Join filmmakers Meagan Enriquez and Christina Ienna with members of Lake Surfistas for a special screening of SURFISTAS at Patagonia Toronto on Thursday, July 30 at 7 PM.Â
Born on the rugged shores of the Great Lakes, Lake Surfistas began as founder Robin Pacquing’s search for new surf buddies and grew into a powerful sisterhood defined by resilience, passion, and the fearless pursuit of adventure.
Blending breathtaking cinematography, heartfelt conversations and moments of connection to nature, SURFISTAS aims to inspire the next generation of surfers to embrace the water.
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Lake Surfistas is more than just a collection; it’s a powerful celebration of women who ride the storms and ignite the courage for others to follow in their wake.
Following the short film and the SURFITAS documentary, we’ll host a Q&A with the filmmakers Meagan Enriquez and Christina Ienna and members of Lake Surfistas. To wrap up the night, we’ll close with an Enter to Win fundraiser, with all proceeds going directly to support the the Lake Surfistas community.Â
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Registration is requested for each attendee. Please click the RSVP button at the top of this page to sign up. This is a friends and family invite page only. Please do not share with the public. Â
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If sign ups are full, click the 'Add To Waitlist' button and you will be notified of any openings.Â
Meagan Enriquez is a Filipino-Canadian director, making her debut with this film.Â
While this documentary marks the beginning of her directing experience, Meagan brings a strong sense of intention, curiosity, and openness to collaboration. Her interest in filmmaking stems from a desire to tell personal, grounded stories, and to explore perspectives that feel underrepresented and overlooked.
Christina Ienna is an Italian-Canadian award-winning cinematographer and filmmaker. She has extensive experience in documentary, narrative and commercial production. Christina enjoys exploring liminal spaces and how they shape belonging and identity. Her goal is to make work that not only moves people aesthetically, but also sparks connection and possibility.Â
In her eighteen years of industry experience, Christina has filmed all over North America with companies like Pixar, Lifetime, Amazon, CBC, TVO Docs, The Globe & Mail, VICE, Destination Canada, National Geographic and Universal Music Group.
She is a member of WIFT-T, Women in the Directors Chair and the International Collective of Female Cinematographers and serves on the Board of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers. Beyond her work behind the camera, Christina is committed to fostering the next generation of cinematographers through educational initiatives, workshops, and mentorship opportunities and runs Coffee House Hours, a monthly film industry meet-up.
Robin Pacquing is the co-founder of LAKE SURFISTAS and a stand up paddleboard (SUP) surfer and instructor based in Oshawa, Ontario.
Growing up as the daughter of Filipino immigrants, Robin’s life revolved around the Great Lakes. It was her sanctuary and shaped her identity. Summers were spent fishing, boating, island-hopping and swimming, instilling in her a deep connection to the land and water. For Robin, the lakes were more than a backdrop; they were home.
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In the 90s, Robin discovered that people were surfing the lakes in winter. While many dismissed th idea as absurd, Robin saw opportunity and adventure in the untamed waters. Facing skepticism and backlash from others who didn’t understand, she paddled forward, driven by her undeniable passion for the sport.
