by Mandla Dube,

opens the 13 th Montreal International Black Film Festival

as a Canadian Premiere

Wednesday, 27 September 2017, Cinéma Impérial, 7PM.

Montreal, September 6, 2017 – The Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF), created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, begins its 13 th edition with the Canadian Premiere of Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu, by Mandla Dube from South Africa. The opening ceremony will be on Wednesday, 27 September, 7PM at Cinéma Impérial – in the presence of the film director. Also, the Official Selection of Seattle Intl Film Festival and of Durban Intl Film Festival, Kalushi: The story of Solomon Mahlangu will kick off the MIBFF’s official competition.

Kalushi tells the dramatic and tragically short life story of activist and freedom fighter Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu, a young man from the impoverished Mamelodi township who was beaten and executed by the apartheid regime for a crime he did not commit. The film takes viewers on a riveting journey during which we rediscover the contribution made by Mahlangu and those who moulded and inspired him.

“We are pleased and proud to open the Festival with such a powerful and emotionally charged biopic! The very first narrative feature film on Kalushi, a hero of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa.” MIBFF president and Founder Fabienne Colas stated. “This film corresponds to one of the missions of the MIBFF which is to highlight stories and people who were not afraid to make their voices heard, overcame conventions, dared to claim their rights and change the state of affairs,” she concluded

“…this powerful, sometimes shocking account of the life of the apartheid martyr, Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu, frequently benefits from a strong central performance by Thabo Rametsi…” – The Seattle Times
“Kalushi is an admirable, audacious, potent and chilling historical account of the life of struggle stalwart Solomon Mahlangu that comes at a timely moment in South Africa.” – Sowetan Live

“Kalushi as a film is not grief porn or trauma tourism; it is a sensitive piece of cinema that has been made by a nuance addict.” – Mail & Guardian

The 13 th Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF), the brainchild of the Fabienne Colas Foundation, will be held from September 27 to October 1st, 2017.

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 film festival in Canada entirely dedicated to black reality from all four corners of the globe. It aims to offer the public the most spectacular productions in black cinema, in addition to being a place to debate the great cultural, social, and socio-economic issues facing society. The objective of the MIBFF is to promote the development of the independent film industry, and showcase more films on black realities across the world. The festival seeks to prioritize those other films: those films from here and from abroad that do not necessarily come under the spotlight, a new cinema that moves its audience and raises awareness – and a few eyebrows. And in doing so, the aim is to address issues and showcase art that makes you think and smile, and provokes, bewilders, and shocks you—a new, fresh look at black cinema from all four corners of the globe! www.montrealblackfilm.com

Keep on top of the latest festival news:
www.montrealblackfilm.com
www.facebook.com/blackfilmfestival / www.twitter.com/filmblackmtl
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For more information, interviews, and promotional material:
Coordinator (French-speaking): Fadwa Lapierre – fadwa@montrealblackfilm.com – 514 884-9545
Press agent (English-speaking): Danny Payne – danny@montrealblackfilm.com – 514 621-8657