The 5th OTTAWA BLACK FILM FESTIVAL Opens with Samia by Yasemin Şamdereli
- Ottawa Festival Network
- Mar 25
- 6 min read
+ 30 Films From 18 countries
Necessary, Innovative, Strong, Diverse and Bold Programming
Amplifying Black Voices from March 28 – April 1st, 2025
In-Person and Online
Full Program & All Access Passes at www.OttawaBlackFilm.com
The 5th Ottawa Black Film Festival (OBFF) returns with a meaningful in-person and online edition, dedicated to amplifying the voices of Afro-descendant Filmmakers. Founded by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, OBFF is proud to unveil its official program and events lineup, taking place from March 28 to April 1, 2025. In-person screenings and events will be held at Library and Archives Canada, while audiences across Canada can also join online.
#OBFF25 recognizes the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, Telefilm Canada. The festival also acknowledged the support of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation with funding provided by the Government of Canada. Library and Archives Canada, and Festwave Institute. This special edition will showcase 30 impactful films, engaging panels, insightful workshops, and thought-provoking discussions—bringing communities together to celebrate diverse talent and reflect on the experiences and challenges of Black creators.
“The Ottawa Black Film Festival celebrates 5 years! It’s an important milestone for us and it shows how much people want to see more diversity on screen and behind the scenes. Many many thanks to our loyal partners, artists and festivalgoers for their trust. We invite everyone to come celebrate with us and discover the world through films and more, from March 28 to April 1, 2025, both in-person and online.” – Said Fabienne Colas, President and Founder of the Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver Black Film Festivals.
The Opening Night kicks off with a red carpet event at Library and Archives Canada (395 Wellington Street) on Friday, March 28, at 7 p.m. EST. The festival opens with Samia by Yasemin Şamdereli (Somali and English, with English subtitles), a powerful and moving story of defiance and perseverance. Samia defies taboos by racing through the streets of Mogadishu, in a society where a woman is not supposed to run. Her passion will one day take her to the Olympic Games.
Then, at 9 p.m. EST, the festival expands beyond the in-person celebration as all films become available online.
This year’s highlights include Samia, Johanne, tout simplement, Hanami, Legacy: The De-Colonized History of South Africa, L’Audience, the Fabienne Colas Foundation’s BEING BLACK IN CANADA short film series and the OBFF Black Market – An industry series where esteemed professionals share real-world experiences on critical filmmaking and social issues. Join us for an exciting blend of panel discussions, offering insights and perspectives from the forefront of the industry.
Furthermore, the narrative feature Hanami and the documentary feature Legacy: The De-Colonized History of South Africa– will be screened on Saturday.
The festival will also present a series of narrative short films such as My Rock, Teah, Contiguity, Shoebox, Nola, Remote Paradise, Uncle Bryan, Strangers, and more online and in-person!
The #OBFF25 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. All can be purchased on the Festival’s website and are subject to taxes & fees.
FABIENNE COLAS FOUNDATION’S BEING BLACK IN CANADA
Part of Festwave Institute, presented by NETFLIX in collaboration with the National Bank and supported by Telefilm Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts, and other partners, proudly presents its 2024 cohort. On Saturday, March 29th, the Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto cohorts will showcase their films at 3 PM at Library and Archives Canada – All 2024 cohort films will also be available online. Get your tickets at OttawaBlackFilm.com.
The FCF’s Being Black in Canada supported 30 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
The OBFF Black Market is back – FREE IN PERSON and ONLINE! Join us for an exciting blend of progressive and innovative FREE panel discussions and workshops with renowned industry professionals. Gain insights into critical filmmaking and societal issues, alongside community panel discussions aimed at dissecting, important challenges affecting our Black community.
IN-PERSON
SATURDAY, March 29
Library and Archives Canada (395 Wellington St, Ottawa)
12 PM – Cinematic Expression Through Costume: The Art of Wardrobe and Styling in BIPOC Filmmaking
1:30 PM – WORKSHOP – Mastering Self-Tapes: Your Guide to Acting Auditions from Home
3:00 PM – Support Networks for Emerging Filmmakers in Ottawa (in collaboration with Ottawa Film Office)
ONLINE on FB
SUNDAY March 30
4:00 PM – Cinematic Expression Through Costume: The Art of Wardrobe and Styling in BIPOC Filmmaking ( In English)
MONDAY March 31
FRANÇAIS – 3:00 PM – L’expression cinématographique par le costume : L’art de la garde-robe et du stylisme dans le cinéma BIPOC (En français)
PARTNERS
The 5th annual Ottawa Black Film Festival, created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, runs March 28 – April 1st, 2025 and acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, Telefilm Canada. The festival also acknowledged the support of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation with funding provided by the Government of Canada. #OBFF25 is also supported by Library and Archives Canada, 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 #OBFF25 programming and events, visit www.OttawaBlackFilm.com
Back again this year! The OBFF Tour CECCE
The Equity and Inclusive Education (EIE) team, in collaboration with the Fabienne Colas Foundation, is offering students the opportunity to view three short films as part of the Ottawa Black Film Festival (OBFF) initiative. The three short films directed by emerging Afro-descendant filmmakers include: Renaissance, D’une génération à une autre and Mon rêve au Canada This presentation is located in an educational framework and aims to present students with different ways of seeing the world, through a cinematographic lens that highlights the diverse realities of people of African descent in Canada. Help young people to better understand culture, and promote respect for diversity! This tour of Ottawa’s 13 schools will take place from March 17 to 21.
Get Social #OBFF25
About the Ottawa Black Film Festival – #OBFF25
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 requests:Veronique Fecteau – 514-893-0772 – veronique@perfecteaucomm.com
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