Celebrating African Heritage Month by amplifying Black voices and uplifting Black talent, the 9th annual Halifax Black Film Festival (HBFF) is back in person and online from February 28 to March 4, 2025.
We look forward to showcasing HBFF’s extraordinary program and invite everyone to come celebrate the many premieres that illuminate African Heritage Month with stories of resilience, creativity, and triumph. – Fabienne Colas
Created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, this year’s HBFF will present 30 films from 14 countries virtually and in person at Park Lane Cineplex and special events at the Halifax Central Library.
“Join us in celebrating African Heritage Month through the 9th annual Halifax Black Film Festival, which has been delivering impact, amplifying Black voices and fostering inclusion of Black film professionals and artists in our industry,” says president and founder Fabienne Colas. “We look forward to showcasing HBFF’s extraordinary program and invite everyone to come celebrate the many premieres that illuminate African Heritage Month with stories of resilience, creativity, and triumph.”
The 2025 HBFF opens on February 28 with Juan Mejia’s Igualada. Fifteen years in the making, the documentary follows Francia Márquez, a Black Colombian rural activist who challenges the status quo with a presidential campaign that inspires a nation to dream.
Other highlights include the return of Being Black in Canada, which features documentary shorts by young filmmakers aged 18-30 across Canada. This year’s line-up includes films from Halifax filmmakers Temitayo Sodunke, Habiba Diallo, and Andre Anderson, who tell stories about what it means to them to be Black and live in Halifax.
Created in 2017 by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, the Halifax Black Film Festival is part of an affiliated Black Film Festival network in Montréal, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, and Vancouver. The festivals celebrate cinematic work that deals with the varied experiences of Black people from diverse communities. Its mandate is to allow filmmakers to shine the spotlight on authentic stories that reflect the realities of black experiences.
The 2025 Halifax Black Film Festival will be in-person and online from February 28 to March 4, 2025. Visit HalifaxBlackFilm.com for tickets and information.