Black stories took centre stage in Windsor

The second edition of the Windsor International Black Film Festival (WIBFF) wrapped up over the weekend after three days of film screenings and discussions that explored the diversity of Black stories from around the world. Held from August 15 to 17, all screenings took place at the Armouries Theatre in Windsor, Ontario.

Festival president Christie Nelson described the event as more than just a film showcase. She called it a “celebration of lived experiences,” offering audiences a vivid look into the lives, struggles and creativity of Black people across the globe. This year’s program featured a broad range of genres, including action, drama and thrillers.

Nelson reflected on the growth of the festival since its debut in 2023. She believed last year’s lineup helped set expectations for this year’s audiences, who she said would be “entertained,” “proud” and at times “challenged” by what they would see on screen.

Among the highlights of the festival was a master class hosted by Windsor filmmaker Carlos Anthony. The two-hour session on August 16 focused on practical knowledge for aspiring filmmakers, such as securing funding and navigating the complexities of the Canadian film industry as Black artists. Anthony, who entered filmmaking through personal storytelling, spoke candidly about how media and culture shaped his early work. He began with screenplays that reflected his own experiences, eventually producing web series and short films before moving into feature film writing and ghostwriting.

Anthony remarked that Canadian Black media was at a turning point. With the federal government committing $200 million to support Black entrepreneurship and creativity, he emphasized the need for collaboration, shared resources and conversations around global distribution.

One of the standout films of the festival was a short titled Shayla, written, directed, edited and produced by Shawn Miller. The story followed a 16-year-old girl facing bullying and social exclusion at school. Miller said the idea originated from a conversation with a coworker about bullying, leading to a screenplay that took seven years and ten drafts to complete before it was filmed.

Having Shayla included in the festival was a deeply meaningful moment for Miller. “It feels fantastic,” he said. “These things are really hard to make … even short films are super challenging. When they say, ‘Hey, we really like your work,’ that just means the world.”

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  Winsor