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Art as a weapon against violence: The role of the festival

QAFF Fundation

In the vibrant corners of Quibdó, where the echo of drums mixes with the murmur of the Atrato River, there is a certainty that permeates everyday life: art has the power to transform. It is a universal language that breaks the silence and restores hope. In this city, where resilience makes its way even in the shadows, the Quibdó Africa Film Festival (QAFF) is much more than a cultural event; it is a space for resistance, dialogue and, above all, peace.

QAFF 2023, Afroneto del grupo Kombilesa Mi de Palenque con los niños de Quibdó
QAFF 2023, Afroneto del grupo Kombilesa Mi de Palenque con los niños de Quibdó

The festival as a space for healing


QAFF is not just a screen that projects films; it is a mirror and a refuge. In a city marked by deep inequalities and constant tensions, the festival becomes neutral ground, a place where stories flow free of the barriers that often divide us.

Through film, the communities of Quibdó find a way to tell their lives, to share their struggles and to imagine a different future. The streets, which were once just roads, are transformed into meeting places, into points of connection where ideas and dreams converge. Each screening and each conversation after the credits become seeds that challenge violence, sowing possibilities for understanding and change.

The festival also draws on the rich heritage of Africa and the diaspora, reminding us that Quibdó is not alone in its story. From the slums of Soweto to the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, narratives of resistance and creativity have shown that when art enters the scene, change is inevitable.


Lessons from the world: when cinema transforms realities


History shows us how cinema has been much more than entertainment. In South Africa, during the dark years of apartheid, films became cultural tools to expose oppression and build a collective consciousness that transcended borders. Productions such as Cry Freedom and local festivals served as platforms to express the truths that the system tried to silence.

In Medellín, a city once synonymous with violence, art and culture led a quiet revolution. Initiatives such as the Medellín International Film Festival used the power of cinema to educate, inspire and reconnect people with their city. Screenings in public squares and marginalized neighborhoods helped transform spaces marked by fear into places of encounter and creativity.

The QAFF joins this tradition, not as a simple replica, but as a unique proposal. It mixes the stories of Quibdó with those of Africa, interweaving narratives that share common roots of resistance and hope.


The power of cinema to imagine a future


In Quibdó, where words like “hope” and “dignity” are acts of courage, cinema has the ability to open windows to new worlds. Each story screened at the QAFF is not only a means of escape, but also an invitation to rethink what is possible. It is a reminder that, even in the most complex contexts, beauty can prevail and art can heal.

The images that cross the screen are not merely distant narratives; they are echoes of the daily lives of those who watch, feel and listen. In a place where dialogue seems unattainable, cinema opens doors to conversations that previously seemed impossible.

The Quibdó Africa Film Festival is not just an event, it is an act of resistance. It is a declaration that art can be the bridge that connects worlds and the language that unites us despite our differences.


Beyond the projections


At the end of the day, the impact of QAFF is not measured just by the films it presents, but by the doors it opens, the conversations it fosters, and the lives it transforms. It is a reminder that while violence may leave scars on a city, creativity has the power to heal them.

With the QAFF as its banner, Quibdó becomes a beacon that lights the way for other cities. From the banks of the Atrato River to the world's movie theaters, this festival teaches us that art not only reflects reality, but can also transform it. In every image projected and in every story told, there is an invitation: to reimagine a future where art is the answer and hope, the result.

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QUIBDÓ ÁFRICA FILM FESTIVAL 

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