For Toronto Black Film Festival founder Fabienne Colas, this yearB次元官网网址檚 edition feels like itB次元官网网址檚 happening in a different era.
Running now through Sunday online across Canada, the ninth annual movie marathon comes amid Black History Month, the first one since the Black Lives Matter movement of last summer raised global awareness of racial injustice.
B次元官网网址淲e feel a different vibe,B次元官网网址� Colas says. B次元官网网址淲e feel like people are looking for impact and purpose and meaning in what they decide to support.
B次元官网网址淎nd weB次元官网网址檝e seen support B次元官网网址� from the audience, to donations, to buying tickets, buying passes and then on social media. So we feel the buzz.B次元官网网址�
Colas says sheB次元官网网址檚 had film lovers from around the world express interest in buying tickets for this yearB次元官网网址檚 event, which is being held online due to the pandemic. The festival isnB次元官网网址檛 available internationally but it is open to audiences across the country, and Colas predicts strong audience numbers audience this year.
B次元官网网址淲e have never seen that much interest for the festival,B次元官网网址� says Colas.
The festival also has an inaugural PublicB次元官网网址檚 Choice Award in several categories, new partners, and a record-high 154 films from 25 countries on offer this year, compared to last yearB次元官网网址檚 75.
There are also more panel discussions: 11 this year compared to about three last year. The panel chats are available for free on the festivalB次元官网网址檚 Facebook page.
Colas says the festival had close to 2,000 film submissions for this yearB次元官网网址檚 festival B次元官网网址� another record.
B次元官网网址淚 believe itB次元官网网址檚 because, more than ever, creators need to have their voices heard,B次元官网网址� says Colas, who has her own foundation and founded numerous events, including the Montreal International Black Film Festival held online last fall, and the Halifax Black Film Festival, running its fifth edition online from Feb. 23-28.
B次元官网网址淥ne thing IB次元官网网址檓 happy about is that everybody understood after the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, that B次元官网网址極h my God, we live in a chaotic industry, we need to change that. ItB次元官网网址檚 messy. And thereB次元官网网址檚 no equity.B次元官网网址� So that is good. Great conversations are happening,B次元官网网址� she adds.
While Colas feels B次元官网网址渆nthusiasm on the ground from filmmakers and from the industry,B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 still a glaring lack of Black representation and resources for Black creators in CanadaB次元官网网址檚 screen industry, and several of the festivalB次元官网网址檚 panel discussions address that issue.
B次元官网网址淟ocal artists, theyB次元官网网址檙e not being funded,B次元官网网址� Colas says. B次元官网网址淪ome of them have tried and tried over and over again, and never got the money. So guess what they do? They stop trying, because they understood that, B次元官网网址楽ome people that look like me donB次元官网网址檛 get the money. So why keep going?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Colas notes it takes a lot of time and energy to apply for funding and fill out all the paperwork.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e busy trying to survive, and working two, three jobs to make it and then they have to take some time trying to be a filmmaker at the same time or a producer,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淎nd then when youB次元官网网址檝e been applying unsuccessfully for years, then you know what? You just gather some friends and say, B次元官网网址楬ey, help me out here for this film.B次元官网网址� And that doesnB次元官网网址檛 always make the best film, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 always make the strongest films, because you donB次元官网网址檛 have all the resources, because you donB次元官网网址檛 have money to pay for them.B次元官网网址�
Such challenges have been talked about before and now itB次元官网网址檚 time to look at B次元官网网址渃oncrete actions and solutions, and how do we change the system? How do we make it?B次元官网网址� she adds.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e working with the industry to change it. And the industry is willing to help, the industry wants to make it work. So thatB次元官网网址檚 a good sign. But weB次元官网网址檙e not there yet.B次元官网网址�
The festivalB次元官网网址檚 opening-night film was Youssef DelaraB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淔oster Boy,B次元官网网址� executive produced by basketball star Shaquille OB次元官网网址橬eal. Louis Gossett Jr., is among the stars of the drama about the U.S. foster-care system.
The festival will close with Canadian filmmaker Mia DonovanB次元官网网址檚 documentary B次元官网网址淒ope Is Death,B次元官网网址� about a holistic drug detoxification program founded in New YorkB次元官网网址檚 South Bronx neighbourhood by activists including Mutulu Shakur, stepfather of late hip-hop star Tupac Shakur.
Other Canadian films include the drama B次元官网网址淏ecause We AreB次元官网网址� by St Christopher (Saint) Bailey, about a corrupt, white cop who shoots an unarmed black teenager.
The festival also has master classes and chats with talent, including actor Taraji P. Henson and Canadian director Clement Virgo, who are each receiving a Career Achievement Award.
B次元官网网址淭his is an edition that is more significant, more meaningful, impactful than ever,B次元官网网址� Colas says, B次元官网网址渂ecause we knew it should be up to the moment, it should rise to the occasion. So that was the mindset with which we developed the whole programming.B次元官网网址�
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Victoria Ahearn, The Canadian Press
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