The Fortune Wild is a Sitka production directed by Ben Gulliver with support from Pacific Wild, its about a small group of surfers that set out to seek their own kind of riches on some of the most remote beaches of the Canadian coast.

The New Zealand North Island and South Island Premieres both happen tomorrow night, Wednesday August 21st.

The Sitka New Zealand flagship store at is hosting the North premiere

And HYDROSURF is hosting the South premiere.

Each premiere opens at 6.30pm with 7.00pm screenings and cold Stoke beer to enjoy them with.

DGZ got to have a sneek peek at the film last night and we can tell you its pretty damn cool, with a very different refreshing approach. We caught up with Ben Gulliver who filmed, edited and directed The Fortune Wild, earlier today and fired a few questions about the film at him.

DGZ: The Film is based in Haida Gwaii, for those of us who don’t know where exactly is this?

Ben: We camped on the West Coast of Haida Gwaii. Haida is a group of islands off the North West coast of Canada just below Alaska

DGZ: The film stars Peter Devries, Reid Jackson and Arran Jackson, the cheese loving Noah Cohen also joins mid trip. Who chose Haida Gwaii as the destination?

Ben: Yea they were awesome. It was an idea we all had a couple of years ago. There’s a lot of coastline here in Canada that hasn’t been explored and we want to pioneer it. Thing is its not the best coast for waves and it’s shits hard to get to. But everyone was stoked to camp for three weeks and just make the most of it. One of the funniest camping trips I’ve been on, because we were so far from any humanity. Stress slipped away and we became content with just chilling, fishing and surfing.

DGZ: It has a different theme and feel to a typical surf film, its very refreshing. What were your influences behind this?

Ben: Its a bit of an ode to Wes Anderson only because I had always wished he would make a skate or surf film.

DGZ: The film also has narrative element, were you guys making a conscious effort to incorporate environmental issues in the film? Or more just to educate people and tell a story about Haida Gwaii?

Ben: The film is supposed to be a fun short film about adventure in a new place within Canada and learning a little bit about local culture in that area. We aren’t trying to make a conscious effort to preach about environmental issues. Really just wanting to entertain and educate at the same time. I think there’s a nice middle ground there.

DGZ: And lastly apart from the two NZ premieres, when can everyone expect to see the film?

Ben: It will be available free online, early next month (September)