The 3rd OTTAWA BLACK FILM FESTIVAL opens with 1960 by King Shaft and Michael Mutombo + 40 Films from around the globe
Necessary, Innovative, Strong, Diverse and Bold programming – Amplifying even more Black Voices from March 24 – 26, 2023 – FOR THE FIRST TIME IN-PERSON and Online.
Full Program & All Access Passes at www.OttawaBlackFilm.com
Ottawa, March 8, 2023 – After two successful virtual editions, the 3rd Ottawa Black Film Festival #OBFF23, is back with a hybrid version to amplify the voices of Afro-descendants. Founded by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, OBFF is thrilled to announce the official program and events lineup, running March 24 – 26, 2023. The In-Person screenings and events will take place at La Nouvelle scène Gilles Desjardins and Library and Archives Canada.
Created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, #OBFF23 is supported by Canadian Heritage, Canada Media Fund, Ottawa Arts Council, Le Droit and Festwave Institute. The Ottawa Black Film Festival’s exciting and diverse programming is moving to a hybrid model this year with its first In-Person offering in Ottawa, with continued Online programming for accessibility across Canada and the world. Through 40 films and various panels, this hybrid third edition is aimed at the public from all communities as it highlights the talent of creators from diverse backgrounds and makes room for them to reflect on the issues they face.
The opening night is a red carpet event happening on Friday, March 24 at 7 p.m. EST and opens with King Shaft and Michael Mutombo’s 1960, at La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins (333 King Edward Ave, Ottawa). This mystery thriller begins when the remains of an apartheid-era policeman are discovered 60 years after he went missing, and a retired singer revisits her past to help with the investigation. The Film will also be available online during the festival.
At 9 p.m. EST, all films will be accessible online.
Ellie Foumbi’s Our Father the Devil will close #OBFF23’s and will be available in person on March 26th and online throughout the Festival. The film is presented in French with English subtitles. This ethical and psychological thriller is about Marie (Babetida Sadjo), an African refugee working as the head chef at a retirement home in small-town France whose quiet existence is upended by the arrival of Father Patrick (Souleymane Sy Savané), a charismatic priest with whom she’s convinced she shares a heavy past in her homeland.
This year’s highlights include Colorblind, Know Your Place, How (not) to Build a School in Haiti, Sheeps Clothing, Black as U R and the Fabienne Colas Foundation’s BEING BLACK IN CANADA short film series. OBFF Black Market – an industry series where renowned industry professionals share real-world experience on today’s most critical filmmaking and social issues – will present an exciting blend of panel discussions.
Furthermore, a series of thought-provoking short documentaries – presented by the Canada Media Fund – will be screened on Sunday and will include: Session, 110′ Maka, We Went Out, Silent Partner, Reflection, Roadmarks, and many more!
The #OBFF23 ALL ACCESS IN PERSON PASS gives access to the entire In person programming and can be purchased on the Festival’s website for $59 (+ tx/fees). The ALL ACCESS ONLINE PASS is available for $49 (+tx/fees). Single tickets for regular films are available for $12; Opening Night for $20; Closing Night for $15. All can be purchased on the Festival’s website and are subject to taxes & fees.
“The Ottawa Black Film Festival is being presented for the first time in person (and online)! The entire team is very excited to be on the ground to be able to showcase exceptional work and authentic Black stories that don’t always make it to the screen. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating diversity off and on camera as well as the differences that make us unique and the shared values that bring us together.” – Said Fabienne Colas, President and Founder of the Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver Black Film Festivals.
FABIENNE COLAS FOUNDATION’S BEING BLACK IN CANADA
Presented by NETFLIX, in collaboration with the National Bank, and supported by Telefilm Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts and various partners. March 25th – La Nouvelle Scène Gilles Desjardins 5pm – 10:30pm & ONLINE Tickets on OttawaBlackFilm.com
30 emerging Black filmmakers from Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver of the Fabienne Colas Foundation’s Being Black in Canada program will present their short films In-Person at OBFF on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
The FCF’s Being Black in Canada supported 35 Black Canadian Filmmakers, 18 to 30 years old, in Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, and Vancouver in the creation of their first documentary short films (8 to 10 minutes). The filmmakers received professional coaching for each stage of the audiovisual production process and then made a short documentary film under the tutelage of industry professionals. A unique project that ensures inspiring emerging artists from culturally diverse backgrounds.
OBFF BLACK MARKET
Presented by Festwave Institute
#OBFF23 brings back a whole new version of the OBFF Black Market – FREE IN-PERSON and ONLINE! An industry series where both locally and internationally renowned industry professionals, experts, thought leaders, visionaries and like-minded people, will share an exciting blend of cutting-edge thinking and real-world experience on today’s most critical filmmaking issues.
IN-PERSON
SATURDAY, March 25
Library and Archives Canada (395 Wellington St, Ottawa, K1A 0N4)
11am – Finding Your Creative Space in Ottawa – Black Film & TV Creatives
12:30pm – Bumping the Effort in Supporting Local Talent
2pm – Networking: The How-to Rules for Approaching People in the Entertainment Industry
ONLINE
SUNDAY, March 26
11:30 am – Incorporating: Finding the Right Time and How to Do It
1pm – Black Francophone Artists on the Move in Ottawa (French panel)
Presented by Le Droit
PARTNERS
The 3rd annual Ottawa Black Film Festival, created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, runs March 24 – 26, 2023 and is supported by Canadian Heritage, Canada Media Fund, and Ottawa Arts Council. #OBFF23 is also supported by Le Droit, Festwave Institute, the Montreal Intl Black Film Festival, Toronto Black Film Festival, Halifax Black Film Festival, Calgary Black Film Festival, Vancouver Intl Black Film Festival and Fade to Black / Fondu au Noir in Montreal.
For the complete #OBFF23 programming and events, visit www.OttawaBlackFilm.com
Get Social #OBFF23
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About the Ottawa Black Film Festival – #OBFF23
The Ottawa Black Film Festival (OBFF) is about discovery and Inclusion. A not-for-profit organization created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, OBFF wants to amplify more Black voices and showcase the most relevant Black films from here and abroad while creating a space to debate major cultural, social, and socio-economic issues. The Ottawa Black Film Festival is dedicated to giving unique voices in cinema the opportunity to present audiences with new ways of looking at the world. OBFF’s 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.
About the Fabienne Colas Foundation
The Fabienne Colas Foundation (FCF) is Canada’s largest Black cultural organization. Created in 2005, the FCF is a not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Cinema, Art and Culture in Canada and abroad. Along with Zaza production, the Fabienne Colas Foundation is also the creator of 12 Festivals, including the highly successful Montreal Black Film Festival, the hugely popular Toronto Black Film Festival, the Halifax Black Film Festival as well as several other successful Festivals in Canada, the USA, Haiti and Brazil. These initiatives/festivals have showcased and supported over 5,000 artists and attracted over 2 million festival-goers. The Foundation is also the creator of the FCF’s Being Black in Canada program, Canada’s largest incubator dedicated to Black Filmmakers and Festwave Institute, created to empower the next generation of Black & underrepresented film & TV professionals.
For media interview request: Veronique Fecteau – 514-893-0772 – veronique@perfecteaucomm.com
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