Image Credit: Adam Donnelly / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

INAUGURAL EVENT

Kamloops’ first Black Film Festival to debut next week

Feb 8, 2024 | 6:45 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops will soon see its first Black Film Festival, hosted downtown at the Paramount Theatre.

The Kamloops Film Society partnered with the Kamloops Caribbean Cultural Society and the Valid Dreams Foundation for the inaugural event. The movies chosen are meant to showcase Black, African and Caribbean stories and culture.

Sally Martin is one of the committee members of the festival and also the founder of the Valid Dreams Foundation. She says it’s a great opportunity to celebrate the community’s diversity.

“I think it’s great that people come with an open mind. It’s also going to inspire people who want to be in the arts industry and also want to be in the film industry, and it does create an opportunity for the Black community to be represented in the film industry,” she explains.

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According to Daniel Akinshola, another one of the event’s committee members, the festival aims to use the power of film to convey culture, struggles and victories, and foster connections between all community members.

“Without understanding each other’s culture, society will have some aches and pains. But once we understand each other, you have a smooth society, you have more interaction and cooperation,” he notes. “This film festival is actually to engineer more social change and social health in a way.”

The first Black Film Festival will take place February 15 to 17. Tickets and information can be found online at www.thekfs.ca.