Organisers have confirmed the official South African premiere of Birth of the Endless Summer, which will be screening at The Galileo Open Air Cinema in Kirstenbosch Gardens. Other surfing and ocean films, such as the premieres of the much-anticipated big wave documentaries Facing Monsters and skateboarding epic Humanity Stoked, will be screened in the deep south of the peninsula, at the Bertha Movie House in Khayelitsha and at the Labia Theatre, including a collaboration with the alternative Sunburnt Surf Club.
The underwater cleanup with Beach Co-op off Jager’s Walk in Fish Hoek will this year be followed by a chat while sitting in the ocean: “What better medium to immerse yourself in while talking about ocean respect and conservation” says Wavescape Director Shani Judes.
An unusual collection of 10 artistic surfboards will be auctioned at the Wavescape Artboard Project for ocean charities at Jack Black’s Taproom on Wednesday 22 March. The final lineup of artists is perennial supporter Brett Murray, with Amy Ayanda, Fhatuwani Mukheli, Marie-Louise Koen, Amy- Lee Tak, Dbongz, Justin Southey, Liberty Battson, Lee-Ann Heath, and Marti Lund.
Eight speakers have signed up to entertain and inform the audience with snappy 10 minute talks at the prestigious Centre for the Book in Cape Town at Slide Night, the flagship ocean evening, brought to you by Save our Seas Foundation.
Parasurfing athlete Michele Macfarlane will speak on why differently abled surfers are not “inspiration porn”. Save Our Seas Foundation educator Justine Swartz speaks about their kelp puppet project in False Bay. Sea Search founder Simon Elwen looks at why seals attack Capetonians. Nandipha Masango from Green Connection gives us tips to stop the fossil fuel juggernaut.
PangeaSeed founder Tre Packard speaks about “Artivism” and the Sea Walls project, which we are going to be hosting in November 2023. Kneeboard world champion Gigs Cilliers tells the hairy tale of near-death surfing a 100 foot wave off the Wild Coast. Marine Scientist Dr Koebraa Peters uncovers an alien invasion in South African waters and environmental lawyer Cormac Cullinan speaks about how the law can save the ocean.
Wavescape will work with Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans, the global PangeaSeed Foundation programme, to bring the message of ocean conservation into Cape Town streets via murals and events that raise public awareness of critical environmental issues.
The theme of the Blue Ocean Masterclass will be aerial footage, with practical advice and networking about how and where to shoot aerial footage, touching on the rules, techniques and gear one needs. Well known marine photographer Jean Tresfon will chat about his Autogyro MTO Sport Gyrocopter, while other experts will chat about City of Cape Town regulations, the art and ever improving technology of drones, and more.
This year, the Board Meeting day event again takes place at Jack Black’s Taproom, where surfers will be able to swap or buy each other’s surfboards. There will also be other fun activities for adults and kids, from demonstrations by sustainable surf products and eco-conscious brands to children’s activities, set to the musical vibes of DJ Roastin’ Records.
In collaboration with social media influencer and podcaster Steve Shooter, Wavescape will park a branded Podcast Bus at events with a mobile podcast studio. Episodes of the series Shredding the Gnar will be hosted by Shooter, who will be in discussion with a diverse group of salty ocean souls connected to the festival.
The Save Our Seas Foundation, a long term supporter of Wavescape, will be joining us to celebrate their 20 year anniversary with ocean activations.
The 2023 poster was designed by Buenos Aires artist Falu Carolei, whose work pays homage to skateboarding, rock, surf, tattoo, and graffiti cultures. In this iteration of the poster, Carolei takes the festival’s ocean eye (used in a long lineage of Wavescape posters) to draw on the inspiration of iconic 70s counter-culture creator Rick Griffin, who created album covers and other artwork.
Thanks to our partners: Vans, Wesgro, Save Our Seas Foundation, Petco, Jack Black Beer, Justice 4 Jaws and Lubanzi Wines.
2023 Lineup
Thursday 2 March: First Thursday pop up ocean exhibition and podcast Bus
Tuesday 7 March: Galileo Movie Night, Kirstenbosch
Thursday 9 March: Surf & Ocean Quiz Night, Jack Black’s Tap Room
Saturday 11 March: Film at Isivivana Centre, Khayelitsha & ocean excursion with 9 Miles Project
Tuesday 14 February: Artboard exhibition opens for viewing, Jack Black’s Tap Room
Wednesday 15 March: Slide Night, Centre for the Book
Thursday 16 March: Beach Co-op Undersea clean up and ocean chat, Fish Hoek Beach
Saturday 18 March: Board Meeting, Jack Black’s Tap Room
Sunday 19 March: Sunburnt Surf Club surf event
Sunday 19 March: Film night & Q&A curated by Sunburnt Surf Club at the Labia
Monday 20 March: Blue Ocean’s Master Class with Wesgro (Invest SA, One Stop Shop)
Tuesday 21 March: Deep South Film Night, Scarborough Community Centre
Wednesday 22 March: ArtBoard Charity Auction, Jack Black’s Tap Room
Thursday 23 March: Spike’s Swell Course
Saturday 25 March: Michael Cohen film with Vans at The Labia Cinema – Humanity Stoked
SeaWalls – Public Art Mural: Sea Point Promenade by artist NARD
To buy tickets and to get more information at www.wavescapefestival.com
