16th Montreal International Black Film Festival – September 23 to October 4, 2020 LiveEvents September 17, 2020 1387 16th MONTREAL INTERNATIONAL BLACK FILM FESTIVAL: 120 FILMS FROM 30 COUNTRIES + IMPACTFUL SPECIAL EVENTS! Innovative, Strong, Diverse and Bold programming – Amplifying even more Black Voices! Canada’s biggest Black Film Festival, the Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF), returns for a meaningful 16th edition that promises to inspire through a strong, diverse, and bold programming, available entirely ONLINE across Canada and around the World, which highlights important topics such as the Environment, Immigration, Music, Human Rights, Women’s Rights, Systemic Racism, LGBTQ identity and Black Lives Matter. The Cuban The Festival will open on Wednesday, September 23 at 7PM with a Canadian film, Sergio Navarretta’s The Cuban starring Louis Gossett Jr. Then at 11PM, 120 uncut films from 30 countries, will be available ONLINE until October 4. This year’s edition will close with Sonia Lowman’s Black Boys, produced by NFL New Orleans Saints’ safety Malcolm Jenkins. All Access Passes – giving access to the whole film selection ONLINE – are available for purchase for a special price of $49 at the Festival’s website. “The mission of the Montreal International Black Film Festival has always been to foster diversity off and on screen while opening our eyes to Black realities through rich and daring films from around the globe. This historic 2020 Online edition highlights the tales and events that have challenged conventions, left a distinctive mark on our times, and changed how we see the world. We feel privileged to be able to amplify the voices of more Black Filmmakers at such an important time in our history.” Said Fabienne Colas, President and Founder of the MIBFF Mahalia Melts in The Rain The Festival programming features a record of 120 films from 30 countries including Canada, Haiti, South Africa, USA, France, Colombia, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Brazil, UK, Martinique, Burkina Faso, Spain, Senegal, Italy, Kenya and more. Inspiring stories that combine cultural heritage, the struggle against injustice, and inequality with passion, determination, strength, and great feats. Some of this year’s must-see films are: Back of the Moon, Binti, Lusala, The Cuban, The Last Tree, We are the Heat, Black Boys, Kenbe Fem, Mrs. F, T Gros, Land of Dry Bones & more! MUST SEE PANELS AND EVENTS: The MIBFF BLACK MARKET space dedicated to the cinema industry with some powerful & FREE panel discussions: • Racebending in Film and Television: How do we Change and Overcome this Practice? • Black Stories Matter: How to Get More Authentic Black Stories Produced on Film & TV? • Show me the Money? How can Black Creators and Producers Access Funding Equitably? • Black Women Behind the Lens: Overcoming Industry Obstacles and Getting their Films Produced. • Meet the Filmmakers: Meet several Filmmakers of this year’s festival, in this interactive and informative panel. The MIBFF IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD – which this year will give youth FREE access to a movie discussion on September 25 at 7PM at the Cultural and Community House in Montreal North. The evening will open with the short Mahalia Melts in The Rain by Carmine Pierre-Dufour and Emilie Mannering followed by the mid-length documentary Briser le Code by Nicolas Houde Sauvé. A Q&A discussion with Carmine Pierre-Dufour and Fabrice Vil – moderated by Nadège St-Philippe, will follow the screenings. Anita A movie-discussion celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Haitian film ANITA directed by Rassoul Labuchin, starring TiCorn, Chantal Guerrier and Magalie Marcelin – will be presented FREE online. Also introducing this year, the PUBLIC’S CHOICE AWARD! Every MIBFF All Access Pass holder will be given the opportunity to vote for their favourite films on the Festival’s online streaming platform in the following categories: Narrative Features, Feature Documentaries, Mid-Length Documentaries, Narrative Short Films, Documentary Short Films. Winners will be announced on Monday, October 5. To see more details and buy your All Access Pass visit: www.MontrealBlackFilm.com #MIBFF20
