. Witness an extraordinary accomplishment — don’t miss this wildly inspirational and important story.
I had the chance to speak with the director Stephanie Johnes by phone. I was in the rainy Berkshires, and she was in sunny Ojai. From our conversation, the biggest takeaway I can share with you is to see this film in the theater! Maya Gabeira surfs big waves at heights of over 80 feet — seeing the waves on the big screen is the best way to experience this film.
Johnes said she was crushed to hear a friend watched it on an iPhone. An athlete herself and lover of document.