{"id":19487,"date":"2023-09-08T12:01:10","date_gmt":"2023-09-08T16:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/montrealblackfilm.com\/?p=19487"},"modified":"2023-09-08T16:08:36","modified_gmt":"2023-09-08T20:08:36","slug":"truthfully-black-celebrating-documentaries-at-mibff-19th-mibff-opens-with-the-space-race-75-films-from-20-countries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/montrealblackfilm.com\/en\/truthfully-black-celebrating-documentaries-at-mibff-19th-mibff-opens-with-the-space-race-75-films-from-20-countries\/","title":{"rendered":"Truthfully Black: Celebrating Documentaries at MIBFF 19th MIBFF: OPENS WITH THE SPACE RACE + 75 FILMS FROM 20 COUNTRIES!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Truthfully Black:<\/strong> Celebrating Documentaries at MIBFF
\n19th MIBFF: OPENS WITH THE SPACE RACE + 75 FILMS FROM 20 COUNTRIES!<\/p>\n

FILMS STARRING: Zendaya, Naomi Campbell, Tracee Ellis Ross, Babetida Sadjo, Zandile Madliwa, Sanda Shandu, Leland Melvin, Guion Bluford, Tyson Beckford, Bethann Hardison and more!<\/strong><\/p>\n

19 years of innovation, showcasing Black talent in front of and behind the camera and reflecting on the issues facing Afro-descendants<\/strong>
\nFull Program, opening night VIP passes, All Access Passes & Tickets: www.MontrealBlackFilm.com<\/strong>
\nThe 19th Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF),<\/strong> created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation<\/strong> and presented by Desjardins from September 27 to October 1st, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

Watch the trailer here<\/a><\/p>\n

Montreal, September 8, 2023 \u2013 Canada’s largest black film festival, the Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF)<\/strong> presented by Desjardins<\/strong>, is back with an exciting 19th edition, from September 27 to October 1, 2023<\/strong>. Returning in person and online, the MIBFF will offer Montreal audiences innovative, powerful, diverse and bold programming to Montreal audiences! #MIBFF23<\/strong> will present 75 films <\/strong>from 20 countries<\/strong>, including 5 International Premieres, 6 North American Premieres, 20 Canadian Premieres and 16 Quebec Premieres.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Opening night will take place at the Imperial Cinema at 7:15 pm<\/strong> on Wednesday, September 27<\/strong> with the Canadian premiere of THE SPACE RACE<\/strong> by Lisa Cort\u00e9s<\/strong> and Diego Hurtado de Mendoza<\/strong> (USA). Tickets are available for 25$ as well as a VIP package for 100$ on the festival\u2019s website. 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.<\/p>\n

#MIBFF23<\/strong> will close with the Quebec Premiere of Mohamed Kordofani’s <\/strong>film GOODBYE JULIA<\/strong> (Sudan) a red-carpet presentation at Cin\u00e9ma du Mus\u00e9e at 5pm.<\/strong> Tickets are available for 20$ on the festival\u2019s website. 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\u2019s 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\u2019s family to offer some compensation.<\/p>\n

A red carpet screening of the film INVISIBLE BEAUTY<\/strong>, directed by Bethann Hardison<\/strong> and Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Tcheng<\/strong>, is also planned for Friday, September 29<\/strong>, at the Cin\u00e9ma du Mus\u00e9e at 9pm<\/strong>. Tickets are available for 12$ on the festival\u2019s website. 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach 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\u2019s aim is to promote professional collaboration, foster systemic changes in the industry and the development of independent films \u2013 while celebrating diversity on screen. Enjoy your Festival!\u201d \u2013 Fabienne Colas<\/strong>, President and Founder of the Montreal, Toronto & Halifax Black Film Festival<\/p>\n

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\u2019s rich film selection comes from 20 countries<\/strong> including France, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, Chad, Congo, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Italy, Madagascar, Poland, Sudan and more.<\/p>\n

The festival highlights include:<\/strong> The Space Race, Goodbye Julia, Invisible Beauty, Semret, 1960, Mon p\u00e8re Le diable (Our Father the Devil), An Italian Youth, L’argent, la libert\u00e9, une histoire du franc CFA, Dancing in A-Yard, A Story of Bones, White Nanny, Black Child, and more!
\nFestivalgoers 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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The spokesperson this year is Schelby Jean-Baptiste<\/strong>.
\nSchelby Jean-Baptiste is a Ha\u00eftian Canadian actress, TV host and writer. She is known for several roles on Television and on the big screen such as Tr\u00e9cee in ‘Unit\u00e9 9’, Marie-Carmel in ‘L’Heure Bleue’ and Chlo\u00e9 in ‘L’\u00e9chapp\u00e9e’, to name a few. She has also been nominated several times, including one at the Gala du Cin\u00e9ma Qu\u00e9b\u00e9cois in the ‘Best Supporting Actress’ category for her performance in ‘Scratch’ by S\u00e9bastien Godron and two at the Dynastie Gala in the ‘Actress of the year’ category. Gemeaux Award winner, she dreams big and has faith that anything is possible for those who believe.<\/p>\n

NEW THIS YEAR. The MIBFF Hub<\/strong> in partnership with L\u2019Afromus\u00e9e<\/strong>.
\nSept 28 – 30 2 pm – 8 pm, Oct 1, 11 am – 2 pm
\nThe MIBFF HUB will be the meeting place where festivalgoers can get information, meet up, and network during opening hours. It will also house the festival press room.<\/p>\n

OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

SPOTLIGHT ON OTHER BLACK ART FORMS \u2013 POP UP MARKET | September 30th, 11am – 6pm and October 1st | Afromus\u00e9e | 10 am – 2 pm<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

THE MIBFF BLACK MARKET | September 28 \u2013 October 1st |Afromus\u00e9e & Facebook FREE<\/strong>
\nPresented by The Festwave Institute<\/strong>. Co-presented by Patrimoine Canadien, SODEC, T\u00e9l\u00e9film Canada, Bell Fund, Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The MIBFF Black Market, an initiative of the Fabienne Colas Foundation – presented by Festwave Institute, is 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.<\/p>\n

Bilingual Panels In-Person<\/strong><\/p>\n