Film Festivals

For over 20 years, I have co-founded and participated in the organization of different international film festivals:

Puerto Rico European Film Festival (FCEPR; San Juan, Puerto Rico)

Since 2022, I serve as director of the Puerto Rico European Film Festival, the island’s leading showcase dedicated to European cinema. Organized by the Alliance Française de Puerto Rico, the festival presents new films from across Europe, while also fostering intercultural dialogue through special programs such as CineConexión, the Cortadito Film Lab and CineGira. Today, the FCEPR stands as the only European cultural film platform in Puerto Rico, a space where cinema becomes a bridge between Europe and the Caribbean.

Tarifa – Tangier African Film Festival (FCAT; Tarifa, Spain and Tangier, Morocco)

Since 2004 I have been part of the founding team of the Tarifa-Tangier African Film Festival (FCAT), where I have developed key areas such as the press office, the Aula de Cine Africano seminars, and the industry forum Árbol de las Palabras. Conceived as a bridge between Europe and Africa at the Strait of Gibraltar, the FCAT has grown into one of the most important African film festivals in the Spanish-speaking world, uniquely celebrated across two continents in Tarifa (Spain) and Tangier (Morocco).

Slum Film Festival (SFF; Nairobi, Kenya)

I am one of the co-founders of the SFF, the first film festival featuring stories from, by and about people living in urban slums, as well as in marginalized communities around the world. Since its creation in 2010, the festival is run annually by an independent community organization in Nairobi. SFF works to offer free film screenings within local communities with limited or no access to cinema, and to promoted filmmaking as a tool for change and education within informal settlements.

OTHER FILM FESTIVALS

I have also participated in the following international film festivals, as a volunteer, project manager, translator, film programmer and jury member:

Puerto Rico Queer Film Festival (Queer Filmfest; San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2022) – Volunteer

Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF; San José, California, 2017 and 2018) – Project Assistant

United Nations Association Film Festival (UNAFF; Palo Alto, California, 2017) – Volunteer

Cortos Rek! Film Festival – Senegalese Short Film Competition (Dakar, Senegal, 2015) – Jury Member

European Film Festival of Seville (SEFF; Sevilla, Spain; 2014) – Translator

Durban International Film Festival (DIFF; Durban, South Africa; 2013) – Project Manager (Talent Press)

European Film Festival of Kenya (Nairobi, Kenya; 2011, 2012) – Project Manager and Film Programmer

Festival de Cinéma “Retour d’image” (Paris, France; 2006) – Communications and Production Assistant, Internship

On MY BLOG you will also find most of my recent reflections on cinema and while working at film festivals.

  • Consecutive translation of Ghanian activist Abou Sene at the FCAT 2020 in Tarifa, Spain.
  • Celebrating 18 years of the FCAT with part of the team in Tarifa, Spain.
  • Virtual film industry panel coordination at the FCAT 2020 from Tarifa, Spain.
  • Virtual film industry forum coordination at the FCAT 2020 from Tarifa, Spain.
  • Moderating virtual film festival industry panel at the online 2020 FCAT.
  • Festival Q&A translation of Libyan documentary-maker Naziha Arebi at the 2019 FCAT in Tarifa.
  • Moderating the African film distribution panel at the 2019 FCAT’s “Palaver Tree” forum in Tarifa, Spain.
  • Operations team of SVAFF 2018 in San Jose, California.
  • Announcing award at the 2015 CortosRek festival in Dakar, Senegal.
  • Presenting with fellow film festival jury members at the closing ceremony of 2015 CortosRek festival in Dakar, Senegal.
  • Film presentation of Rwandan filmmaker Kivu Rihorahoza at the 2015 FCAT in Cordoba, Spain.
  • “Palaver Tree” industry-forum at the FCAt 2015 in Cordoba, Spain.
  • Conducting a film industry panel at the 2015 FCAT’s “Palaver Tree” Professional Forum in Cordoba, Spain.
  • Moderating film critic panel at the 2015 FCAT in Cordoba, Spain.
  • Presenting Kamya sisters’ feature-length fiction film at the 2014 FCAT in Cordoba, Spain.
  • Translating industry panel for Kamya sisters at the 2014 FCAT in Cordoba, Spain.
  • Talent Campus Durban 2013, South Africa
  • Slum Film Festival team photo at the 2011 SFF closing ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Community event at the Slum Film Festival 2011 in Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya