Halifax Black Film Festival

The Halifax Black Film Festival brings African, Caribbean, African-American and Black-Canadian cinema to downtown Halifax each African Heritage Month. Founded in 2017 by actor and producer Fabienne Colas and run by the Fabienne Colas Foundation, the festival marked its tenth edition in 2026 with 35+ films, opening with Jean-Gabriel Leynaud's Of Mud and Blood, and it is a Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival. The 11th edition is slated for February 19–23, 2027, with in-person screenings at Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane on Spring Garden Road plus an online component — the same hybrid shape the festival has used since returning to theatres in 2023. For more of the city's Black history and culture, pair a festival visit with the Africville Museum and the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia.

The program spans fiction, documentary and shorts from around the world, alongside panel discussions with visiting and local filmmakers. Its most locally rooted strand is Being Black in Halifax, part of the Foundation's Being Black in Canada series: each year it commissions short films by emerging Black filmmakers from the city, premieres them in a dedicated festival program, and the series has been broadcast on CBC Television — a genuine launchpad for Halifax talent. The festival staged fully online editions in 2021 and 2022 during the pandemic before returning to theatres in 2023. Tickets for recent editions ran about $12–$45, with individual screenings and passes sold through the festival's site.

Park Lane sits mid-Spring Garden Road, walkable from most downtown hotels — see our Halifax local guide for dinner spots before an evening screening. February is low season in the city, which means easy reservations and winter rates; film buffs can stretch the theme with our Nova Scotia filming locations guide, and the festival is one of the anchors of our winter events roundup.

Make the most of your time in Halifax Metro - pair Halifax Black Film Festival with our Halifax Dining Guide, Family Travel Guide, and Best Day Trips from Halifax. They're each packed with itinerary ideas, local tips, and everything you need to extend your stay.