Rewind: Highlights from the 21st Annual Cascade Festival of African Films

Opening Night : Djimet Dogo
(photo: Bob Holmstrom)
A Screaming Man opened the 21stAnnual Cascade Festival of African Films (CFAF) at the Hollywood Theatre, filling the theater to capacity. The evening started with an invigorating and rhythmic performance by Mounafanyi, a percussion and dance ensemble led by master drummer Kerfala Bangoura of Guinea. CFAF had hoped to have Chadian director Mahamet-Saleh Haroun on hand to introduce his film and launch the festival, but Mr. Haroun was unfortunately unable to secure a visa for travel to the U.S. In his place, local Chadian Djimet Dogo, Africa House program coordinator, served as the after-film speaker, helping expand festival goers’ knowledge of Chad and the political and cultural context of the film.

Cambria Matlow
(photo: Bob Holmstrom)
Our centerpiece film, The Athlete, earned another capacity crowd thanks to its truly inspiring story. From Ethiopia, the film profiled the great Ethiopian marathon runner, Abebe Bikila, the first black African Olympic gold medalist, who, despite becoming a quadriplegic, went on to enjoy considerable success in other sports.

Baba Wagué Diakité awards a prize book to a lucky raffle winner
(photo: Bob Holmstrom)
The festival ended as it does each year with Women Filmmakers Week. The 21st annual festival highlighted documentaries and feature films made by women from Ghana, Kenya, Mali, South Africa, and Uganda.
Closing night found Moriarty Auditorium at capacity once again, with additional crowds nearly filling the overflow theater in Terrell Hall 104 as well. After raffle tickets were drawn and winners announced, audiences enjoyed the final film of the festival, White Wedding. The popular South African road film explores more than just wedding planning, also having much to say about friendships, traditions, honesty, and love.