After competing on the Freeride World Tour, and transitioning into a new career in nursing, Hank Bilous brings us an exposé into the relationship between different passions, the skillsets behind them, and the self-expression that mastery of them allows. In his directorial and producing debut, Hank adds a couple more qualifications to his quiver: skier, surfer, writer, nurse–now director and producer. The War on Style opens the lid on Bilous’ creative mind–exploring the difference between technical skills and self- expression by applying these concepts to his familiar and unfamiliar worlds of skiing, surfing, nursing, skateboarding and more.

Written, Directed and Featuring Hank Bilous
Produced by Chris Maunsell and and Hank Bilous
Filmed & Edited by Chris Maunsell
Original Soundtrack by Sam Wave, also known as Sam Mehrtens

Ahead of The War on Style, we will screening Head Peace, a short film featuring Tess Coady directed by Izrayl Brinsdon, presented by The North Face.

Doors: 7pm
Films: 7:30pm
Q&A: 8pm
Sam Wave: 8:30pm

About The War on Style
The framework of The War on Style was inspired by Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, written by Robert M.Pirsig, and its discussion of static and dynamic qualities in a theory of reality. Interpreting these ideas, and merging them with his own world experience, Hank explores the relationship between technical skills and self-expression. The War on Style is an audiovisual experience, propelled forward by the poetic observations gathered from what Hank refers to as his ‘big-little life.’

About Hank Bilous
Hank approaches skiing through a creative lens – taking one look at the obvious and doing the opposite. His style is imaginative and unpredictable, and his approach is notoriously big. Hank’s technique is largely inspired by his love of surfing, bringing an aggressive elegance that comes from surfing, into a form of skiing that can only be described as–uniquely Hank. In a small part of a big journey, Hank found himself on multiple podiums on the Freeride World Tour in 2020, claiming silver in Hakuba and bronze in Fieberbrunn. However, the champagne showers on the podium aren’t the moments that Hank holds dear. Rather it’s the people, the places and the experiences along the way that stand out as his true highlights as a competitive skier. Making the shift from the competitive sphere, Hank’s skiing has taken a turn into a more exploratory realm, where boundaries cease to exist and there are no limits on fun or creativity.

About Chris Maunsell
Chris Maunsell is a cinematographer from Dunedin, New Zealand. He is an innate problem solver and maker, regularly undertaking a range of mixed media projects. Chris has a passion for authentic storytelling in the athlete world, particularly those that go fast, and exhibit their own style.

About Sam Wave
Sam Wave is the moniker of Sam Mehrtens, indie visionary from New Zealand.His fascination of genres and mediums makes for an exciting journey when discovering his works. Currently based in Sydney, Sam continues to create music and films that explore the obscurities and beauty of you.

Shot on Location
The War on Style was shot on location in Gisborne, Wānaka and Dunedin, New Zealand

About Head Peace

Born and raised in St Kilda, Tess Coady’s passion for snowboarding ignited a flame that would change her life forever. In relentless pursuit of her dream, she built the world she wanted. But what is left when that world comes crashing down? Follow Tess’s story as she faces setbacks that force her to question that world and rebuild.

Check out the video below