International Black & Diversity Film Festival
In-Person Screening - (Day 1)
Day 1 – Screening (Venue #1)
📅 Date: Thursday, May 29th, 2025
📍 Venue: St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts and Culture
🏠 Address: 78 Church St S, Ajax, ON L1S 6B3
🕦 Time: 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Directed by Charles Uwagbai The story of a teenaged African math genius who brings the world financial markets to its knees.
Directed by Thyrone Tommy Zury’s life has taught her that she cannot trust a soul, but when she lets her guard down and lets someone in, the choices of her past come back to haunt her. Will she turn back to her old ways for vengeance, or has she truly turned her back on her past for good?
Directed by Troy Crossfield, Sheronna Osbourne An independent Black Canadian production company embarks on its first national theatre tour with Ninety Four, a powerful love story set in one of the most iconic eras, while navigating the triumphs and challenges of bringing independent Black storytelling to new audiences.
Directed by Srinivas Kasturi "Hrudayam" is an emotionally charged drama exploring love, societal expectations, and materialism. Vamsi and Varna share a deep bond, but the oppressive Indian dowry system and familial pressures threaten to tear them apart.
Directed by Kevin Eade, Lanette Raquel Ware-Bushfield Starring Liz Saunders (FROM, MGM) and Lanette Ware (THE MADNESS, NETFLIX) Our film is set In a dimly lit cocktail lounge, where two estranged former best friends—Maxz, a once brilliant African American cryptographer, and Lenny, a cunning British Canadian leader of a notorious gang of female thieves—come face to face after a decade of betrayal and solitude. The tragic fallout from a heist gone wrong haunts them both.
Directed by Kanja Chen An emotional tale of how the enduring love between a young boy and his grandfather bridges the gap between generations.
Victor Okwuchukwu Onwudiwe This is a DocuSeries of the Historical event called "Jalsa Salana" this is a very big community know as THE AHMADIYYA MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Directed by Ladane Ali A tense encounter between a young woman and her plumber leaves her on edge, unsure whether the ominous man has sinister motives beneath his calm exterior.
Directed by Halen King If We Met Now has a transgender man confront his cisgender boyfriend's disapproval towards a gender affirming procedure.
Directed by SAIIXNT Two brothers' lives intertwine in a gripping tale of crime, redemption, and unexpected connections when a home invasion leads to a life-altering bond with their hostages, forcing them to confront their past and future.
📍 St. Francis Centre – Thursday, May 29, 2025
Time: 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Time Slot Title Country Running Time
11:30 AM – 1:02 PM Kipkemboi Canada 90 mins
1:02 PM – 1:10 PM ZURY Canada 7 mins
1:10 PM – 1:29 PM Ninety-Four Tour Canada 18 mins
1:29 PM – 2:11 PM HRUDAYAM India, Canada 40 mins
2:11 PM – 2:24 PM Now What? Canada 12 mins
2:24 PM – 2:28 PM When I'm With You Canada 3 mins
2:28 PM – 2:34 PM The 49th Jalsa Canada 5 mins
2:34 PM – 2:46 PM Flush Canada 11 mins
2:46 PM – 2:56 PM If We Met Now Canada 9 mins
2:56 PM – 3:14 PM Family Over Blood Canada 17 mins
3:14 PM – 3:33 PM Getcho USA 18 mins
3:33 PM – 3:48 PM Dream Catcher Canada 14 mins
3:48 PM – 3:53 PM EBONY | SHADES Canada 4 mins
3:53 PM – 4:09 PM Behind His Eyes USA 16 mins
4:10 PM – 4:26 PM Sankofa Brazil, USA 16 mins
4:26 PM – 4:30 PM GLORY Canada 4 mins
Day 1 – Screening (Venue #2)
📅 Date: Thursday, May 29th, 2025
📍 Venue: Ajax Public Library: Main Branch
🏠 Address: 55 Harwood Ave S, Ajax, ON L1S 2H8
🕔 Time: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Directed by Rhythum A talented yet trouble teenager torn between two worlds: His passion for art and the allure of street life.
Directed by Alexandra Love, Brian Robert Goodwin The Golden Thread" is a meditative journey of connection, potential, and belonging, set against the backdrop of Beautiful Chorus's "High Frequency Love Music," focused on the themes of love and connection. The experience guides participants through phases of connecting to nature, embracing limitless potential, and finding comfort in belonging, inviting them to explore their integral place in the universe, supported by collective joy and love.
Directed by Mama Adobea Nii-Owoo Step into the fascinating world of education in Ghana, where people speak an incredible 84 languages! How do African teachers manage to teach with so many languages? Let's dive into how Ghana ended up with two language policies and why we switched back and forth. Join me on a journey to explore the lives of amazing teachers in the past and the present who play big roles in Ghana's language adventure.
Submitted by Rosanna Terracciano Flamenco at the Shop is dancer Tracy Cumberbatch’s love letter in film and dance to her dad’s auto shop which also held an important space for her flamenco dance studio. “It’s not a glamorous space, but my parents carved out a small section in the back mechanic bay to build a make-shift dance studio for us to use and make as much noise as we needed.” For over 14 years, Combie’s Auto has become a place for the Calgary flamenco community to come together...
Director Biography - St Chris Bailey St. Christopher Bailey pka (professionally known as SAIIXNT) is a black-Canadian producer/director who got his start producing music videos in Toronto back in 2008.
Directed by Ymolujo Ludovic Ytemben Coming to Canada to continue her studies, the young Aminatou, who has just passed her baccalaureate, would not have imagined a bigger surprise on the day of his graduation than the presence of his father who lives in Africa. But his father is not the only surprise. Because Aminatou wants to take advantage of this opportunity to introduce a very important person to her father.
Directed by Jesly Okuefuna Grappling with grief after losing his sister, a young man finds himself at a crossroad between retribution and leaving vengeance in God’s hands.
Directed by Adam Griffith The artist feels like he's battling for his life just to chase his dream. From people trying to take advantage of him to so-called friends being deceitful, he's using the fire they started to fuel his drive.
Directed by Adiukwu Nkemakolam Daniel JAPA is a short film that explores the struggles of love, ambition, and the sacrifices people make for their dreams. Two young lovers, Emeka and Fola, who dream of leaving Nigeria for a better life abroad. Their parents have warned them not to share their plans with anyone, including each other, for spiritual reasons. Both keep their intentions hidden.
Directed by Mackleen Desravines Christian Porter, a talented college athlete with a bright future in professional sports, has started exhibiting destructive behavior. His close friends suspect that he may be keeping a secret. Rayne, his best friend, is determined to assist him in overcoming his challenges and avoiding jeopardizing his future, even as she struggles to understand his unpredictable actions.
📍 Ajax Library – Thursday, May 29, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Time Slot Title Country Running Time
5:30 PM – 5:53 PM The Wrong Choice USA 22 mins
5:53 PM – 6:08 PM The Golden Thread Canada 14 mins
6:08 PM – 6:40 PM No Vernacular. Canada 30 mins
6:40 PM – 6:48 PM Flamenco at the Shop Canada 7 mins
6:48 PM – 6:53 PM GLORY Canada 4 mins
6:53 PM – 7:05 PM My Second Baccalaureate Canada 11 mins
7:05 PM – 7:37 PM Who We Were Canada 30 mins
7:37 PM – 7:42 PM Burning It All Canada 4 mins
7:42 PM – 7:52 PM JAPA Nigeria 9 mins
7:52 PM – 8:10 PM Chris Isn't Crazy USA 15 mins
8:10 PM – 8:25 PM DON'T DULL Nigeria 14 mins
Day 1 – Screening (Venue #3)
📅 Date: Thursday, May 29th, 2025
📍 Venue: Audley Recreation Centre (ARC)
🏢 Screening Room: Community Hall A
🏠 Address: 1955 Audley Rd, Ajax, ON L1Z 0L2
🕜 Time: 1:30 PM – 8:20 PM
Directed by Rados Bajic The Second World War is in its final stages. Three Jovic brothers and their family are torn between conflicting ideologies. Mirko fights in the Royal Yugoslav Army in Fatherland, Sreten has joined the Partisans, while Ilija is torn between two sides.
Directed by Darasen Richards When a relic is found by a peasant, the elite lineage of an ancient cabal must stop Raji, before its secret content goes public.
Directed by Gabriela Warrior Renaud If you’ve ever been asked the question “where are you from?”, then this film is for you. Hyphen is a documentary that pairs the beloved road movie with poignant conversations about race, culture, and identity with 22 people who live at the intersection of several realities. Join filmmaker Gabriela Warrior Renaud on an epic cross-country journey where you’ll be left questioning your concept of what Canada really is and who gets to call this country home.
Directed by Anichka Banichka Two clans of gossip women from Mozambique and Bulgaria join forces and embark on a mad race to get the deal that will make them the absolute bosses of the neighborhood.
Directed by Emma-Lee Amponsah Zwarte Ibis (Black Ibis) is a short poetic film portraying a young Black woman’s quest for intimacy in a world where the boundaries between the individual and the collective, the political and the personal, the past and the present, become ever blurrier. The short film is an afro-surrealistic reverie, poetically re-imagining our contemporary conceptions of relationships with the self and with imagined communities through a questioning of historically and culturally
Directed by Ayrion Taylor In "Secrets," a curious little sister’s relentless intrusion into her big sister’s world uncovers a hidden truth that threatens to unravel everything—crafted in just four days at the Keepin’ It REEL: Script 2 Screen Film Camp.
Directed by Brittney S. Harris, Russ Fulmore A first-time protester sharing her emotional experience with being arrested and disrespected, Pedigree is a solo performance short film about personal acceptance and recovery from the inexplicit influences of racial hatred and violence.
Directed by Honesty Taszhé Gant At thirteen, Jendayi "Jen" Washington struggles to connect with the people and things around her after the sudden death of her grandmother. Forced to figure things out suddenly, Jendayi's mom decides a fresh start begins with a move and relocates her daughter to the confines of suburbia, hoping to alleviate their grief. Baring the responsibility of looking after her younger sister, and attempting to fit in with a popular trio at school, Jendayi begins to spiral o
Directed by Alexander Kemp In this dark comedy, a couple of friends, recently released from prison, plot to get revenge on Alfred, the man who caused their arrest. In order to draw him into a vulnerable position, they use his old high school crush.
Directed by David Kabale A couple decides to spend the Covid lockdown quarantining together, in the midst their time together, Trevor(TK Sebothoma) discovers a secret about his spouse Thembi (Gugu Dhlamini) in doing so, causing the living environment to be dangerously uncomfortable.
📍 ARC Community Hall A – Thursday, May 29, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM – 8:20 PM
Time Slot Title Country Running Time
1:30 PM – 2:52 PM HEROES OF HALYARD Serbia 80 mins
2:52 PM – 4:39 PM RAJI AND THE BEAST Nigeria 105 mins
4:39 PM – 5:41 PM Hyphen Canada 60 mins
5:41 PM – 6:08 PM In The Hood Bulgaria 26 mins
6:08 PM – 6:28 PM Black Ibis Netherlands 19 mins
6:28 PM – 6:35 PM Secrets USA 6 mins
6:35 PM – 6:45 PM PEDIGREE USA 9 mins
6:45 PM – 7:01 PM JEN USA 19 mins
7:01 PM – 7:16 PM Another Way to Die USA 13 mins
7:16 PM – 7:39 PM Quarantine and Chill South Africa 21 mins
7:39 PM – 7:47 PM Baratani (The Hill of Lovers) Botswana 7 mins
7:48 PM – 8:20 PM Pied-à-terre (R) Canada /Nigeria 30 mins
8:20 PM – CLOSE CLIQUE Nigeria/ UK 33 mins
In-Person Screening - (Day 2)
Day 2 – Screening (Venue #1)
📅 Date: Friday, May 30th, 2025
📍 Venue: Ajax Public Library: Main Branch
🏠 Address: 55 Harwood Ave S, Ajax, ON L1S 2H8
🕔 Time: 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Directed by Erika "ET" Timmons, Amanda Steen While so many are desperately seeking fame, they often miss what is lurking in the shadows. In this suspense thriller, three would be industry writers run into one who lives in the shadows.
Directed by Brandon D. Wilkerson BETTER THAN ANYTHING YOU'LL SEE ON TUBI! A police officer rekindles a romance with a woman he was involved with while undercover during Quarantine of 2020, unbeknownst to him, the criminal he was pursuing has put a hit out on him. WATCH IN 4K!
Directed by Jessica Evans "TOUCHED" is a poignant drama that intertwines the struggles of a modern heartbreak with the redemptive power of faith. Kaylin, a middle-aged woman enduring the aftermath of an abusive marriage, infertility, and financial loss, finds herself at her lowest point—questioning her worth and faith.
Directed by Cindy Lee Phoenix Neo-Hop artist, DnhMuzic, shares his music and reflects on the heart spaces that history, human connection and perseverance hold for him as a Black artist.
Directed by Brittney Brackett Grounded: Creating Space for Black Peace is a tragically poignant documentary short exploring how Black and Brown communities navigate mental health challenges, trauma, and the journey toward healing, that fosters peace and wellness.
Directed by Donald Hollowell A retired Army Ranger, seeking vengeance after a Milwaukee police officer kills his son, interprets the Old Testament to justify his brutal retribution, blurring the line between justice and madness as his faith leads him down a dark and destructive path.
Directed by Aria Analise Dines "There is a basin in the mind where words float around on thought and thought on sound and sight. Then there is a depth of thought untouched by words, and deeper still a gulf of formless feelings untouched by thought." - Zora Neale Hurston
Directed by Victoria VA Jones, Clarence Scott Jr. When it is the end of the world one man goes out to find revenge.
Directed by TAMARA WHITEN When a young man is unexpectedly left alone at home, his peaceful plans take a wild turn. Uninvited guests—some welcome, some not—push him into a whirlwind of funny and heartfelt adventures. Along the way, he learns what it really means to rely on himself and find his own path.
Directed by Zara Young
📍 Ajax Library – Friday, May 30, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Time Slot Title Country Running Time
5:00 PM – 5:19 PM Writers in the Shadows USA 19 mins
5:19 PM – 5:40 PM Somewhere In Brooklyn USA 20 mins
5:40 PM – 6:12 PM Touched USA 30 mins
6:12 PM – 6:23 PM DnhMuzic: My Music, My Journey USA 10 mins
6:23 PM – 7:03 PM Grounded: Creating Space for Black Peace USA 38 mins
7:44 PM – 7:52 PM Milwaukee USA 7 mins
7:52 PM – 8:04 PM Of Space. Of Time. Our Ship. USA 11 mins
8:04 PM – 8:13 PM Unknown Lands USA 8 mins
8:13 PM – 8:21 PM Homie Alone USA 7 mins
8:21 PM – 8:23 PM Natural Beauty USA 1 min
8:21 PM – 8:30 PM Blood Ain't Always Family USA 5 min
Day 2 – Screening (Venue #2)
📅 Date: Friday, May 30th, 2025
📍 Venue: Hilton Garden Inn Toronto/Ajax
🏢 Screening Room: Canadian Hall
🏠 Address: 500 Beck Crescent, Ajax, ON L1Z 1C9
🕚 Time: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Directed by Regina Lichtenstein From the beginning of 2023 we accompany the protest movement fighting to save democracy in Israel. At our side we have 2 Israeli friends who are very active and accompany us to many activities. We also talk to activists like Shikma Bressler and Gal Noyman, but also to young people. Likewise the writer Lizzie Doron and the journalist Gisela Dachs, who lives in Israel.
Directed by Isaac M. Johnson I'm tired as about my disdain for the N-word.. And the wish that people did deeper research and scrutinize all areas of Black History...
Directed by Wilbur W Henderson In Drunk Night 2, two men, Christian and Travis (played by Cedrick Kentrell and Tremayne Chavis), embark on a wild night out, only to discover that buried secrets will surface, forcing them to confront unexpected truths and make life-altering decisions that could break their bond forever.
Directed by Luana M Graves Sellars 2022 marked the 200th anniversary of Harriet Tubman’s birth, as well as the memory of one of America’s most profound figures. Tubman was one of the nation’s leading human rights activists who assumed many roles, including that of an Underground Railroad conductor, army scout, nurse, and women’s rights champion.
Directed by Lary Campbell This is a drama about a former relationship where alcoholism intersected with the coming-out process. Two men, not mature enough to successfully deal with it in their youth, revisit their relationship and explore the regrets, the resentments, and the accusations they withheld from each other for decades, and now struggle toward a path of reconciliation and healing.
Directed by Desmond Donahue Real-estate mogul Christopher Gates becomes homeless after losing his family, only to discover the sinister connection to their deaths.
Directed by Arthur Muhammad A Wall Street executive loses her entire life savings in a Ponzi scheme and is forced to move back home with her mom in the hood and find a new way of life.
Directed by Mel House Eric Linson is a struggling multiracial filmmaker with a few credits to his name and absolutely nothing to show for it. Inbetweening follows his journey trying to remain afloat and healthy in the liminal space between projects...while the voices in his head steadily become louder. Some are helpful, but most aren't...
Directed by Sade Nicole Davis As navigating life and new relationships proves difficult; A former couple is brought back together to confront past troubles, through their shared love for their child.
Directed by Charla Fonseca In "Seven’s Stages of Grief," a young boy navigates the emotional aftermath of losing his mother during a gripping therapy session where he confronts the complexities of pain, acceptance, and healing—uncovering truths that challenge everything he thought he knew.
📍 Canadian Hall – Hilton Garden Hotel – Friday, May 30, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM
Time Slot Title Country Running Time
11:00 AM – 12:04 PM David & Goliath Germany 64 mins
12:04 PM – 12:15 PM I'm Tired OTS USA 11 mins
12:15 PM – 12:47 PM Drunk Night 2 USA 32 mins
12:47 PM – 1:47 PM Harriet Tubman USA 60 mins
1:47 PM – 2:19 PM Gary and Randy USA 32 mins
2:19 PM – 4:06 PM Mister Gates USA 107 mins
4:06 PM – 5:59 PM Recession Proof USA 113 mins
5:59 PM – 7:59 PM Inbetweening USA 120 mins
7:59 PM – 9:50 PM Love Is...? USA 111 mins
9:50 PM – 9:54 PM Seven's Stages of Grief USA 4 mins
9:54 PM – 10:25 PM The Good Life USA 30 mins
In-Person Screening - (Day 3)
📅 Date: Saturday, May 31st, 2025
📍 Venue: Hilton Garden Inn Toronto/Ajax
🏢 Screening Room: Canadian Hall
🏠 Address: 500 Beck Crescent, Ajax, ON L1Z 1C9
🕚 Time: 2:00 PM – 4:18 PM
Time Slot Title Country Running Time
2:00 PM – 2:40 PM Even Me 2.0 USA 39 mins
2:40 PM – 4:18 PM STEP DAD USA 98 mins
CLOSING FILM
GALA & AWARDS PROGRAM INTERMISSION SCREENING
(Full Gala & Awards Program Details Coming Soon)
Title Country Running Time
Fall Virgin Islands, USA 24 mins
What Happened to Bass Street USA 13 mins
Dear Josephine USA 10 mins
Never Turn Back USA 4 mins
Aneaus: The Boy Who Could Dance USA 30 mins
Directed by Georgie Cannon A young man living a troubled life is confronted with a new relationship that offers him hope and challenges him to change.
Directed by $eck What Happened to Bass Street is a short documentary film produced by Vanderbilt professor Angela Sutton and Jeneene Blackman, CEO of Nashville’s African American Cultural Alliance. Directed by $eck, the film follows Blackman's personal investigation into the history of her childhood neighborhood.
Directed by Amber Monet Josephine Baker was a global icon known for her iconic banana dance, but what many may not have known is how much Ms. Baker contributed to what we know today as classical ballet.
Directed by Anthony T. Green Anthony T. Green is a creative, imaginary, and breath-taking Writer, Director, Videographer and Editor. He was born and raised in Detroit, MI and attended Wayne County Community College, Specs Howard, and courses at the Detroit Film Center.
Directed by Bryan Conyers Nearly taken from the world at birth, Aneaus Smith has continued to beat the odds. Through his love of dance, he has learned not just how to express his art, but how to overcome mounting challenges in the face of adversity.
Closing Film Screening & Gala Awards – May 31
We’re excited to announce that the Closing Film of IBDFF 2025 will screen at the Hilton Garden Inn Toronto/Ajax, the same venue where our Closing Gala Awards will take place on Saturday, May 31st.
Please note: All guests attending the closing screening must have a Gala Award Pass.
🎟️ To get your Gala Pass, click here.
Join us as we wrap up the festival with an unforgettable night of cinema, celebration, and community!