Laferrière succeeds Spike Lee
Under the honorary presidency of Dany Laferrière, screenwriter, filmmaker, acclaimed author, and member of the Académie française, the 21st Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF) will showcase 70 films from 20 countries, including close to 40 Canadian titles, alongside a rich lineup of industry events. Laferrière succeeds Spike Lee, who served as honorary president of the Festival’s 20th edition in 2024.
Impressive range of genres and formats
This year’s official selection spans an impressive range of genres and formats: fiction,
documentaries, shorts, experimental works, comedies, and dramas. This year’s program
spotlights the theme of adapting “books and plays for the screen”, exploring the
transformation of literature and theatre into film, and celebrating the rich dialogue between
literature and cinema. Through tributes, screenings, panels, and masterclasses, the Festival will
examine how literary works evolve into powerful collective experiences.
Tribute to Dany Laferrière
The 21st MIBFF will also pay tribute to Dany Laferrière in celebration of his four-decade career.
The honour coincides with three landmark anniversaries: 40 years since the release of his
groundbreaking debut novel How to Make Love to a Negro Without Getting Tired (1985), which
shook the literary world before reaching the big screen with Isaach de Bankolé and Maka
Kotto in the lead roles; 10 years since his induction speech at the Académie française (2015);
and 21 years since the release of his first feature-length original screenplay, How to Conquer
America in One Night (2004). In recognition of his exceptional contribution to literature, cinema,
and society, Laferrière will receive the 2025 MIBFF Lifetime Achievement Award.
MIBFF is Canada’s largest Black Film Festival
Founded by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, the MIBFF is Canada’s largest Black Film
Festival and the only bilingual (French/English) festival of its kind in North America. For the past
21 years, it has remained dedicated to amplifying Black voices on screen, offering a vital
platform for filmmakers whose stories raise awareness, foster dialogue, and spark social
change.
“This year, the 21st Montreal Intl Black Film Festival presents a vibrant program, a strong
commitment to inclusion, and a wide range of works and perspectives. Honoring Dany
Laferrière at this 21st MIBFF means celebrating literature transformed into cinema, and cinema
that breathes new life into words. The MIBFF is more relevant than ever in today’s world.
Through the selected films, we offer not only a mirror in which our communities can see
themselves, but also a window onto realities too often left unseen. Cinema is a tool for dialogue,
healing, and transformation: it allows us to share our stories, preserve them in our collective
memory, and pass on a powerful cultural legacy. By amplifying the voices of Black filmmakers
from here and around the world, we are helping to shape a fairer, more inclusive, and more
diverse future.” – Fabienne Colas, President and Founder of the MIBFF
OPENING NIGHT GALA: FILM & TRIBUTE
The Red Carpet Opening Night will take place at Théâtre Outremont at 7:00 p.m. on
Wednesday, September 24, with a first-time screening of HEDDA in Quebec, directed by Nia
DaCosta, executive produced by Brad Pitt (United States). Tickets: $25, available on the
festival website.
Acclaimed for Candyman and celebrated as the first Black woman to direct a Marvel film (The
Marvels), Nia DaCosta delivers a daring, contemporary reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s classic
play. HEDDA (Tessa Thompson) is caught between the haunting ache of a lost love and the
stifling silence of her present life. Over the course of one electrifying night, long-suppressed desires and hidden tensions explode, propelling Hedda and those around her into a whirlwind of
manipulation, passion, and betrayal.
Following the screening of Hedda, a special tribute will be paid to Dany Laferrière.
CLOSING NIGHT: FILM & AWARD CEREMONY
he #MIBFF25 will close with the Quebec premiere of Yambo Ouologuem, LA BLESSURE,
directed by Kalidou Sy (Senegal). The red-carpet screening will take place on September 28,
2025, at 5:00 p.m. at the Cinéma du Musée, with the filmmaker in attendance. Following the
screening, the director will take part in a Q&A session with the audience.
http://www.montrealblackfilm.com, available on the festival’s website.
When Le devoir de violence was first published, Yambo Ouologuem was still an unknown
author. Tackling the subject of slavery before colonization, the novel won the Prix Renaudot in 1968. As the first African laureate, Ouologuem experienced a meteoric rise… but just three
years later, he was accused of plagiarism. This marked the beginning of his downfall. Retreating
to his native village in Mali, he faded from public life. Through the voices of scholars and his
family, the film seeks to unravel the enigma of Yambo Ouologuem. His tragic story embodies thecomplex relationship between France and its former colonies.
FILMS NOT TO BE MISSED
● Hedda – Nia DaCosta (USA)
● Snake – Meg Rickards (South Africa)
● A Melhor Mãe do Mundo (La meilleure maman du monde) – Anna Muylaert (Brazil)
● Village Keeper – Karen Chapman (sélection canadienne) (Canada)
● Katanga, la danse des scorpions – Dani Kouyaté (Burkina Faso)
● Frantz Fanon – Abdenour Zahzah (Algeria, France)
● Amakki (Ta maman) – Célia Boussebaa (Ethiopia)
● Of Mud and Blood – Jean-Gabriel Leynaud (D.R. Congo, France, Germany)
● We Want the Funk – Stanley Nelson & Nicole London (United States)
● Yambo Ouologuem, La blessure – Kalidou Sy (France, Senegal)
● Being Black in Canada Series – Collective directors (Canada)
CANADA IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The MIBFF celebrates Canadian cinema by shining a spotlight on Village Keeper by Karen
Chapman, winner of the John Dunning Award for Best First Feature at the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards, an achievement that embodies the power of new voices and the universal
resonance of local stories. This commitment to showcasing the richness of national creativity
extends through the “Canadian Spotlight”, a special program created by the MIBFF to feature
landmark works that explore Black experiences through a Canadian perspective. Presented
outside of competition in Montreal as well as at the five other Black Film Festivals across
Canada (Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, and Vancouver), this section represents a unique
initiative: a cross-country tour bringing essential, impactful films to audiences nationwide.
FABIENNE COLAS FOUNDATION’S BEING BLACK IN CANADA
Presented by NETFLIX, in collaboration with the National Bank, and supported by Telefilm
Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts.
September 25, 7PM | Cinéma du Parc | $12
Close to 30 Canadian short films from the 2024 cohort will be featured at #MIMFF25! The
Being Black in Canada program is a professional training initiative that supported 27 Black
Canadian filmmakers aged 18 to 30, last year, from Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary
and Vancouver, in creating short documentaries.
This program is a key step toward stronger representation and greater racial equity, both on
screen and behind the camera. A unique project, which continues to inspire the next generation
of culturally diverse talent, helping to transform Canada’s film industry landscape.
NOT TO BE MISSED WITH DANY LAFERRIÈRE
Opening Night & Lifetime Achievement Award to Dany Laferrière
September 24, 2025, 7:00 p.m. | Théâtre Outremont | $25
(The tribute will follow the opening film)
● Master Class: “I Am a Camera: From Novel to Screen” with Dany Laferrière
September 26, 2025, 7:00 p.m. | Cinéma du Musée | $25
● Film Retrospective on the Work of Dany Laferrière – Online
September 24 – 28, 2025 | Link available on the website | All-access passes $79
● Book Signing & Sale of All Dany Laferrière’s Works
At the MIBFF POP-UP MARKET “Shining a Light on Other Forms of Black Arts”
September 27, 2025, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. | Théâtre Colas (3990 Notre-Dame Street
West, Montreal) | Free admission
THE MIBFF BLACK MARKET
Presented by The Festwave Institute and SODEC
September 25 au 27 | Afromusée, Cinéma Du Musée & Facebook | Free (registration only)
The MIBFF Black Market is entirely dedicated to industry professionals. Conferences,
exchanges, and workshops will provide opportunities to address the realities of the film industry, confront ideas, and encourage the sharing of knowledge.
PANELS & WORKSHOPS
● September 25, 4PM | THE PITCH – Emerging Black Screenwriters Pitch Session
(French only)
● September 27, 11AM | SPOTLIGHT STORIES: Jephté Bastien discusses his new film
The Draft, in a special Q&A
● September 27, 1PM | WHAT IS THE INDUSTRY LOOKING FOR? A conversation with
producers and industry insiders on the current trends, skills, and opportunities shaping
the future of film and television.
● September 27, 3PM | WILL AI MAKE THE PROFESSION OF VOICE ACTOR
DISAPPEAR? An interactive roundtable featuring industry leaders and AI experts.
Cinéma Du Musée
● September 26, 7PM | MASTER CLASS: “I Am a Camera: From Novel to Screen” with
Dany Laferrière”
Online Panel
This online discussion will allow you to meet some of the Filmmakers of this edition.
● 11 AM | Meet the MIBFF Filmmakers (ENG)
● 2 PM | Rencontrez les cinéastes du FIFBM (FR)
MIBFF IN THE NEIGHBOURHOODS
Presented by the Fabienne Colas Foundation
September 25-28, 2025 | Free Admission
As part of the 6th edition of the MIBFF dans les Quartiers, several free screenings will
take place in Montreal in partnership with various cultural institutions. This initiative
provides the youth and the general audience with free access to films created by members of the Black community. The screenings will be followed by a 60-minute discussion with the
filmmakers.
September 25 – 6:30 PM | In partnership with Maison de la culture Côte-des-Neiges |
Au-delà des masques (Anebarou Abdel) and L’Afrique berceau de l’humanité et des
civilisations modernes (Bénita Jacques), followed by a discussion moderated by Yvette
Mbogo.
● September 26 – 7:00 PM | In partnership with the Centre des Arts of Maison d’Haïti |
Father’s Day (Ayana O’Shun), addressing the phenomenon of absent fathers in Black
communities, followed by a discussion with Lara Tippenhauer led by Sabine Daniel.
● September 27 – 1:00 PM | Cinéma Public | Circo (Lamia Chraibi), an immersion in the
journey of a young Brazilian artist in search of self, followed by a discussion led by Diane
Gistal.
● September 28 – 11:00 AM | Family Screening | Afromusée | La Quête de Lumie, a
selection of 5 mini-documentary series showcasing Afro-descendant children from
Canada. Followed by a panel with some of the young participants and the production
team, moderated by Nolie Imprevert.
SPOTLIGHT ON OTHER BLACK ARTFORMS – POP UP MARKET
September 27, 11am – 6pm | Theatre Colas
Join us for a special edition of the MIBFF Pop-Up Market – hosted at the newly acquired
Théâtre Colas! Be among the first to step through the doors of this iconic venue before
renovations begin, and experience it in all the power of its raw, inspiring charm. This exclusive
market will showcase the talent of Black artisans and entrepreneurs from Montreal: handcrafted
creations, original works, fashion, accessories, interior décor, and much more.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to discover fresh, creative talent while getting a sneak peek
at the future home of dynamic cultural programming. Including a special Book signing by
Dany Laferrière from 3 – 5 pm
THEMES AND KEY NUMBERS
Major Themes For 2025 include: Family, history and traditions, murder and mystery, mental
health, social issues, racism and discrimination, political resistance, female empowerment,
sports, music/dance/art, romance, migration and displacement, identity, LGBTQ+, Afrofuturism,
and science fiction.
2025 Programming in Numbers:
● 70 films
● 20 countries represented
● 40 films CANADA ON SCREEN (including 9 online as part of the Canadian Spotlight)
● 3 world premieres
● 2 international premieres
● 1 North American premiere
● 12 Canadian premieres
● 26 Quebec premieres
2025 JURY
Narrative Features
● Gavin Seal (Screenwriter and director, Intersectional Films)
● Karl R. Hearne (Director and screenwriter, The G)
● Miryam Charles (Director and producer, Cette maison)
Documentary Features
● Marie-Hélène Cousineau (Filmmaker)
● Jean-Hervé Désiré (Screenwriter, director, and multidisciplinary artist)
● Diana Goudroufe (Filmmaker)
Medium Length & Short Films (Narrative, Documentary and Animation)
● Phyllis Gooden (Film, television, theatre and voice actor)
● Samuel Suffren (Film Director)
● Jean-Bastien Niyigaruye (Filmmaker and screenwriter)
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
● Dates: September 24 to 28, 2025
● Main venues: Théâtre Outremont, Cinéma du Musée, Cinéma du Parc, Afromusée,
Maison d’Haïti, Cinéma Public, Maison de la culture Côte-des-Neiges and the Colas
Theatre
● Complete program and tickets: www.MontrealBlackFilm.com
All Access Passes and individual tickets are available now.
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