#HBFF21: 75 FILMS FROM 10 COUNTRIES +
AN AMAZING LINE-UP OF PANELS AND SPECIAL EVENTS – ALL ONLINE!
February 23 – 28, 2021
#HBFF21 marks African Heritage Month with a necessary ONLINE Festival for our times.
Full Program, All Access Passes & Individual Tickets at www.HalifaxBlackFilm.com
See HBFF Film Selection: HERE
See HBFF Festival Schedule: HERE
See HBFF Special Events: HERE
Halifax, January 28, 2021 – The Halifax Black Film Festival (#HBFF21) celebrates its 5th anniversary, February 23 to 28, with a powerful edition! Presented by TD Bank Group, in collaboration with Global News, the festival will open on Wednesday, February 23 at 7pm AST with Beautie Masvaure Alt’s SHAINA. Then, as of 10pm AST that day, all 75 films will be available entirely ONLINE across Canada and around the world and will close with Cheryl Foggo’s JOHN WARE RECLAIMED.
Halifax is represented this year with Jim Morrison IV’s BONECRUSHER, a dramatic short doc about African Nova Scotian boxing legend Sam Langford! As well, be sure to catch Halifax’s dynamic emerging Black filmmakers (Lily Nottage, Tyler Simmonds, Kardeisha Provo, Andre Anderson) as they have their Atlantic Premiere of their short films as part of Being Black in Halifax, a component of the Fabienne Colas Foundations Being Black in Canada Series!
An All Access Pass is available for only $49 and gives access to all films on the festival’s website.
“We are truly humbled to be able to amplify the voices of more Black Filmmakers at such an important time in our history,” says Fabienne Colas, President and Founder of the Halifax Black Film Festival. “This 5th edition of the HBFF highlights the tales and events that have challenged conventions, left a distinctive mark on our times, and changed how we see the world. What an impactful way to celebrate African Heritage Month!”
“This February is not just another African Heritage Month. We are coming together at a time in which Black communities and allies around the globe are questioning whether the protests of last summer inspired moments or movements,” says Naki Osutei, Associate Vice President, Social Impact (Canada), TD Bank Group. “When we launched the TD Ready Commitment in 2018, our goal was to support the conditions necessary for a more equitable tomorrow. We are proud to support the Halifax Black Film Festival, as we push progress forward for the Black colleagues, customers, and communities we serve.”
“Congratulations on the 5th anniversary of the Halifax Black Film Festival. The Halifax Black Film Festival enriches Nova Scotia’s culture by telling unique and wonderful stories that need to be told. It supports the overall goal of the Nova Scotia Event Strategy, ensuring a diverse range of events throughout our Province.” – Suzanne Lohnes-Croft Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage
HBFF BLACK MARKET and COMMUNITY PANELS SERIES
Presented by Canadian Heritage in collaboration with Bell Media Fund and Halifax Public Libraries
HBFF is thrilled to present its lineup of FREE compelling panel discussions featuring over 21 of today’s most powerful and influential local and national Black voices, including Cory Bowles and Juanita Peters, addressing important social and film & TV industry topics that affect us all:
- Canada Media Fund 101: An in-depth look at working through CMF funding streams- Co-presented by Canada Media Fund
- Film & TV Production during COVID-19
- Depictions of Black Youth in Pop Culture: Shaping Identities Through Media
- Solidarity isn’t Silent- Co-presented by Directors Guild of Canada
- Black Wealth: Creating Space for Black Women
HBFF SPECIAL EVENT SERIES!
HBFF’s New Special Events Series exemplifies the festival’s growing repertoire, with a strong dedicated local component and special guest appearances by Hollywood Producers representing the Canadian and International TV and Film Industries!
THE BUSINESS OF FILM! Hollywood Meets Halifax
An intimate conversation with two of the MOST successful Black Producers in the Film and TV Industry! HBFF President and CEO Fabienne Colas talks business with Roger Bobb, President and CEO of Bobbcat Films served as Executive Vice President of Tyler Perry Studios for seven years; and one of Canada’s foremost film filmmakers, award-winning director and producer Clement Virgo (OWN network drama series Greenleaf – which he Executive-Produced with Oprah Winfrey, The Get Down (Netflix), Empire (Fox), The Wire (HBO), The L Word (HBO), American Crime (ABC), The Book of Negroes).
IN CONVERSATION WITH DR. MAYANN FRANCIS
Hear from one of the most respected and influential Black Women in Nova Scotia. Dr. Mayann Francis talks about her journey and how the road to becoming Nova Scotia’s first Black Lieutenant Governor, and so much more, wasn’t always an easy one.
AND… LOCAL CONTINUES TO SHINE!
Join us for intimate conversations with well-known and loved local musicians and artists; Gary Beals, Reeny Smith, Mahalia Smith and Harmony Adesola. Find out where these talented Black creators are now and what’s up next as their careers continue to soar and they place Nova Scotia on the map.
Fabienne Colas Foundation’s BEING BLACK IN CANADA
Presented by Netflix, in collaboration with the National Bank, and supported by Telefilm Canada, Canada Media Fund, the Canada Council for the Arts and various local partners.
Join us for the Canada Atlantic Premiere of 20 Canadian short films from the 2020 cohort! The FCF’s Being Black in Canada supported 20 Black Canadian filmmakers, 18 to 30 years old, in Montreal, Toronto and Halifax in the creation of 20 short documentary films (8 to 10 minutes). The filmmakers received professional coaching for each stage of the audiovisual production process then made a short documentary film under the tutelage of industry professionals. A unique project that ensures inspiring emerging artists from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Also introducing this year: the PUBLIC’S CHOICE AWARD!
Every #HBFF21 All Access Pass and/or ticket holder will be given the opportunity to vote for their favourite films on the Festival’s online streaming platform in the following categories: Narrative Features, Feature Documentaries, Mid-Length Documentaries, Narrative Short Films, Documentary Short Films and Animated Short Films. Winners will be announced after the Festival.
The 5th annual Halifax Black Film Festival, created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, is presented by TD in collaboration with Global News from February 23 – 28, 2021
2021 Partners: Province of Nova Scotia, Halifax Regional Municipality, Arts NS
For full #HBFF21 programming and events, visit: www.HalifaxBlackFilm.com
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About the Halifax Black Film Festival
Created in 2017 by the Fabienne Colas Foundation (FCF), the Halifax Black Film Festival (HBFF) is the 4th Black Film Festival in Canada created by the FCF. In 2005, the FCF created the Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF) which became Canada’s largest Black Film Festival, entirely dedicated to black reality from all four corners of the globe. In 2013, the Fabienne Colas Foundation created the Toronto Black Film Festival. 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. Their 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.
Poster visuals are available here
Stills from films available here
Director headshots available here
Media Inquiries:
Wendy Phillips, Publicist (902) 492-0960 / wendy@pprl.ca