Slide Night at the Wavescape Surf Film Festival

MIKE MARKOVINA:

Armed with a master’s degree in Ichthyology and Fisheries Science from Rhodes University, Mike travelled across 42 countries over a two-year period filming a documentary series with his wife Linda. The pair embarked on a mission, driving across East and West Africa, Europe and Asia, to discover and video people, projects and programmes that are making a positive impact on marine conservation.

NIC BOTHMA:

A professional photojournalist with more than 20 years’ experience in the industry, Nic has worked in over 60 different countries and picked up numerous international accolades along the way. This seasoned photographer has captured a range of fascinating phenomena on camera, including remote island cultures in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans while traversing the sea as a long-distance solo sailor.

GLEN THOMPSON:

Currently in the process of writing his PhD thesis on the issues of gender and politics in the history of South African surfing, historian Glen is also co-founder of Stand Up Paddling South Africa (SUPSA) and, most recently, co-established the Earthwave Tandem Surfing Club.

HAYLEY MCLELLAN:

An animal behaviourist, conservationist and campaigner, Hayley McLellan spent four years caring for African penguins – an endangered species – at the Two Oceans Aquarium and, most recently, joined the aquarium’s communications and sustainability team as campaign co-ordinator. This maritime do-gooder was the force behind the 2011 project Rethink the Bag, which called to have plastic bags banned in South Africa.

GREG BERTISH:

Well-known Cape Town surfer and stand up paddle boarder, Greg Bertish is owner of True Blue Travel – the first-ever surf travel company in Africa – and founder of the Shark Spotters programme. After travelling to many of the top surf spots in the world throughout the 90s, Greg suffered a heart infection and had two open heart surgeries between 2001 and 2007. Despite having been on the brink of death, he enjoys a healthy lifestyle today and continues to ride big waves with his brothers Conn and Chris.

CHRIS FALLOWS:

Chris Fallows has been photographing marine wildlife for close to 20 years and is best known for capturing gorgeous images of the famous ‘flying’ great white sharks at Seal Island in False Bay. Both wildlife naturalists, Chris and his wife, Monique, spend their time observing and studying nature and have travelled to many of the globe’s top marine destinations.

ALISON KOCK:

Shark scientist Alison Kock has been studying these majestic creatures for the past eight years. Being passionate about her work, she is determined to find viable environmentally sound solutions to the problem of human-shark conflict in Cape Town. As the research manager of the local Shark Spotters programme, Alison is committed to helping improve this tenuous relationship through investigations and awareness efforts.

DARRYL COLENBRANDER:

Through work experience at the Oceanographic Research Institute in Durban, Darryl Colenbrander attained a master’s degree, and, since completing these studies, has taken up residence in the Mother City. He now works as coastal co-ordinator for the City of Cape Town and focuses on retaining and improving the social, economic and environmental value of our shoreline.

DEON BING:

From the ocean’s waves to the airwaves, Deon Bing has been bringing Capetonians their morning surf report via Kfm for more than two decades. Still an avid wave rider, this seasoned boarder has travelled the world’s oceans. Earlier in 2013, Deon managed the South African team in the ISA World Longboard Championship held in Peru.

JUSTIN FISKE:

Justin Fiske is a jack of all trades and master of some with what he calls a “string of unfinished degrees” in the fields of art and science that he deems as “lucky escapes”. Today, using a wide range of skills, like layout, typography and photography, as well as his knowledge of maths and physics, Justin practises as an award-winning artist and specialises in creating mesmerising kinetic sculptures.