Celebrating Black History Month and the 50th anniversary of 17 African countries that achieved their independence in 1960, the 20th Annual Cascade Festival of African Films begins on February 5 and continues through March 6. P.C. Peri is a member of the planning committee and of Flying Focus Video, and talks with the Old Mole's Jan Haaken about the festival and several of the films being shown.
As the festival's website points out, "The feature and documentary films that we show, the majority of which were made by African directors, celebrate Africa’s achievements, expose Africa’s failures, and reveal the possibilities for 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 African identity, liberation, emigration, displacement, dictatorship, racism and war, issues of trauma, conflict and reconciliation, peace, truth, justice, forgiveness, and the position of women."
- KBOO