Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF) – September 27 to October 1, 2023

19 years of innovation, showcasing Black talent in front of and behind the camera and reflecting on the issues facing Afro-descendants

Canada’s largest black film festival, the Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF), is back with an exciting 19th edition. Returning in person and online, the MIBFF will offer Montreal audiences innovative, powerful, diverse and bold programming to Montreal audiences! #MIBFF23 will present 75 films from 20 countries, including 5 International Premieres, 6 North American Premieres, 20 Canadian Premieres and 16 Quebec Premieres.

The Space Race

Opening night will take place at the Imperial Cinema at 7:15 pm on Wednesday, September 27 with the Canadian premiere of THE SPACE RACE by Lisa Cortés and Diego Hurtado de Mendoza (USA).  THE SPACE RACE uncovers the little-known stories of the first Black pilots, engineers and scientists to become astronauts. Simultaneously championed and exploited as political pawns, some made it to space, while others were erased from history. For the first time, THE SPACE RACE puts their lived experiences back into the space exploration narrative and uncovers what it means for the next generation of Black astronauts.

Goodbye Julia

#MIBFF23 will close with the Quebec Premiere of Mohamed Kordofani’s film GOODBYE JULIA (Sudan) a red-carpet presentation at Cinéma du Musée at 5pm. The film Goodbye Julia begins in July 2005, in the midst of the aftermath of the Sudanese war. MONA, an upper-middle-class retired singer from the North, accidentally hits a Southern child with her car and drives away. When the child’s father chases her on his motorbike, she calls her husband for help. As soon as she returns home, her husband shoots the chaser dead, not knowing Mona hit his son. Burdened by guilt and depression, Mona covertly searches for the victim’s family to offer some compensation.

Invisible Beauty

A red carpet screening of the film INVISIBLE BEAUTY, directed by Bethann Hardison and Frédéric Tcheng, is also planned for Friday, September 29, at the Cinéma du Musée at 9pm. Fashion revolutionary Bethann Hardison looks back on her journey as a pioneering Black model, modeling agent, and activist, shining a light on an untold chapter in the fight for racial diversity.

“Each year, the Montreal International Black Film Festival celebrates creators who are willing to take a risk by making non-commercial choices, which allows them to tell stories and convey realities that would otherwise not have made it to you. This exciting 19th edition showcases films of all genres from around the globe while putting a special focus on documentary films! What a privilege to be able to continue to showcase exceptional work that did not always make it to the silver screen. By giving a voice to the marginalized and showing films that shatter taboos, our festival’s aim is to promote professional collaboration, foster systemic changes in the industry and the development of independent films – while celebrating diversity on screen. Enjoy your Festival!” – Fabienne Colas, President and Founder of the Montreal, Toronto & Halifax Black Film Festival

The program for this 19th edition covers important topics such as history, social issues, racism, politics, women’s issues, family, fashion, dance and LGBTQ issues. The festival’s rich film selection comes from 20 countries including France, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, Chad, Congo, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Italy, Madagascar, Poland, Sudan and more.

The festival highlights include: The Space Race, Goodbye Julia, Invisible Beauty, Semret, 1960, Mon père Le diable (Our Father the Devil), An Italian Youth, L’argent, la liberté, une histoire du franc CFA, Dancing in A-Yard, A Story of Bones, White Nanny, Black Child, and more!

Festivalgoers can once again experience opening night like a VIP! The $100 ticket will give you access to the red carpet, the opening film screening, the VIP cocktail, the first choice of seating and one pair of complimentary tickets for the 8pm BBIC screening. Other tickets including ALL ACCESS PASSES online for $79, in person for $119; and individual tickets ranging from $12 to $25 are also available on the festival website. Documentary films are presented by the Canada Media Fund.

SPOTLIGHT ON OTHER BLACK ART FORMS – POP UP MARKET | September 30th, 11am – 6pm and October 1st | Afromusée | 10am – 2pm

The Pop-up Market aims to feature talented Black Artists and highlight their original, artistic, and cultural works. Other Black Art Forms can include painting, hairdressing, fashion, decoration, jewelry, accessories, and traditional adornments.

For more information, and to purchase your tickets, visit: www.MontrealBlackFilm.com