Welcome to the Nineteenth Annual Cascade Festival of African Films

February 6 - March 7, 2009

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. 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 the quest for freedom and justice, tradition versus modernity, the unique sounds and history of taarab music, immigration and displacement, Liberia's "iron ladies," and the many facets of love and romance.

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.