African Film Festival: February 1 and March 2, 2013

Welcome to the 23^rd Cascade Festival of African Films“

Africa through African Lenses”

February 1 – March 2, 2013
Portland, Oregon

Free and open to the public on a first-come, first-seated basis

We are very pleased to present a variety of feature and documentary films from the African continent. The majority of films were made by African directors. The films celebrate Africa’s achievements, expose Africa’s failures, and reveal the possibilities for change and a more hopeful future. They show us pictures of Africa through the eyes of Africans, rather than a vision of Africa that is packaged primarily for western viewers. The films represent African concerns that are political, historical, and social. This year’s films cover a wide range of themes and topics, including: liberation, freedom and justice; elections and democracy; self-expression through the arts and music; education; sports; health and healing; the search for identity; family and community; and women’s independence.
We view film as a medium for artistic expression and illumination. These films were chosen on the basis of their quality as film and their ability to captivate and move audiences. We also chose them because they represent different countries and cultures and a range of lifestyles from pre-colonial to modern times, including both rural and urban settings. Although it is impossible to represent a whole continent with only a few films, it is our hope that through this annual film series we will encourage American viewers to become interested in African cultures and to study them further.
The 23^rd Festival is dedicated to the memory of Harold C. Williams, Sr. (March 18, 1943–July 1, 2012), a member of Portland Community College Board of Directors since 1990 and long-time beloved community leader. Harold was a dedicated champion of PCC’s Cascade Campus and believed strongly in the festival’s mission of connecting members of Portland’s African-American community with their African heritage. We will miss him deeply.
Construction on two new buildings and a new underground parking structure will limit parking availability during the festival, so please consider taking public transportation, carpooling, or using alternative transportation. For more information on parking, see the PCC Cascade Parking Guide.