BRISTOL, United Kingdom, 14 July 2026: Fifty years after Jaws made the arrival of a great white shark the stuff of cinematic terror, the Shark Town documentary premiere in Bristol tells the opposite story: what happens when the great white sharks on which Gansbaai’s prosperity depended disappear from a bay once known as one of the world’s leading destinations for viewing this remarkable apex predator.
The collaboration brings together Gansbaai-based Marine Dynamics’ decades of marine research, conservation and ecotourism expertise with Hermanus-based Rockpool Media’s international documentary filmmaking experience, creating a film grounded equally in science and cinematic storytelling.
Rockpool Media and Marine Dynamics’ extraordinary shark story reached UK audiences with the premiere of Shark Town at the Bristol Megascreen, Bristol Aquarium. The documentary explores the disappearance of great white sharks from the South African fishing village once known as the Great White Shark Capital of the World. The arrival of orcas and other environmental pressures transformed the marine ecosystem and the community built around it.
The Bristol audience was drawn into a story that reverses the familiar Jaws premise. Here, it is not the arrival of a shark that threatens a seaside town, but its absence. The screening was followed by a Q&A with Richard Peirce and The Shark Trust CEO, Paul Cox, exploring the science, conservation questions and human consequences behind the film. The premiere raised funds for The Shark Trust, the UK-based charity working to safeguard sharks, skates and rays through science, policy and public engagement.
Presented by British author and conservationist Richard Peirce, and inspired by his book Orca, the one-hour documentary follows four British shark experts and selected “Shark Towners” as they examine the forces behind the disappearance and the efforts to secure the future of the town, its community and its marine life. With international distribution by Limonero Films, Shark Town combines striking natural history footage with rigorous research and first-hand accounts from the people whose lives were transformed by great white sharks.
Communicating science through world-class filmmaking has become an increasingly important part of protecting marine ecosystems. For Marine Dynamics, the film forms part of a broader commitment to conservation through education, research and responsible marine tourism, recognising that powerful storytelling is increasingly important in building public understanding and support for ocean conservation.
For the Cape Whale Coast, the UK Shark Town premiere brings positive international attention to a region whose identity and economy are closely tied to the ocean. The film moves beyond the spectacle of sharks to examine the ecological changes, livelihoods and conservation questions reshaping one of the world’s best-known marine destinations, and how bronze whaler sharks have moved into the habitat once occupied by great white sharks, continuing to attract shark enthusiasts from around the world.
“For Rockpool Media, the project reflects a growing focus on elevating Cape Whale Coast brands to international excellence. Shark Town begins in a small fishing village, but it speaks to global questions about conservation, tourism and the way coastal communities respond to ecological change. We are proud to have helped bring this story to the screen and to see it premiered in support of the vital work of The Shark Trust in the UK and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust in South Africa.”
Anton Leach, Rockpool Media
The UK premiere builds on growing international interest in sharing this Overstrand story with audiences worldwide as distributor Limonero Films brings the authentic Shark Town story to the international market. The film represents years of collaboration between filmmakers, tourism stakeholders, scientists, conservationists and local community members, bringing together perspectives that are seldom seen in a single production. The partnership also highlights the growing role filmmakers are playing in producing globally relevant conservation case studies, connecting local environmental stories with global audiences and stakeholders.
Media contact
Anton Leach | Rockpool Media
anton@rockpool.media | +27 63 021 6457 | +27 63 383 6038
Christine Wessels | Marine Dynamics
pa@marinedynamicstravel.com | +27 66 185 0860
