For filmmaker Chad Campbell, surfing is muse, adventure source and the reason for organizing a fifth annual Kona Surf Film Festival.

"I started doing the film festival because I love surf films, and festivals are always fun — a good way to give back to the community. My sister, family and all my friends help out a lot at the fest," he said.

Campbell heads the film festival, comprised mostly of independently produced surf films, and a benefit for community organizations. This year, proceeds will go to the Betty Kanuha Foundation's efforts to restore Ka Lae Kamoa or the South Point Wind Farms, and the ancient royal centers Keolonahihi State Historical Park and Keakealaniwahine complex.

The 2007 festival features 13 films touching on the sport — as a business, an adventurous journey, and a lifestyle, and even a competition that is now recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

"I think the surfing 'lifestyle' applies to people who put the surfing experience before money, house, security. A person who really lived the 'surfing lifestyle' would never live somewhere that was not on the ocean. Or, they make their job flexible so that they can surf when the waves are good," Campbell said.

Among the festivals' offerings are award-winning films such as "Down the Barrel," an ESPN original documentary explaining surfing to the layman; "Quintal de Casa," awarded "Best Overall Film" at France's Festival de Surfe for its beautiful photographs of South America; and the religiously tinged "Heart of a Soul Surfer," Best Documentary winner at the Hawaii International Film Festival.

The festival also touches on surfing's international aspect, with "Vaya Con Dios," which follows two surfers who travel the Pan-American Highway from Alaska to Chile.

It gives viewers a glimpse into the business of surfing with "Riding the Wave."

The festival also features Big Island bodyboarding with "The Project" by Kona local Kainoa Behasa, set on Ali'i Drive.

Campbell calls the Banyans, just south of Kailua Village, his home surf spot.

"I've been surfing there for so many years — I've had some great experiences," Campbell said. "One I'll always remember is when I was out by myself. ... I saw a pod of dolphins headed my way, so I paddled way out and intercepted them. I just swam around all alone with the dolphins. Banyans is a great wave, and it's a tight crew that surfs there."

With "too many 5 a.m. morning sessions to count" surfing the Banyans, Campbell knew he wanted to do something that involved surfing. Like most high school graduates, he didn't have any solid career plans, but he knew he wanted to make surf movies.

His first effort grew into "The 5th Symphony Document," followed closely by "The Blueprint," and "Seasons."

Then, he linked with the band Pepper, and followed them on a tour of the Mainland U.S., eventually releasing the DVD "Searching for the Haj."

" 'Searching for the Haj' is a music movie," Campbell said. 'The Haj' turns out to be that thing which inspires them, which is really ... whatever that inspires them! It's kind of a search for their creative spark. But the movie is a total spoof, really funny ...

"I look for people who live nontraditional lives, who have put their passions and loves ahead of paying the bills, so to speak," he said.

Campbell established Folklore Films, and has launched his films in other festivals, such as X-dance (the action sports film fest running concurrently with Sundance), Le Festival du Surf in France, ESPN Tube Festival, Sawtooth film festival and the Surfer Poll Awards. He gets friends to help him out with graphics and camera work.

"Folklore is a one-man band. A lot of times it's easier if it's only one or two guys," he said.

His latest film to feature at the 2007 fest is "Zampa," showing tomorrow.

" 'Zampa' roughly translates to 'endless perfect wave' from Japanese. It was made with some Japanese pros, and we traveled to Sri Lanka and Japan. ... We got some pretty incredible waves," Campbell said.

The filmmaker has fine-tuned his devotion to moviemaking over the years. At this point, he says he hates the physical act of filming — of wielding the camera — but he claims devotion to film editing. He worked for three years as editor for the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing competition.

"I hate filming. I love everything else. I don't want to go to a place I've been dreaming of all my life and have to film. I want to go there and experience and go surfing! So, now I get someone to come and film. I play director," he said.

After the film fest, Campbell returns to the Vans Triple Crown competition as a chief editor, and he has plans for a possible documentary.