IBDFF 2026 GALA AWARDS PROGRAM
Audley Recreation Centre
1955 Audley Rd, Ajax, ON L1Z 0L2, Canada
Date: April 19, 2026

 

RED CARPET & ARRIVAL EXPERIENCE
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM

• Red Carpet Networking

• Media Coverage

• 360 Photo Booth

• Free Professional Headshots

• Photo Booth

• 1-on-1 Interviews

• Music by DJ Lion

 

OPENING CEREMONY
3:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Host Introductions

• Event Host: Jessica Myrie

• Co-Host: Nina Bai

• Red Carpet Host: Donna Savage

• Red Carpet Host: Emilian Andrew

 

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

• By Co-Host: Nina Bai

 

CANADIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM

• “O Canada” performed by Mackeba Myrie

 

DINNER ANNOUNCEMENT

• By Event Host: Jessica Myrie

 

BUFFET DINNER & NETWORKING
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

• Dining Experience

• Guest Networking

• Ambient Music

• IBDFF Official Trailer

• TINFF @10 Anniversary Trailer

• Chazz Financial Presentation

• The Co-operators Presentation

 

TINFF FASHION SHOW – PART 1
5:00 PM – 5:10 PM

• Presented by TINFF
  Produced by Claris Manglicmot, Founder & Creative Director, Couture Culture and Arts

 

PROGRAM FEATURE
5:10 PM – 5:20 PM

• About IBDFF by Jessica Myrie – Event Host
  On Screen Presentation: Lowelyfe Episode 1: The Only Way Out Is Through

 

TINFF FASHION SHOW – PART 2
5:20 PM – 5:30 PM

• Presented by TINFF
  Produced by Claris Manglicmot, Founder & Creative Director, Couture Culture and Arts

 

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT: GROWTH IN FILM & MEDIA
5:30 PM – 5:45 PM

• Moderated by Ryan Singh

 

KEYNOTE & SPECIAL REMARKS
5:45 PM – 6:00 PM

• Founder’s Remarks – Isioro Jaboro & Victoria Jaboro

• Chazz Okparanta

• Advisory Board Chairman, BAFGC & IBDFF

• Deputy Mayor Lee (Keynote Remarks)

• Town of Ajax – Delivering greetings on behalf of the Town and Council 

 

GUEST SPEAKERS – The Town of Ajax

• Councillor Nancy Henry

• Councillor Crawford

• Councillor Tyler-Morin

• Councillor Bower
   

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER
6:00 PM – 6:05 PM

• Ms. Patrice Barnes
  Chair of the Premier’s Council on Equality of Opportunity

 

AWARDS SET 1–3
6:05 PM – 6:25 PM

• (ON SCREEN PRESENTATION)

• Message from Event Host, Jessica Myrie:

• All awardees will have a maximum of one minute to give a speech on stage when receiving their award. Afterward, you will be ushered to the red carpet to meet with our red-carpet host for a more in-depth audio and video interview.

 

CULTURAL PERFORMANCE
6:25 PM – 6:30 PM

• Chinese Cultural Dance

• Presented by New Century Films

 

AWARDS SET 4–5
6:30 PM – 6:45 PM

• (ON SCREEN PRESENTATION)

• Message from Event Host, Jessica Myrie:

• All awardees will have a maximum of one minute to give a speech on stage when receiving their award. Afterward, you will be ushered to the red carpet to meet with our red-carpet host for a more in-depth audio and video interview.

 

LIVE PERFORMANCE
6:45 PM – 6:55 PM

• DANCER ON FIRE - Performed by Adelaide Batuk

 

INTERLUDE – SPONSOR REEL
6:55 PM – 7:00 PM

 

AWARDS SET 6–7
7:00 PM – 7:15 PM

• (ON SCREEN PRESENTATION)

• Message from Event Host, Jessica Myrie:

• All awardees will have a maximum of one minute to give a speech on stage when receiving their award. Afterward, you will be ushered to the red carpet to meet with our red-carpet host for a more in-depth audio and video interview.

 

LIVE PERFORMANCE
7:15 PM – 7:25 PM

• SANDEEP – The Spiral Theory

 

AWARDS SET 8
7:25 PM – 7:35 PM

• (ON SCREEN PRESENTATION)

• Message from Event Host, Jessica Myrie:

• All awardees will have a maximum of one minute to give a speech on stage when receiving their award. Afterward, you will be ushered to the red carpet to meet with our red-carpet host for a more in-depth audio and video interview.

 

INTERLUDE
7:35 PM – 7:45 PM

• Sponsor & Festival Promotion

 

INTERLUDE – TINFF @10 ANNIVERSARY TRAILER
7:45 PM – 7:50 PM

 

FINAL AWARDS – SET 9
7:50 PM – 8:10 PM

• (ON SCREEN PRESENTATION)

• Message from Event Host, Jessica Myrie:

• All awardees will have a maximum of one minute to give a speech on stage when receiving their award. Afterward, you will be ushered to the red carpet to meet with our red-carpet host for a more in-depth audio and video interview.

 

CLOSING
8:10 PM – 8:15 PM

• Vote of Thanks

 

POST-GALA NETWORKING
8:15 PM – 9:00 PM

• Networking

• Media Coverage

• Interviews

• Guest Engagements