2013 Program Announcement - 9th Annual Montreal International Black Film Festival

September 18 to 29, 2013 - www.montrealblackfilm.com

MONTREAL, Sept. 4, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, at the Cinémathèque québécoise, programming for the 9th edition of the Montreal International Black Film Festival was announced. The MIBFF, presented by Global Montreal in collaboration with Zupim.com, will take place from September 18 to 29, 2013.

Canada's biggest black film festival, the Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF), created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, is returning with a rich and bold program, featuring over one hundred films from all over the world! Moviegoers will get the chance to watch uncut, quality films. Feature-length, mid-length, shorts, documentaries and narrative films will all be presented, most making their Canadian debut!

A SYMBOLIC CONTEXT
2013 is a very symbolic year for the Montreal International Black Film Festival. It commemorates the 50^th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, marks the 2^nd term of the first black American President, Barack Obama, and would also be the 100th birthday of Aimé Cesaire, if he were still alive today.

BEYOND BORDERS
The MIBFF's mission is to highlight local and international talents that bring black realities and diversity to the world stage.

During the festival's 12 days of discovery, audiences will have the privilege to enjoy cosmopolitan masterpieces of the seventh art. Festival-goers will have the chance to see actors and directors from all corners of the globe sharing their passions. And there's something for everyone! Productions are divided into several categories: drama; art, poetry, and music; comedy; accomplishment; Haitian films; identity, history, and traditions; immigrationand segregation; and the human condition. Here is a list of some of the top picks chosen from the festival line up: Chasing Shakespeare, Alice Walker - Beauty in Truth, The Forgotten Kingdom, Denis, Fanie Fouri's Lobola, Rayons d'Espoir (They Shine), Nairobi Half Life, Taste of Rain, The Retrieval, Les baobabs ne poussent pas en hiver, The Suspect, Haiti Untold, La Source, Mimi Barthélémy - la voix de la conteuse, Tula - the Revolt, Journalistes - vos papiers, Bay of all Saints, Finding Hillywood, Noirs et blancs en couleurs, Home, Something Necessary, La Playa DC and many more.

MAKING AN IMPACT TOGETHER & HONORARY AWARDS
The MIBFF is so much more than a festival. It is also a space for social, cultural and economic reflection, both on historical and contemporary issues, particularly the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and tributes by renowned speakers who are a source of inspiration through their exceptional accomplishments.

DANNY GLOVER, Hollywood legend, producer and activist, will receive the MIBFF's 2013 HUMANTARIAN AWARD on the festival's opening night, Wednesday, September 18, 2013, at 7:30 pm at the Imperial Theatre. The MIBFF is honouring Mr. Glover with this award for his extraordinary humanitarian contributions as well as for his dedication to the fight against global injustice and inequality.

JOSUÉ LAJEUNESSE, active humanitarian, will receive the very first MIBFF SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD on Friday September 27, 2013 at 7 pm at Cinéma du Parc. The MIBFF is presenting him with this award for his efforts to improve the living conditions of the inhabitants of La Source, his hometown, after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

KIM NGUYEN, award-winning and Oscar-nominated director will receive the first MIBFF VANGUARD AWARD on the festival's closing night, Sunday, September 29, 2013 at 7 pm at the Imperial Theatre. The MIBFF is thrilled to present Nguyen with this new award, which was recently created to recognize Canadian directors for their exceptional efforts in raising awareness about black realities.

MAIN EVENTS
For more details on special events and to purchase tickets, visit www.montrealblackfilm.com.

Opening Film - CHASING SHAKESPEARE and Tribute to DANNY GLOVER
(Presented by Global Montreal) - Wednesday, September 18 at 7:30 pm at the Imperial Theatre, Norry Niven's first feature-length film, Chasing Shakespeare, will make its Canadian debut at the festival's opening ceremonies. Starring Danny Glover, Graham Greene, Tantoo Cardinal, Chelsea Ricketts, Mike Wade and Clarence Gilyard, this American film is a beautiful and enchanting love story about a young Native American woman's search for her destiny and her widower husband's attempts to reunite with her after her death. Based on a screenplay by James Bird, Chasing Shakespeare recounts the beginning, end and rebirth of a love affair between William and Venus in rural Arkansas. During the opening ceremonies, the legendary Hollywood actor Danny Glover, will receive the 2013 Humanitarian Award. $25

Closing Film - DENIS and Tribute to KIM NGUYEN
(Presented by Zupim.com) - On Sunday, September 29, at 7 pm at the Imperial Theatre, Lionel Bailliu's Denis will make its Canadian debut as the festival's closing film. Vincent thought he met the love of his life... twice. But both times, his girlfriends dumped him for the same guy, Denis. Now that Vincent is happily in love with Anna, his only fear is that Denis will steal her away. Vincent goes on a quest to understand how women keep falling for a tacky-shirt-wearing loudmouth who teaches wrestling as though it were philosophy. Starring Fabrice Eboué, Jean-Paul Rouve, Audrey Dana, and Sara Gireaudeau. The director will be attending. $25

Tribute to MIMI BARTHÉLÉMY (1939 - 2013) + Film Mimi Barthélémy, la voix de la conteuse
(Presented by the Consulate General of Haiti in Montreal) - On Friday, September 20, 9 pm, at Cinéma du Parc, a tribute to the Haitian storyteller, actress and writer who recently passed away on April 27, 2013, by Joujou Turenne, writer and storyteller and Rodney St-Eloi, author and editor. Roland Moreau's film Mimi Barthélémy, la voix de la conteuse will be screened prior to the tribute. In this documentary, Barthelemy takes the audience on a trip into the fantastic world of the Haitian imaginary. $10

Movie-talk: An evening with MOUSSA TOURÉ
(With the support of the Consulate General of France in Quebec) - Saturday, September 21, from 3 pm to 7 pm, at Cinéma du Parc. At 3 pm, there will be a screening of short films by Moussa Touré's students, followed by a discussion with Touré entitled "Film and Audiovisual Training in Southern Countries." At 5:15, there will be a screening of Touré's film Nosaltres. This film tells the story of two communities, one Malian and one Catalonian, living together for eight years, but never having spoken to each other. $10

Haitian Movie & Concert Night
(Presented by Le Centre des Viandes F. Iasenza - in collaboration with the Haïti en Folie Festival) - Saturday, September 21, 7:30 pm, at the Haitian Cultural Centre, La Perle Retrouvée, 7655, 20e Av., Saint-Michel, Montreal, in collaboration with Haïti en Folie. For the third year in a row, the Haitian Movie and Concert Night will provide a festive atmosphere, and will introduce audiences to the following films: Radu Juster's Raconte-Moi Haïti Montréal, André Vanasse's An Kore Moun, and Filibien André's Pafen San Pri. Several live bands will perform at this colourful Haitian night. It will be a great opportunity for socializing, sharing, discovering and entertainment. The line-up will include: discussions, choir, dance, music and much more!!! $10

Commemoration of the 50^th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I HAVE A DREAM" speech
(Presented by the Consulate General of the United States in Montreal) - Tuesday, September 24, 6 pm at the Cinémathèque. First, we will take a look at the events leading up to the March on Washington with Jean Gabriel Perriot's film, THE DEVIL. We will then witness the preparations for the events of August 28, 1963 and relive the "I Have a Dream" speech through James Blue's film THE MARCH. We will also screen the April 24, 1960 episode of PREMIER PLAN, hosted by René Lévesque and produced by Radio-Canada, who provides an overview of the black uprising in the American South. This evening will be hosted by Reverend Darryl Gray. A number of international personalities who lived through these memorable moments will speak about their experiences and will share their perspective on the "dream" today. $25

Debate: Are our Screens too White in Quebec's Mixed Society?
(Presented by the Fabienne Colas Foundation - in collaboration with Diversité Artistique Montréal) -  Saturday, September 28, 4:45 at Cinéma du Parc: Many people believe that television reflects society and its demographic reality. However, despite the strong presence of visible minorities in Quebec, both big and small screens remain very "white." Are Quebecois television and cinema closed to diversity? Is this a myth or reality? We will examine these questions in light of Maurice Dubroca's documentary Noirs et Blancs en Couleurs. Dubroca's film discusses the representation of minorities in French cinema and provides some perspective on the representation of blacks and other ethnic groups in Quebecois cinema and television. This debate will be moderated by Fabienne Colas, actress, director and producer with various guests from the film and television industries, as well as prominent experts on diversity. $10

2013 JURY MEMBERS
The MIBFF is thrilled to reveal the 2013 jury members that will be selecting winners in the following categories:

Narrative Feature-Length: Lewis Cohen, director - President of the jury; David Uloth, director

Dany Blanco-Hall, singer and actor; Anne Lagacé-Dowson, journalist and director of Ensemble; Denis Chouinard, director and professor.

Feature-Length Documentaries: Jennifer Alleyn, artist and director - President of the jury; Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette, réalisatrice et écrivaine; Paul Tana, réalisateur et enseignant.

Short and Mid-Length Narrative and Documentary Films: Michel Monty, director (film and stage) and teacher - President of the jury; Fayolle Jean, actor, director and poet; Philippe Leclerc, Entrepreneur and activist.

TICKETS AND VENUES
Movie Passes: The Festival is pleased to offer a $70 Ciné-Access Pass valid for 10 films playing at Cinéma du Parc; a $150 Passport Pass valid for all films paying at Cinéma du Parc; a $300 Gold Pass valid for all films (including opening and closing films as well as MLK50), and also a $450 Platinum Pass granting priority access to all festival events, including invite-only events and much more. All details on www.montrealblackfilm.com.

Individual Tickets: Individual tickets are now available for $10 per screening on the festival website (www.montrealblackfilm.com) or at Cinéma du Parc. Tickets for opening and closing nights are available for $25 only on the festival website.

Venues: All films will be screened at Cinéma du Parc (3575, av. du Parc), except the opening and closing nights, which will take place at the Imperial Theatre (1430, rue de Bleury); MLK50 - Commemoration of the 50^th anniversary of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech - which will take place at Cinémathèque québécoise (335 de Maisonneuve Est) and the Haitian Movie and Concert Night which will take place at  Centre culturel La Perle Retrouvée (7655, 20e Av., Saint-Michel).

All details about tickets and programming on: www.montrealblackfilm.com.

The 9th Montreal International Black Film Festival, created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, will be held from September 18 to 29, 2013 and is presented by Global Montreal in collaboration with Zupim.com.

About the Montreal International Black Film Festival - MIBFF
The Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF) was created in 2005 by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting cinema, art and culture. As Canada's biggest black film festival, MIBFF's mission is to stimulate the development of the independent film industry and to foster the creation of films on international black realities. The festival wants to promote a different kind of cinema: cinema from both here and abroad that doesn't always make it to the silver screen. We showcase ground-breaking cinema that both moves and shocks us, all while raising awareness. Join us for a fresh look at black cinema from all corners of the globe!

Get festival news on:
www.montrealblackfilm.com / www.facebook.com/blackfilmfestival / www.twitter.com/filmblackmtl

SOURCE: Montreal International Black Film Festival

For information, interviews and promotional material:
Director of Media Relations: Carla Beauvais - [email protected] - [phone]
Francophone Press Agent: Fadwa Lapierre - [email protected]  - [phone]
Anglophone Press Agent: Danny Payne - [email protected] - [phone]
Ethnic and Community Press Agent: Flore Leclerc - [email protected] - [phone]