Pre-Festival Community Celebration

Free First Thursday at the Portland Art Museum

Kick off the 36th Cascade Festival of African Films by celebrating African cinema in the heart of the city. CFAF partners with the Portland Art Museum for a special Free First Thursday community gathering that brings film, visual art, music, and conversation together.

Experience CFAF beyond the theater as PAM CUT at The Whitsell becomes a vibrant meeting place for storytelling across disciplines. Explore the newly redesigned museum and the Black Art and Experiences (B.A.E.) Galleries, honoring the depth, creativity, and vitality of Black artistic expression through rotating exhibitions, multimedia works, and community-driven programming.

Thursday, February 5 | 12:00–7:00 PM
Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave.

Opening Festival Film + Filmmaker Q&A

Be part of an unforgettable celebratory Opening Night as CFAF launches its 36th festival with Portland local film screening of The Bride Price, a heartfelt dramedy. Setting the evening tone with a spectacular live performance and post-screening Q&A with local filmmakers Director Ime Etuk and Writer/Producer George N. Faux.

Friday, February 6 | 7:00 PM (Doors at 6:00 PM)
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd.

African Diaspora Meets Chinese Culture

CFAF’s Centerpiece Film, Black Tea, gently explores themes around unexpected connection and the courage to begin again across cultures. Directed by internationally acclaimed filmmaker Abderrahman Sissako, the film brings together African and Asian worlds through an intimate, deeply human story.

Friday, February 20 | 7:00 PM (Doors at 6:00 PM)
Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy Blvd.

Family Fest + Marketplace Day

Family Fest and Marketplace Day brings the festival’s spirit into a joyful, all-ages gathering rooted in the African diaspora and the Portland community.

The day features family-friendly film screenings alongside interactive activities and a vibrant marketplace showcasing local and regional African diaspora vendors. From handmade crafts and art to fashion and food, the marketplace creates a welcoming space to connect, celebrate, and support community creativity.

Film programming includes youth-friendly selections followed by The Wall Street Boy, a gripping Kenyan feature that sparks conversation across generations.

Saturday, February 28 | 1:00–6:00 PM
PCC Cascade – Moriarty Auditorium
Marketplace open prior to screenings

African Literature on Screen

This year’s festival highlights the powerful intersection of African literature and cinema—stories that have shaped generations, reimagined through film by visionary African and Pan-African filmmakers.

Selections include cinematic adaptations and literary inspirations drawn from some of the continent’s most influential voices, exploring themes of womanhood, political resistance, faith, memory, and power:

• So Long a Letter — Based on Mariama Bâ’s acclaimed novel, examining love, marriage, and modern womanhood in Senegal
• The Man Died — Inspired by Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka’s prison memoir, a defiant portrait of artistic resistance
• Katanga: The Dance of the Scorpions — A bold reimagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth through West African history and myth

Thanks to our partnership with Multnomah County Library, you can head over to their table and discover what other African Literature has graced the world of cinema.

Women Filmmakers Week March 5–7

Women Filmmakers Week spotlights bold, intimate, and powerful works by women directors from across Africa and the diaspora. These films explore identity, migration, resilience, memory, and belonging—centering women’s lived experiences with depth and nuance.

From documentary to narrative cinema, the week amplifies voices that challenge systems, honor interior worlds, and reframe the global cinematic landscape through women’s perspectives.

Featured films include works from Senegal, South Africa, and Cape Verde, culminating in a closing night celebration led by a woman filmmaker.

Closing Night Celebration

Close the festival with Hanami, a visually poetic and emotionally resonant film from Cape Verde, directed by Denise Fernandes.

Set on a remote volcanic island, the film follows Nana, a young girl searching for belonging after her mother’s mysterious departure. Sent away for healing, Nana discovers strength, identity, and what it means to stay when everyone else wants to leave.

This special evening marks both the conclusion of Women Filmmakers Week and the 36th CFAF season—an invitation to reflect, celebrate, and look ahead.

Saturday, March 7 | 7:00 PM (Doors at 6:00 PM)
Tomorrow Theater, 3530 SE Division St.

CFAF Curated African Films with Kanopy

Discover more films during our festival. Thanks to our partnership with Multnomah County Library*, you can enjoy a curated film list via Kanopy. Free for anyone with a library card and a streaming device. You can view our collection of films we have shown throughout our history and learn how to access our featured film list online.

*If Multnomah County Library doesn’t serve your area, check with your local library to see if our curated list of films is available on their streaming platform.