Since 2004, the Wavescape Festival presented by Pick n Pay has grown into one of Cape Town’s premier attractions, with thousands flocking to the flagship screening of surf films beneath the stars on Clifton 4th Beach, at the foot of Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles. (This year the screenings will take place on Saturday, December 3, at 9pm, with entry being free.)
This summer, between November 21 and December 11, this beach culture and surfing celebration will carry the torch for ocean conservation and sustainable seafood awareness.
In the film festival part of the programme, 26 ocean and surfing films will be screened at two other venues alongside Clifton. Also in the festival programme are other events and fixtures that bring a unique mix of beach culture, scientific endeavour, and conservation activism.
“Wavescape is successful because it combines a really critical message about saving our oceans with a core programme of cultural entertainment, scientific enlightenment and cultural cohesion. We’re again proud to join Cape Town surfers, scientists and artists in their bid to save our natural marine heritage,” says Andre Nel, General Manager of Sustainability at Pick n Pay.
Some of the main attractions for Wavescape 2016 are:
Artboard Project
– Monday, November 21, to Tuesday, November 29
The Wavescape Art Board Project raises awareness and funds for ocean charities such as the NSRI and Waves for Change. The organisers have invited 10 artists to turn surfboards into art for an exhibition that ends with a charity auction. This year, comedian Nik Rabinowitz will be auctioning the boards at Tiger’s Milk in Muizenberg for some fund-raising, fun and frivolity on November 29. Artists include: Brett Murray, Lionel Smit, Jenna Barbe, Peter van Straten, Steve Pike, Sujay Sanan, Conrad Botes, Jake Aikman, Alexis Aronson and Chris Burkard.
Fish Fry
– 6pm on Saturday, November 26
The Wavescape opening party will present an evening of surf community fun and fish braaing at Jack Black Brewery. Fish Fry includes a celebrity braai competition to raise awareness about sustainable seafood. There will also be a curated exhibition of the best surfing and ocean photographs from the Cape Peninsula in 2016, live music by DJs Cath and Dune Tilley, live painting of a surfboard by street artists and displays of surfboards by local shapers and craftsmen. Come hang with the Wavescape crew, and bring your kids to enjoy edutainment activities for kids. There will be craft beer and food trucks and various prizes this year, including a new wetsuit and surfboard.
Entry is R40.
Slide Night
– Tuesday, December 6, at 7pm
These 10 salty tales by 10 ocean gurus will be MC’ed by filmmaker and marine biologist Lauren de Vos. This year’s prestigious lineup at the Centre for the Book in Cape Town includes extreme adventurer Riaan Manser, who will talk about his epic honeymoon paddle across the Pacific; former DA MP and now CEO of Wesgro, Tim Harris, on his African surf odyssey; Professor Charles Griffiths on 100 new marine species he has found; and 13 year old Epiphany “Scuti” Ford, a Ted Talks speaker who will share an intimate tale of the sea with attendees.
Entry is R120.
Shortcuts Workshop
– Monday, December 5, at 4pp
This project to develop filmmaking talent will be launching at the festival in partnership with Cape Town and Western Cape Film and Media Promotion – a division of Wesgro. This workshop for adventure filmmakers takes place at the Woodstock Exchange in Cape Town, where the organisers will launch a 12 month window period during which young filmmakers are invited to submit films. Winners will be selected and their films screened at the 2017 Wavescape Festival, part of a bid to make Cape Town “Adventure Capital of the World”, which will include numerous prizes.
Free entry.
Beach Reach
– Saturday, December 10, at 10am
A fun, interactive day at Muizenberg beach near Cape Town that will be organised by the Save Our Seas Foundation for children to learn about beach safety and ocean conservation. Children will be invited to come ‘play and learn’ about the rich diversity of our sea life through games, displays and interactive demonstrations. #BeachReach
For the full line-up of events, visit www.wavescapefestival.com.
Tickets can be booked at www.webtickets.co.za.
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