“Accidental Icon: The Real Gidget Story” Screening & Q&A

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

The celebration continues on Saturday, July 13, with a screening of the 2010 documentary, Accidental Icon: The Real Gidget Story at Coronado’s Village Theatre. Filmmaker Brian Gillogly, Kohner-Zuckerman, and surf legend Jericho Poppler will participate in a post-screening Q&A. Limited VIP tickets include a copy of the bestselling book Gidget, written by Kohner-Zuckerman’s father Frederick Kohner and inspired by Kathy’s teenage summer in Malibu, along with a book signing. The doors open at 10:30 am and the film begins at 11 am.

“Growing up in Southern California, Gidget was a part of our pop culture,” states Merridee Book, CIFF CEO & Artistic Director, “Hosting the ‘real’ Gidget is such an honor! These events represent a quintessential blend of the California surf culture of the ’50s and ’60s, breaking the barrier of a male-dominated sport, inspiring a new generation of female surfers, and celebrating an era gone by.”

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. Those who cannot attend can support CIFF by donating online; through July 11, every $25.00 donation will receive one raffle entry.