Ben Judkins is an indie-doc filmmaker and avid surfer, passionate about protecting the marine environment through visual storytelling. The Cigarette Surfboard is his feature-length documentary directorial debut. The film has garnered international attention on the film festival circuit, screening at more than 25 reputable festivals around the world in 2024, winning “Best Feature Documentary” at Richmond International Film Festival and Waco Independent Film Festival, and receiving Audience Awards at Bend Film Festival and Cambridge Film Festival. This inspiring film provides viewers an up close experience of the ocean through surfers' eyes to amplify a message of urgency and possibility regarding the ocean's wellbeing.