Cascade Festival of African Films Celebrates 25 Years

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Kemea Smith, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Half of a Yellow Sun screening on Friday February 6th.

Portland Community College's 25th Cascade Festival of African Films, the longest-running African film festival in the U.S., will bring 34 films and 10 film directors to Portland this February.

The festival opens Friday Feb. 6, and will feature a film by Nigerian filmmaker and playwright, Biyi Bandele, titled Half of a Yellow Sun.

The second weekend of the festival will be a tribute to Nigeria’s emerging contemporary film industry, otherwise known as “Nollywood”.

Overall the festival will celebrate Black History Month (February) and Women’s History Month (March), and showcase the top-10 films through its 25-year history on each Sunday of the festival.

A Women Filmmakers Week will bring four female directors for a panel discussion about their films. Their will also be a Family Fest featuring films appropriate for children, and Student Fest for high school and college students. Discussions will be held after each evening screening, by individuals who are experts of the region shown in the film.

This year’s festival will kick off with a 25th Annual Kickoff Gala. Enjoy a night of African food, music, drink and dancing on Thursday, February 5th.

The Cascade Festival of African Films was founded by Portland Community College (PCC) faculty back in 1991. The festival now features 34 feature and documentary films. Over 5,000 people attend the festival yearly. PCC library, has one of the biggest African film collections in the Pacific Northwest.

25th Annual Kickoff Gala, North Star Ballroom, 635 North Killingsworth Court in Portland, 6 pm to 10 pm, Thursday, February 5, $15-$25. Buy tickets HERE. See the complete Cascade Festival of African Films schedule HERE.

Homepage Photo Credit: Electro Chaabi