Oceanside, CA — The California Surf Museum is proud to announce that celebrated filmmaker Greg MacGillivray has been named a 2024 recipient of the Museum’s “Silver Surfer Award,” a lifetime achievement award presented annually to surfers who have made significant contributions to the culture and lifestyle of the surfing community. The announcement was made by Jim Kempton, Executive Director of the California Surf Museum. “Not only did MacGillivray reinvent the surf film he practically reinvented movies with his IMAX work,” says Kempton, in making the announcement.
Greg MacGillivray joins the previously announced recipients: surfers Mary Lou Drummy, Mickey Muñoz and L.J. Richards. This year’s recipients will be presented with their award at the Museum’s 16th Annual Gala Fundraiser at the Cape Ray Carlsbad Beach, a Hilton Resort and Spa on the evening of November 2, 2024.
About Greg MacGillivray
The son of a Southern California lifeguard who grew up a mile from the beach, it was somewhat fated that Greg would take up surfing, but it would not be a surfboard that changed his life at the age of 13. It would be a Brownie 8mm movie camera obtained with three books full of Green Stamps by his parents as a birthday gift. It was a gift that “fired up” his imagination he once recalled. With the help of a second-hand editing machine bought for $10 along with a borrowed projector, he began showing little edited narrative surf stories to gatherings of friends in his garage, charging 25 cents for admission. These early efforts were formative steps in a life’s journey that led to two Academy Award nominations and more than 60 films to his credit, including more than 40 IMAX productions. He is recognized as the first documentary filmmaker to reach the $1 billion benchmark in worldwide ticket sales.
In 1966 he joined with filmmaker Jim Freeman to form MacGillivray Freeman Films, a collaboration that was soon considered one of the genre’s most successful partnerships. Among the full-length surf films developed under their banner was the 1972 release, “Five Summer Stories.” Today this film is heralded by many as the finest surf movie ever made. A new digitally remastered version is now in release in celebration of its 50th anniversary. Sadly, two days before MacGillivray-Freeman’s 1976 IMAX film “To Fly!” was to debut, Freeman was killed in a helicopter crash near Bishop, California. The company continues to honor his name and memory.
In 2004, Greg and his wife Barbara founded the non-profit MacGillivray Freeman Films Educational Foundation to help people of all ages expand their learning on topics showcased in the company’s films exploring the natural world. It has enabled more than 20,000 underserved students to experience their world through MacGillivray Freeman Films, and its scientist speaker programs to bring scientists face-to-face with kids in classrooms.
About the Award
The “Silver Surfer Award” is an honor bestowed annually by the California Surf Museum to surfers who have made significant contributions to the culture and lifestyle of the surfing community. It is a lifetime achievement in recognition of a life that inspires others.
About the California Surf Museum
The California Surf Museum was founded in 1986 and has been in operation for nearly four decades serving tens of thousands of annual visitors from over 40 nations around the globe. With a permanent collection which chronicles the history of surfboards and wave-riding, the museum also offers many revolving exhibits each year. It has acquired a rare set of archives and collections gathered since its founding, comprising one of the world’s richest troves of surfing history. The California Surf Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located at 312 Pier View Way, Oceanside, CA 92054; phone (760) 721-6876; email csm@surfmuseum.org. Please visit the website at surfmuseum.org. Open daily 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; closed major holidays and for special events.
