Welcome to the 2nd Annual Toronto Black Film Festival!

The 2nd annual Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF) has launched with the announcement of this years’ stellar line up as well as presentation theatres and special guests.

Presented by Global TV, TBFF will run from February 11th to 16th to coincide with Black History Month. Celebrating diversity in the community, critics are applauding the organization of the festival, the films being featured and specialty events.

Founded by Fabienne Colas and Emile Castonguay, the aim of the festival is to give a voice to Black filmmakers worldwide, to celebrate diversity within the black community, and to offer a stage to powerful film. Of the event Fabienne says “the year 2014 is a symbolic year for us, commemorating several ground-breaking anniversaries such as 210 years of Haitian Independence, 20 years of the Rwandan Genocide, 20 years since Mandela was elected president of South Africa, and 5 years since Barack Obama became the first black American president; TBFF is proud to dedicate the 2nd edition of the festival to the memory of the legendary leader Nelson Mandela, and to celebrate 20 years of democracy in South Africa!”

This year, TBFF is proud to offer 33 of the very best films depicting black realities from around the globe and a variety of breathtaking special events. “For a second year in a row, Global Toronto is proud to be a part of the Toronto Black Film Festival. We’re excited to be a part of unique stories that will be told and look forward to continuing our relationship with the festival organizers and diverse audiences for another year” said Ward Smith, Senior Director & Station Manager, Global Toronto.

The festival will open at the Isabel Bader Theatre with the award-winning film THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM, by Andrew Mudge, a Lesotho and South African co-production. The first ever film to be made in Lesotho. In commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of ‘Democracy in South Africa’, TBFF is delighted to be presenting a South African Series of 9 films – a tribute to Nelson Mandela through a film retrospective and a concert by award-winning singer Lorraine Klaasen. The award-winning American film THE RETREIVAL, by Chris Eska – Best Narrative Feature at the Montreal International Black Film Festival in 2013 – will close the festival at the Carlton Cinema.