THE SMILE & WAVE FILM CLUB

Africa’s 25,000-mile shoreline represents some of the world’s most
vibrant, untapped surf and coastal culture. Spanning 39 coastal nations,
THE SMILE & WAVE FILM CLUB champions local creators, amplifies
coastal stories, and places professional-grade equipment and
opportunity directly into the hands of local legends!

SEE AFRICA STOKED!
Across the continent, African storytellers possess unmatched access, cultural depth, and coastal knowledge. Yet, local creators still face severe barriers: a lack of professional hardware, media infrastructure, and global distribution channels. While international production crews visit, shoot high-end footage, and leave, they rarely invest in local talent, leave behind production suites, or establish long-term revenue streams for host communities.

THE SMILE & WAVE FILM CLUB
initiative bridges this gap. By equipping local storytellers with shared 4K hardware pipelines, specialised training, and elevated media channels, our community film programs turn regional point breaks into sustainable creative hubs—owned, filmed, and celebrated by the communities that live them.

  • The Hardware Bottleneck: High import tariffs and prohibitive equipment costs restrict local videographers from accessing professional-grade tools. Our fund-raising for 4K cinema bodies, audio gear, underwater housing, and lighting eliminates their single biggest operational barrier.
  • Skill Sharing & Technical Upskilling: We bridge the gap between casual event coverage and global-tier production through targeted workshops in log workflows, color grading, sound design, and precision drone cinematography.
  • Distribution & Global Visibility: We work to expand local reach—moving beyond localized social feeds to an international media hub that puts African creators and their work on global screens.

"Stories allow us to see through the eyes of others, to feel their joys and struggles, and to bridge the distance between cultures.” — Ken Burns

“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope…” — Nelson Mandela

Joe Pistorius in a cap, a lighthouse and the sea behind him

JOE PISTORIUS CREATIVE PRODUCER

Born in the small town of Rusape, near the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe, Joe’s career began with production of Africa’s first-ever, full-length, stop-frame animated feature film. With 25 years of experience across live-action and animated filmmaking in Africa, Joe is a creative producer who thrives on building strong teams around special ideas. He has served studios including Walden Media, BBC One, Spyglass, Reliance, Starz, Triggerfish and Sunrise on shows like Black Sails, Invictus, Roots, Dredd, Black Mirror, The Giver, Khumba, and Jungle Beat. Joe has also produced content for major global sports brands including UEFA, Juventus FC, and England Rugby. After several years of research and development for THE SMILE & WAVE FILM CLUB, Joe is now part of a collaborative African network of storytellers, film crews, musicians, and athletes across the continent. His creative production approach is purpose-driven, deeply agile, and culturally authentic.

BETTER TOGETHER

Journey with us along Africa’s 25,000-mile
coastline by joining our club mailing list.

Map of Africa with a pin on São Tomé e Príncipe

39 COASTAL NATIONS

Follow along as new programs launch in each
of Africa’s 39 coastal nations!