11th Montreal International Black Film Festival

To Know Where You’re Going, Know Where You Come From

The Montreal International Black Film Festival celebrates History from Martin Luther King to Malcom X and of course Rosa Parks, with a bold, diverse and meaningful programming.

Canada’s biggest black film festival, the Montreal International Black Film Festival, is returning with a rich and bold programming honouring Afro-American History. The programming includes the “Black Market”, exciting special events, the “Cinema Without Borders” professional development activities program for the youth from the South, tributes, attendance of international guests and much more. In addition, the MIBFF will debut an exhibition and after parties. Moviegoers will get the chance to watch uncut, quality films; feature-length, mid-length, shorts, documentaries and narrative films will all be presented, most making their Canadian debut! Festival-goers will also get the chance to see actors and directors from all corners of the globe sharing their passions. And there’s something for everyone!

Some of the highlights include: Sweet Mickey for President, The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, Selma, Breathe Umphefumlo, Dennis Rodman’s Big Bang in Pyongyang, Dry, Terrible love, Manos sucias (Dirty Hands), White water, En quête d’identité, Thina Sobali (The two of us), Una vida: Of Mind and Music, 3 ½ minutes – ten bullets, Game Face, O KA (notre maison), My father’s land, La belle vie, Imperial dreams, Battle dream chronicle many more! Productions are divided into several categories: drama; art, poetry, and music; comedy; accomplishment or portrait; Haitian films; identity, history, and traditions; immigration and segregation; bullying; and the human condition.

After the success of its 10th anniversary edition, the MIBFF continues its innovation with a variety of entertaining events that transcends borders, where the past meets the present.

A SYMBOLIC CONTEXT: SPECIAL AMERICAN PROGRAM

2015 is a symbolic year of many ground-breaking anniversaries in American history: 50 years since the historic march from Selma to Montgomery led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; 60 years since Rosa Parks’ refusal to surrender her seat to a white passenger on a public bus in Montgomery, initiating a new era in the American quest for freedom and equality; and 50 years since the assassination of human rights activist Malcolm X. The 11th MIBFF is proud and honoured to be featuring a strong and significant Special American Program that will give Montrealers access to more independent films, actors, speakers and American directors. This Program includes tributes, screening of 20 films which include the festival’s opening and closing films, an exhibition on 25 trailblazing Afro-American women, movie discussion on the power of non-violence and the Festival’s Kick-off Party.

2015 also marks the 5th anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. To commemorate this event, the festival chose to open with an excellent film that unveils an important chapter in Haiti’s political history.

Complete program and tickets: www.montrealblackfilm.com

TRIBUTES AND HONORARY AWARDS

TRIBUTE TO MARTIN LUTHER KING III
Tuesday, September 29, 7pm, Imperial Theatre | $25
Human rights advocate, community activist and political leader Martin Luther King III will receive the Montreal International Black Film Festival’s 2015 Humanitarian Award on opening night. As the oldest son of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther King III is carrying the family torch and pursuing equality and justice for all people. The MIBFF is thrilled to grant him this prestigious award in recognition of his involvement in significant policy initiatives to maintain the fair and equitable treatment of all citizens, at home and abroad. The tribute will precede the screening of the opening film, Ben Patterson’s Sweet Mickey for President.

TRIBUTE TO PAUL HAGGIS & DAVID BELLE
Friday, October 2, 7pm, Cineplex Odéon du Quartier Latin | $20
Paul Haggis, Canadian Oscar winning director (founder of Artists for Peace and Justice – APJ) and David Belle, filmmaker, CEO of APJ and founder of Ciné Institute (Jacmel, Haïti), will receive the 2015 Social Impact Award in recognition of their important contributions to Haitian education and social justice. This double tribute will precede the screening of 5 films directed by graduates of Ciné Institute (Jollywood, the new wave of Haitian cinema) who have been invited as part of the Cinema without Borders (The Fabienne Colas Foundation’s Youth & Diversity Program) followed by a Q&A with Haggis, Belle and the graduates.

OPENING AND CLOSING FILMS

OPENING FILM – BEN PATTERSON’S SWEET MICKY FOR PRESIDENT
2015 Audience Award and Jury Award for Best Documentary at Slamdance
Tuesday, September 29, 7pm, Imperial Theatre | $25
Quebec Premiere: Music and politics collide when international music star, Pras Michel of the Fugees, returns to his homeland of Haiti after the devastating earthquake of 2010 to mobilize a presidential campaign for Haiti’s most controversial musician: Michel Martelly, aka Sweet Micky. The film features: Pras Michel, Michel Martelly (Sweet Micky), Wyclef Jean, Sean Penn, Ben Stiller, President Bill Clinton, Mirlande Manigat, René Préval… Sweet Micky for President is Ben Patterson’s first feature film.  Patterson is the founder of Onslot Creative, where he built a reputation as a soughtafter visual content director for brands and artists. Hosted by Pras Michel, Grammy Award-winner and founder of Fugees.

CLOSING FILM – STANLEY NELSON’S THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGARD OF THE REVOLUTION
2015 Official Selection at Sundance International Film Festival
Sunday, October 4, 7pm, Theatre Hall-Concordia | $20
Quebec Premiere: This feature-length documentary explores the Black Panther Party, its significance to the broader American culture, its cultural and political awakening for black people, and the painful lessons wrought when the movement derailed. Master documentarian Stanley Nelson goes straight to the source, weaving a treasure trove of rare archival footage with the voices of the people who were there: police, FBI informants, journalists, white supporters and detractors, and the Black Panthers who remained loyal to the party and those who left it. Stanley Nelson is Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker, MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, and member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Oscars). He was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama in August 2014. The festival closing and awards ceremonies will precede the screening.

MOVIE-TALK: THE POWER OF NON-VIOLENCE
Wednesday, September 30, 7pm, D.B. Clarke Theatre (Concordia) | $20
Presented as part of the International Day of Peace, the screening of SELMA, the story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic struggle to secure voting rights for all people, will precede a panel discussion on The Power of Non-Violence: An interfaith perspective on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with guest of honour, Martin Luther King III. Hosted by Laura Gallo, the panel includes: Révérend Darryl Gray, special assistant to the national president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; Dr. Victor Goldbloom, President of the Christian Jewish Dialogue of Montreal; Afra Jalabi, Journalist and peace activist; Thupten Jinpa Langri, Writer and English translator to the Dalai Lama.

EXHIBITION: WE HAVE A DREAM
September 30 – October 4, 5pm-10pm, Former ONF| Free Entry
Proudly showcasing 25 trailblazing African-American women with lasting legacies, including Rosa Parks, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Harriet Tubman, Alice Walker, Angela Davis and Oprah Winfrey, in a “We Have a Dream” exhibition. The goal of this exhibition is to showcase the stories of African-American women who have made history through their struggles, fights, advocacy and audacity. These women have made the United States and North America a much better place, and serve as excellent role models to inspire others to break down barriers of injustice… and dare to dream a bigger dream.

THE MIBFF BLACK MARKET
The MIBFF Black Market is back with internationally renowned industry professionals, experts, intellectuals, and visionaries. Our guests will share an exciting blend of cutting-edge thinking and real world experience on today’s most critical filmmaking issues. This year, the MIBFF Black Market presents:

  • A panel discussion on the realities of North-south co-productions featuring film icons Souleymane Cissé, Abderrahmane Sissako, Moussa Touré and Pierre Magny.
  • The Youth and Diversity program’s Cinema without Borders project, created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation and presented by Transat, gives five young graduates from Jacmel, Haiti’s Ciné Institute the chance to take advantage of a professional development trip during the MIBFF including master classes, workshops, talks and the chance to meet filmmakers from here and abroad. With the support of l’Inis, l’OJIQ.
  • A Jollywood evening featuring the new wave of Haitian film out of Jacmel.
  • A tribute to Paul Haggis, Canadian Oscar winning director and founder of Artists for Peace and Justice and David Belle, director and founder of Ciné Institute.

FESTIVAL AFTER PARTIES
September 29 – October 4, 10pm, Le Petit Olympia & Monument National’s Café Lounge | $15- $20
As a new and exclusive feature of this year’s edition, the festival will be hosting public after-parties with DJs and acoustic concerts by sensational artists. Experience the festival after hours, where you can network and dance to live soul, Hip Hop, Jazz, Afro-Brazilian and Caribbean beats.
Pras Michel, Grammy Award Winner and founding member of The Fugees will host the Festival Kick Off Party at Le Petit Olympia, Tuesday, September 29, 10pm. $20 (in advance).
The Monument National’s Café Lounge After Parties at 10pm include:

  • Afro-Latino After Party with Paulo Ramos, Friday October 2
  • Afro-Caribbean After Party with Senaya, Saturday October 3
  • Jazz Wrap up Party with Dawn Tyler Watson, Sunday October 4

A 3 night Pass for the Monument National Café Lounge’s after parties is available to keep the party going all festival for $30 (excluding Festival Kick Off Party with Pras Michel at le Petit Olympia)!

CINEMA WITHOUT BORDERS: JOLLYWOOD
Thurday October 1 and Friday October 2, 9am-3pm, l’Inis | Free entry for graduates
As a part of the Young & Diversity Program established in 2014, the Fabienne Colas Foundation is encouraging young filmmakers to initiate a dialogue in the international audiovisual industry through the Cinema without Borders program. In the first edition of Cinema without Borders, five young graduates of the Ciné Institute in Jacmel, Haiti, have the opportunity to attend professional development activities in Montreal including masterclasses, lectures, film set visits, city tours and film screenings. This is a great chance for young filmmakers to learn and gain exposure. The five graduates will present their work as part of the movie discussion “Jollywood, a new wave of Haitian cinema from Jacmel, Haiti” in the presence of David Belle (director and founder of Ciné Institute) and Paul Haggis (Oscar Winning director and founder of Artists for Peace and Justice).

VENUES

  • Imperial Theater: Centre Sandra et Leo Kolber: 1430, Rue de Bleury
  • Cineplex Odéon du Quartier Latin: 350, Rue Émery
  • Former NFB Cinema: 1564, Rue St-Denis
  • Concordia University (DB Clarke Theatre et Theatre Hall): 1455 Boul. De Maisonneuve Ouest
  • L’inis (Institut national de l’image et du son) : 301, Boul de Maisonneuve Est
  • La Perle Retrouvée: 7655, 20e ave
  • Le Petit Olympia: 1282, Rue Amherst
  • Café Lounge du Monument National: 1182, Boulevard St-Laurent
Complete program and tickets: www.montrealblackfilm.com   514-882-3334