International, eye-opening, and truly representative, the Toronto Black Film Festival is about discovery and diversity. Now in its fourth year, TBFF was established following the success of its predecessor, the Montreal International Black Film Festival.
In conversation with TBFF founder, Fabienne Colas, vented her frustrations of being a young filmmaker in Haiti, waiting for her film to be screened.
“I remember a guy [in the industry] said to me, ‘listen young lady, we have a lot of things to do here. We cannot spend time answering why a film was not picked.
Your film was not picked. Period. We don’t have time for this.’ I did not even deserve an answer.”
Created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting cinema, art, and culture in Canada. The aim of the TBFF is to create a platform for underrepresented voices in film, providing a space where black stories are brought to life and placed at centre-stage.
TD Canada Trust, co-representing the TBFF alongside Global News, has also included the TBFF as part of its 2016 Black History Month series, which celebrates arts and culture. Still, some feel that underrepresentation of black voices, both on and off-screen, is an issue black communities are all too familiar with. Not only are black narratives rarely told, but black actors are also rarely seen in prominent roles. When they are, backlash and controversy often follows. Idris Elba potentially playing James Bond, Amandla Stenberg as Rue in The Hunger Games, and Michael B. Jordan as the Human Torch in Fantastic Four are only a few examples.
In a time when hashtags like #BlackLivesMatter and #OscarSoWhite aim to shed light on the lack of value placed on black lives, experiences, and talent, both the TBFF and MIBFF aim to be platforms which black narratives are given the opportunity to be showcased.
In a press conference for the festival, the 2016 film lineup was unveiled. From documentaries to dramas, this year’s selection includes 42 films representing 20 countries, which will be screening from February 10 to 14. Powerful stories that shed light on a multitude of black experiences from across the globe reflect the vast realities of black people, and highlight the wealth of talent in black communities. Festival goers can expect to see films such as Ernest Nkosi’s Thina Sobabili (The Two of Us), a coming-of-age story following two young siblings in South Africa; Mark Dornford-May’s Breathe Umphefumlo, an ode to La Bohéme, an Italian opera; and The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, a documentary appropriate for this year’s festival, which marks the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Black Panther Party among many others. Panels, guests, workshops, and the first Audience Choice Award, are also part of this year’s lineup.
“The Toronto Black Film Festival is a festival for everybody,” says Colas.
“It is your unique chance to go and see the world you get out-transformed, you’re not the same person, something happens to you.”
Keshra Hines, Contributor
Featured image courtesy of Toronto Black Film Festival
