2011 Montreal International Black Film Festival, Sept 22-Oct 2

Tonight is the kickoff for the 7th annual Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF). The opening night film will be Case Départ (Back To Square One) by Fabrice Eboué, Thomas Ngijol and Lionel Steketee. The gala creening takes place at the Cinéma Impérial, 1430 Rue de Bleury. The co-directors and co-stars Thomas Ngijol and Fabrice Éboué will be in attendance.

The festival's closing night film will be Gabriel Range's I Am Slave. Like Case Départ, the film deals with issues of slavery but this time with a contemporary British setting. Director Gabriel Range will be in attendance.

The festival presents a line-up of 125 films from over 35 different countries, many of which are premieres. The festival will also present special events including a conference, exhibitions, and family screenings which are free.

Pioneering writer/director Souleymane Cissé, the first African filmmaker to win a prize at the Cannes Festival (Yeelen in 1987), will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

This year, Charles Biddle Jr. will be the Spokesperson for MIBFF. He is taking over for  Cultural Reporter Francine Grimaldi, who has been the Spokesperson for the Festival for the past five years and who will now be the Festival's Honorary Ambassador.

The festival continues until October 2, at Cinéma Impérial, NFB Cinema and Cinéma du Parc.

www.montrealblackfilm.com