TARAJI P. HENSON & CLEMENT VIRGO to receive the TBFF 2021 Career Achievement Award
JEAN AUGUSTINE to receive the TBFF 2021 Pioneer Award
WES HALL to receive the TBFF 2021 Social Impact Award
The 9th annual Toronto Black Film Festival – #TBFF21 – marks Black History Month
A necessary ONLINE Festival for our times – Innovative, Strong, Diverse and Bold programming Amplifying even more Black Voices from February 10 – 21, 2021
Full Program, All Access Passes & Individual Tickets at TorontoBlackFilm.com
Toronto, ON (February 10, 2021) – The Toronto Black Film Festival presented by TD Bank Group in collaboration with Global News, will honour Academy Award nominated actress Taraji P. Henson and one of Canada’s foremost director’s Clement Virgo with the TBFF 2021 Career Achievement Award for their accomplishments and success within the film and TV industries.
TBFF will also pay tribute to the first African Canadian woman to be elected as Member of Parliament, Hon. Jean Augustine, with the TBFF 2021 Pioneer Award. Her many achievements include legislation securing to pass a historic motion designating February as Black History Month in Canada. Wes Hall, one of MacLean’s 2021 Top 50 Most Powerful Canadians, will be presented with the TBFF 2021 Social Impact Award for his work as chairman of Black North Initiative.
TBFF pass holders will have the opportunity to view the Discussions with our honorees, entirely online, from February 10 to 21. The #TBFF21 All Access Pass is available for only $69 and gives access to all films (Feature Films accessible in Canada only, except “Foster Boy”, which is accessible across North America) / Short Films Series accessible worldwide). All Passes can be purchased on the Festival’s website.
“#TBFF21 is more than a film festival; it’s a movement. We strive to spotlight important Black figures in and out of the film world for their remarkable work. Taraji P. Henson and Clement Virgo’s work in the TV and film industries embodies Black Excellence and shows us that when given the opportunity, Black filmmakers can do wonders. Wes Hall’s work against systemic racism with the Black North Initiative is nothing short of inspiring. Finally, Hon. Jean Augustine, the first Black-Canadian member of Parliament, who showed us that we can all become agents of change and become better as a society.” Stated Fabienne Colas, President and Founder of the TBFF.
In Conversation with Taraji P. Henson Tribute
TBFF President and Founder Fabienne Colas discusses with Academy Award nominated actress Taraji P. Henson about her path towards Hollywood fame as a Black actress. The discussion will be available on the Festival film platform until the end of the event (available to All Access Pass Holders).
Taraji P. Henson will receive the TBFF 2021 Career Achievement for her triumphs in TV and film while portraying strong powerful Black characters.
Academy Award nominated and Golden Globe winning actor, writer and producer Taraji P. Henson quickly rose to fame after her breakout performance in the critically acclaimed film HUSTLE & FLOW, which earned her, and cast, a Screen Actors Guild nomination as well as winning her at BET award for Best Actress. Henson currently stars as Cookie Lyon in Fox’s hit musical drama “Empire,” which has earned her three Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe Award, a Critic’s Choice Award and three BET Awards.” In 2017, Henson portrayed NASA mathematician Katherine G. Johnson in the Academy Award-nominated film HIDDEN FIGURES. Henson and her cast received a Screen Actors Guild Award for “Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture” for the film.
Clement Virgo Tribute
Clement Virgo will be featured on a podcast to be revealed during the Festival.
One of Canada’s foremost film directors, Clement Virgo will be awarded the TBFF 2021 Career Achievement Award for his outstanding and critically acclaimed body of work.
His TV directing credits include The Wire, Billions, American Crime, Empire, and Greenleaf, on which he served as Director and Executive Producer with Oprah Winfrey. He directed, co-wrote, and executive produced the award-winning miniseries adaptation of The Book of Negroes, which debuted to record-breaking numbers on CBC and BET in the United States. Clement’s feature films have premiered at TIFF, Sundance, and Berlin film festivals. His movies include Poor Boy’s Game, Lie with Me, and Love Come Down. He’s currently prepping his next feature film Brother and the upcoming Netflix series Bloom for Michelle and Barack Obama’s Higher Ground Productions.
Jean Augustine Tribute
Hon. Jean Augustine will offer an insightful conversation during the Festival. Her story is a testament to the power of hard work and devotion in pursuit of social justice. To mark one of her most notable achievements, the legislation designating February as Black History Month in Canada 25 years ago, TBFF will present her with the TBFF 2021 Pioneer award.
In 1993, Jean Augustine made history as the first African Canadian woman to be elected to Canada’s House of Commons as the Member of Parliament from the Greater Toronto Area constituency of Etobicoke-Lakeshore. In 2007, Jean Augustine was called on by the Government of Ontario to lead an important initiative commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the 1807 British Slave Trade Act. Amongst hundreds of other awards, the Women’s Executive Network named her one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women. In 2009, Jean was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada for her extensive contribution to Canadian society as a politician, educator and advocate for social justice. In 2012, she received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In 2014, she was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to education and politics. In 2020 she was appointed to the Order of Ontario.
In Conversation with Wes Hall + Tribute
On Tuesday, February 16, at 4pm ET as Part of the TBFF Black Market, Toronto Black Film Festival’s Founder and President, Fabienne Colas will interview Wes Hall about his journey to success and the important work he does as the chairman of Black North Initiative, for which he will be receiving the TBFF 2021 Social Impact Award.
With over 20 years of experience in corporate governance and shareholder communications, Wes Hall has established himself as the preeminent leader in shareholder advisory services and contested investor situations. Canada’s leading newspaper The Globe & Mail has called him one of the nation’s “most influential powerbrokers” and Canadian Business magazine named him one of the “most powerful businesspeople” in 2016. He is also the Founder and Chair of Black North Initiative.
The 9th annual Toronto Black Film Festival, created by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, is presented by TD Bank Group in collaboration with Global News – from February 10 to 21, 2021 – ONLINE.
For full #TBFF21 programming and events, visit www.TorontoBlackFilm.com
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About the Toronto Black Film Festival
Founded by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, the Toronto Black Film Festival is Canada’s largest celebration of Black History Month through Films and much more. TBFF is dedicated to celebrating the very best in cinematic work dealing with the experiences of Black people from a diversity of communities. Our mandate is to provide an opportunity for filmmakers from all ethnic backgrounds to shine the spotlight on authentic stories that reflect the realities of Black experiences. Along with its sister festivals, the Montreal International Black Film Festival and the Halifax Black Film Festival, TBFF showcases new voices in cinema and encourages audiences to see the world in new ways. In connecting black films with diverse audiences, we recognize the differences that make us unique while celebrating the shared values that bring us together.
For Media Inquiries:
Talar Adam, Press Relations Coordinator | press@TorontoBlackFilm.com | 514.833.0274
