Who are we

Vision
Cool, international, independent, politically incorrect and eye-opening, the 1st Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF) is about discovery. TBFF will showcase the most outstanding and most powerful Black films while creating a space to debate major cultural, social and socio-economic issues.

Mission
The Toronto Black Film Festival is dedicated to giving unique voices in cinema the opportunity to present audiences with new ways of looking at the world. A dynamic, refreshing and audacious Festival whose 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.

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
"Greater knowledge leads to greater understanding". TBFF is glad to celebrate Diversity within the black community through films that matter. Films illuminate, entertain and invite audiences to see the world from another person's experience. In connecting black films with viewers of all colours and ethnic origins we recognize the differences that make us unique and celebrate the shared values that bring us together. Coming together through art allows members of all cultural communities to better understand one another.


Our Founder

"Dany Laferrière says about Fabienne Colas that it has taken her five years to do here (in Quebec) what it would sometimes take most Haitians 30 years to accomplish."
Translation of a quote from La Presse, January 23, 2010.

Actress, director, producer, Fabienne Colas works tirelessly and passionately to support and promote independent cinema around the globe (particularly black cinema). This is one of the reasons she set up the Fabienne Colas Foundation and then created the Montreal International Black Film Festival - MIBFF (formerly the Montreal Haitian Film Festival), which has become a key player in cultural diversity in Quebec by promoting independent author's films from here and abroad.

Considered the most popular actress in Haitian cinema, Fabienne started out as a model, was crowned Miss Haiti in 2000 and has represented Haiti in numerous beauty contests around the world.

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Our team

Founding and Organizing Body
Fabienne Colas Foundation

Overall Organization and Coordination
Zaza Production

Executive Committee
Fabienne Colas, President, Founder and General Manager
Réal Barnabé, Vice President, International Relations Officer
Emile Castonguay, Treasurer and Operations Director

Programming Team
Emile Castonguay, Programming Director
Joyce Fuerza, Programming Coordinator
Jude Idada, Nollywood program
Darleen Hendrickson, Panel coordinator

Communications & Press Relations
Fabienne Colas, Communications and Marketing Director
Angie Burns, Media Relations Director
Darleen Hendrickson, Head of Protocol

Coordination and Logistics Team
Yuri Berger, Head Coordinator
Jude Idada, Logistics Coordinator

Website, Graphic Design & Editing
Zaza Production:
David Fortuné, webmaster
Salma Benkirane, Graphic Designer

Venues
TIFF Bell Light Box, Royal Cinema, Carlton Cinema.

Special Thanks to:
Thank you to all our generous volunteers!
The entire team at Shaw Communications and Shaw Media;
Global Toronto & Global Montreal.