Wavescape Surf and Ocean Festival | 2-25 March.

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 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 be followed by a chat while sitting in the ocean this year: “What better medium to immerse yourself in a 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 short 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 explain 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 will host 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. In contrast, 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 occurs at Jack Black’s Taproom, where surfers can 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 join us to celebrate its 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.