Surf Film Winners

A panel of five jurors, headed by surfing historian and surf culture writer Glen Thompson, selected North of the Sun, directed by Inge Wegge & Jørn Nyseth Ranum, as the best feature film at the festival, which is presented by Pick n Pay.

North of the Sun, a beautiful self-shot story of two Finnish surfers who hunker down for a dark winter in the frozen north, was chosen for a strong visual narrative driven by a good concept that was "ecologically sound" "with creative & unusual circumstances" that had a "good blend of ambient sound & music".

Another juror said North of the Sun was "good storytelling, simple, honest, pretty".

Best Cinematography went to Bending Colours, a Red Bull film directed by Kai Neville. This high-octane burst of potently edited cinema showcases Jordy Smith and got the nod from the jury in part because it was an "excellent visual monograph on Jordy – kind of like the Top Gun of surf movies with Jordy as the aerial fighter pilot".

Another juror said that Bending Colours was a "mindblowing look into the cutting edge of surfing. Jordy is leading the new revolution".

Best Short went to Dark Side of the Lens, directed by Mickey Smith, a lyrical visual poem set in Ireland that was "beautiful, simple, honest. Amazing quality" and an "excellent documentary about the dedication it takes to be a water lensman."

The Audience Choice award went to Johnny Neon Hearts, a short film by Dave Meinert who strapped a Go Pro HD camera to his canine in Cape Town to create a vibrant, fun-filled escapade of the day in the life of a beach dog.

Founder of the festival Ross Frylinck said that the festival was honoured to have had such a high standard of film-making: "We thank all the filmmakers who entered their films for the 2012 Festival, and also our Jury who kindly volunteered their time".

"We are always amazed at how many good films keep cropping up year after year."

The Jury voted as follows:

Best Feature: North of the Sun, directed by Inge Wegge & Jørn Nyseth Ranum.
Best Short: Dark Side of the Lens, directed by Mickey Smith.
Best Cinematography: Bending Colors, directed by Kai Neville.
The Audience Choice Award: Johnny Neon Hearts, directed by Dave Meinert.

We thank all the filmmakers who entered their films for the 2012 Festival, and also our Jury who kindly volunteered their time.

About the Wavescape Surf Festival

The Wavescape Surf Festival was born of a love of surfing and surf culture, and the simple idea of sharing these good feelings with an audience. Ten years on, we present a range of film, music and art events in South Africa, Reunion & New York, all with the aim of having fun, building community and promoting conservation. Wavescape runs in Durban in July, Reunion in September, and Cape Town in December.

To see the lineup of films, as well as other info and photos, visit the official website here

Sponsors

Wavescape is presented by Pick n Pay.

Wavescape is supported by Billabong, Jack Black, and the Save our Seas Foundation.

Media partners : Bomb Surf, Cape Times, Cape Town Magazine, Green Renaissance, Mahala, Men’s Health, Thumb Tribe, Wavescape, We Are Awesome.

For further information, images or interviews, please contact Joanne Rose-Innes via email joanne@byinviteonly.co.za or telephone on 079 9022 286.