FEATURING
OTTAWA'S DJ MACE
The Ottawa Black Film Festival (OBFF) is dedicated to showcasing unique voices in cinema, offering audiences fresh perspectives on the world. With a mission to support the growth of independent filmmaking, OBFF highlights stories that reflect the realities, experiences, and diversity of Black communities worldwide.
March 28 – April 1, 2025 Ottawa, CA
About our founder:
Fabienne Colas is an award-winning actress, filmmaker, speaker, and entrepreneur dedicated to promoting diversity on and off-screen. Founder of 9 international festivals, including the Montreal Black Film Festival, she champions underrepresented artists. A recipient of multiple prestigious awards, she tirelessly advocates for inclusion in the arts.
Festival Schedule
OBFF 5th Edition Opening Night Red Carpet
Join us for the exciting launch of the Ottawa Black Film Festival’s 5th edition with a vibrant red carpet event!
Opening Film: Samia (In Theatre Only)
Samia defies taboos by racing through the streets of Mogadishu, in a society where a woman is not supposed to run…
Black Market Panel
Short Film Series
(Online & In Theatre)
BBIC Ottawa / Montreal / Toronto
Being Black in Canada (Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto)
Hanami (In Theatre Only)
On a remote volcanic island that everybody wants to leave, little Nana learns how to stay.
Legacy (Online & in Theatre)
An exploration into South Africa, featuring, in unprecedented access, the grandson of the “Architect of Apartheid”…
Johanne (Online Only)
A contemporary tribute to trailblazer Johanne Harrelle: artist, actress and one of North America’s first Black models.
The Hearing (Online Only)
L’audience (The Hearing) delves in the daily life of the Nkunga Mbala family over one year, as they go through the complex legal maze of claiming asylum in Canada.
The Athlete (Online Only)
Equal parts family saga, sports film and intimate portrait, The Athlete offers a unique window into the story of Stevens Dorcelus.
Legacy (Online & in Theatre)
An exploration into South Africa, featuring, in unprecedented access, the grandson of the “Architect of Apartheid”…
Black Market Online Panel
Short Film Series
Legacy (Online & in Theatre)
An exploration into South Africa, featuring, in unprecedented access, the grandson of the “Architect of Apartheid”, who takes an honest look into his ancestry, exposing the systemic remnants of Apartheid today.
Short Film Series
Legacy (Online & in Theatre)
An exploration into South Africa, featuring, in unprecedented access, the grandson of the “Architect of Apartheid”, who takes an honest look into his ancestry, exposing the systemic remnants of Apartheid today.
Being Black in Canada
Lemon Lime (OTT) (Online & In Theatre)
Storyline Two long-time friends, Makahi and Yannick, reflect on their respective journeys as artists in different disciplines—visual arts and music production. Online [...]
Join Now
Traces of Home (OTT) (Online & In Theatre)
Storyline This short film tells the deeply personal and emotional journey of a father who made the life-altering decision to immigrate to [...]
Join Now
My Neighbour Taybah (TOR) (Online & In Theatre)
Storyline Upon discovering that her lifelong next-door neighbour of over twenty years, Taybah, has never explored what the 6ix has to offer, [...]
Join Now
Black and Blue (TOR) (Online & In Theatre)
Storyline Garnetta Cromwell, a blues and soul musician of african descent has a lifelong dream of becoming a professional blues singer. Online [...]
Join Now
West Lodge Redemption (TOR) (Online & In Theatre)
Storyline Nestled in Parkdale, Toronto, West Lodge Apartments stands as a testament to endurance and hardship. Online film available from March 28 [...]
Join Now
Strike The Iron / Battre le Fer (MTL) (Online & In Theatre)
Storyline After immersing himself in the street life, Racci finds redemption through his passion for sports, which he shares with his community [...]
Join Now
Away From Home (TOR) (Online & In Theatre)
Storyline Determined to protect international students from escalating vulnerabilities in Canada—a country that once "embraced" them—an award-winning global leader, formerly an international [...]
Join Now
Dreaming in the West (TOR) (Online & In Theatre)
Storyline “Dreaming in the West” explores the Canadian dream for Black immigrant artists in our socioeconomically imbalanced world. Online film available from [...]
Join Now
Our Partners
