Category: General News and Updates

SACFEST is DIPFASOCASOCA’s signature annual event that provides a platform for showcasing and celebrating local arts, culture, and heritage.

The multi-day festival features diverse programming including:

• Performances – music, dance, theater, comedy, slam poetry, storytelling
• Film screenings – spotlighting both DIPFASOCASOCA productions and works by local filmmakers
• Art exhibitions – galleries displaying paintings, photography, sculptures, and more by local artists
• Fashion shows – highlighting traditional attire and contemporary designs
• Cultural demonstrations – workshops on local crafts, cooking, traditional healing
• Games tournaments – competitions in traditional sports and games
• Lectures – talks, panels, and presentations on issues related to arts, culture, and development

Key goals of SACFEST:

• Provide exhibition and performance opportunities to both established and emerging artists in various disciplines
• Foster appreciation and community pride for local culture and traditional arts
• Facilitate cultural exchange and networking amongst artists and organizations
• Entertain and educate the general public on the diversity of local arts and culture
• Promote DIPFASOCASOCA’s mission of using arts and culture for community development

The festival is attended by thousands from across the region over 2-3 days. It has become a highly anticipated annual celebration and retention of local cultural heritage. DIPFASOCASOCA utilizes the event to identify promising artists to potentially work with on future productions and projects.

DIPFASOCASOCA’s capacity building initiatives aim to nurture talent and train the next generation of artists to create works that positively impact their communities.

Some key activities include:

• Workshops – Intensive training workshops focused on building skills in filmmaking, writing, acting, music production, and more. Local and international experts are brought in as facilitators.
• Mentorship – Budding artists are paired with more experienced creatives who coach them on honing their craft and using it for social benefit.
• Contests – Competitions like short film contests, poetry slams, photography exhibitions allow young artists to showcase their talents.
• Career guidance – Seminars provide guidance on turning artistic passions into professions, accessing funding, and managing the business side of being an artist.
• Networking – Events and showcases provide platforms for artists to connect with each other, potential collaborators and mentors.
• Apprenticeships – Hands-on training opportunities allow artists to work directly with DIPFASOCASOCA’s production teams on shoots, performances and other projects.
• Resource provision – Grants and seed funding are provided to deserving artists and collectives to help bring their socially impactful projects and productions to life.

The program prioritizes developing skills for youth, women, disadvantaged populations, and those with artistic talent but limited opportunities. Ensuring diversity allows more voices and perspectives to be amplified through the power of arts.

DIPFASOCASOCA leverages the power of arts and media to advocate for social causes, raise awareness on key issues, and influence policies that strengthen arts/culture.

Some core focus areas of our advocacy efforts include:

• Gender equality – Films, theater, and artworks that promote positive gender portrayals, women’s empowerment, and tackle issues like domestic violence.
• Health awareness – Using entertainment and arts to increase public understanding on diseases like HIV/AIDS and sickle cell anemia.
• Child protection – Advocating against problems like child labor, lack of access to education, and early marriage.
• Peacebuilding – Promoting messages of non-violence, tolerance, resolving conflict through art.
• Environmental conservation – Using creative mediums to shed light on ecological crises.
• Disability rights – Giving artists with disabilities platforms to showcase their talents and tell their stories.
• Policy reform – Lobbying government for increased public funding and support for the arts and culture sector. Strengthening free expression policies.

DIPFASOCASOCA carries out advocacy through:

• Productions – Films, plays, paintings, photo projects focused on social issues.
• Outreach campaigns – Using artworks for community engagement/dialogues.
• Petitions and proposals – Putting forward policy recommendations to government bodies on supporting arts and culture.
• Partnerships – Collaborating with NGOs and activists to develop impactful advocacy strategies.

The ultimate goal is to drive awareness, debate, policy changes and lastly positive behavior change on important social concerns through creative and engaging advocacy.

DIPFASOCASOCA facilitates the creation of artistic works and media focused on social issues as tools for public awareness and community development.

Types of productions include:

• Short films – Powerful short documentaries and dramas aimed at specific issues like gender inequality, health, etc. Often used in outreach campaigns.
• Feature films – Full length narrative films embedding social messages within an engaging storyline and characters. Made for theater release.
• Documentaries – In-depth investigative docs shedding light on community issues and uplifting change-makers.
• Theater productions – Original plays and skits performed live, often followed by interactive discussions. Tackle pertinent social topics.
• Talk shows – Interactive discussion shows providing platforms to marginalized groups and showcasing local arts/culture.
• Animations – Creative animated shorts made to appeal to youth and simplify complex social concepts.
• Photography exhibits – Poignant photos highlighting real people and stories, mounted in communities.
• Music videos – Using Afrobeat, hip-hop and other popular music to convey uplifting messages.

Goals of productions:

• Entertain and engage wide audiences on issues impacting their communities.
• Catalyze conversations, reflections and attitude shifts around social concerns.
• Provide models of positive gender portrayals, non-violence, diversity, etc.
• Showcase African creativity, talent and storytelling to global audiences.
• Create opportunities for artists to develop their skills through collaborations.

The productions aim to nurture art that uplifts, educates and provokes social change.