(Toronto, January 30, 2023) – The Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF), presented by TD Bank Group (TD) in collaboration with Global News, is celebrating its 11th anniversary with a return to IN-PERSON programming, and an online component, from February 15-20, 2023! Created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, the game-changing Toronto Black Film Festival will bring innovative, powerful, diverse, and bold programming to Toronto audiences, while also maintaining online accessibility.
Part of the TD 2023 Black History Month Series, the Festival will present 125 films from 20 countries – including 37 World premieres, 18 International premieres, 37 Canadian premieres, 18 Ontario premieres and 7 Toronto premieres. The TBFF All Access Passes and individual tickets are on sale now on the Festival’s website.
TBFF is Canada’s largest celebration of Black History Month, attracting hundreds of thousands of festivalgoers of all ages and ethnic backgrounds both in-person and online. Year after year, through its audacious and diverse programming, the Toronto Black Film Festival has been a catalyst and necessary platform for Black artists who would otherwise remain invisible. The Toronto Black Film Festival is a movement that allows members of the Global Majority and other communities to come together to learn about and better understand one another.
The Festival’s opening night will take place on Wednesday, February 15th at 8PM at the Isabel Bader Theatre with the Ontario Premiere of Matt Waldeck’s LOVELY JACKSON (USA), followed by a Q&A session with the director and subject Rickey Jackson. The film is exonerated prisoner Rickey Jackson’s daring first-hand account of the psychology of survival and spiritual fortitude required to withstand 39 years of wrongful incarceration for a murder he didn’t commit.
The Toronto Black Film Festival will also pay tribute to award-winning Writer, Producer and Director Jennifer Holness as part of the opening night celebrations.
Jennifer Holness is the first Black woman in Canada to win a CSA for best writing, she is the 2021 Indiescreen Producer of the Year and a 2022 WIFT Creative Excellence Award winner. Her recent feature doc, Subjects of Desire, has won numerous festival awards and was a 2021 TIFF top 10 film. Her TV series include Shoot The Messenger and Guns, with the latter winning 5 CSA’s and garnering a prestigious Rose d’Or nomination. Her narrative feature films, Home Again and Love, Sex and Eating the Bones have screened around the globe, with Bones winning a Best First Feature award at TIFF. She is a Founder and the Inaugural Chair of the Black Screen Office and is an Executive Board Member of the CMPA.
#TBFF23 will close at the Carlton Cinema with the Canadian Premiere of Frank Berry’s AISHA starring Letitia Wright and Josh O’Connor (Ireland). Aisha, a young Nigerian woman seeking asylum in Ireland is floundering in a maze of social services and bureaucracy. As her situation becomes increasingly dire, Aisha struggles to maintain hope and dignity against the looming threat of deportation.
The Toronto Black Film Festival is back in person (and online) for what promises to be an exciting and inspiring 11th edition. We are thrilled to be spotlight more Black artists and authentic Black stories in Toronto. Thanks to the support of thousands of festivalgoers and the creativity of the artists, the TBFF has made big strides creating awareness about the industry’s severe lack of diversity. With the support of our loyal partners, we will continue to leverage the power of the arts for even more social and economic impact.”- stated Fabienne Colas, President and Founder of the Black Film Festivals in Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, and Vancouver
Additional programming, including the must-see FCF’s Being Black in Canada series, includes:
THE TBFF BLACK MARKET
Presented by Canadian Heritage, Bell Fund, Telefilm Canada, Canada Council for the Arts
February 16-17 Daniels Spectrum, February 18 Carlton Cinema and February 19 on Facebook
The Black Market series returns In Person and Online with an exciting blend of progressive and innovative thinking FREE panel discussions with renowned industry professionals who will share real-world experience on today’s most critical filmmaking and social issues
In-Person Panels
- NETWORKING: The How–To Rules for Approaching People in the Entertainment Industry
- FEDERAL FUNDING SUPPORT FOR FILM AND TV, PRESENTED BY TELEFILM
- A CAREER IN ANIMATION VOICE-OVER, CO-PRESENTED BY ACTRA TORONTO
Online Panels
- SCRIPT SUPERVISOR THE UNSUNG HERO OF THE SET
- THE ROLE OF UNIONS AND AGENCIES IN THE FIGHT FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
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.
February 16 – Carton cinema 7pm – 11pm & ONLINE Tickets on TorontoBlackFilm.com
30 emerging Black filmmakers from Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver of the Fabienne Colas Foundation’s Being Black in Canada program will present their WORLD PREMIERE short films In-Person at TBFF on Thursday, February 16th. Thanks to the support of Netflix, National Bank, Telefilm Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Creates and various local partners.
The TBFF Kids Festival is back this year with new and exciting In Person activities for the whole family on Family Day, February 20, at the Carlton Cinema from 11am to 7pm.
Finally, festivalgoers can cap off their day with the TBFF Live Performance Series – at Pogue Mahone Pub & Kitchen February 15 – 19, 10pm. Showcasing different genres of music and Spoken Word representing the Afrocentric community. This line-up includes Rudy Ray Collective, Mel Dubé Warrior Love Band, Waleed Abdulahmid & Dieufaite Charles, Shakkoi, Fefe, David Delisca, Amoya Reé and Prince Amoak
This year’s line-up consists of remarkable films, highlighting important topics such as women’s issues, politics, social injustice, discrimination, mental health, arts, sports, accomplishment, and mystery among others.
A few #TBFF23’s must-see feature films are Sheep’s Clothings, Know Your Place, What We Do Next, Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story, and Aisha. Furthermore, some of the thought-provoking documentaries – presented by Canada Media Fund – include Kaepernick and America, Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands, Cesaria Evora, Music Pictures New Orleans, “The Melt Goes On Forever: The Art and Times of David Hammons” the Fabienne Colas Foundation’s Being Black in Canada series and many more!
“Global News has been a proud official media partner of the Toronto Black Film Festival for over a decade. A huge congratulations to the Festival for its year-over-year accomplishments. It has been a privilege to see this event continue its important work and inspire so many people in the GTA.” – Mackay Taggart – Ontario Regional Director of News
The #TBFF23 All Access Passes are available on the Festival’s website:
The All Access Pass (for the Online program) $119.00 +Tx + fees, gives access to the festival’s entire Online program.
The All Access Pass (for the In-Person program) $149 +Tx+ fees, gives access to all In-Person programming.
Individual tickets to the in-person opening film are available for $25, closing film for $20, regular films for $12 and film series are available for $12.
The 11h annual Toronto Black Film Festival, created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, is presented by TD Bank Group in collaboration with Global News – from February 15 to 20, 2023 – IN PERSON & ONLINE.
For full programming and events, visit www.TorontoBlackFilm.com
Get Social #TBFF23
Facebook.com/torontoblackfilmfestival | Twitter @TOBlackFilmFest | Instagram @torontoblackfilmfest
About the Toronto Black Film Festival
Founded by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, The Toronto Black Film Festival is Canada’s largest celebration of Black History Month through Films and much more. TBFF is dedicated to celebrating the very best in cinematic work dealing with the experiences of black people from a diversity of communities. Our mandate is to provide an opportunity for filmmakers from all ethnic backgrounds to shine the spotlight on authentic stories that reflect the realities of black experiences. Along with its sister festivals, the Montreal International Black Film Festival, Halifax Black Film Festival, Ottawa Black Film Festival, Calgary Black Film Festival and Vancouver Black Film Festival, TBFF showcases new voices in cinema and encourages audiences to see the world in new ways. In connecting black films with diverse audiences, we recognize the differences that make us unique while celebrating the shared values that bring us together.
About the Fabienne Colas Foundation
The Fabienne Colas Foundation is Canada’s largest Black cultural organization. Created in 2005, the FCF is a not-for-profit artistic organization dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in Cinema, Art, and Culture in Canada and abroad. Along with Zaza production, the Fabienne Colas Foundation is also the creator of Festwave Institute and 12 Festivals, including the highly successful Montreal Black Film Festival, the hugely popular Toronto Black Film Festival, the Halifax Black Film Festival as well as several other successful Festivals in Canada, the USA, Haiti and Brazil. These initiatives/festivals have showcased and supported over 5,000 artists and attracted over 2 million festivalgoers. The Foundation is also the creator of the FCF’s Being Black in Canada program, Canada’s largest incubator dedicated to Black Filmmakers.
