(Irvine, CA) – Hawaiian born surf film maestro Jack McCoy will premiere his new surf film Free As A Dog – A True Dog's Tale on the big screen in Newport Beach, CA on April 27 th 2006. 1200 surf industry attendees are expected for the big night, with Jack McCoy and Joel Parkinson hosting the evening. The Premiere will kick off a 5-week tour around the United States with the Billabong Jack McCoy Surf Film Festival April 27 th   - May 7 th (West Coast) and June 6 th - June 25 th 2006 (East Coast).

The festival line-up includes monster footage from The 2006 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards guaranteed to have you at the edge of your seat, as well as the winning entry from the 2006 Panasonic Surfshorts Competition.

Free as a Dog, McCoy's 24 th film in a long line of classics, including Tubular Swells, Storm Riders, Blue Horizon and many more, showcases the remarkable surfing talent of Joel ‘Parko' Parkinson (Australia) like never before.

Narrated by Parko's faithful hound “Trey”, the film follows the duo on a mission to help get a couple of lovesick grommets (played by Australian surfers James "Woody" Wood and Ellis Ericson) back on track after they have fallen for a beautiful dark-haired beach beauty (Ashley Cheadle, Australia).

For the past year, Jack, Parko, Woody and Ellis have been chasing waves all over the Australian coastline and beyond, capturing some never-before-filmed breaks. The film also has a look at Joel's home turf — Coolangatta, Queensland, home to what is affectionately known as “The Superbank”, a man-made stretch of flawless beach that creates perfect, long, peeling waves.

Opening the festival each night will be the 2006 Panasonic Surfshorts winner ‘131.9 Cents' by Tony Mason (Melbourne, Australia). Panasonic Surfshorts is a short-film competition that aims to encourage and support filmmakers of all levels. ‘131.9 cents' is based on true events of Tony Mason. Born and raised in the city, over an hour from the coast, Tony manages to discover the beauty of surfing regardless of the cost to keep riding waves.

The final item on the festival program will include astonishing footage from The 2006 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards. The film will showcase the biggest waves ridden during the 2005-06 season featuring famous breaks such as Ghost Tree, Monterey and Mavericks, San Francisco.

Don't miss the energy and excitement on the Big Screen this summer from April 27 th   - May 7 th (West Coast) and June 6 th - June 25th (East Coast).

Tickets ($9*) on sale through TicketWeb ( www.ticketweb.com ), selected surf shops or at the door. For more information please visit www.billabong.com/freeasadog or www.JackMcCoy.com

If you would like more information, high resolution images or to request interviews please contact Amelia Clements on 213-272-0932 or email: amelia@monsoontsunami.com

more information please contact Amelia Clements amelia@monsoontsunami.com