History of the festival

The Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF) was created in 2013 by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, a not-for-profit, professional, artistic organization dedicated to promoting Cinema, Art and Culture in Canada and abroad. The Fabienne Colas Foundation is also the creator of the very successful Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF).

After 8 years of continued success, the Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF), presented by Global Montreal, has expanded to the vibrant and beautiful city of Toronto. The inaugural Toronto Black Film Festival was presented by Global Toronto from February 13 to 17, 2013.

The Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF) was created in 2005 by the Fabienne Colas Foundation. Formerly the Montreal Haitian Film Festival, the first edition of which consisted of 3 films in 3 days, today the MIBFF has become the youngest and already the largest festival of its kind in Canada thanks to its bilingualism (its films are subtitled in either French or English), its international press coverage, its growing movie-goers base (tens of thousands), the number of countries represented (40 in 2012), the large number of films and premieres presented each year (more than one hundred), as well as the number of distinguished guests who attended (Legendary activist, singer, actor Harry Belafonte, Hollywood Legend Danny Glover, Legendary director Souleymane Cissé, Oscar nominated director Kim Nguyen, Award-winning actress Tantoo Cardinal, Bestselling author and speaker Stedman Graham, Actor and Rapper Bobby Brown, Director Darrell Roodt, Award Winning author Dany Laferriere, Academy Award nominated Director Spike Lee and many more…).

The Fabienne Colas Foundation has also created the following festivals: Montreal International Black Film Festival, Haiti en Folie in Montreal, Fade to Black Festival,  Dansomania – Dances from around the World and the Quebecois Film Festival in Haiti