February 12 - 17, 2025

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AFROFUTURISM AND THE BLACK SPECULATIVE FICTION IN THE CREATIVE WORLD

Exploring the rise of Afrofuturism and speculative fiction as powerful genres for Black filmmakers. This panel will discuss how these genres allow for the reimagining of Black futures, culture, and identity, and their impact on audiences and the broader industry.

Moderator:

Ruby Blair

Industry veteran Rudy Blair has interviewed artists including Beyonce, Jay Z, Ed Sheeran, Michael Bublé & Gordon Lightfoot, covering events from The Grammys to The Juno Awards and Toronto Black Film Festival. With 680News/Citytv received 16 RTNDA Awards, Harry Jerome Award & inducted into Humber College Radio Broadcasting Hall Of Fame.

Speakers

Aiza Ntibarike - Musician, Actor & Series Producer

Aiza is an Afro-Bop queen steadily building her empire. The Montreal-born, Toronto-based bilingual singer’s uplifting and energetic live performances spark comparisons to other iconic, trailblazing artists such as Janelle Monáe and Stromae. She has performed with musical heavyweight Divinity Roxx (Beyoncé’s former musical director and bassist), and written music with multi-platinum, Latin Grammy-nominated producer Maki Vaéz. In Fall 2023, Aiza released her debut album “Sovereignty,” a fresh collection of Afropop and R&B/soul tracks, garnering over two million streams on digital platforms.

Alongside her music career, Aiza is the executive producer and host of her own award-winning original talk-show series for CBC titled Real Blackity Talk. She played the role of superhero Sierra Ectoplex on Netflix’s original series Jupiter’s Legacy, Maya Bronte on the sitcom Workin’ Moms, and is the voice of Jazzy on the CBC Kids hit animated series Jeremy & Jazzy.

Antoinette Johnson - Wardrobe Stylist + Costume Designer

Antoinette Johnson is a 2x award-nominated wardrobe stylist & costume designer based in Toronto, Canada. Antoinette entered the fashion and film industry in 2014 by creating her style blog with a passion for inclusive fashion. Their work has been featured in HBO Max, CTV News, Much Music, etc.

Danny Simpson - Director, Executive Producer/Managing Director @ Underscore Studios

Danny Simpson is a multifaceted artist merging his Jamaican roots with his work in fashion, TV, and film. As an actor, director, producer, and model, he champions representation through storytelling. Executive Producer and Founder of Underscore Studios, Danny draws inspiration from everyday life, aiming to push cultural and creative boundaries.