Thomas Campbell’s Surf Film Yi-Wo Premieres in Laguna Beach
Thomas Campbell’s Yi-Wo: A Decade in the Making, Sliding Into Laguna & The World This Fall
A Surreal Surf Experience, Rooted in Art & Culture
After more than ten years of crafting his vision, Thomas Campbell—a multifaceted artist known for The Seedling (1999), Sprout (2004), and The Present (2009)—is finally unveiling his latest masterpiece: Yi-Wo. Shot predominantly on 16mm film by Campbell with Dave Homcy, Scott Soens, Chris Bryan, and Tyge Landa, the film unfolds as a poetic meditation on surfing. Across time and continents—from Fiji and Morocco to Costa Rica, Indonesia, Australia, Utah, Hawaii, and California—the film documents iconic surfers like Ryan Burch, Alex Knost, Craig Anderson, Karina Rozunko, Joel Tudor, Dave Rastovich, Ozzie Wright, Jared Mell, Trevor Gordon, Bryce Young, and more.
The soundtrack is equally eclectic, featuring tunes from Cone Cinq, Spacemen 3, Group Inerane, Tommy Guerrero (with Josh Lippi & Matt Rodriguez), Arthur Russell, Kassia Meador & Alex Knost, Duane Pitre, Ray Barbee (with John Herndon & Josh Lippi), and more.
“YI-WO is a prayer... a space for your time… to honor the practice, this existence, and the path’s potential dimensional expansive qualities.”
- Thomas Campbell
California Gets First Dibs: Launching at Laguna Beach’s Historic Venue
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 10, 2025, as Yi-Wo makes its California debut at the Rivian South Coast Theater in Laguna Beach—formerly the historic South Coast Theatre (now repurposed by Rivian).
Premiere Timeline:
5:45 PM – Doors open
6:00 PM – First screening begins (ends ~7:30 PM)
8:00 PM – Doors reopen for second screening
8:15 PM – Second showing begins (ends ~9:45 PM) Coast Film & Music Festival
This Laguna Beach event will officially kick off the film’s California tour—with Vissla proudly spotlighting this moment as both a celebration of surf culture and a nod to our vibrant SoCal community.
Yi-Wo World Tour: Spanning Coastlines & Continents
Here’s the full itinerary for Thomas Campbell’s Yi-Wo world tour:
Sept 10 – Rivian South Coast Theater, Laguna Beach, CA, USA
Sept 10 – Terrace Theatre, Charleston, SC, USA
Sept 11 – La Paloma Theater, Encinitas, CA, USA
Sept 11 – Stone & Wood Brewery, Byron Bay, NSW, Australia
Sept 11 – Le Grand Rex, Paris, France
Sept 11 – Megarama, Bordeaux, France
Sept 12 – Virginia MOCA, Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Sept 12 – Museu Pelé, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
Sept 12 – Brain Dead Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Sept 12 – Cinéville, Quimper, France
Sept 13 – Uluwatu Surf Villas, Bali, Indonesia
Sept 13 – Ojai Playhouse, Ojai, CA, USA
Sept 14 – Grand Teatret, Copenhagen, Denmark
Sept 15 – Cinenova, Cologne, Germany
Sept 15 – The Poly, Falmouth, Cornwall, UK
Sept 16 – Babylon Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany
Sept 16 – Le Rex, Hossegor, France
Sept 17 – Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
Sept 17 – Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London, UK
Sept 18 – Outside, Bantham, Devon, UK
Sept 18 – Mega Lab, Hilo, Hawaii, USA
Sept 18 – Henry Miller Memorial Library, Big Sur, CA, USA
Sept 19 – Yi-Wo Artifacts @ Mollusk SF, San Francisco, CA, USA
Sept 19 – Le Royal, Biarritz, France
Sept 19 – Provo Sapporo, Sapporo, Japan
Sept 20 – Balboa Theater, San Francisco, CA, USA
Sept 20 – Gentem Café Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan
Sept 22 – Riffraff, Zurich, Switzerland
For surf enthusiasts near South Carolina, Virginia, Japan, Europe, Australia, or beyond—your chance to experience Yi-Wo on the big screen is coming in September.
Join us at Laguna Beach’s Rivian South Coast Theater on September 10 for the California premiere of Yi-Wo. Tickets are available now—don’t miss this rare convergence of surf cinema, artistry, and all around weirdness. Tickets Here