Raising Awareness of the Cascade Festival of African Films
Posted by anne.grey | Start the discussion
Presenters: John Mery, Amy Corliss, and Eugenie Jolivett Fontana
Summary
In this presentation, John Mery, Amy Corliss, and Eugenie Jolivett Fontana—joined by faculty librarian Veronica Vichit-Vadakan and founding board member Michael Dembrow—highlight the history and educational value of the Cascade Festival of African Films. Founded in 1991 by four PCC faculty members, the festival is the longest-running annual, non-commercial, volunteer-run African film festival in the United States. Over five weeks each February, the festival offers free screenings of 25 to 30 feature films, documentaries, short films, and family-focused features created exclusively by African directors.
The presenters demonstrate how PCC faculty can integrate these films into their courses to give students global perspectives across disciplines such as history, political science, art, and health care. Beyond screenings, the festival engages students directly through an annual poster design contest and interactive Q&A sessions with filmmakers and community members. Additionally, the team highlights the Cascade Campus Library’s special collection of nearly 300 festival films available on DVD and streaming platforms for classroom and personal use.
Presentation Outcomes
- Understand the history, mission, and community impact of the Cascade Festival of African Films at PCC.
- Identify strategies for incorporating festival films and Q&A sessions into winter term course curricula.
- Access the Cascade Campus Library’s specialized collection of nearly 300 African films on DVD and streaming services.
- Engage students with hands-on festival projects, such as the annual student poster design project.
- Connect with festival organizers and committees to foster intercollegiate and community partnerships.
Post generated by CTLE Web Designer Gem on 08/12/2026
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