8th HALIFAX BLACK FILM FESTIVAL BACK IN PERSON AND ONLINE,
TO MARK AFRICAN HERITAGE MONTH, FEBRUARY 23-27, 2024
#HBFF24 hosts INNOVATIVE, DIVERSE and BOLD PROGRAMMING,
OPENING with Breton Gieser’s film THE 50.
Full program, local events schedule, all-access passes
and individual tickets available now at: HalifaxBlackFilm.com
(Halifax, February 7, 2024) – Celebrating African Heritage Month by amplifying Black voices and uplifting Black talent, the 8th annual Halifax Black Film Festival (#HBFF24) is back in-person and online from February 23 – 27, 2024.
#HBFF24, created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, presented by TD Bank Group (TD), in collaboration with Global News, will present 45 films from 11 countries virtually as well as in-person at Park Lane Cineplex along with special events at the Halifax Central Library.
“This 8th edition of the Halifax Black Film Festival (HBFF) coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Fabienne Colas Foundation, which makes this year’s African Heritage Month a more meaningful celebration,” says Fabienne Colas, President and Founder of the Black Film Festivals in Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, and Vancouver. “HBFF is an important platform that celebrates Black talent and empowers filmmakers to create impactful work. Our aim is to connect members of all cultural communities through films, allowing us to better understand one another and to see the world through each other’s experiences.”
“Global News is proud to be a partner with the Halifax Black Film Festival. We want to send a huge congratulations to the Festival for elevating the work of Black filmmakers and helping share vital stories. It has been a privilege to see the HBFF continue its important work and inspire so many people.” – Rhonda M. Brown – News Director, Global News Halifax.
#HBFF24’s Opening Night film is Brenton Gieser’s film The 50. The 50 is a powerful study of trauma and repair, a universal look at the long and winding road to healing, and an exploration of how the most marginalized among us built one of the most powerful models of rehabilitation we have. It will be screened on Friday, February 23 at 7 p.m. at Cineplex Park Lane.
Fabienne Colas Foundation’s BEING BLACK IN CANADA, presented by NETFLIX, in collaboration with the National Bank, and supported by Telefilm Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts and various local partners, will screen its 2023 program on Saturday, February 24 at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Cineplex Park Lane. The screening will be followed by a Q&A.
Young filmmakers, aged 18-30, from Halifax, Calgary Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, created short documentaries addressing the issues that impact Black communities across Canada. The following four Halifax filmmakers tell their raw and relevant stories about what it means to them to be Black and living in Halifax:
Mum by Kimber Wesley
From the Ashes by Hailey Ramsey
Essance &. by Essance MacKinnon
Floating by Nikita Morris
A few #HBFF24’s must-see films are Manga D’Terra, Mixed Memories, Sway and The 50.
Returning this year is the HBFF Black Market, co-presented by the Halifax Regional Library. This industry series sees renowned local industry professionals share real-world experiences on today’s most critical industry and social issues in an exciting blend of thought-provoking and fun panel discussions.
The FREE in-person panels will occur on Saturday, February 24 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Halifax Central Library. Panels include:
- Unlocking Opportunities: Exploring Nova Scotia’s Film Support System
- Crafting Audio Stories: The Path to Becoming a Podcast Writer
- Where to get help when you need it in the entertainment industry
Online panel:
- Career path – What it takes to be a strong production coordinator
TICKETS & PASSES:
The #HBFF24 online All-Access Pass is available for $45, and the In-Person All-Access Pass is $39. Individual in-person tickets are $12 for regular film screenings, $20 for the Opening Night film, and $15 for the Closing Night film with Q&A.
The 2024 Halifax Black Film Festivals would like to thank its generous partners: TD Bank, Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, Telefilm Canada, Arts Nova Scotia, Halifax Public Libraries, Global News and the Fabienne Colas Foundation. #HBFF24 also wants to thank its sister Black Film Festivals in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver.
The full program, All-Access Passes, and individual tickets, available now at: HalifaxBlackFilm.com
Get Social #HBFF24
Facebook | X | Instagram
About the Halifax Black Film Festival
Created in 2017 by the Fabienne Colas Foundation (FCF), the Halifax Film Festival (HBFF) is part of a solid affiliated Black Film Festivals’ Network in Montréal, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, and Vancouver. Independently incorporated, the Halifax Black Film Festival is dedicated to celebrating the very best in cinematic work dealing with the varied experiences of black people from diverse communities. Its mandate is to provide an opportunity for filmmakers to shine the spotlight on authentic stories that reflect the realities of black experiences. To learn more, visit: HalifaxBlackFilm.com
Photos and Video: HERE
Media Contact:
Wendy Phillips, Phillips PR
wendy@pprl.ca