The 5th Vancouver International Black Film Festival (VIBFF) returns to amplify Black voices, December 5 to 9 in-person and online.
Founded by the Fabienne Colas Foundation and co-presented by Global BC, VIBFF is pleased to announce its official hybrid program and events lineup. The in-person screenings and events will take place at the VIFF Vancity Theatre and Studio Theatre. The online screenings, for all films, will be available on Friday, December 5, at 9pm PST
For this fifth edition, the Vancouver International Black Film Festival features 35 films, insightful panels, creative workshops, and community events that promote connection and dialogue. Providing a powerful space for their voices and stories to be heard, it celebrates the vision and resilience of creators from diverse backgrounds,
Highlights of the 5th VIBFF is the Fabienne Colas Foundation’s award-winning BEING BLACK IN CANADA short film series, the VIBFF Black Market, special in-person screenings of: Of Mud and Blood, Sierra’s Gold and Snake, as well as a Special Canadian Spotlight of 9 feature films.
“Celebrating five years in Vancouver is a powerful milestone – not just for us, but for the city and for Black storytelling in Canada. The Vancouver International Black Film Festival (VIBFF) continues to shine a light on bold, authentic, and necessary voices that are too often overlooked on screen. We are proud to amplify Black talent from here and around the world, championing diversity in front of and behind the camera. This 5th edition promises thought-provoking films, inspiring conversations, and unforgettable artistic experiences. We invite everyone – audiences, partners, and communities – to join us, support these stories, and be part of a movement that is changing the cultural landscape. When Black stories rise, we all rise.” – Fabienne Colas, President and Founder of the Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver Black Film Festivals.
“Global BC is excited to showcase its support to the Vancouver International Black Film Festival. It’s important to empower unique voices and promote Black talent in the international film and television industry.” – Bhupinder S. Hundal, Global BC News Director & Station Manager.
Other highlights of the VIBFF Program include:
OPENING EVENING RED CARPET GALA
December 5 at 7pm : The opening night star-studded, red-carpet event opens with Jean-Gabriel Leynaud’s Of Mud and Blood, available only in person. Set in Numbi, a remote Congolese village, Of Mud and Blood exposes the harsh realities of coltan mining—the “grey gold” that powers our modern technology. Through intimate storytelling, the film captures the daily struggles and fragile hopes of miners and villagers caught in a cycle of exploitation, conflict, and dreams of a better future.
CENTRAL PIECES
Feature film selections:
Sierra’s Gold, directed by Adze Ugah, awarded Best South African Feature Film at the Durban International Film Festival, is a sharp mix of dark comedy, satire, and social commentary. Set in Johannesburg, the film follows Sierra, an eccentric young visual artist who, after a bizarre medical procedure intended to terminate her pregnancy, discovers she can excrete gold. With absurdist flair reminiscent of Pulp Fiction, the film transforms this surreal idea into a biting critique of greed, exploitation, and bodily autonomy, turning heavy themes like abortion and resource extraction into a provocative and unforgettable cinematic experience.
Snake, winner of Best Feature Film at the Florence International Film Festival in Italy, is a haunting adaptation of South African novelist Tracy Farren’s acclaimed work. The story, told from a child’s perspective, unravels the deep psychological scars of a community grappling with its shameful past. Combining the intensity of Cape Fear with the emotional depth of South African storytelling, Snake is a gripping exploration of trauma, guilt, and redemption.
CANADIAN SPOTLIGHT (ONLINE ONLY December 5 -9, 2025)
The Canadian Spotlight is a special showcase created by the Vancouver International Black Film Festival to highlight outstanding cinematic works that explore Black realities through a Canadian lens. This selection celebrates essential films whose relevance and impact deserve to be shared with the public.
Subjects of Desire — 2021 by Jennifer Holness
Someone Like Me (Une Personne Comme Moi) — 2021 by Sean Horlor & Steve J. Adams
Il n’y a pas de faux métier (There are no false undertakings) — 2020 by Olivier Godin
Rumba Rules, Nouvelles Généalogies (Rumba Rules, New Genealogies) — 2020 by David N. Bernatchez et Sammy Baloji
Zo Reken — 2021 by Emanuel Licha
Kite Zo A: Leave the Bones — 2022 by Kaveh Nabatian
Stateless — 2023 by Michèle Stephenson
Dope is Death — 2021 by Mia Donovan
SPECIAL EVENTS
FABIENNE COLAS FOUNDATION’S BEING BLACK IN CANADA
December 6 at Vancity Theatre at 5pm and Online for Vancouver, Halifax, and Toronto cohorts. Online only for Ottawa, Calgary, and Montreal cohorts’ films
Part of Fabienne Colas Foundation’s Festwave Institute, presented by NETFLIX, in collaboration with the National Bank, supported by Telefilm Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts. The FCF’s Being Black in Canada supported 30 Black Canadian Filmmakers, aged 18 to 30 in the creation of their first documentary short films (8 to 10 minutes). The unique project inspires emerging artists from culturally diverse backgrounds, by providing professional coaching for each stage of the audiovisual production process and then made a short documentary film under the tutelage of industry professionals.
THE VIBFF BLACK MARKET
Presented by Festwave Institute
December 6, in-person at VIFF Studio Theatre from 11am to 4pm & December 7, free on Facebook
The VIBFF Black Market space is dedicated to the cinema industry and to raising awareness of today’s social climate with powerful & FREE panel discussions. Visit vancouverblackfilmfest.com for VIBFF Black Market program schedule.
The 5th Vancouver International Black Film Festival (VIBFF) takes place December 5 to 9 in-person at the VIFF Center Studio Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street, and online.
Visit vancouverblackfilmfest.com for the complete festival program and to purchase passes and tickets.
All-Access Online Pass for viewing the entire ONLINE film programming is $45 (+ tx/fees).
All-Access In-Person Pass for viewing the entire IN-PERSON film programming is $39 (+ tx/fees)
Single tickets for IN-PERSON films are available for $12, and $20 for the Opening Night film.