What started as a PR competition turns into an international movement that brings awareness to environmental destruction. Director Ben Judkins brings the viewer on a journey from country to country with Taylor Lane to experience first hand what Judkins calls “this microcosm for what’s happening around the world.”

The microcosm that Judkins is referring to is the trash crisis that beaches around the world are experiencing. 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year. This trash washes up on beaches and leaks into fragile ecosystems, according to the Ocean Conservatory.

“The Cigarette Surfboard” takes viewers on a seven year journey in an hour and a half. Taylor Lane, a young surfer and industrial designer, takes on the challenge to create an upcycled surfboard. With the help of tens of volunteers, he gathers thousands of “ciggy butts” from California beaches and uses them to create a beautiful piece from trash.

(From "The Cigarette Surfboard Documentary Trailer”)

This is an uplifting documentary that addresses a devastating topic.

In Lane’s journey, he learns about the harmful effects of cigarette toxins on the ocean and how his project could change the world. Not only is Lane’s story inspiring enough on its own, Judkins mixes in the voices of other internationally recognized surfers, like musician Jack Johnson and pro-surfer Mikey February, who are doing their part in protecting the oceans.

“The final film that you see today was a highly curated selection of, to me, the most inspiring, incredible professional surfer ocean activists in the world,” Judkins said. “The people that made the final cut are the people that truly just left a really big imprint on us.”

Judkins explores stories of environmental activism stretching back to the 90s, with the impactful surfer group “Surfers Against Sewage,” and ties it into Lane’s progress and his story of triumph and change.  

Though, this documentary ends with a new beginning. Lane’s journey leads him to Santa Cruz city council to propose new legislation that would ban single-use cigarette filters, for the harmful effects it has on the environment and people. This monumental ban has turned the Ciggy Board into a historical symbol of environmental justice, and may be the beginning of a solution.

Overall, this documentary has incredible teaching power and shows how art can bring change. It sends a message to the viewer that activism doesn’t have to be exhausting, but rather fun. Not to mention, the incredible surfing shots that will make you want to sign up for a class or two.