The 6th Vancouver International Black Film Festival (VIBFF), set to run from December 11 – 15, 2026, will present 42 films, along with panels, workshops, and community events.
This year’s lineup includes Western Canadian premieres of Zamo Mkhwanazi’s Laundry (Uhlanjululo) as the opening night film, and Achille Romainou’s Diya, as well as a screening of Ben Proudfoot’s The Eyes of Ghana, which is executive-produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions, as central pieces.
There will also be a Special Canadian Spotlight of 14 films, the Fabienne Colas Foundation’s award-winning Being Black in Canada short film series and the VIBFF Black Market with panels, conversation and networking.
“Reaching the 6th edition of the Vancouver International Black Film Festival (VIBFF) is a testament to the strength and resilience of our filmmaking community on the West Coast. VIBFF continues to be an essential platform for bold, authentic, and necessary Black narratives that deserve to be seen and heard. By uplifting talent from here and across the globe, we are not just screening films; we are building bridges, tearing down barriers, sparking meaningful conversations, and enriching Canada’s cultural landscape. Together, we are taking action, driving change, and shaping the future of Canadian film. Join us in celebrating these powerful voices and experiencing the magic of cinema!” commented Fabienne Colas, President and Founder of the Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver Black Film Festivals.
The in-person screenings and events will take place at the VIFF Centre, with select films available online starting December 11th, 2026.
OPENING EVENING CEREMONY:
The festival opens with Zamo Mkhwanazi’s Laundry (Uhlanjululo), available ONLY in person.
Laundry (Uhlanjululo), Zamo Mkhwanazi
The film shows the destruction of human potential as one of the greatest injustices, and illuminates how dreams are slowly and almost imperceptibly erased. The laundry itself becomes a symbol of memory, identity and loss, as Khuthala’s world progressively disintegrates. The violence is not loud, but insidious — and it is precisely in this that its lasting effect resides.
CENTRAL PIECES:
The Eyes of Ghana (Saturday, December 12 at 7:30 PM) available ONLY in person.
Directed by two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot, The Eyes of Ghana is a powerful feature-length documentary following Chris Hesse, a 93-year-old filmmaker who served as personal director of photography to Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah. As his eyesight fades and time becomes increasingly precious, Hesse embarks on an extraordinary mission to rescue and repatriate a hidden archive of more than 1,000 films documenting the birth of African independence in the 1950s and 1960s.
Diya, directed by Achille Romainou (Saturday, December 12 at 3:00 PM), available ONLY in person.
Through a deeply human and intimate narrative, Diya explores the themes of resilience, identity, and personal transformation, offering a powerful reflection on contemporary realities and the complexity of human relationships.
CANADIAN SPOTLIGHT (online only):
The Night Watches Us (Profilage nocturne)
Jireh Gospel, une famille de chœur (Jireh Gospel: Hearts in Chorus)
Maboungou: Being in the World (MABOUNGOU: Hors-centres)
Coaching While Black
1001 Couronnes pour ma tête
La Fête des Pères
True North (L’appel du Nord)
Cypher
Her Ordinary World
Wave Rider
Le monde est à elles (The World Is Ours)
Snap, Archie’s Story
Snap, Zab’s Story
Mémoires Métissées (Mixed Memories)
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