THE 4TH ANNUAL VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL BLACK
FILM FESTIVAL IS BACK FROM DECEMBER 13 to 17, 2024
Celebrating Cultural Diversity and Creative Excellence with 35 films from around the globe!
#VIBFF24 amplifies Black Voices with Innovative, Diverse and Bold programming.
A true celebration of Diverse Black Cinema!
#VIBFF24 Opens with Matthew Leutwyler’s FIGHT LIKE A GIRL
All Access Passes and Individual Tickets are on Sale Now at VancouverBlackFilmFest.com
Vancouver, November 13, 2024 – After three successful editions, the 4th Vancouver International Black Film Festival #VIBFF24 is back once again in person and online to amplify Black voices both in person and Online.
Founded by the Fabienne Colas Foundation and co-presented by Global BC, VIBFF is thrilled to announce its official hybrid program and events lineup, running December 13 to 17, 2024. The In-Person screenings and events will take place at the VIFF Vancity Theatre and Studio Theatre.
#VIBFF24 is proudly supported by Canadian Heritage, Government of British Columbia and Festwave Institute. This fourth edition, features 35 films, engaging panels, workshops, and events, designed to connect with audiences from all communities. It celebrates the talent of creators from diverse backgrounds and provides a space for them to share their stories while reflecting on the challenges they face.
“We're honoured to return with amazing Black films which aren't always brought to the screen in Vancouver. We work hard to promote diversity in front of and behind the camera, from coast to coast, to celebrate the differences that make us unique and the shared values that bring us together. We look forward to welcoming our growing audience for this 4th annual Vancouver International Black Film Festival which promises to educate, inspire and entertain”. – said Fabienne Colas, President and Founder of the Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver Black Film Festivals.
"Global BC is excited to showcase its support to the Vancouver International Black Film Festival. It's important to empower unique voices and promote Black talent in the international film and television industry." – Bhupinder S. Hundal, Global BC News Director & Station Manager.
The opening night promises to be a star-studded red-carpet event, taking place on Friday, December 13 at 7 pm PST and opens with Matthew Leutwyler’s powerful film, FIGHT LIKE A GIRL available only in-person – After escaping captivity in an illegal mineral mine, a young Congolese woman rebuilds her life by joining a renowned all-women boxing club in the border city of Goma, where she discovers resilience, community, and the strength to reclaim her future. Based on a True Story.
On Friday, December 13, at 9 p.m. PST, all films will be accessible online.
This fourth edition highlights the Fabienne Colas Foundation’s award-winning BEING BLACK IN CANADA short film series, the VIBFF Black Market, and special in-person screenings of Fight Like A Girl, La Hembrita (Baby Girl), and Sway.
The #VIBFF24 All Access Online Pass gives access to the entire ONLINE film programming and can be purchased on the Festival’s website for $45 (+ tx/fees). The All Access In-person Pass gives access to the entire IN-PERSON film programming and can be purchased on the Festival’s website for $39 (+ tx/fees) IN-PERSON, single tickets for films are available for $12, and $20 for the Opening Night film. Both can be purchased on the Festival’s website.
SPECIAL EVENTS
FABIENNE COLAS FOUNDATION’S BEING BLACK IN CANADA
Part of Fabienne Colas Foundation’s Festwave Institute, presented by NETFLIX, in collaboration with the National Bank, supported by Telefilm Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts.
December 14 | Vancity Theater | 1 pm (Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver cohorts) & 3:30 pm (Montreal, Ottawa and Halifax cohorts).
The FCF’s Being Black in Canada supported 30 Black Canadian Filmmakers, 18 to 30 years old, in Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, and Vancouver in the creation of their first documentary short films (8 to 10 minutes). The filmmakers received professional coaching for each stage of the audiovisual production process and then made a short documentary film under the tutelage of industry professionals. A unique project that ensures inspiring emerging artists from culturally diverse backgrounds.
This year’s line-up consists of remarkable films highlighting important topics such as women's issues /empowerment, sports, murder/mystery, social issues, politics/resistance, migration/displacement, and family.
THE VIBFF BLACK MARKET Presented by Festwave Institute | December 14 | VIFF Studio Theatre & Free on Facebook
The VIBFF Black Market space is dedicated to the cinema industry and to raising awareness of today’s social climate with powerful & FREE panel discussions.
In-Person Discussions: December 14, 2024, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
At the VIFF Center Studio Theatre – 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver
· 11AM – (WORKSHOP) VISUALIZING SUCCESS: The Impact of Storyboards on Production Teams
· 12:30 PM – (PANEL) BEYOND THE LENS: Addressing Lighting and Styling Challenges for BIPOC Talent
2 PM – SPOTLIGHT STORIES: FILM INDUSTRY Q&A SERIES
Online Discussion: December 15, 2024
Will be live on the Festival’s Facebook Page (see Festival’s website for details)
· 3PM – (Q&A) CURATING CINEMATIC EXPERIENCES: The Film Programmer’s Role in Festival Selections
Get Social #VIBFF24
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About the Vancouver International Black Film Festival #VIBFF24
The Vancouver International Black Film Festival (VIBFF), a local not-for-profit organization created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, is about discovery and Inclusion. VIBFF aims to amplify more Black voices and showcase the most relevant Black films from here and abroad while creating a space to debate major cultural, social, and socio-economic issues. VIBFF is dedicated to giving unique voices in cinema the opportunity to present audiences with new ways of seeing the world. VIBFF’s 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.
About the Fabienne Colas Foundation
The Fabienne Colas Foundation (FCF) is Canada’s largest Black cultural organization. Created in 2005, the FCF is a not-for-profit arts 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 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 10,000 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 and Festwave Institute, created to empower the next generation of Black & underrepresented film & TV professionals.
Source:
Vancouver International Black Film Festival
www.VancouverBlackFilmFest.com
Media Contact:
For interviews and promotional materials, contact Sharla Farrell, Easy Consulting Studio, hi@easyconsultingstudio.com