The concept for a film and music festival was unveiled by two Africans based in Canada last week Thursday. Nigeria-born Rogers Ofime and Ghana-born Gloria Thompson said the first edition of the Black Film and Music Festival (BFMF) will take place next year. According to the Winnipeg Free Press, the pair spoke at a press conference held at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
On Instagram, the festival said: “The Black Film & Music Festival Manitoba is more than a festival, it’s a movement!”
“We have come together as a body to celebrate the richness of Black culture through creative storytelling and music,” Ofime said. “We’d like to announce ourselves to Manitoba to celebrate those artists and shine the spotlight on the remarkable narratives of Black filmmakers and musicians.”
Thompson, the festival’s director of industry development and a Ghanaian-born film professional, explained that “the planned event and its associated programs are being developed to help Black artists by boosting access to funding resources, educational resources and mentorship opportunities.”
However, she noted that these opportunities are often hindered by gatekeeping and a lack of Black representation in decision-making positions.
Ofime added: “I know we’ve got a huge crop of talent, but we can’t keep waiting for someone to recognise us. Why don’t we come together? We came here with talent, and we can’t let it die.”
Although the exact date for the 2026 festival has yet to be confirmed, Thompson and Ofime revealed that the event’s 10-person executive team have planned a series of monthly workshops leading up to the event, focused on skill-building, networking, and project development.
Back in Nigeria, Ofime is known as a producer on Tinsel, Nigeria’s longest-running daily soap opera, which premiered in 2008 and remains on the air. He was involved in the production of Hijack ’93. His company, Theatron Media Inc., also produced Wura, showing on Showmax. Thompson has appeared in Saving Grace, which is available on Amazon Prime.
