11th Montreal International Black Film Festival announces lineup

The Montreal International Black Film Festival celebrates History from Martin Luther King to Malcom X and of course Rosa Parks, with a bold, diverse and meaningful programming

Today, at the Former NFB Theatre, programming for the 11th edition of the Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF) was announced. The MIBFF, created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation and presented by Global News Montreal, will take place from September 29 to October 4, 2015 with a variety of memorable events that will leave a mark in the Festival’s history.

Canada’s biggest black film festival, the Montreal International Black Film Festival, is returning with a rich and bold programming honouring Afro-American History. The programming includes the “Black Market”, exciting special events, the “Cinema Without Borders” professional development activities program for the youth from the South, tributes, attendance of international guests and much more. In addition, the MIBFF will debut an exhibition and after parties. Moviegoers will get the chance to watch uncut, quality films; feature-length, mid-length, shorts, documentaries and narrativefilms will all be presented, most making their Canadian debut! Festivalgoers will also get the chance to see actors and directors from all corners of the globe sharing their passions. And there's something for everyone!

First artists announced for the 36th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

Jesse Cook, Snarky Puppy, The Stanley Clarke Band, Steven Wilson, The Bad Plus with Joshua Redman, Bebel Gilberto, Eliane Elias, Dee Dee Bridgewater and a Tribute to Piaf by Richard Galliano and Sylvain Luc

We’re delighted to announce the very first artists of the 36th edition of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, presented by TD in collaboration with Rio Tinto Alcan—just in time to add them to everyone’s Christmas wish lists!

Tickets for these concerts go on sale this Friday, December 5 at noon… although Spectra Newsletter subscribers (subscription is free at infolettrespectra.ca), can purchase them Thursday, December 4, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Call for submissions: MIBFF's Youth & Diversity program

For the 10^th anniversary of the Montreal International Black Film Festival being held from September 23 to 28, 2014, the Fabienne Colas Foundation is launching a call for applications for its brand new program "Youth and Diversity".

This program offers professional mentorship in the audiovisual production of a short film to 10 young and promising filmmakers from the Black Communities. They will be guided through the many steps in audiovisual production (screenwriting, directing, editing, post-production, etc.), and will create a documentary short (maximum 5 minutes). This process will be carried out under the professional tutelage of an industry professional with professional equipment. Their final work will be screened at a special event of the 10^th Montreal International Black Film Festival.

CFC presents An Evening Honouring Chris Tucker

CELEBRATING “BOLD, BLACK, RISK TAKERS”,
AN EVENING HONOURING ACTOR/COMEDIAN CHRIS TUCKER

Part of TD ‘Then & Now’ Series Presented by Clement Virgo Productions and CFC

In celebration of Black History Month, CFC (Canadian Film Centre), Clement Virgo Productions and TD are pleased to present a special evening honouring acclaimed actor/comedian Chris Tucker (Silver Linings Playbook, Rush Hour 1, 2 & 3, Jackie Brown, Fifth Element.)

Tucker is best known for playing the role of Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour film series. A frequent stand up performer on the HBO series “Def Comedy Jam” in the 1990s, Tucker came to prominence in the 1995 film Friday alongside Ice Cube. He then co-starred and executive produced Money Talks with Charlie Sheen and appeared in Luc Besson’s The Fifth Element before beginning work on the commercially successful Rush Hour films. In 2006 he negotiated an unprecedented $25 million salary to appear in Rush Hour 3, which at the time made him the highest paid actor in Hollywood. Tucker is also a humanitarian and spends much of his spare time traveling and working with his foundation. He most recently appeared in the Oscar nominated film Silver Linings Playbook and is currently on a stand-up comedy tour that has received rave reviews all over the world.

45th Annual NAACP Image Awards – nominations

The nominees for THE 45TH NAACP IMAGE AWARDS were announced today during a live press conference at the TV One presentation to the Television Critics Association during its Winter 2014 Press Tour in Pasadena, CA. David Oyelowo (“Lee Daniels’ ‘The Butler’”), Joe Morton (ABC’s “Scandal”), Keke Palmer (VH1’s “CrazySexyCool”), Bresha Webb (TV One’s “Love That Girl”) and Gina Torres (USA’s “Suits”) announced the categories and nominees with NAACP Image Awards Committee Chairman, Leonard James and President and CEO of TV One, Alfred Liggins.

The NAACP Image Awards celebrates the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. Winners will be voted upon by NAACP members and announced when the envelopes are opened on Friday, February 21 during the Awards Ceremony for non-televised categories. The remaining categories will be announced LIVE on stage during the two-hour star-studded TV One telecast on Saturday, February 22 (9:00 p.m. ET/PT tape-delayed). The telecast will also include a one-hour pre-show airing live from the red carpet (8:00 p.m. ET/PT tape-delayed).

1st Toronto Black Film Festival, Feb 13-17

The Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF) launches the inaugural festival running from February 13th–17th. TBFF is proud to celebrate diversity within the black community through films that matter. With exciting films from all over the world, an online program, an industry panel and parties, the first edition of the TBFF shines a cinematic spotlight on Toronto's Black History Month celebrations. TBFF will open with Kenya's official selection for this year's Oscars, Nairobi Half Life, playing February 13th at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.

Created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation and presented by Global Toronto, 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. Building on the three year relationship between Global Montreal and the Montreal International Black Film Festival, TBFF connects black films to viewers of all colours and ethnic origins. We recognize the differences that make us unique and celebrate the shared values that bring us together. Films illuminate, entertain and invite audiences to see the world from another person's experience. Coming together through art allows members of all cultural communities to better understand one another.

Black Reel Awards 2013 – winners

The Foundation for the Advancement of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF) announced the winners at the MIST Harlem art house theater in New York City yesterday for the 13th Annual Black Reel Awards.

Beasts of the Southern Wild by Benh Zeitlin was the night's big winners. The magical realist story of a young girl in the backwoods of the Louisiana bayou not only won Outstanding Picture, but three other awards as well, including Outstanding Score. Nine-year-old, first-time actress Quvenzhane Wallis came away with both Outstanding Actress and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance.

Ava DuVernay, the writer/director of Middle of Nowhere, also snagged two awards: Outstanding Director and Outstanding Screenplay (Original or Adapted). The film depicts a young woman's anguish caused by her blind devotion to her imprisoned husband. It had led with nine nominations.

Celebrating Bold, Black, Risk Takers: An Evening with John Singleton, Feb 12

CLEMENT VIRGO PRODUCTIONS AND CFC PRESENT:
A SPECIAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT WITH
ACADEMY AWARD®-NOMINATED FILMMAKER JOHN SINGLETON

Presented by TD and BAND (Black Artists' Network in Dialogue), Clement Virgo Productions and CFC (Canadian Film Centre) are hosting a special evening in celebration of Black History Month with filmmaker John Singleton (Boyz N the Hood, Poetic Justice, Shaft). An acclaimed, trailblazing legend, Singleton has lit up the screen with his unapologetic, incendiary characters and provocative storytelling about inner-city life. He also holds the distinction of being the first black filmmaker nominated for the Best Director Oscar^®.