Over the past twenty years, Haitian-Canadian visionary Fabienne Colas has transformed the landscape for Black cinematic talent in Canada. What began with a single festival in Montreal has blossomed into a nationwide network, with the latest addition being the Vancouver International Black Film Festival (VIBFF), now in its fifth year.
A Foundation for Change and Showcase
Colas, who worked as an actor in film and television between 2001 and 2011, recalls a vastly different industry at the start of her journey. "It was a different time back then," she reflects. "Black Lives Matter wasn't trending, or diversity and inclusion. There were no programs for BIPOC people — actually the term BIPOC was not a thing." Today, she notes a significant shift, with increased dialogue around inclusion and greater accessibility through technology for emerging artists to share their work.
Her primary vehicle for change is the Fabienne Colas Foundation. Beyond organizing festivals in Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, and Vancouver, the foundation runs the critical Being Black in Canada (BBIC) incubator program. This initiative provides funding and professional support for emerging Black Canadian filmmakers to create short films, which are then showcased at the festivals.
"This is not just another program," Colas emphasizes. "It's necessary to force accessibility and inclusion in the Canadian film industry... They don't have the means to go and just create that work in a professional setting, because it costs a lot of money. We get the funding so we can help them to do just that."
Vancouver Festival Highlights Local Voice
The 2025 edition of the Vancouver International Black Film Festival runs from December 5 to December 9. It opens with a screening of Jean-Gabriel Leynaud's documentary Of Mud and Blood on December 5 at the VIFF Centre. The festival features both in-person events at the VIFF Vancity and Studio Theatres and online screenings starting at 9 p.m. on December 5.
A key component is the BBIC Selection, a series of 16 short films. Among them is Self Actualization by Vancouver-based filmmaker and actor Marion Jacobs. The short film is inspired by the experiences of a mixed-race friend growing up in North Vancouver.
"Because we grew up together and had a lot of the same experiences, I would say, in a way, it is kind of indirectly about me as well," Jacobs shared. She expressed excitement about seeing her work on the big screen for the first time with an audience that will include her family.
Legacy of Opening Doors
From a single festival to a coast-to-coast movement, Fabienne Colas's work has created essential platforms for storytelling and professional development. The festivals do more than screen international films; they actively cultivate and premiere homegrown Canadian talent. As Colas observes the increased opportunities today compared to two decades ago, her foundation's ongoing work ensures that the momentum for Black creators in Canada's film and television industries continues to build, one festival and one filmmaker at a time.