The Business of Film! Hollywood meets Halifax
Presented by
Join us as we have an intimate conversation with the MOST successful Black Producers in the Film and TV Industry! Did you know that the Canadian TV and Film Industry contributes $12.8 billion per year to the Canadian GDP? This conversation will empower our next generation of Black filmmakers to not only create films, but to hear first-hand how industry giants built their hugely successful Black businesses within a predominantly white film industry.
Moderator
Fabienne Colas: CEO and Founder of The Halifax Black Film Festival and 9 other Black Festivals and Events Globally
Fabienne Colas has been named one of 2019 Canada’s Most Powerful Women, as well as having received the prestigious Canada's Top 40 Under 40 award. For almost 20 years she has been doing outstanding work across Canada and Internationally for many years as a trailblazer who works tirelessly and passionately to foster, support and promote Diversity and Inclusion in the arts and in our society. She is an award-winning actress, director and producer. In 2017, she created The Halifax Black Film Festival. She provides expertise, mentorship and guidance to the HBFF team, as together they work to bring Black and non-Black communities together through the Arts.
Special Guests
Roger Bobb: President & CEO, Bobbcat Films
A Multi Award winning producer and one of the most successful producers working in the film and television industry today, with three hit TV shows currently on the air and 11 films having been released in the last ten years. Prior to creating Bobbcat films, based in Atlanta Georgia, Bobb served as Executive Vice President of Tyler Perry Studios for 7 years. Bobb is the executive producer/creator of the BET docu-series It’s A Mann’s World, the TV One docu-series Rickey Smiley For Real and the sitcom Mann & Wife(Bounce TV). He also produced the sitcoms The Rickey Smiley Show (TV One), House of Payne (TBS)” and Meet The Browns (TBS). Roger has produced over 600 television sitcom episodes in his career.
Clement Virgo: Executive Producer, Film Director, Writer
One of Canada's foremost film directors. His TV directing credits include The Wire, Billions, American Crime, Empire, and Greenleaf, on which he served as Director and Executive Producer with Oprah Winfrey. He directed, co-wrote, and executive produced the award-winning miniseries adaptation of The Book of Negroes, which debuted to record-breaking numbers on the CBC and BET in the U.S. Clement's feature films have premiered at TIFF, Sundance, and Berlin film festivals. His movies include Poor Boy's Game, Lie with Me, and Love Come Down. He's currently prepping his next feature film Brother and the upcoming Netflix series Bloom for Michelle and Barack Obama's Higher Ground Productions.
HALIFAX BLACK MARKET -COMMUNITY PANELS
As part of our dynamic festival HBFF steps outside of the entertainment industry. Join us for Panel Discussions, workshops and masterclasses to dissect important societal issues affecting our Black communities. These discussions create capacity building in the communities, foster greater understanding, raise awareness and create opportunities for sharing and networking.
