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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 2015)
February 4, 2015 The Portland Observer Black History Month Page 5 The film ‘Half of a Yellow Sun,’ follows the upheaval of civil war in Nigeria and opens the 25th annual Cascade Festival of African Films on Friday, Feb. 6 at the Hollywood Theater. Portland Com- munity College’s Cascade Campus in north Portland hosts the other 34 films in the series, which runs through March 8. Lessons in Conflict continued from front More than 5,000 people attend the festival annually. All films will be shown in the Moriarty Arts and Humanities Building on the Cas- cade Campus., with the opening night and the centerpiece film screenings at the Hollywood The- atre. The festival is free and open to the public. "The Cascade Festival of Afri- can Films is one of the most exciting and treasured educational and cul- tural events in Portland," said long- time film festival organizer Mary Holmstrom, who is a native of South Africa. The series not only enlightens and educates Americans about Af- rica through films by Africans, but it also provides Portland-area Afri- can immigrants and refugees with the opportunity to be represented and understood when their respec- tive cultures are brought to life on the big screen, Holmstrom said. This year, the Cascade Festival of African Films offers a Retrospec- tive Series of the festival's top-10 films through its 25-year history on each Sunday of the schedule. In addition, there will be a Student Fest for high school and college-age stu- dents, and a Family Fest featuring films for children. Women Filmmak- ers Week will welcome four female directors to PCC for panel discus- sions about their films. Another highlight from this year festival takes place on opening night with a screening of "Half of a Yellow Sun" at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6, at the Hollywood Theatre. Based on the award-winning novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the film balances deep per- sonal drama against a broad canvas of national upheaval. Beginning with Nigeria's independence in 1960, the film centers on twin sisters from a prominent Lagos family who make very different life choices. The film's showing is followed by a discus- sion with director Biyi Bandele. Family Fest Matinee will be hosted by Baba Wagué Diakité of Mali and features the film "Felix" at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Moriarty Auditorium. The film cen- ters on 13-year-old Felix's dreams of becoming a saxophonist like his late father, but his mother thinks jazz is the devil's music. When Felix is awarded a scholarship for grade eight at an elitist private school, he defies his mother and turns to two aging members of his father's old band to help him prepare for the school jazz concert. For a complete Cascade Festival of African Films schedule and run- down of films, visit africanfilmfestival.org. A small group of girls from war-torn Somalia are the subject of a poignant local film about Somali girls form southeast Portland that come together to play basketball in a local recreation league. “Lessons of Basketball and War,” examines the roots of conflict between Somali ethnic groups and the challenges faced by those who attempt to resolve it here in Portland.