African and afro-descendant videomakers take part in intensive workshop on Storytelling, Narratives and Power led by New York filmmakers Joe Brewster and Michèle Stephenson
CEsA – Centre for African and Development Studies (ISEG Research/ISEG/Universidade de Lisboa) hosted an intensive training course in video documentary from 16 to 19 June 2025 — from 16 to 18 June at ISEG – Lisbon School of Economics and Management and on 19 June at Associação Passa Sabi — in Lisbon, aimed at African and Afro-descendant videomakers.
Aoaní Salvaterra, David J. Amado, Elísio Bajone, Eugénio Silva (Mushu), Indira (Indi Mateta), Josiana Cardoso and Rogério Dias were selected through an open call (in Portuguese) to participate in this initiative, led by RadaStudio New York filmmakers Michèle Stephenson and Joe Brewster, known for award-winning documentaries such as Going to Mars – The Nikki Giovanni Project (2023), Black Girls Play: The Story of Hand Games (2023) and Elena (2021).
This marked the first time the New York-based filmmakers held a workshop of this kind in Lisbon — a programme that combined technical excellence and creativity with a strong commitment to social activism.
“This workshop is about supporting Black voices, Black narratives and Black cinema. Many of these filmmakers came with ideas and projects already in progress. We’re here to provide the support they need to centre their power and tell their stories in their own terms — in a society where they are not always welcomed,” explained Michèle Stephenson, filmmaker of Haitian and Panamanian descent.
Afro-American filmmaker Joe Brewster emphasised the importance of recognising the narratives of Black and Afro-descendant communities in Portugal.
“Africans and Afro-descendants have been here for hundreds of years, yet they are not represented in statues or among the public figures celebrated for contributing to Portuguese society. Without a narrative, one cannot truly claim agency within civil society — and future generations grow up without reference points. Telling our own stories inspires others and helps the dominant society acknowledge and accept the presence and value of those contributions.”
The initiative was part of the Work Package on Race, Ethnicity and Civic Participation, coordinated by CEsA researchers Iolanda Évora and Jessica Falconi. It served as a methodological tool for approaching civic participation and citizenship through culture — key themes within the European project #DemocracyInAction: Grassroots Culture, Arts and Cultural Spaces for Political Participation and Expression Online and Offline in a Resilient Europe.
CEsA is the Portuguese partner and one of the nine institutions in the European #DemocracyInAction consortium, coordinated by Leiden University and funded by the Horizon Europe programme (2025–2027).
Intensive Workshop
The programme’s main objective was to foster both theoretical reflection and creative practice in storytelling, narratives and power, equipping young audiovisual creators to critically explore storytelling techniques and examine the power dynamics that shape media, historical and cultural narratives.
For David J. Amado, a Jamaican screenwriter and filmmaker, the opportunity to work alongside other Afro-descendant colleagues was inspiring and creatively enriching.
“I’m usually the only Black person in these spaces. Here, I felt safer and more welcomed. The content also speaks directly to our community — about empathy and vulnerability — not only in the characters but also in the director. I’m very grateful for this opportunity.”
The course included 32 hours of classes, covering modules on scriptwriting, interview techniques, editing, and a film lab, where participants were encouraged to develop their own short-film projects under the direct guidance of the trainers.
Trainee Aoaní Salvaterra, from São Tomé and Príncipe, shared her enthusiasm about combining journalism with her passion for documentary filmmaking.
“Documentaries are very close to journalism — they’re about storytelling. Everything made sense to me here — it was like bringing together everything I’ve been doing throughout my life. It reignited the spark,” she said.
The training also included moments of experience sharing and debate on visual representation, identity, social justice, and belonging — central themes in the work of Brewster and Stephenson.
Josiana Cardoso, a Cape Verdean designer and film director of photography, used the experience to reflect on her social role as an artist.
“During the training, it was very important to meet people from different African nationalities and understand how other Black people reflect on our lived experiences. Everyone fights with the tools they have, and people in the arts — especially in audiovisual and cinema — can help build stories and bring them to others, raising awareness for these causes.”
Film Screenings in Lisbon
The filmmakers’ visit to Lisbon concluded with two public screenings: Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project, shown on 20 June at the Cape Verde Cultural Centre; and Black Girls Play – The Story of Hand Games and Elena, on 21 June at Espaço Mbongi (Praceta António Sérgio n.4 A, Queluz). Following the film screenings, the filmmakers engaged in a conversation with the audience and guests, moderated by journalist Paula Cardoso, from Afrolink — a partner in this project.
Read more:
#DemocracyInAction – Project’s website
Author: CEsA Communication (comunicacao@cesa.iseg.ulisboa.pt)
Images: Marianna Rios/CEsA, Personal Archive, and Passa Sabi/Reproduction
