The Toronto Black Film Festival brings innovative, powerful, diverse, and bold programming to Toronto

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

I can already feel the energy taking over. This is going to be the highlight of the year! Trust me, it’s more than just a film festival. First off, they’ve got an incredible selection of films; from thought-provoking documentaries to powerful narratives, it’s a rollercoaster of emotions and storytelling. It’s a celebration of Black excellence in the world of cinema. The team at Toronto Caribbean Newspaper has been looking into it, and the lineup is impressive.

The Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF), presented by TD Bank Group (TD) in collaboration with Global News, announces the official program and events lineup running February 14^th – 19^th, 2024. Founded by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, the game-changing Toronto Black Film Festival will bring innovative, powerful, diverse, and bold programming to Toronto audiences.

The festival is honoured to present legendary, award-winning actress Pam Grier with the Toronto Black Film Festival’s 2024 Career Achievement Award during an intimate evening that will include a screening of the iconic film Foxy Brown at the Isabel Bader Theatre – February 15^th, 2024, 7:30 PM.Hailed as the Queen of Blaxploitation and the first female action hero, Pam Grier’s incendiary performances became pivotal moments in the industry for both Black representation and the representation of women on screen. The tribute ceremony will celebrate Grier’s trailblazing career and its impact on cinema, which has paved the way for others and provided bold inspiration and impetus for the industry to be more inclusive.

“Welcoming and paying tribute to the legendary icon Pam Grier at the 2024 Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF) is a true privilege for us all and quite a coup for Toronto and the Festival,” shares Fabienne Colas, President and Founder of the TBFF. “She has blazed a trail for so many Black women in cinema and has left an indelible mark not only on the Blaxploitation genre, but on the film industry as a whole.”

This year, the festival will present: 28 World Premieres, six International Premieres, one North American premiere, 21 Canadian Premieres, 18 Ontario Premieres and one Toronto Premiere. The festival showcases over 80 films from 20 countries, including: Canada, Switzerland, Portugal, Finland, USA, Germany, France, Rwanda, Sudan, South Africa, United Kingdom, Australia, Ghana, Spain, Jamaica, and more.

“The Toronto Black Film Festival is an incredibly vibrant and impactful showcase that helps amplify Black voices while celebrating the rich tapestry of Black culture in Canada. TD has been a Presenting Sponsor since 2015 and we’re proud to work alongside TBFF and the Fabienne Colas Foundation to support the Black creators and storytellers who are helping drive change for future generations,” says Alicia Rose, AVP Social Impact, Sustainability & Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group. “Through our corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, we’re dedicated to supporting events and initiatives for Black History Month – as well as year-round programming – that aim to foster unity and help open doors for a more inclusive and equitable tomorrow.”

The festival’s opening night will take place on Wednesday, February 14^th, at 8:00 PM at the Isabel Bader Theatre with the Ontario Premiere of Goodbye Julia. Sudan’s selection for the 96^th Academy Awards. Goodbye Julia tells the story of an impending divorce, which resonates with larger political events leading up to South Sudan’s independence.

The Toronto Black Film Festival will pay homage to Charles Officer in a Tribute event at the Carlton Cinema on February 17^th, 2024, 5:00 PM. Celebrating the remarkable life, enduring legacy, and timeless talent of award-winning filmmaker, producer and writer Charles Officer who often centered Black voices and stories, the tribute will include a screening of Akilla’s Escape, a cinematic testament to Charles’ unparalleled impact, talent and narrative prowess.

The festival will close at the Carlton Cinema with the Canadian Premiere of The 50. The 50 is a powerful study of trauma and repair, a universal look at the long and winding road to healing, and an exploration of how the most marginalized among us built one of the most powerful models of rehabilitation we have.

The TBFF All Access Passes and individual tickets are on sale now on the Festival’s website. You can click on the “2024 Film Selections” section, revealing a list of highly acclaimed movies. Join us at this year’s Toronto Black Film Festival – where storytelling meets celebration, and Black excellence takes center stage. Let’s embrace the magic together!