Facing Monsters, jaw-dropping documentary about Denmark surfer Kerby Brown, nominated for three AACTAs

A jaw-dropping documentary about Denmark big wave surfer Kerby Brown has been nominated for three Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts awards.

Facing Monsters, which stars Brown and his family, has been nominated for Best Cinematography in a Documentary (Rick Rifici), Best Original Score in a Documentary (Tim Count) and Best Sound in a Documentary (Xoe Baird, Ric Curtin and Jeremy Ashton).

“We are extremely honoured and grateful to be nominated,’ executive producer Frank Chidiac said.

“It is a wonderful recognition and acknowledgment of the talent and dedication of the people working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring this film to life.”

Rifici said the documentary was shot over four to five years between Brown’s fly in, fly out work and Rifici’s shooting schedule, which has included film adaptions of Tim Winton novels Breathe and Blueback.

After accumulating so much footage over those four to five years, they decided to turn it into a documentary.

The Facing Monsters team shot the backstory over three months in 2020 in Brown’s hometown of Denmark.

The documentary follows his journey of self-discovery as he searches for remote monster waves off WA’s coast.

“That’s Kerby’s nature,” Rifici said.

“He wants to challenge himself, to ride waves considered un-rideable by other pro surfers.”

Rifici has been nominated for AACTA awards on three previous occasions.

“It’s always an honour,” he said.

“It’s the equivalent to America’s Oscars.”

Sound designer Xoe Baird expressed her gratitude for the nominations on behalf of her sound team colleagues Curtin and Ashton.

“I’m really glad that people like it,” she said.

“There was a lot of back and forth with Kerby, trying to make the waves feel like they actually feel to ride.”

The AATCA documentary award winners will be announced at a ceremony on December 5 in Sydney.

Facing Monsters will be available to stream later this month.