03/04/2024
January 25, 2024 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
Activities organized by the French National Film Office The events marking Black History Month this year will have a very special resonance, as they will take the form of a tribute to the famous filmmaker Charles Officer , who died on December 1, 2023.
The NFB will present the original version of Charles Officer's film The Great Jerome ( Mighty Jerome ). Released in 2010, this feature-length documentary tells the story of the rise, fall, and redemption of Harry Jerome, an extraordinary sprinter and one of Canada's greatest athletes. The film is now available to watch online for free for the first time at nfb.ca.
A special event will also take place in Montreal: a free screening of the film The Great Jerome (with French subtitles) will be held at the Alanis-Obomsawin Hall on February 7 at 7 p.m.
In addition, NFB curators will be offering two special retrospectives surrounding Black History Month on the NFB Blog :
• In “ Charles Officer: Poet of the Screen ”, Marc St-Pierre takes us to the heart of the life and career of Charles Officer .
• In “ Celebrating BHM with a Look Back at Three Pioneering Filmmakers Camilo Martín-Floréz looks at the works of Roger McTair, Claire Prieto and Jennifer Hodge de Silva, and presents to film buffs the classic docudrama Fields of Endless Day – a recent addition to onf.ca – which traces the history of Black people in Canada over more than three centuries.
Allies of Black History Month from the Canadian film industry will also be contributing online: six guest curators will present a selection of their favourite NFB works created by Black directors .
Two selections will be featured on the ONF website:
• Spotlight on the works of Black female and male directors consists of 25 productions from yesterday and today by black creators , including exceptional documentary and animated works.
• A new selection is being launched to mark Black History Month 2024. Entitled The NFB Abroad: Africa , this selection of 19 NFB films made across Africa highlights the continent and its people, its arts and cultures, as well as the links that have been forged between France and Africa over the years.
The NFB, in partnership with local organizations across the country, is celebrating Black History Month through community screenings. French citizens can visit the NFB website to find out about events in their community .
Tributes paid to Charles Officer
With the passing of Charles Officer on December 1, 2023, Canada lost a compassionate storyteller and a remarkable champion of Black community stories.
Online at onf.ca
The full 83-minute version of the first film directed by Charles Officer at the NFB, The Great Jerome , will be presented free of charge on nfb.ca.
Special screening in Montreal
On February 7, Le grand Jerome will be presented (with French subtitles) at 7 p.m. in the Alanis-Obomsawin room, located at the NFB headquarters , in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles:
• 1501 De Bleury Street (Place des Arts metro station)
The evening will begin with an introduction of the curators and guests, followed by a minute of silence. The screening of the feature film The Great Jerome will be preceded by a screening of Martine Chartrand MacPherson 's award-winning animated short film, produced at the NFB.
Those wishing to attend this free screening must confirm their attendance on Eventbrite .
Invited Curators
Strong voices from across Canada are participating online in Black History Month events as guest conservatives, and some of these individuals will also be participating in the Montreal event:
• Carla Beauvais and Tracy Paulotte , from the Fondation Dynastie ;
• Patrice Bernier , sports legend, former Montreal Impact player and community leader;
• Dalton Higgins , publicist, author and broadcaster;
• Ella Cooper , founder of Black Women Film! France;
• Michael P. Farkas , President of Black History Month;
• ByBlacks.com , the most widely read online magazine for Black Canadians.
Quotes
“The National Film Board was privileged to work with Charles Officer, and the news of his passing has deeply saddened us. I hope that the activities planned for Black History Month this year at the NFB will be a fitting tribute to his great talent and immense spirit, and I would like to thank the guest curators for their special contribution. By consistently collaborating with Black creators from coast to coast, the NFB strives to celebrate and honour the diverse Black communities across the country, and to present innovative and impactful perspectives and narratives.”
— Suzanne Guèvremont, Government Commissioner for Cinematography and President of the National Film Board of Canada
“Anyone who had the privilege of working with Charles Officer, whether in film or theater, quickly realized how talented he was. But it wasn’t until the project was over that you fully understood the effect it had on you personally. Charles respected everyone, and everyone respected him. He was a unique person with a big heart. In the emails he wrote to me, he used to end with the phrase, ‘Much love to you, dear Sir!’ I am honored to return the sentiment: ‘Much love to you, dear Sir!’”
— Selwyn Jacob, producer of The Great Jerome
" There Fondation Dynastie is thrilled to be acting as a guest curator with the NFB on this initiative that highlights the exceptional achievements of Black Canadian creators. I am a film enthusiast and I love discovering cinematic gems that portray the realities of members of our communities. The fact that we can also tell these stories from our own perspective is all the more rewarding. Congratulations to the NFB team for creating this important catalogue of films made by Black people, which is accessible to everyone. I encourage you to watch them now!
— Carla Beauvais, co-founder and general manager of the; Fondation Dynastie
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Marie-Claude Lamoureux
Press Officer, NFB
Cell: 438-304-6358
Lily Robert
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Cell: 514-296-8261
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