Welcome to the Vancouver International Black Film Festival

DECEMBER 11 - 15, 2026

6th Edition

Directed by Zamo Mkhwanazi

LAUNDRY UHLANJULULO

DEC 11, 2026

> Vancity Theatre

Opening FILM

#VIBFF2026

Get Ticket Schedule

INDUSTRY

CONFERENCES,

WORKSHOPS & MORE...

DEC 12, 2026

> VIFF Studio Theatre

BLACK MARKET

#VIBFF2026

About The Festival

The Vancouver International Black Film Festival (VIBFF) is dedicated to giving unique voices in cinema the opportunity to present audiences with new ways of looking at the world. The ambition is to encourage the development of the independent film industry and to promote more films on the reality of Black people from around the Globe.

11-15 December 2026 Vancouver, CA

Festival Schedule

Opening Ceremony

Laundry Uhlanjululo (Opening Film)

8pm - 10pm

1968. In apartheid South Africa, a young jazz prodigy must choose between pursuing his dreams and saving his family’s laundry business as state
oppression crushes Black ambition and threatens to destroy everything he loves.

Day Two (In-Person Only)

Navigating Independent Documentary Production with the CBC

11:30am - 12:30pm

Join CBC executives Sheila Peacock and Ethan Sawyer, alongside three independent filmmakers, to learn how CBC’s Absolutely Canadian and Creator Network programs support emerging filmmakers in crafting stories that meet CBC’s Journalistic Standards of Practice for distribution across CBC Gem, television, YouTube, and FAST channels. The discussion will include a Q&A with the audience.

The Future is Creative: Following Your Passion & Creating Your Own Path

12:45pm - 13:45pm

Short Film Series (In Theatre)

1:00pm - 3:00pm

Discover the short film series presenting 7 amazing creations this year!

VIBFF Vancouver Black Filmmaker Spotlight

2:00pm - 3:00pm

A new showcase celebrating the Black filmmakers shaping Vancouver’s film industry.

Diya (In Theatre Only)

3:00pm - 5:00pm

After a fatal road accident, an NGO driver must cross the Chadian desert to pay blood money (Diya), only to uncover the truth behind the tragedy that shattered his peaceful life.

Vertical Dramas: The Future of Short-Form Storytelling

3:45pm - 4:45pm

Vertical dramas are transforming the way audiences discover and consume stories, with short, serialized episodes designed for viewing on smartphones and social media platforms…

Being Black in Canada VANCOUVER (followed by a q&a), TORONTO & CALGARY (In Theatre & Online)

5:00pm - 7:00pm

Discover the Being Black in Canada 2025 cohort of Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary.

VIBFF Networking Session

5:30pm - 7:00pm

Join us for the VIBFF Let’s Connect Networking Session!
Meet film and television industry professionals, exchange ideas, discover new projects, and explore exciting opportunities for collaboration.

The Eyes of Ghana (In Theatre Only)

7:30pm - 9:00pm

Join us for the VIBFF Let’s Connect Networking Session!
Meet film and television industry professionals, exchange ideas, discover new projects, and explore exciting opportunities for collaboration.