WATCH: Caithness surfing film wins top award in London
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A surfing film featuring Caithness has won a top award in London. So, Bonnie Land, filmed and edited by Thomas Horig from Australia, won the short film of the year at the London Surf Film Festival.
The words for the voiceover were also written by Thomas and spoken by Helaina Rosie who lives and works in Thurso. Thomas was in Caithness with his girlfriend, Bridie Macdonald, to do some photography and filming for his website where he sells prints.
The couple were due to go to Ireland but had to stay in Caithness due to the Covid lockdown.
They stayed with Alex Sutherland and his partner Jen Wood at Thurso East and Thomas took photos and made films of the area and its surfers, including Alex.
Thomas said: "So, Bonnie Land started as my personal reflection of living in Thurso, having gotten stuck there during Covid where I was only going to be for a few months but it turned into three years. It’s a love letter to the rugged coastline, the raw and beautiful ocean of the north as well as the incredible folk who live there."
He added: "Helaina did such an amazing job with the narration."
Helaina, who met Thomas and Bridie through a shared interest in surfing, said: "Thomas has made such a good job of filming Caithness and has shown it in all its glory. It deserves to be seen."
Thomas decided to dedicate the film to Alex after he passed away and invited Jen to the festival after being short-listed from around 100 entries. He travelled from Australia to London for the event and was "so happy and proud" when he was announced the winner.
Helaina, who is 34 and works as a self-employed hairdresser, was delighted the film won the award.
"He is so selfless and needs to be recognised for what he has done. It is amazing," she said.
A book by Thomas called Highland Seascapes, which features Caithness and other areas in the north is available via email at: tomhorig@gmail.com
