Black Film Festival
The 3rd Annual Kamloops Black Film Festival is back—with a fresh new series format!
Proudly presented by the Valid Dreams Foundation and the Cultural Voices Film Society, The 3rd Annual Kamloops Black Film Festival is back—with a fresh new format! Instead of a single weekend, join us for three incredible films over three consecutive Sundays. The KBFF will feature curated films from the Black community that redefine narratives around Black identity and culture, offering powerful insights into diverse Black experiences.
About the Kamloops Black Film Festival
The Kamloops Black Film Festival celebrates Black storytelling and artistry in cinema and explores the diverse cultures and rich history of the global Black community. Through cultural events and performances, it also aims to spotlight Black creatives and businesses in Kamloops. In February 2024, our inaugural festival brought Kamloops together for an unforgettable line-up of films and events. Building on this success, our goal is to drive ongoing conversation around the unique perspectives the Black community brings to cinema.
About Our Organizers
Valid Dreams Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting unity and empowerment, fostering connections in Kamloops through diverse cultural events and programs.
Cultural Voices Film Society is a community-driven hub that supports people from diverse cultural backgrounds to learn filmmaking skills and share their stories through film, media, and collaborative, place-based projects.
The Caribbean Diaspora Society of Kamloops is a community-driven organization that celebrates, preserves, and shares Caribbean culture in Kamloops through events, education, and partnerships that promote unity, cultural pride, and meaningful connections for all.
Our goal is to create inclusive spaces for cultural expression, education, community engagement, and intergenerational connection. We look forward to working with partners, supporters, and community members to build meaningful cultural experiences.
FILMS
40 Acres
2024 | 1h 53m | Sci-Fi / Thriller | CAN | 14A
Director: R.T. Thorne
Stars: Danielle Deadwyler, Michael Greyeyes, Kataem O’Connor
Sun, Feb 8 @ 7:00 PM
Judas and the Black Messiah
2021 | 2h 6m | Biography, Crime, Drama | USA | 14A
Director: Shaka King
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons, Dominique Fishback
Sun, Feb 15 @ 7:00 PM
Sinners
2025 | 2h 18m | Horror / Thriller / Action | USA | 18A
Director: Ryan Coogler
Stars: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku
Sun, Feb 22 @ 7:00 PM
Black Film Festival Committee TBA:
Daniel Akinshola – Festival Lead
Daniel Akinshola is a theatre-maker, filmmaker, educator, and community organizer whose work sits at the intersection of social change, arts education, and Black and multicultural storytelling. With over three decades of experience across stage, screen, and community media, he continues to build platforms where underrepresented voices can create, learn, and lead.
Beginning his artistic journey as an actor in 1991, Daniel soon moved into producing and directing for the stage, grounded in studies in Adult Education, Political Science, and Theatre Arts. In Nigeria, he helped shape the early 2000s media landscape, directing big budget TV commercials, soap operas on National TV, game shows, Pan-African reality shows, fashion shows, International concerts, and the acclaimed KKB show, and serving as creator and producer of the first 13 episodes of Soundcity in 2003. After his National Youth Service, he received the prestigious State Merit Award for Community Development for his work as President of the NYSC Drama and Tourism Club, which he led simultaneously.
Daniel’s practice is deeply community-based and international. He spent five years in an Aboriginal community in Western Australia as a radio station manager, where he revitalized the station, established a music recording studio, and launched a film production arm while training and employing over 30 Aboriginal community members. For this contribution to Indigenous life and development in the Kimberley region, he received the EKAAA Non-Indigenous Person of the Year award in 2013.
As a filmmaker, Daniel’s short film “Voice of Blood” has earned awards and recognition at international film festivals, affirming his commitment to stories that probe questions of identity, re-becoming, and belonging. Now based in Kamloops, British Columbia, he is the founder of Kamloops Afro Films now Cultural Voices Film Society and One House Multicultural Communications Society, organizations devoted to amplifying Black and diverse narratives and nurturing emerging creatives.
Daniel holds a Masters in Moving Image from the University of Sydney with high distinctions (2019) and a Masters in Arts Education from Simon Fraser University (2023), and he is currently pursuing a research program at SFU that extends his interests in community-engaged cinema and arts education. He also runs Danscoachings, a life-coaching practice focused on creative clarity and purpose, and Daniel E. Akinshola Consults, a creative consultancy supporting media, arts, and community projects.
Contact: Cultural Voices / general: [email protected]
Creative consultancy / collaborations: [email protected]
Sally Martin – Corporate Sponsorship
Executive Director and founder of Valid Dreams
With a roots from Kenya, Sally is an empathetic leader with a vision to build community and share stories, especially those that represent people who look like her. Her passion for cinema has recently been driven by her personal and professional experiences. Ms. Martin’s commitment to this desire has led her to the film world and now the Black Film Festival and an active member of Kamloops Afro Films.
Among other films, Ms. Martin is currently working on producing a documentary film ( Black Light Unveiled – Choose Life) aiming to shed light on mental health and suicide prevention which will be aired on Telus optik TV and her website in January 2025 in addition to being featured in a Kamloops Short Films House 49 produced by Kamloops Afro Films.
In addition to her work in film, Sally is also involved in community development, outreach and advocacy efforts. She is committed to using her platform to create positive change, amplify marginalized voices and connect communities.
In her spare time, Sally loves dancing, reading, forest bathing and volunteering.
For more about Sally Martin connect with her on:
YouTube @sallymartin254, Linkedin: Sally Martin, IG: @sallymartin90 and FB Sally Martin
Mary Falade – Marketing/Promotions
Mary Falade is a content marketer and graphic designer pursuing her Master of Marketing at York University’s Schulich School of Business. Born in Nigeria, she grew up in Europe before moving to Kamloops, British Columbia in 2011 with her family. In 2023 she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of British Columbia.
Her commitment to social change and community empowerment has fueled her involvement in various diversity and inclusion projects. She co-founded Motion of Colour, a youth-led, anti-racism organization based in Kamloops, where she has supported the development of diversity initiatives for School District 73 and hosted community events.
In 2024, Mary joined the inaugural Kamloops Black Film Festival as the Assistant Film Festival Coordinator. Now residing in Toronto, she continues to support the festival as a committee member. Passionate about film and a firm believer in its ability to empower communities, Mary looks forward to seeing the festival grow into a cultural staple in Kamloops.
Hardley Williams – Logistics
Hello from Kingston, Jamaica! I’m a born and bred event enthusiast with a knack for creating unforgettable experiences. While some may dub me as social, my true pleasure lies in orchestrating events that bring joy to others. As a self-taught coordinator of celebrations, I’ve garnered valuable experience planning diverse gatherings, from music festivals and art camps to lively parties. My journey has also led me to collaborate with various societies and serve on numerous committees. Beyond the event scene, I find joy in volunteering, sports, cars, exploring new destinations, and embracing the great outdoors.
Radhika Tabarez – Advisory Committee Member
Development and Engagement at the Kamloops Art Gallery
Radhika Maira Tabrez is a multi-talented writer, editor, learning and development specialist, TEDx speaker, and radio show host. She currently leads Development and Engagement at the Kamloops Art Gallery. Prior to this role, she served as the General Manager of the Kamloops Film Society, where she played a pivotal role in launching the inaugural Kamloops Black Film Festival and Kamloops Queer Film Festival. She also chaired the 2024 Kamloops Film Festival.
A passionate community advocate, Radhika holds board positions with Western Canada Theatre and the Kamloops Local News Society. The latter publishes Kamloops Chronicles, a newspaper for which she writes a regular Arts and Entertainment column.
Titilope Ojo – Events
Sponsors
