6PM TUES 9 MARCH – THE GALILEO OPEN AIR CINEMA – KIRSTENBOSCH
SIYA THE SHAPER
2021
Director: Dominic Taylor
Showing: The Galileo Open Air Cinema, Kirstenbosch, Sun 6 March
Growing up during apartheid, Siya Cele was chased from beaches and denied opportunities the ocean offers. This disparity can still be seen in surfing today. When the time came for Siya to find work, he was eager to learn how to shape surfboards but was frequently turned away. Shaping stalwart Justin Nel then took him under his wing. Siya also honed his skills under the tutelage of industry greats, Spider Murphy and Jason Ribbink. After his son was born, Siya wanted more time with his family, so he started his own business, Hibiscus Blue Line Surfboards, on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. Honouring the craft for nearly 20 years, Siya donates boards to a local surf club so the youth carve their own waves. Super cool little doccie.
WEST COAST GHOSTS- WORLD PREMIERE
2021
Director: Warrick Leach
Showing: The Galileo Open Air Cinema, Kirstenbosch, Sun 6 March
This film aims to create awareness of destructive mining activities that are tearing up the West Coast of South Africa with insufficient oversight of the negative impacts on the environment and communities living here. These mining activities are ruining coastal ecosystems, and adversely affecting local fishing communities. West Coast Ghosts features Oslan Tuter, an impoverished fisherman from Papendorp, who has experienced the effects of mining all around his home.
SONIC SOUVENIRS, EPISODE 2
2022
Director: Kai Neville
Showing: The Galileo Open Air Cinema, Kirstenbosch, Sun 6 March
Join Vans and Mikey February on an explorative journey of Mikey’s seemingly effortless, graceful retro style of surfing – the result of a harmonious blend of his natural environment including the ocean, art, music, and culture. After the premiere of Episode 1 almost a year ago during the Covid pandemic, Kai and Mikey have had a chance to break out a little from the lockdown that prevented plans to build stories around different places. In this episode, they travel north, exploring the sights and sounds of Mother Africa. Another rich portrait that explores the interconnectedness of art, sound, and surfing. Mikey is a talented creative mind, but his body puts it out there on the canvas of the waves too.
UNDONE- AFRICAN PREMIERE
2022
Director: Steve Wall
Showing: The Galileo Open Air Cinema, Kirstenbosch, Sun 6 March
Professional surfer and fashionista Laura Enever loves funky hats. The whacky Aussie might have a zany outlook on life, with lots of pranks, laughs and funny dance moves, but she has a heart of steel. A former ISA World Junior Champion, Laura spent seven years on the WSL Championship Tour, earning the reputation of a fearless charger in heavy waves. Watch her hunt the infamous; the scary; the hairy big wave spots, The Right and Shipsterns to hone her big wave skills after getting an invitation to the Eddie Aikau big wave contest at Waimea Bay in Hawaii. She’s only on the alternate list, but that does not stop her going large as she travels Australia dodging death-defying slabs. Gut-curdling stuff!
6pm MON 7 MARCH – OUR OCEANS BY WILDOCEANS – LABIA THEATRE
SAVING SEALS
2021
Director: Steve Benjamin
Showing: Labia Cinema, Mon 7 March
Seal snorkeling skipper Steve Benjamin turns his beady camera eye on Cape fur seals, specifically those choked by plastic, box bands and discarded fishing line. Box bands are the worst. These bands hold the packaging of new appliance together. They are deadly. The film focuses on the breakthrough work of a seal disentanglement programme at the V&A Waterfront that utilises a mix of biology, stealth and technology as divers quietly cut away plastic from seals from under wooden quays, decks and piers. If a noose has tightened too much, they use a specialised protocol to tranquilise distressed seals. This is a moving profile of the people that power this programme and the inspiring work they do.
OUR OCEANS BY WILDOCEANS
2019
Director: Charlie Luckock
Showing: Labia Cinema, Mon 7 March
Our Oceans are in a state of crisis, and we’re the ones responsible for it. A team of scientists, divers and photographers set out on a journey of discovery along one of the longest, and richest, coastlines in the world. Along the way they unveil three incredible natural events, whilst highlighting the impending threats, and all the while promoting the protection of our oceans. The hope is that ‘Our Oceans’ will be screened all over the world and become a tool to spread awareness about ocean threats, inspire a love for the ocean across the globe, as well as spread a message for expanded marine protection.
www.ouroceansfilm.com
7pm THURS 10 MARCH – KOMMETJIE COMMUNITY CHURCH
PATHWAYS: ZANE SCHWEITZER
2022
Director: Tao Farren-Hefer
Showing: 4 Lighthouse road, Kommetjie, Thurs 10 March
Tao Farren-Hefer becomes a fly on the wall to unpack what has led Zane Schweitzer from his childhood on the water, competition wins and a near death experience, to his current life as an internationally recognized waterman, author, and environmentalist. Zane reflects on serious struggles he has been through on his travels around the world. This introspection is the basis of his effort to become a positive influence on the people and environment around him.
SONIC SOUVENIRS, EPISODE 2
2022
Director: Kai Neville
Showing: 4 Lighthouse road, Kommetjie, Thurs 10 March
Join Vans and Mikey February on an explorative journey of Mikey’s seemingly effortless, graceful retro style of surfing – the result of a harmonious blend of his natural environment including the ocean, art, music, and culture. After the premiere of Episode 1 almost a year ago during the Covid pandemic, Kai and Mikey have had a chance to break out a little from the lockdown that prevented plans to build stories around different places. In this episode, they travel north, exploring the sights and sounds of Mother Africa. Another rich portrait that explores the interconnectedness of art, sound, and surfing. Mikey is a talented creative mind, but his body puts it out there on the canvas of the waves too.
UNDONE
2022
Director: Steve Wall
Showing: 4 Lighthouse road, Kommetjie, Thurs 10 March
Professional surfer and fashionista Laura Enever loves funky hats. The whacky Aussie might have a zany outlook on life, with lots of pranks, laughs and funny dance moves, but she has a heart of steel. A former ISA World Junior Champion, Laura spent seven years on the WSL Championship Tour, earning the reputation of a fearless charger in heavy waves. Watch her hunt the infamous; the scary; the hairy big wave spots, The Right and Shipsterns to hone her big wave skills after getting an invitation to the Eddie Aikau big wave contest at Waimea Bay in Hawaii. She’s only on the alternate list, but that does not stop her going large as she travels Australia dodging death-defying slabs. Gut-curdling stuff!
FRI 11TH MARCH – FINAL NIGHT OF FESTIVAL- VANS FILMS – THE SHRED
CADAVRE EXQUIS
2021
Director: Lee-Ann Curren
Showing: The Shred, Paarden Island, Fri 11 March
Made at the height of the pandemic lockdown by women from the Vans surf team & friends, this film reaches across the sea to reveal deep ways to connect in a time of disconnect. The languid soundtrack is a great backdrop to a film that cleverly plays on the art game called Exquisite Corpse where a page is folded for each collaborator to add a drawing. The collective result is often wacky and bizarre. Cleverly split screen shots of graceful longboard surfing visually mimics the game. Simply put, this film is a compilation of art, music and film by people finding creative ways to come together during those dark days of Covid isolation.
SONIC SOUVENIRS, EPISODE 2
2022
Director: Kai Neville
Showing: The Shred, Paarden Island, Fri 11 March
Join Vans and Mikey February on an explorative journey of Mikey’s seemingly effortless, graceful retro style of surfing – the result of a harmonious blend of his natural environment including the ocean, art, music, and culture. After the premiere of Episode 1 almost a year ago during the Covid pandemic, Kai and Mikey have had a chance to break out a little from the lockdown that prevented plans to build stories around different places. In this episode, they travel north, exploring the sights and sounds of Mother Africa. Another rich portrait that explores the interconnectedness of art, sound, and surfing. Mikey is a talented creative mind, but his body puts it out there on the canvas of the waves too.
A LOOK BACK: DOGTOWN AND Z-BOYS
2021
Director: Glen E. Friedman
Showing: The Shred, Paarden Island, Fri 11 March
This retrospective of Stacy Peralta’s award-winning documentary marks the film’s 20-year anniversary. In the mould of the big doccies of our era, such as Riding Giants and Step Into Liquid, this film revisits the Dog Town’s original cast to explore the impact the film had on their lives, and on skateboarding. Back on screen is Peralta, Peggy Oki, Skip Engblom, Jim Muir and the super star of skateboarding’s origin, Tony Alva. Interesting to note that he was one of the first team riders for Vans back in the day. Set to the obligatory heavy rock and guitar riffs and footage and stills from that time, the film cuts away to modern interviews that add more context to this important era in the evolution of extreme sport.