The Montreal International Black Film Festival presents 70 films this week

The talent of Black film makers will be in the spotlight this week at the 21st Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF). The event, which will take place from Sept. 24 to 28, will feature 70 films from some 20 countries, including nearly 40 Canadian films.

The festival will feature screenings of both short and feature films, discussions, and will make some films available online for the duration of the event. 

The FIFBM will also offer free performances, notably at the Maison de la culture de Côte-des-Neiges and the Maison d’Haïti, with the aim of democratizing cinema. 

“It’s a festival for everyone, for all those who are curious. For film buffs, of course, because they’re the first to buy their tickets, but also for ordinary people who really just want to have fun, see something different, and travel without a passport,” said Fabienne Colas, founding president of the FIFBM, during a telephone interview. 

The honorary president of this edition of the festival, author Dany Laferrière, will also receive the FIFBM 2025 Grand Prix Tribute during the opening evening. 

Colas said the festival chose to award Laferrière this prize for his literary career, but also for his work in film. She noted that three of the writer’s novels have been adapted for film and that he also directed the film “How to Conquer America,” released in 2004. 

“It’s also a way for us to pay a beautiful tribute to the French-speaking world,” she said. Laferrière succeeds American director Spike Lee, who served as honorary president of the festival last year. 

In addition to his presence at the opening night, Laferrière will offer a master class on Sept. 26 as part of the festival, during which he will discuss the adaptation of literature to film. 

The festival will open Wednesday with the film “Hedda,” by American director Nia DaCosta. It is an adaptation of the 1890 play by Norwegian author Henrik Ibsen. 

“And for the first time, it’s an adaptation that casts a Black woman in this role. So, that alone is pretty exciting. It’s a film to see, it’s a completely different film that will have you glued to your seat,” said Colas. 

Other films expected at the festival include the documentary “Yambo Ouologuem, la blessé,” about the Malian writer and winner of the Renaudot Prize, which will be presented at the closing of the festival. 

Abdenour Zahzah’s feature-length fiction film “Frantz Fanon” will have its Canadian premiere, and Stanley Nelson’s documentary “We Want the Funk!” will have its Quebec premiere.   

“We’d like the public to take away that this is a relevant, impactful festival, and it’s a place where they can see films they won’t see elsewhere. Because not all the films shown at the festival will be shown on platforms or released in theaters. So it’s a unique opportunity to see the majority of these films,” Colas said.

The festival’s founder points out that while the majority of the directors of the films presented at the festival are from Black communities, others are not. 

“For us (the festival), it’s really about what’s on screen. It’s really about celebrating Black talent on screen in leading roles and Black reality brought to the screen,” she said. “It’s a festival that showcases Black realities, Black talent on screen. But the films are made by directors who are Black and non-Black.”

Place for young people

The series “Being Black in Canada,” created by a collective of young Black filmmakers, will also be presented at the festival. 

“For a whole year, we worked with them at the Fabienne Colas Foundation to help them, through mentors we hired, professionals in the field, to make their first short documentary film. And then, they made their film. They come from all over the country, including Montreal, and they will present their film as a Quebec premiere,” explained Colas. 

A pitch session organized by the FIFBM will also allow young emerging Black screenwriters to present their web series projects to eight producers. 

“If we want diversity in front of and behind the camera, these young people have to have a chance to share their ideas, their stories, etc. So that’s what the Montreal International Black Film Festival also offers,” said Colas. 

Other activities in the festival’s program beyond the screenings include a discussion with director Jephté Bastien and a market that will showcase different art forms at the Théâtre Colas, formerly the Théâtre Cartier. 

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews