Fogo Island faces significant change as residents confront the loss of their homes. Once lively, the community is now shrinking due to environmental shifts. Some inhabitants, including Norman Foley and Joseph Dwyer, choose to remain, reflecting on their past connections to the island. As they grapple with nostalgia and grief, the film captures their stories and the challenges of staying in a place that is fading. The documentary runs for 61 minutes and premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.

Deep Dive

Why Watch

See Fogo's unique take on isolation.
Meet the diverse cast including Norman Foley.
Find out about its Cannes Film Festival screening.

Did You Know

Fogo was screened at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.
The film has a runtime of 61 minutes.
It is a collaboration between Canada and Mexico.

Perfect For

International film enthusiastsDrama loversCannes Film Festival followers

Read full Deep Dive →

Frequently Asked Questions

Who directed the film Fogo?

Fogo was directed by Yulene Olaizola.

What year was Fogo released?

Fogo was released in 2012.

How long is the film Fogo?

Fogo has a duration of 61 minutes.

Awards & Festivals

Cannes Film Festival

2012 • Official selection

Awards & Festivals

Comments

What are people saying?

Play More Like This

28m

Alaska's Vanishing Native Villages

2025•28m•★8.0TMDB

Alaska Native villages face existential threats from climate change, prompting relocation efforts and urgent discussions on preserving their cultural traditions.

Alaska's Vanishing Native Villages

2025

1h37m

Newtok: The Water is Rising

2022•1h37m

Newtok lost 16 feet of land in just four days, as rising waters threaten the community's drinking water source and ancestral hunting grounds.

Newtok: The Water is Rising

2022

22m

The Tropical Paradise Being Swallowed By The Pacific

2018•22m

Kiribati, a nation of 115,000 people, faces the imminent threat of disappearing due to rising sea levels caused by climate change.

The Tropical Paradise Being Swallowed By The Pacific

2018

29m

The Catastrophic Fogo Eruption of Cape Verde

2018•29m

The 1995 eruption of Fogo volcano in Cape Verde forced the evacuation of residents, highlighting the emotional and logistical challenges faced by authorities.

The Catastrophic Fogo Eruption of Cape Verde

2018

44m

Float-House Resurrection

2023•44m

A resident in Port Protection has lost close to a foot of buoyancy in their float house over the past three years due to environmental changes.

Float-House Resurrection

2023

44m

Rising from the Ashes

2023•44m

A 100-mile round trip is required to transport a fireboat for repairs after a devastating house fire claimed the life of a community elder.

Rising from the Ashes

2023

47m

Journey to the 'Real Greenland': Behind the Headlines

2026•47m

If the entire ice sheet in Greenland were to melt, global sea levels would rise by 7 meters, impacting communities worldwide.

Journey to the 'Real Greenland': Behind the Headlines

2026

26m

They Live on an Active Volcano – By Choice

2026•26m

Heimaey, the only inhabited island in the Vestmann Islands of Iceland, is home to 4,500 residents who choose to live alongside the ever-present threat of volcanic eruptions.

They Live on an Active Volcano – By Choice

2026

30m

Iceland - Living with Lava

2025•30m

Grindavik, a town in southern Iceland, faces ongoing challenges as residents choose to remain despite the dangers posed by six volcanic eruptions and government evacuation orders.

Iceland - Living with Lava

2025

20m

Beauty and Blood In The Faroes

2016•20m

Thousands fill the Town Square to celebrate Olaf Saka, a Norse King slain in 1030, while the community maintains ancient traditions amidst modern pressures.

Beauty and Blood In The Faroes

2016

51m

The True Cost of Clothing - True Story Documentary Channel

2021•51m

The clothing industry has seen a decline in prices over decades, while the human and environmental costs, highlighted by figures like Stella McCartney and Vandana Shiva, have surged dramatically.

The True Cost of Clothing - True Story Documentary Channel

2021

25m

By The River

2020•25m

Varanasi, a sacred city along the Ganges, features 'death hotels' where Hindus await death for liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

By The River

2020

Explore Fogo

Trailer Cast & Crew Awards Deep Dive Topics FAQ Stream

Where else to watch

1h32m

Ostrov - Lost Island

2021•1h32m•★7.2TMDB

On the remote island of Ostrov in the Caspian Sea, inhabitants rely on poaching to survive after being abandoned by the Russian state post-Soviet Union.

Ostrov - Lost Island

2021

1h21m

Blue Breath

2018•1h21m•★5.7TMDB

Ribeira Quente, a fishing village in the Azores, faces challenges as traditional fishing practices decline amid the pressures of modernity.

Blue Breath

2018

1h28m

The Last Igloo

2019•1h28m•★7.7TMDB

Zacharias Kunuk constructs an igloo in the Arctic, highlighting traditional hunting methods and the impact of climate change on indigenous communities.

The Last Igloo

2019

1h30m

People of a Feather

2012•1h30m•★7.5TMDB

Inuit communities on the Belcher Islands face significant challenges as climate change alters their traditional hunting practices and environment.

People of a Feather

2012

1h21m

The Islands and the Whales

2016•1h21m•★5.2TMDB

A local professor finds evidence of marine pollution that threatens the traditional whale hunting practices in the Faroe Islands.

The Islands and the Whales

2016

1h50m

Behind 'The Cove'

2015•1h50m•★4.8TMDB

On March 31, 2014, the International Court of Justice ordered Japan to stop its Antarctic whaling program, prompting a response from local filmmakers.

Behind 'The Cove'

2015