San Diego arts roundup: Oceanside film festival returns

Musician and surfer Jack Johnson in a scene from the documentary “The Cigarette Surfboard,” screening Feb. 18 at the Oceanside International Film Festival. (OIFF)

UPDATED: February 14, 2025 at 12:33 PM PST

The 14th Oceanside International Film Festival begins on Tuesday at the Sunshine Brooks Theater.

Through Feb. 22, 43 films will be screened including features, documentaries and shorts. This festival, which has operated as its own nonprofit for three years after being subsidized by the Oceanside Cultural Arts Foundation, keeps growing — to the point that festival Executive Director Lou Niles says it may soon require more than one venue to accommodate all its film screenings.

“We have to turn down an awful lot of stuff,” said Niles, of the curating process. “Just this year alone I probably turned down like 20 surf films.”

Not all of the festival offerings are surf films, but one that is (and in a way, isn’t) is its opening night feature, “The Cigarette Surfboard,” directed by Ben Judkins. The documentary is the story of a California surfer, Taylor Lane, who created a surfboard made out of hundreds of discarded cigarette butts to make a point about the importance of stewardship of our oceans.

“It’s an incredible story,” said Niles, “and it has lots of famous surfers in it.” (They include locals Rob Machado, Caity Simmers and Devon Howard.) Both filmmaker Judkins and surfboard-maker Lane will be at the opening-night screening.

Other festival picks from Niles include the mental-health-themed short “Last Call,” co-written and directed by Harry Holland, brother of Tom, and “A Letter from Antarctica” about a group of people who travel waaaaay south to surf.

Here’s the complete OIFF schedule: osidefilm.org/oiff-2025-schedule-home/

The Harlem Quartet will perform Friday night at UCSD. (Amy Schroeder)

Classical music

Still undecided on that Valentine’s Day date with the special person in your life? How about a little Beethoven?

The master’s String Quartet in A Major, Opus 18, No. 5 is part of the program on Friday night when the Harlem Quartet presents “Echoes of Inspiration” in the Conrad Prebys Concert Hall at UCSD.

The quartet will also perform Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel’s String Quartet in E-flat Major and Guido Lopez-Gavilan’s Cuarteto en Guaguanco. Tickets for this ArtPower presentation are $40 and up; there are limited free tickets available for UCSD students.

British singer/songwriter David Gray will perform Saturday at Harrah's Resort Southern California in Valley Center. (David Gray) — British singer/songwriter David Gray will perform Saturday at Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Valley Center. (David Gray)

Pop music

David Gray’s songs are of the kind you can lose yourself in: lyrical, sometimes brooding, rife with allusions and poetical.

While the British singer/songwriter knows his way around a melody (“Babylon” for instance), he’s throughout his career proved unafraid to be complex. He knows his fans will be there in any case.

Like they will be Saturday at Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Valley Center, whose events center is hosting Gray’s ongoing “Past & Present Tour.” It’s in celebration of Gray’s 13th album, “Dear Life.” Opening for Gray is Native American musical artist Sierra Spirit.

On the subject of Gray’s past, I’m hoping he’ll mine from there “Falling Down the Mountainside,” a haunting obscurity from his 1995 “Lost Songs” release. It typifies all the attributes I listed above.

Streaming

The streaming platform ALL ARTS is highlighting, on Wednesdays through March, the relationship between photographer and subject, and in the case of “Portrait Mode with Sophie Elgort,” some well-known subjects at that.

Next Wednesday, it’s Elgort working with entertainment legend Rita Moreno, maybe the highest profile member of the EGOT Club, performers who’ve won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony. Just last December, People magazine honored Moreno on her 93rd birthday by publishing a chronological photo respective.

“Portrait Mode” is more intimate. You can watch Wednesday using the ALL ARTS website (allarts.org), its YouTube channel or streaming app.

Television

The iconic “Saturday Night Live” series celebrates its 50th anniversary this weekend — but on Sunday instead of Saturday. “SNL 50: The Anniversary Special” will air at 5 p.m. PST on NBC (locally KNSD).

This is a three-hour special with a star-studded guest list that includes veteran “SNL” hosts like Steve Martin, Dave Chappelle, Woody Harrelson and Tom Hanks. Musical guests are expected to feature Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus, Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny and others.

I wish this celebration would focus more on the recurring cast who’ve built the “Saturday Night Live” legend over 50 years of episodes. To say nothing of the writers, from Anne Beatts to Tina Fey to Colin Jost, who’ve provided material for those cast . But then I always side with writers.

U-T arts and entertainment stories you may have missed this week

Marshall Whiteley will perform in San Diego Ballet's Carnival of the Animals and Tangata, shown here on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune) — Marshall Whiteley will perform in San Diego Ballet’s Carnival of the Animals and Tangata, shown here on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

UCTV

University of California Television invites you to enjoy this special selection of programs from throughout the University of California. Descriptions courtesy of and text written by UCTV staff:

“’Breathe with Me’: A Conversation with Jeppe Hein on Art and Mental Health”

Artist Jeppe Hein discusses “Breathe with Me,” a participatory artwork that invites the public to paint their breath on large canvases, visualizing the invisible act of breathing. Through an interview with Jess Berlanga Taylor, Hein reflects on the work’s themes of interconnectedness and cooperation, drawing from his own mental health journey to emphasize the importance of mindfulness and presence. By painting their breath, participants create a collective experience, symbolizing shared rhythms of life. Hein highlights how the act of “breathing together” fosters unity, mental well-being, and a deeper awareness of our relationship with each other and the environment.

“Solutions for Ocean Noise Pollution”

Birch Aquarium presents a thought-provoking conversation on ocean noise pollution and its impact on whales. Scripps Institution of Oceanography acoustical oceanographer Vanessa ZoBell explores the vital role of whale acoustics in understanding the threats these animals face, from ship traffic to industrial noise. By analyzing whale communication, researchers gain insights into how human activity disrupts their behavior, migration, and feeding. See how innovative, data-driven solutions — ranging from quieter shipping technologies to marine conservation strategies — are being developed to protect these marine mammals and preserve the health of our oceans.

“The Great Transformation of America with Mike Madrid”

What’s driving the political and social transformation in the U.S.? Veteran political strategist and Latino voting expert Mike Madrid argues that digital technology and shifting demographics are reshaping American democracy. In “The Latino Century: How America’s Largest Minority Is Transforming Democracy,” Madrid examines how these forces are influencing elections, institutions, and the country’s future. As part of the Helen Edison Lecture Series, he discusses the outcome of the 2024 election, the state of American democracy, and the leaders who may shape its path forward. ing the conversation is Zach Friend, a policy and communications expert with experience in the Obama White House, to further explore the trends redefining the nation’s political landscape.