DjarFogo International Film Festival

DjarFogo International Film Festival His Excellency, Mr. President of the Republic of Cabo Verde, Jose Maria Pereira Neves, will chair the opening night of DIFF22. Canon Burbank, U.S.A.

🎥 DIFF25 ignites the screen with powerful African and Diaspora stories, honoring 50 years of Cape Verdean independence through the lens of freedom, fire, and fearless cinema. The 2nd edition of the DJÂRFOGO International Film Festival (DIFF) will take place on the island of Santiago and Fogo, Cabo Verde, West Africa, from November 7 to November 12, 2022. With more than 570 films submitted, the DIF

F22 will select 125 films, short and feature, which includes 25 competing for nine award prizes in all categories. DIFF22 aims to bring over a hundred filmmakers and guests worldwide, showing 125 short and feature films. DIFF22 is one of a kind because it provides free training in film production through practical workshops and masterclasses to encourage and awaken the archipelago, West Africa, and the Diaspora young people, especially those on the island of Fogo, Cabo Verde. We focus on teaching all aspects of film production and visual arts to promote and exhibit independent African cinema, emphasizing C.P.L.P., West Africa, and the Diaspora. All without any financial burden to this next generation of African filmmakers. A nonprofit organization sponsors DIFF with a fiscal sponsor, "Creative Visions Foundation," a 501©️ 3 organization based in Malibu, California, the U.S.A., with its headquarters in Los Angeles and Cabo Verde. It serves as a mentor at the Cabo Verde International Film and Audiovisual School and aims to raise awareness, train, and educate disadvantaged young Africans in visual arts and cinema. Thus, reducing poverty, appreciating African culture, and promoting tourism. Your sponsorship will significantly impact and provide a potent educational opportunity for youth to understand the World and Black Cinema. It will help bring directors, producers, students, professors, and investors across the Diaspora, United States of America, Europe, and Africa to Cabo Verde. More than a million people watch our program, including Cape Verdeans from the Diaspora, broadcast live streaming in 2022, making it one of the largest Cabo Verde film festivals. The 2nd edition will pay homage to OUSMANE SAMBÈNE, the father of African Cinema, and SAFY FAYE, the first Sub-Saharan African female to direct a commercially distributed feature film. The homage list includes filmmakers from several nations, including Dom Pedro, Chike Nwoffiah, Manthia Diawara, Idriss Diabaté, Pedro Costa, Rui Simões, and others. All this activity directly reflects on Fogo's international projection and mainly on the socio-economic development, valuing the island as a World Biosphere Reserve, approved by UNESCO in 2020, as well as contributing to the creation of brand images of local and country products. The program's cultural diplomacy and multiculturalism help promote sustainable local development strategies. For the DIFF22 to be successful and achieve its goals, we must form partnerships and raise funds to cover all the expenses of 235,000.00 US Dollars. A detailed budget is available upon request. All contributions to the DIFF are tax-deductible, and the Employer ID number is available upon request. TXAN FILM WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING DCFIFF PARTNERS. Mount Saint Mary's University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; actor, activist, and producer Danny Glover, Marcus Garvey School, Consulate of Cape Verde Boston, (USA), National Institute of Cinema of Guinea-Bissau, Fespaco, Amílcar Cabral Foundation, Padre Pio Gottin, Casas Do Sol Auditorium, EME-Marketing e Eventos, Lda, Vinha Maria Chaves, Água do Fogo, PBS Professional Art Communication and Tourism, Sociedade Intercultural Morabeza, Lda., Cape Verde Cinema and Audiovisual Association, Municipality of Praia City, Isatour, Lda, Raiz di Polon, Casa Marisa, Municipality of Santa Catarina do Fogo, Municipality of Mosteiros, Delegation of the Ministry of Education, Binter Airlines, Humana Skala (Cape Verde), Real Ficção, (Portugal) Afrykamera Festival (Poland), Lusiadas University (Angola). Also, we thank you for the institutional support of UNESCO, The Community of Portuguese Language Countries, Pedro Pires Institute, Fundação Infância Feliz, Fundação José Maria Neves, Los Angeles Valley College, Los Angeles City College, Pan African Film & Arts Festival, F.E.S.P.A.C.O., BadWest-Black Filmmakers West, and the International Documentary Association, California City Arts Commission, Directors Guild of America, Pan African Film & Arts Festival, and many others. For more information about the festival, please visit
www.djarfogofilm.org. Awards & Prizes
Award:
- Best Narrative Feature
- Best Documentary Feature
- Best Short Film
- Best Short Documentary
- Best Student Short
- Best Animated Short

Jury Award:
- Best Feature Film
- Best Actress
- Best Actor
- Best Cinematography
- Best Director

Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking:
- Directing
- Feature Film
- Acting
- Screenwriting
- National Film
- Cinematography
- Editing
- Short Film

08/11/2025

To the people of São Vicente,

Our hearts are with you.
The storm has taken lives, shattered homes, and shaken your island — but it will never break your spirit.

We at the DjârFogo International Film Festival stand in solidarity with all who are grieving and those facing the hardest days ahead. In this dark hour, your resilience is the light that will lead the way forward.

We are here. We stand with you. Always.

DjârFogo International Film Festival

🎬 SUBMISSIONS CLOSED✅ Thank you to all filmmakers who entered  !📌 Want to submit your film?Request a waiver code now:👉 f...
08/11/2025

🎬 SUBMISSIONS CLOSED
✅ Thank you to all filmmakers who entered !

📌 Want to submit your film?
Request a waiver code now:
👉 filmfreeway.com/DjarFogoInternationalFilmFestival

🌍 | |

🔥 FINAL CALL: 2 DAYS LEFT! 🔥The DjârFogo International Film Festival (DIFF25) has extended its submission deadline — but...
07/31/2025

🔥 FINAL CALL: 2 DAYS LEFT! 🔥
The DjârFogo International Film Festival (DIFF25) has extended its submission deadline — but only for TWO MORE DAYS!

🎥 Share your story.
🌍 Join a movement that celebrates freedom, heritage, and bold cinema.

📌 SUBMIT NOW → https://filmfreeway.com/DjarFogoInternationalFilmFestival

07/19/2025

DIFF25 — Cinema as a Weapon of Freedom!

The journey continues. From Santiago (Nov 3–5) to Fogo (Nov 6–8), DIFF25 expands its bold cinematic wave across Cape Verde. We honor Souleymane Cissé — the lens of African freedom — alongside tributes to Ana Maria Cabral and Adélia Pires, icons of resistance and independence.

The grand finale in Guinea-Bissau salutes Flora Gomes and Sana Na N’Hada — pioneers who turned the camera into a weapon for freedom.

Join the movement. Submit your film and be part of Africa’s rising cinematic force.
👉 https://filmfreeway.com/DjarFogoInternationalFilmFestival
[email protected]

The first chapter of DIFF25 in Sal has come to a powerful close.From classrooms to cinemas, we witnessed the transformat...
07/06/2025

The first chapter of DIFF25 in Sal has come to a powerful close.

From classrooms to cinemas, we witnessed the transformative power of African and Diaspora cinema — igniting hearts, minds, and futures.

Last night’s closing at TUI Care Foundation lit a new spark in young storytellers, bold filmmakers, and our shared community. This is not just a festival — it’s a movement rising from the volcanic soul of our islands.

Sal holds a special place in our hearts — the warmth, curiosity, and powerful welcome from the children and youth reminded us why we do this work. Their voices are the future, and they welcomed us with open arms and unstoppable energy.

As Director Guenny K. Pires shared in his interview with RTC’s Moisés Évora:
“We are not just screening films — we are planting seeds of courage, culture, and creative resistance for the next generation of storytellers across Africa and the Diaspora.”

A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors, partners, donors, filmmakers, and the brilliant Txan Film / DIFF crew for your tireless dedication to elevating African, Diaspora, and Global South cinema.

📣 DIFF25 Sal award winners will be announced Monday, July 7 at 11:59 PM PST.

The future of cinema is African — and the time is now.

🎬 Africa Film Lab Ignites DIFF25!This morning, DIFF25 opened in Sal, Cape Verde with the Africa Film Lab at Olavo Moniz ...
07/03/2025

🎬 Africa Film Lab Ignites DIFF25!
This morning, DIFF25 opened in Sal, Cape Verde with the Africa Film Lab at Olavo Moniz High School — working hands-on with students from 1st to 12th grade to spark the next wave of African storytellers.

Under the theme:
“Through the Lens of Freedom: Celebrating 50 Years of Cape Verdean Independence,”
we're not just teaching film — we’re shaping a cinematic future rooted in identity, resistance, and vision.

🔥 From the classroom to the volcano, this is storytelling reborn.

Thank you to our sponsors, partners, donors, filmmakers, students, teachers, board directors, and advisors for making our 5th anniversary edition unforgettable.

🎥 Tonight – Film screening
📽️ Tomorrow – Screenings in Santa Maria + Pedra de Lume
🏆 Closing Ceremony – Santa Maria

The fire continues.



🎬✨ It’s Officially Underway! Welcome to Day 1 of the DjârFogo International Film Festival (DIFF25)! 🌋🇨🇻 This morning mar...
07/03/2025

🎬✨ It’s Officially Underway! Welcome to Day 1 of the DjârFogo International Film Festival (DIFF25)! 🌋🇨🇻 This morning marked the launch of the 5th edition of DIFF25 on the beautiful island of Sal.
Join us for an extraordinary week that celebrates cinema, culture, and connection right here in Sal, Cape Verde! With over 75 films and filmmakers from more than 50 countries, masterclasses, networking sessions, and so much more, this is set to be a truly unforgettable experience! 🌍🎥 Together, we honor the 50 years of Cape Verdean independence!
This year, DIFF25 goes beyond a traditional festival—it’s a powerful platform to honor African and Diaspora narratives, nurture young talent, and elevate Cape Verdean cinema on the global stage.
🖤 Cinema. Identity. Community.
🎭 Screenings | 🎓 Africa Film Lab | 🌐 Film Market | 👗 Fashion & Culture
🔥 Stay tuned for behind-the-scenes insights, filmmaker spotlights, and daily highlights!

🎬🔥 DIFF25 KICKS OFF TODAY!Join us for the official opening of the DjârFogo International Film Festival📍 Olavo Moniz High...
07/03/2025

🎬🔥 DIFF25 KICKS OFF TODAY!
Join us for the official opening of the DjârFogo International Film Festival
📍 Olavo Moniz High School, Espargos – Sal Island
🕙 July 3 at 10:00 AM

A celebration of cinema, culture, and 50 years of Cape Verdean independence begins now!
Let the storytelling begin 🎥🌍

💻 Can’t join us in person?
We’re live on Zoom!
🔗 Zoom Link to DIFF25 Opening Ceremony

🎬 DIFF25 Officially Launches Tomorrow in Sal, Cape VerdeOpening Ceremony Set for July 3 at 10:00 AM at Escola Olavo Moni...
07/02/2025

🎬 DIFF25 Officially Launches Tomorrow in Sal, Cape Verde
Opening Ceremony Set for July 3 at 10:00 AM at Escola Olavo Moniz

The DjârFogo International Film Festival (DIFF25), an ambitious platform for African and Diaspora cinema, officially opens tomorrow, July 3 at 10:00 AM, with a vibrant Opening Ceremony at Escola Olavo Moniz, Espargos, Sal, Cape Verde.

Now in its landmark fifth edition, DIFF25 unfolds under the powerful theme:
“Through the Lens of Freedom: Celebrating 50 Years of Cape Verdean Independence.”

The festival marks a symbolic and celebratory journey across Sal, Santiago, Fogo, and Guinea-Bissau, culminating in December 2025. DIFF25 was created to spotlight Black narratives, amplify underrepresented voices in global cinema, and ignite cultural dialogue through powerful storytelling.

“We created DIFF to give space to the stories that history tried to silence. As we celebrate 50 years of Cape Verdean independence, we’re reclaiming our narratives—through cinema, through mentorship, through community.”
— Guenny K. Pires, Founder & Executive Director, DIFF

📅 DIFF25 – Sal Island Program Highlights
📍 Espargos & Santa Maria | July 3–5, 2025

DAY 1 – Thursday, July 3
📍 Escola Olavo Moniz, Espargos

🕙 10:00 AM – Official Opening Ceremony

Welcome by DIFF Executive Director Guenny K. Pires

Remarks by Professor Gil Vera Cruz

Keynote address by local community leaders

Launch of the Africa Film Lab Youth Mentorship Program

🕕 6:30 PM – Opening Night Screenings
🎬 The Birth of a Nation by Lennart Malmer (Guinea-Bissau, 48 min)
A rare cinematic document of Guinea-Bissau’s 1973 independence declaration, captured in Super 16mm.
🎤 Live Zoom Q&A with the director, moderated by Prof. Joseph Jordan (UNC Chapel Hill)

🎬 The Volcano’s Last Wish by Guenny K. Pires (Cape Verde, 25 min)
A poetic reflection on ancestry, legacy, and storytelling in Chã das Caldeiras.
🎤 In-person Q&A with the director

DAY 2 – Friday, July 4
📍 Santa Maria School & Pedra de Lume

🕙 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
🎥 Africa Film Lab – Filmmaking Mentorship
Hands-On Training Course

Led by award-winning filmmaker and educator Guenny K. Pires, this immersive, youth-focused mentorship provides practical skills in:

🎬 Directing & on-set leadership

✍️ Scriptwriting – from concept to screenplay

🎭 Working with actors

🎥 Cinematography & composition

🎬 Shooting your first short film

🧩 Production planning & career guidance

Empowering new voices across Cape Verde, the lab merges cultural identity with cinematic innovation.

🕓 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
🎬 Short Film Showcase featuring works from CPLP countries, Burkina Faso, and Madagascar

🎬 SILENCE by Medalys Jesmar (Madagascar, 2 min)
A poignant animated short exploring emotional resilience and connection.
🎤 Q&A with the filmmaker

🕕 6:30 PM – Feature Film Screening
🎬 CONTRACT by Guenny K. Pires (Cape Verde / USA / Portugal, 79 min)
A deeply personal docudrama revealing the untold history of Cape Verdean laborers sent to São Tomé under colonial contracts.
🎤 Q&A with the director

DAY 3 – Saturday, July 5
📍 Santa Maria

🎉 Final networking session, community dialogue, and closing reflections with festival guests, filmmakers, and local youth.

✅ About DIFF
The DjârFogo International Film Festival (DIFF) is a nonprofit cultural initiative based in Cape Verde and California. Established in 2019, DIFF champions underrepresented voices in cinema, preserves Cape Verdean and African cultural memory, and fosters creative exchange between Africa and the Diaspora.

Recognized as a national public utility by the Government of Cape Verde and a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the United States, DIFF promotes cinematic freedom and storytelling rooted in identity, justice, and transformation.

🎟️ ALL EVENTS ARE FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
📍 On-site in Sal, Cape Verde
🌍 www.djarfogofilm.org
📧 [email protected]
🎬 Submit your film: filmfreeway.com/DjarFogoInternationalFilmFestival

📣 MEDIA CONTACT
DIFF Communications Team
📧 [email protected]
📞 +1 (323) 327-8865
📍 High-resolution images, logos, and press kits available upon request

06/30/2025

🎬 A CALL TO CELEBRATE THE POWER OF STORYTELLING 🌍 THE 5TH DJÂRFOGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FES...

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Los Angeles, CA

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