FADE TO BLACK - FONDU AU NOIR - Debate Conference at the 6th Montreal
International Black Film Festival

MONTREAL, Sept. 29 /CNW Telbec/ - This year, the Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF), which runs until October 3 and which is presented by the Fabienne Colas Foundation in collaboration with Global Montreal, is inaugurating an innovative new debate conference called "Fade to Black - Fondu au Noir," moderated by Mahalia Verna. The purpose of this conference is to create a space for dialogue on the realities of black cinema here and abroad. The conference will be held on Friday, October 1 at 1:30 pm in the Jean Desprez theatre at Maison de Radio-Canada (1400 René-Lévesque East).

With a record number of 128 films, the majority of which are world, international, Canadian or Quebec premieres, the program for this 6^th edition of the MIBFF is by far the most impressive in the history of the Festival. But the MIBFF would also like to create a space for reflection, discussion and debate, which is why we created Fade to Black, a debate conference that will be held every year. The conference will bring together several reputed panellists who will take the floor to speak about the various issues facing and the prospects for this industry.

PANELLISTS:

Albert Xavier, Director, Producer (USA):
The challenges, taboos and realities of the Black film industry in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Josa Maule, President and Founder of the Montreal School of Performing Arts (Canada):
Casting black actors in Montreal and the rest of Canada.

Marie-Ange Barbancourt, Hostess, Director, Journalist (Canada):
Are television and film screens too white in an intercultural Quebec? The representation of Blacks in Quebec cinema and on Quebec television.

Maryse Legagneur, Director (Canada):
Is it harder for black filmmakers to obtain funding? The realities of funding in Quebec for Black directors.

Fabienne Colas, Actress, Director, President and Founder of the Montreal International Black Film Festival (Canada):
What should the role of a Black Film Festival be? The Black Film Festival movement around the world.

The public and anyone working in the film industry are invited to take part in the debate. For further information and for the panellist biographies, please visit the Festival's Website at www.montrealblackfilm.com.

The Montreal International Black Film Festival
The mission of the Montreal International Black Film Festival, which was created in 2004, is to stimulate the development of the independent film industry and to encourage more films on the realities of Blacks from the four corners of the globe. The Festival wants to promote a different kind of cinema, cinema that hails from here or from abroad and that does not necessarily have the opportunity to grace the big screen, groundbreaking cinema that moves us, that raises awareness and takes us all by surprise! While dealing with issues and presenting works that raise questions, that provoke, that make us smile, that leave us perplexed, that shock us... A fresh new look at black cinema from the four corners of the globe! The Festival runs until October 3, 2010 at Cinéma du Parc and at the NFB.

For further information:

Source: Montreal International Black Film Festival
Media contact: Carla Beauvais - 438-868-5450 or [email protected]