The Canadian Black Film Festival launched its very first annual festival on Friday September 25th 2009, hosting 3 days of screenings workshops and events.  During this period, filmmakers from across Canada and many enthusiasts came to see a range of films and engage in some lively Q&A sessions.

Expert help was on hand from many of those driving African-Canadian filmmaking forward and we would like to extend special thanks to Jude Idada, Powys Dewhurst, David Sutherland, Tabby Johnson, Jani Lauzon, Louis Taylor and Nicole Brooks who either screened work or were incredibly supportive in participating in Q&A sessions.

The Tenant Cast and Producer Jude Idada at the CBFF Opening Night

As we look forward to launching 2010 activity, one of the key successes of the three days was the launch of the CBFF Youth on Camera program. This started on Saturday September 26th, bringing together groups from Schools Without Borders, Shoot With This and the Regent Park Focus Group for a screening day and discussion session.

The festival culminated in an emotional tribute to The Honourable Lincoln Alexander and the premiere screening of the documentary on his life – A Linc in Time – by Nicole Brooks, please make sure you see this film for yourself whenever you get the opportunity, truly a landmark in Canadian filmmaking!

Michael Pinball Clemons and Karen King pay tribute to Lincoln Alexander, pictured centre with cast from A Linc In Time

Our closing ceremony also saw the introduction of the ‘CBFF Linc Award’. This award (pictured below), was presented to Lincoln Alexander for his lifetime of achievements and contribution to Canadian society. This will also be the award handed out to filmmakers and category winners at all future festivals. We were delighted to have the opportunity to recognise The Honourable Lincoln Alexander in this way.

We would also like to pay a special thank you to our volunteers who helped to make our first year such a wonderful success. One of our volunteers, Stephanie Edwards, spent some time during a busy festival schedule writing reviews on some of the films shown, please read below for some quick reviews!

Drama, Drama, and a little too much Drama!

The Tenant kept us all on our toes in anticipation of how the story was going to unfold. Each opened door that provided key information always brought a new twist to the story. You could never predict what was going to happen next. Leaving the audience crying out exclamations of “oh my goodness” or “this is too much”, it really was a picture that seemed to connect with the audience.

A thoroughly engaging Q&A session with producers and members of the cast continued well into the night, which was a testament to the interest, intrigue and questions this award-winning Canadian feature has had at festivals around the world.

ATTENTION! – To all persons who have influence in allowing films to be shown in schools.  This should be one of them!!!

I highly recommend this film to be shown in schools and made easily accessible to people who would like to learn more about Kwanzaa or for people who would like to incorporate this celebration into their lives.

Kwanzaa is a holiday, yet many people are not informed about what Kwanzaa is, or what it means to some people in our community. This is an educational, informative and family oriented film that gives a sense of pride to all black communities worldwide and was a fitting way to open a Canadian Black Film Festival. Two thumbs up!

I was glad to see a film in the Canadian Black Film Festival that acknowledges Sickle Cell, which is a disease that mainly affects the black Community.

I didn’t feel as though this short film captured enough emotion from the parents, the stepmother or the child, about how they were really feeling going through this ordeal. Some may argue that the film was a bit toned down because the family was in a hospital. Regardless of this story being portrayed in a hospital setting, when someone you love or someone close to you is in need, hurt, sick or near death your emotions will tell a powerful story of how you feel, in addition to, how this sudden change will affect your daily life.

Due to the lack of honest emotion, I would find it hard for an audience to understand its true essence, however this was a powerful and brave first foray into filmmaking for the emerging young York graduate Brianna Brown.

A Linc In Time was amazing, inspirational and motivational!

I felt as though I was in the presence of a wise, down to earth and experienced individual, telling their story to allow another to step up and keep going even in the face of adversity and hardships. Lincoln Alexander never once gave the impression that everything in life came to him easy, but his compelling recollection of his own life story would certainly motivate anyone who sees this excellent documentary to give their very best at all times Both the number of changes he initiated, as well as the lives he touched are beautifully captured in a film that jumps seamlessly between the past and the present.

This testimony to someone who will in time be viewed as one of the forefathers of Canadian history will rest as timeless tribute to an incredible life and life-changing journey.