17th MIBFF: OMAR SY HONORED AT THE MONTREAL INTL BLACK FILM FESTIVAL + 134 FILMS FROM 30 COUNTRIES!
#MIBFF21 celebrates the Francophonie by paying tribute to
Omar Sy, Martine Chartrand & Firmine Richard
Program also starring Colin Kaepernick, Quincy Jones, Aïssa Maïga, John Lewis, Megan Rapinoe, Jesse Williams, Omar Sy, Tommie Smith, Catherine Frot, Jennifer Holness, Sol Guy, Danny Blanco Hall, and more!
A necessary Hybrid Festival for our Times – Innovative, Strong, Diverse and Bold Programming Amplifying even more Black Voices!
Full Program, All Access Pass & Tickets: www.MontrealBlackFilm.com
The 17th Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF), created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation,
co-presented by Quebecor and Desjardins from September 22 to October 3, 2021
Montreal, September 1, 2021 – Canada’s largest Black Film Festival, the Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF), returns with a meaningful 17th edition that promises to inspire through bold programming – online and in person – September 22 to October 3, 2021. This year, the Festival is honored to present the MIBFF 2021 Career Achievement Award to Cesar winning actor Omar Sy (Lupin, The Untouchables); award winning Haitian-Canadian visual artist and filmmaker, Martine Chartrand (Black Soul, MacPherson); and Guadeloupean/French activist and actress, Firmine Richard (8 women, La première étoile). All three Honorary Guests will sit down with MIBFF President and Founder Fabienne Colas to discuss, in an intimate conversation, their respective career evolution, their journey to success and the importance of Diversity off and on screen today.
The #MIBFF21 will present 17 World premieres, 9 International premieres, 40 Canadian premieres et 35 Quebec premieres. Opening night will take place on Wednesday, September 22 at 7PM at the Imperial Theatre with Glenn Kaino & Afshin Shahidi’s With Drawn Arms, a feature documentary about track-and-field gold medalist Tommie Smith who famously raised a gloved fist at the ’68 Olympic games to protest racial inequality in America. Then at 9PM, 134 uncut films will be available ONLINE until October 3. #MIBFF21 will close with Claus Drexel’s narrative feature, Under the Stars of Paris. The film tells the story of a homeless women in Paris who meets an orphaned 8-year-old Eritrean boy. Bound by their marginal conditions, they embark together on an emotional journey to find his mother in Paris.
This 17th edition’s programming gives a nod to the Francophonie, highlighting prominent local and international. MIBFF’s film selection is from 30 countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, France, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Ivory Coast, Martinique, Nigeria, Peru, Qatar, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and more.
Some of this year’s must-see films, in person and online, include Rumba Kings, Subjects of Desire Regard Noir. Belly of the Beast, Since I Been Down, Another Paradise, Poppie Nongena, The Special, Under the Stars of Paris, With Drawn Arms, Under the Stars of Paris, Uprooted and more!
Passes range from $69 to $119 and individual tickets range from $8 to $25 and available for purchase on the Festival’s website.
“We are beyond grateful for the opportunity to present another extraordinary MIBFF edition so we can spotlight Black films and filmmakers who normally wouldn’t be seen or heard. They don’t lack talent, they just lack opportunities. The festival allows us to celebrate them by going beyond ‘awareness’ with concrete ‘actions’ to foster the inclusion of diversity off and on camera. It is also a true privilege to honour exceptional artists like Omar Sy, Martine Chartrand and Firmine Richard who have shown us that when given the opportunity, Black filmmakers and actors can do wonders and inspire the world. Cheers to our first hybrid edition!” – Fabienne Colas, President and Founder of MIBFF.
THE MIBFF BLACK MARKET
Co-presented par Patrimoine Canadien, la SODEC, Téléfilm Canada, Bell Fund
ONLINE ONLY with MIBFF All Access Pass at $119 | MIBFF Black Market Pass at $69
The MIBFF Black Market, an initiative of the Fabienne Colas Foundation, is now devoted entirely to Industry professionals. During this series, the workings of the film industry will be the subject of discussions and exchanges while aiming to confront ideas and facilitate the acquisition of knowledge.
INTIMATE CONVERSATIONS
- An Intimate Conversation with OMAR SY: Omar Sy opens up about his career trajectory, the success of Lupin and moving to the US from France, the importance of Diversity off and on screen and what’s next for him. Presented in French with English subtitles
- An Intimate Conversation with TARAJI P. HENSEN: (Rebroadcast from earlier this year at the Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF)), Academy Award nominated actress Taraji P. Henson talks about her path towards Hollywood fame as a Black actress.
- An Intimate Conversation with MARTINE CHARTRAND: Haitian-Canadian visual artist and filmmaker, Martine Chartrand, is an influential and devoted personality in Canadian animation.
- An Intimate Conversation with FIRMINE RICHARD: Guadeloupean actress and activist Firmine Richard discusses how she got her start on the silver screen in her forties and how she navigated the not always calm waters of the film and television industries.
MIBFF BLACK MARKET INDUSTRY PANELS
- The Filmmaker’s Handbook: What Every New Filmmaker Needs To Know When Making a Film. (Panel in English)
- Le guide des cinéastes: What Every New Filmmaker Needs To Know When Making a Film. (Panel in French)
- Landing the Role: Award-winning actress and acting coach Anik Mattern will be talking with renowned actress, producer & director Tonya Williams about her successful career. (Panel in English)
- Show Me The Money series (Encore presentation): Panel with public funders on where and how creators can get access to grants – in collaboration with the Toronto Black Film Festival (Panel in English)
- Série Où est l’argent (Encore presentation): Panel with public funders on where and how creators can get access to grants – in collaboration with the Toronto Black Film Festival (Panel in French)
FABIENNE COLAS FOUNDATION’S BEING BLACK IN CANADA
Wednesday, September 24, 5:30PM & 9PM | Cinema du Parc
Online, during the Festival, with MIBFF Film Pass at $79 | In person individual tickets at $12
The Fabienne Colas Foundation’s Being Black in Canada incubator, supported 20 Canadians, 18 to 30 years old, from black communities in Montreal, Toronto, and Halifax in the creation of 20 short documentary films (8 to 10 minutes). A unique project that ensures inspiring emerging artists from culturally diverse backgrounds. The screenings will be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers.
MIBFF IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS
presented by Desjardins – FREE | In Person
This initiative allows the youth to have free access to films created by members of the Black communities. The screenings will be followed by a 60-minute discussion with filmmakers.
- Être Noir.e à Montreal de la FFC (Being Black in Montreal 2020 francophone cohort)
Thursday, September 23 | 7PM | Maison de la culture de Montréal-Nord - Kenbe La, de Will Prosper & L’Envol, de Marina Mathieu
Friday, September 24 | 6PM | Maison de la culture de Côtes-de-Neiges
MIBFF KIDS PROGRAM
Sunday, September 26, 9AM to 1PM | Cinéma Beaubien
Online with MIBFF Film Pass at $79 | Individual ticket in person at $6 (12 years & under) – $12 (adulte)
- Jim Button and the Wild 13 by Dennis Gansel (Germany)
- Le Prince Oubliéby Michel Hazanavicius (France) – starring Omar Sy
JURY MEMBERS
Members of the juries will evaluate all the films presented at this year’s MIBFF according to a set of selection criteria and award prizes in the following categories:
Narrative features: President – Ginette Petit, Alexandre Flores, Danny Blanco Hall
Feature documentaries: President – Rosana Roth, Patrick Kabeya, Mahalia Verna
Mid-Length and short films: President – Laurent Maurice Lafontant, Vanessa Rancourt, Mora Etienne
The 17th Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF), created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, will be co–presented by Quebecor and Desjardins
from September 22 to October 3, 2021
www.MontrealBlackFilm.com
Get Social – #MIBFF21
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NB: The Montreal International Black Film Festival takes the safety and health of its staff and the community very seriously and adheres to the evolving health instructions put in place by the Government of Quebec as they arise.
About the Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF)
Created in 2005 by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, the Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF) is currently the largest Canadian film festival entirely dedicated to black realities from all four corners of the world. It aims to offer the public the most spectacular productions in black cinema and debate the great cultural, social, and socio-economic issues facing society. The MIBFF goal is to promote the development of the independent film industry and showcase more films depicting black realities around the world. The festival seeks to prioritize local and international films that do not necessarily come under the spotlight, a new cinema that moves its audience and raises awareness – and a few eyebrows. In so doing, the MIBFF addresses issues and showcases art that makes you think and smile, provokes, bewilders, and shocks you – a new, fresh look at black cinema from all parts of the globe!
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For media inquiries:
Talar Adam
presse@MontrealBlackFilm.com
