Cocoa Summit and Film Screening: Reclaiming Cocoa with Live Q&A

Join the ChocolutionJoin the Chocolution is a movement for chocolate lovers who care where their chocolate comes from—and who it impacts along the way.We create educational, informative, and interactive events that bring people together through chocolate, including tastings, talks, workshops, and creative activities for all ages. Our mission is to centre cocoa-growing communities, raise awareness about injustice in the chocolate industry, and inspire action towards a more responsible and slavery-free future.From small community gatherings to larger events like the Norwich Chocolate Festival, we invite everyone to discover the deeper story of chocolate—and to be part of changing it.

Join the Chocolution

Join cocoa farmers, human rights voices, and industry experts for a dynamic afternoon of dialogue on dignity, justice, & future of chocolate

The Forum

Norwich Chocolate Festival 2025

Norwich Chocolate Festival Fortnight: films, tastings and the Cocoa Summit, centring cocoa-growing community voices for a more Responsible future. Book single events or the Festival Pass. Concessions available, plus reduced-price local tickets.

<h4>The Norwich Cocoa Summit is the flagship event of the Norwich Chocolate Festival Fortnight. Anchored to the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (17 October), this year’s theme — ““Ending Social and Institutional Maltreatment: Ensuring respect and effective support for families living in poverty“” — frames our conversations around dignity, justice, and systemic change.</h4><h4> </h4><h4>This unique event invites Norwich audiences to connect with global voices, share food and film, and take part in shaping new conversations about responsibility, justice, and the future of chocolate.</h4> <h4>Ticket options:</h4><ul><li>Full Package: Summit + Meal + Film — includes entry to both events and a freshly prepared meal from African Kitchen (choice of chicken or vegan option).</li><li>Summit Only — access to the Summit, with light refreshments included (meal not included).</li><li>Film Only — access to the evening screening and Q&amp;A (meal not included).</li></ul><h4>Reduced Price Tickets for Local Residents</h4>We’ve set aside a small number of £20 tickets for the Cocoa Summit and £10 for the screening of Reclaiming Cocoa and The Chocolate War for unwaged local residents who would otherwise not be able to attend. These tickets do not include food, but they do offer full access to the event and discussions.<h4>🧡 Pay It Forward</h4>If you're in a position to help someone else attend, we’ve added a “Pay It Forward” ticket option. Your contribution will go directly towards enabling someone on a low income to take part in the festival.Together, we can open up these important conversations to more people. <h3>Cocoa Summit (13:45–17:15, registration from 13:15)</h3>Across three panel discussions, the Summit will bring together cocoa farming representatives from Ghana and Colombia, human rights advocates, historians, industry experts, and consumer voices:<ul><li>Lived Experience, History &amp; Human Dignity — colonial legacies in cocoa; lived experience of cocoa farmers and communities.</li><li>Power, Policy &amp; Industry Practices — government responsibilities in importing nations; industry accountability, transparency, and systemic change.</li><li>Building a Responsible Future — consumer awareness, action, and collaborative models that genuinely work for cocoa-growing communities.</li></ul>Unlike traditional conferences, the Cocoa Summit is designed as a space for dialogue, not presentations. Panels are conversational, guided by moderators, with space for audience Q&amp;A and participation.This unique event invites Norwich audiences to connect with global voices, learn directly from cocoa farming communities, and take part in shaping new conversations about responsibility, justice, and the future of chocolate. <h4> </h4>

<h3>Evening Screening (18:15–21:30)</h3> The programme continues with the Film Screening of Reclaiming Cocoa by Swiss investigative journalist and filmmaker Philippe Stalder, who will join us in person. The film journeys from cocoa farms in Ghana to chocolate shelves in Switzerland, exposing exploitation, imbalances, and deceptive claims of sustainability, while also highlighting local change-makers building fairer futures.<blockquote>Praised as “a story of resilience, resistance, and hope” (Phil’s Universe) and described as “peeling back the layers of a complex industry, exposing a system rife with exploitation and deception” (Swiss Films), the film is both hard-hitting and inspiring.</blockquote>The screening will be followed by a live Q&amp;A with Philippe and international guests, offering audiences the chance to join the conversation first-hand.

Agenda

Registration opens at 13:15 in the Gallery Entrance. Please do not arrive before this time. The Auditorium Foyer will be open for gathering, but doors to the Auditorium itself will not open until 13:30.

Cocoa Summit Registration

13:45–14:00. Welcome and introduction to the Summit.

Norwich Cocoa Summit – Opening

14:00–14:50. Exploring colonial legacies in cocoa and the lived experience of cocoa farmers and communities.

Panel 1 – Lived Experience, History & Human Dignity

15:00–15:50. Examining government responsibilities in importing nations and industry accountability, transparency, and systemic change.

Panel 2 – Power, Policy & Industry Practices

16:00–16:50. Focusing on consumer awareness, action, and collaborative models that genuinely work for cocoa-growing communities.

Panel 3 – Building a Responsible Future

16:50–17:15. Closing reflections, Q&A, and transition to the meal break (Full Package tickets only).

Summit Close

For those staying for both events, please feel welcome to bring food or visit Cafe Bar Marzano .  

Break

18:00–18:15. Introduction to the film and guests.

Welcome and Intro to Film Screening: Reclaiming Cocoa

18:15–20:15. Screening of Swiss filmmaker Philippe Stalder’s acclaimed documentary, exploring cocoa justice from Ghana to Switzerland.

Film Screening of Reclaiming Cocoa

20:15–20:30. Short interval before the Q&A.

20:30–21:20. Live Q&A with Philippe Stalder and international guests, reflecting on the film and its themes.

Cocoa Summit and Film Screening: Reclaiming Cocoa with Live Q&A

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Cocoa Summit and Film Screening: Reclaiming Cocoa with Live Q&A

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