Unless you’re into stillwater trout or are heading off on a Zambezi or Orange trip (happy for you), June and July provide real slim pickings on the fly fishing front in South Africa. Hence the gods smiling down on us by offering up not one but two major international fly fishing film festivals in South Africa during the winter of 2024. While no substitute for the real thing, there’s no shame in getting your kicks and feasting your eyeballs in the comfort of a cozy cinema. The Mission will see you there.
JUNE 2024: Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T)
First up is the return of the Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) in June with shows across Southern Africa. Highlights from this year’s lineup include local-boy-gone-global Si Kay’s What Lies Above; Helmut Zaderer’s Rio de Gigantes looking at massive peacock bass on fly in the Amazon; and Fred Campbell of Hooké’s work on Atlantic salmon called Only The Salmon Know. More trailers here.
Your ticket will not only provide access to the films but great prizes too, from brands the likes of The Mission, Scientific Anglers, and Grey.
- Knysna – Wednesday 29 May. GET YOUR TICKETS via Adventure on Fly.
- Durban – Tuesday 11 June, Barnyard Theatre, Suncoast. GET YOUR TICKETS HERE.
- Johannesburg – Wednesday 12 June. The Tryst, Woodlands. GET YOUR TICKETS HERE.
- Cape Town – Thursday June 13th, The Labia Cinema, Gardens. GET YOUR TICKETS HERE.
- Fothergill Island, date TBC. To get tickets, best you call in some favours from your Zimbo shummers.
JULY: International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4)
The 2024 International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4) selection takes us globe-trotting from hunting Iceland’s sea-run browns in Vivid Dreams, to the South Caicos of the Caribbean, where the same filmmakers exhibit ankle-deep bonefish water. This year’s line-up is humming with stories from the Amazon, Florida, the Bahamas, the Appalachians and Tunulik. Watch all separate trailers here.
As always IF4 has pulled out all the stops with prizes with clobber from The Mission, Yeti, Shilton, Airflo, Fishpond, Abel and more up for (literal) grabs.
- Durban – Wednesday July 17th, Barnyard Theatre, Suncoast. GET YOUR TICKETS HERE.
- Cape Town – Thursday July 18th, Labia Theatre. GET YOUR TICKETS HERE.
- Johannesburg – Thursday July 25th, The Tryst, Woodmead. GET YOUR TICKETS HERE.
Calling South African fly fishing filmmakers
Both IF4 and F3T are seeking South African productions to include in their line-ups this year. The selected films will be screened during the festivals’ runs in South Africa. To submit your film please check out our IF4 post here and the F3T post here for more details – these fests are run independently of each other so separate entries will be required.
