Katin presents: RECEPTION

The full 11-minute short film from a surf trip through the South Island of New Zealand.

Directed, filmed, and edited by James Sarandis

Starring: Saxon Wilson, Greyson Messier, Tommy Coleman

“We just wanted to make a surf film that feels relatable. There’s a lot that goes into these trips. Board bags get lost, forecasts change, you’re trying to find a campervan, and there’s the real commitment of time away from home. But, it’s all possible if you put in the effort. There’s only so much planning you can do before you have to jump in head first.I hope this film motivates, especially the younger crew, to step outside their hometown in search of waves. “Even if you don’t score the waves of your life, the memories you make along the way are well worth the risk.” - from the Director and Team at the premiere.

RECEPTION follows a small crew of surfers and filmmakers traveling across New Zealand’s South Island in search of uncrowded waves, guided more by instinct than information. The trip unfolded slowly, shaped by long drives, changing conditions, and the commitment it takes to wait for the right moments rather than chase certainty.

With limited local knowledge and a guidebook that proved less helpful than expected, the journey became about reading coastlines, adapting to the environment, and earning waves through effort and time on the road.