DESERT RATS
WILLIAM ALIOTTI, PIERRE CALEY AND MATT HOLLMAN

Three surfers. Nine thousand kilometers. Three weeks in the middle of nowhere.
Between endless roads, raw humor, and danger lurking in the background, DESERT RATS tells the story of a wild mission between friends at the edge of the world, in a land as stunning as it is hostil where great white sharks constantly remind you that you’re only a passing guest.
In DESERT RATS, William Aliotti, one of the world’s best free surfers—teams up with Pierre Caley, former lifeguard in Australia and big-wave surfer, and Matt Hollman, his longtime friend, Australian lifeguard and surfer. Their goal: hunt down slabs—the waves that detonate right on the reef, brutal and unpredictable…

Between dramatic landscapes, failed sessions, nearby shark attacks, and a strong sense of brotherhood, the trip unfolds like a road movie that’s both hilarious and chaotic. And because the ocean never plays by your rules, the perfect swell finally arrives… just after William leaves.
DESERT RATS is surfing in its rawest form: endless waiting, real risk, wild beauty, freedom, and unfiltered friendship.
Title: DESERT RATS
Surfers: William Aliotti, Pierre Caley, Matt Hollman
Featuring: Garrett Parks (former Australian pro surfer)
Footage: Beni Bagley, Kane Overall
Editing: Laura Diaz
Color grading: Gabriel Boin
Graphic design: Gabriel Boin
Voice-over: Pierre Caley
Location: South Australia (undisclosed spots)
Context: Area known for having some of the largest great white sharks on the planet. During filming, an attack occurred just a few kilometers from where the surfers were.
Year of filming: 2023
Duration / Format: 40 minutes