Page 55 - DIFF PROGRAMME 2024

WAVESCAPE FILMS
STOKER MACHINE
Darieus Legg, Hawaii, 2024, 12 min, English
21 JULY 12:15 GATEWAY 9 25 JULY 17:30 SUNCOAST 8
US surfer Chad Campbell finds a mysterious surfboard on the big island of Hawaii. The retro board provides only a phone number and an email address as clues to its origin, leading Chad to accidentally uncover a central Californian surf legend, a man called Stoker. Stoker Machine captures the spirit of surfing through surf cinematography with unique, hand- drawn animation and has won eight awards. The film goes beyond the surface-level thrills of surfing and attempts to capture the essence of what surfers call “stoke.” Discover the magical and sometimes funny relationship between surfer and surfboard.
Braiding historical accounts with modern-day testimonials, this film, a journey into Black surfing and aquatic culture, reclaims the 1,000-year-old tradition of Black surfing. It dismantles the racial barriers of conventional surf culture, delving into the overlooked history of Black surfing’s legacy while honouring its current movement. The groundbreaking enquiry of the intersection between sports, culture and history delves into the Pan-African surfing tradition that stretched along the coastlines of West Africa and has since taken root in America. Through captivating storytelling, it inspires the next generation of Black surfers, igniting a wave of cultural resurgence and recognition.
WADE IN THE WATER
David Mesfin, USA, 2024, 60 min, English
21 JULY 12:15 GATEWAY 9 25 JULY 17:30 SUNCOAST 8
45TH DURBAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 53