The Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF) celebrated its 20th edition from Sept. 25 to 29, shining a powerful spotlight on the richness of Black cinema and emphasizing the importance of diversifying the cinematic landscape. MIBFF is the largest film event dedicated to Black cinema in Canada as well as the only bilingual Black film festival in North America. This year’s festival aimed to inspire attendees by illuminating Black filmmakers and offering a platform to advocate for Black storytelling within the industry. Academy Award-winning director Spike Lee was named the Honourary President of this year’s festival and took part in an intimate interview for the Opening Night Gala.
Founded by Fabienne Colas, a director and producer who presides over 12 other arts and film festivals, MIBFF amplifies Black filmmakers and honours diverse narratives. The festival serves as a beacon for the importance of representation and inclusion on and off the screen. At the Opening Night Gala, Colas urged the industry and audiences to continue fighting for equal funding and grants for Black and BIPOC organizations.
The crowd eagerly welcomed Spike Lee, a renowned filmmaker in the industry for over 45 years, upon his fourth appearance at MIBFF. Known for his thought-provoking body of work, the energy in the audience was palpable as Lee provided insight into the filmmaking process and industry. Lee’s approach is reflected in his unwavering passion to tackle social injustice, an aspect of filmmaking that is often overlooked.
Through his inspiring and stimulating conversation with Colas, Lee highlighted the persistent challenges that Black filmmakers face in gaining visibility for their projects as well as the need for increased representation behind the camera. Lee addressed the systematic obstacles faced by Black filmmakers, drawing parallels between the 35th anniversary of his radical film Do The Right Thing and the ongoing prevalence of racial injustice and police brutality, notably in regard to recent events such as the murder of George Floyd. While Lee’s filmography is distinguished by his urge to confront and raise awareness of social injustices, he also acknowledged the need for contemporary filmmakers to portray what resonates with their personal journey. When asked if he believed filmmakers today have a mission to raise awareness, Lee said that everybody has “different stories to tell.”
There was a tangible sense of community and a shared purpose felt amongst the audience, with Lee’s candid nature serving as a refreshing view of the current film landscape. Having spent decades pushing the boundaries of storytelling within the industry, Lee shared invaluable advice to aspiring filmmakers, discussing the modern-day tools available to budding creatives as well as the importance of physical screenings. Proclaiming that “you have the tools,” Lee emphasized collaboration, maintaining that community and perseverance lead to success. Furthermore, he honed in on the need for Black creatives to occupy positions of authority behind the screen, rather than being outside the ‘room where it happens’.
Lee’s personal anecdotes provided a glimpse into his journey, starting from watching classic Hollywood movies with his mother as a child to his current status as a legendary filmmaker. He also shared his most influential movies—highlighting Crooklyn as a personally significant project due to the family effort involved in the writing process and his own upbringing in Brooklyn; Lee confidently proclaimed that “Crooklyn beats everything”.
The festival serves as a testament to the importance of upholding Black cinema and the need to continue pushing for greater inclusion and representation within the film industry. As noted by Lee, events like MIBFF create crucial spaces for celebrating individual voices and serve as a call to action to both filmmakers and audiences to embrace their unique narratives.
