Causes

Arts & culture Diversity & inclusion International affairs

Posted by

Chike N.

Founder & Executive Director

Our mission

Founded to confront the sad reality that after over 50 years of post colonial rule in Africa, most of Africa's narrative is still presented to the world through a foreign lens with narratives that have created blurred interpretations and perceptions of Africa and Africans, the Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) promotes an understanding and appreciation of Africa and Africans through moving images and, crucially, provides audiences with exquisite lenses to the real Africa. The annual showcase includes a mix of feature films, shorts, documentaries and animations from Africa's seasoned and emerging filmmakers.

What we do

In fulfillment of its mission, the Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF):
1.) Curates a world-class festival of African films and provides our audience access to the richness, diversity and vitality of Africa's creative
expressions.
2.) Promotes cultural literacy through post-screening dialogues, community and school outreach so our audiences can engage and interact with African filmmakers on issues of personal, local and global significance.
3.) Promotes ideas exchange and collaborations between American and African film industry practitioners.

Programs:
1.) The annual Silicon Valley African Film Festival:
Our flagship program is the annual film festival that is held every October. The annual showcase provides African visual storytellers a platform to share their stories with our world. Silicon Valley African Film Festival recognizes and celebrates the creation and discovery of cinematic art and innovation, while connecting artists of almost every ethnic group, innovators, cinema lovers and students in a journey across the vast richness of the African Continent. Highlights of the weekend festival include: screening of over 80 films from about 30 African countries, live performances, an African marketplace, fashion show, visual arts exhibition, dialogue with filmmakers in attendance, panel discussions, community forums, food, awards ceremony, etc.
2.) African Cinema Cafe Series: Year round community screenings of select films from our weekend festival in community spaces. Our cafe series is our community outreach, partnership and audience development program. It offers us the opportunity to take films to the people in more intimate settings with the flexibility to present films that speak to specific audiences on their own turf. We use film as a vehicle for dialogue and celebrate its power to inspire and catalyze change.
3.) Africa in the Classroom Film Series: Our school engagement initiative brings curriculum related films to local elementary, middle and high schools for use in classrooms. SVAFF sends facilitators to present the films and engage students in conversations. Some schools sometimes opt for a more elaborate assembly style presentation that includes our African drumming and dance ensemble.