Leilani’s Fortune takes us on an intimate journey with queer, immigrant Ethiopian-Eritrean artist, Witch Prophet as she navigates newfound momentum in the music industry. After a decade of making music she is now on the heels of critical acclaim and nominations, finally getting the validation and support she needs to embark on the creation of the album of her prophecies. Canada has been known for exporting some of the biggest international names in music from Drake to Kaytranada; with growing public demand for more diverse voices, whose music will shape the next era of artists from Canada?

Note: Leilani’s Fortune was previously titled The Reincarnation of Ayo Leilani.

Bambino is a delivery driver in Lagos, living a quiet life and holding his neighbours at arm’s length. When he meets Bawa, a friendly and easygoing photographer, something clicks. But in a country where homosexuality is illegal and taboo, Bambino doesn’t know what to do with their connection; judging by the life choices of his friend Ifeyinwa, the options seem limited. The subtly and restraint in Babatunde Apalowo’s much-lauded debut feature is part of its power to move audiences. He creates characters that feel like real people, and we fear for them and cheer for them as they find their way.

Through conversation and laughter, D.Smith presents the stories of four Black transgender sex workers in New York and Georgia. These women offer unapologetic and unfiltered reflections on belonging and identity within the Black community and beyond. Dreams and memories, past lives and new beginnings, battles fought, and crises overcome are openly shared. D.Smith, a Grammy nominated artist, brings her unquestioned talent to create a unique and exhilarating soundtrack that matches the protagonists’ energetic personalities and the film’s striking black and white visuals. Kokomo City is a vibrant portrait of a community tired of stigmatization and ready to take ownership of their stories.

When Leo turns their love of plants into an online community for Black folks to talk all things foliage, they discover that community is the key to staying rooted. As Leo’s group of Black millennials become more entangled in each other’s lives, Leo, Amira, Cain, and Isla, find purpose in caretaking for their plants and their budding relationships. This comedic and heartfelt series explores the complexities of Black mental health and the bonds of chosen family, through the chaotic and precarious lens of young Black adults in Toronto.

Embark on a journey through themes of vulnerability and the power that lies within it with this year’s BOLD programming. This series of shorts made by Black filmmakers display the magic, vulnerability, strength, joy and raw passion that encapsulates so many Black Queer experiences. From the mystical feminine to the power of advocating for reform and holding space for community, to exploring the complexity of the Black Trans experience through the varied lenses of both fiction and non-fictional works, this series is bound to take audiences through a journey.

Destiny has been told since childhood she has seizures when she dances. When she’s challenged to face her fear and dance, Destiny makes a decision that could reveal a secret she doesn’t yet understand.

House of Tulip follows two Black trans activists as they run for office and work to build Louisiana’s first housing refuge for trans and gender non-conforming residents.

Two strangers are scared on a late walk home. As they try to escape one another, their worlds collide at an intersection, forcing them to question who they’re afraid of and why.

A portrait of dance as the greatest expression of shielding the Afro community in Quibdó. A tribute to their act of resilience and to all the lives that have been lost along the way.

Codeswitch follows a Black trans person as they navigate the barbershop, illuminating the complexity and dynamism of gender expression.

The story of Donna Hylton and her project ‘A Little Piece of Light,’ a nonprofit focused on supporting black women and LGBTQ+ individuals in the prison system.

There will be an extended Q&A from our 2020 festival immediately following the screening.

Tunde Johnson, an African-American teen, is stuck in a Groundhog Day nightmare, waking up to experience the same day over and over again—the day he dies at the hands of Los Angeles police officers.

On the day of his death, Tunde attends a film seminar; visits his secret boyfriend Soren (who happens to be dating his best friend Marley), and comes out to his supportive parents, all the while trying to survive as a Black gay high school student. We witness each ‘new’ day a little differently, as Tunde is forced to confront difficult truths about the world he lives in.

Written by Stanley Kalu at the age of nineteen, The Obituary of Tunde Johnson tackles issues of racism, police brutality, LGBTQ acceptance, mental health, and addiction, offering an urgent and timely commentary on what it means to grow up as a Black American.

Available with closed-captions Canada-wide

The Obituary of Tunde Johnson

Available with closed-captions Canada-wide

Tickets on sale February 26 at noon ET.

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