WAVESCAPES SURF FILM FESTIVAL

Programme features documentary about the Mqade brothers of Umzumbe in KZN.

South Africa's top young artists are on board for a unique exhibition that brings surfers and sharks together in a nice way. Ten surfboards decorated by graffiti, comic and other artists, including Konradski, Willie Bester and Mak1, will be surrounded by 40 haunting photographs of sharks by award-winning photographer Tom Peschak from the Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF), a non-profit marine conservation group.

The combined display at the Wavescapes Surfboard Art Exhibition runs until December 3 at the VEO Gallery in de Waterkant, culminating in a special charity auction for the NSRI and Shark Spotters.

With the surfboards, surfer comedian Mark Sampson will also auction five large-format, signed photos by marine biologist Peschak. After the exhibition, the Wavescapes Surf Film Festival opens with an outdoor screening at Clifton Fourth Beach on December 5, followed by 17 shows of the latest and hottest surfing films at the Brass Bell in Kalk Bay and Labia in Cape Town from December 7 to 14.

An African thread runs through the film programme, with documentary Zulu Surf Riders, about the Mqade brothers of Umzumbe in KwaZulu-Natal, showing with Bustin' Down the Door, the Shaun Tomson film, as well as Sliding Liberia, a beautifully made documentary about redemption and healing in war-torn Liberia. A short film called Shark Angels features South African shark researcher Alison Kock.

More information on 021 421 3278. Wavescapes is supported by African Surfrider magazine, Men's Health, Wavescape.co.za and the Cape Times. For programming information, as well as examples of the works on show, visit http://www.wavescape.co.za/