Coronado Island Film Festival (CIFF) hosts surfing icon “Gidget”

The Coronado Island Film Festival (CIFF) is proud to present ‘Gidget Comes to Coronado,’ a special two-event weekend featuring Kathy Kohner-Zuckerman, the iconic surfer girl and real-life inspiration for the Gidget novel, TV shows and film.

The festivities kick off with Gidget’s Beach Bash, an evening on the sands of Hotel Del Coronado beach on Friday, July 12. The event starts at 7:00 PM and includes a screening of the 1959 film Gidget.

Come early for perks

Guests are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy:

• A sunset cocktail
• Live music by the Coronado Ukulele Club
• A lottery drawing
• A Q&A with Kathy Kohner-Zuckerman, also known as Gidget.

Tickets for the Friday event include a cocktail and entry into the raffle. Those who cannot attend can support CIFF by donating online. Each $25.00 donation will receive one raffle share between May 16th and July 11th.

CIFF and Hotel Del Coronado join forces

CIFF, in partnership with Hotel Del Coronado, commends Sanjeev Hulugale, Rachel McCoy and Keriann Martin for their exceptional support. “They really understand the unique value of the festival,” said Ashley Poole, CIFF Events Director. “It doesn’t get better than a surf film on the beach!”

The celebration continues on Saturday, July 13, with a documentary screening of Accidental Icon: The Real Gidget Story at the Village Theater in Coronado. Filmmaker Brian Gillogly, Kathy Kohner-Zuckerman and surfing legend Jericho Poppler will participate in a Q&A after the screening.

Limited VIP tickets include a copy of the best-selling book Gidget, written by her father Frederick Kohner and inspired by Kathy’s teenage summer in Malibu, along with a book signing.

Film festival honors the ‘real’ gadget

“Growing up in Southern California, Gidget was part of our pop culture,” said Merridee Book, CEO and Artistic Director of CIFF.

“Hosting the ‘real’ Gidget is such an honor! These events represent a quintessential blend of California surf culture of the 1950s and 1960s, breaking the barrier of a male-dominated sport, inspiring a new generation of female surfers and celebrating an era that has passed.”

See you there!

Proceeds from these events and the raffle will benefit the Coronado Island Film Festival, a 501(c)(3) organization. Raffle items include a surf bike from Shaka Surf Bikes.

To become a sponsor, please contact Jon Book.

For ticket information, visit their website here and follow them on Facebook, X and Instagram for more updates.

See you soon, San Diego!