Planet Africa program
September 7 – 17, 1995
Welcome to
Planet Africa Legacy
2020 marked the 25th anniversary of when we launched the PLANET AFRICA section of the Festival back in 1995. The aim then was to engage an audience across borders and to encourage viewers and critics to see the parallels between films made by black filmmakers in Brooklyn, London, Dakar or Port-au-Prince.
Cameron Bailey, CEO, TIFF
PLANET AFRICA LEGACY honours the history, people and films of TIFF’s Planet Africa programme (1995–2004) and its 25th anniversary programme in 2020. Rooted in this remarkable legacy, it is an evolving platform dedicated to preserving that period in history, and creating new connections and opportunities for future generations.
Orla La-Wayne Garriques
Planet Africa Poster Year 1.
DJ Dave Campbell, Planet Africa Tribute Party 2020
Planet Africa Poster Year 1.
The Black List
Launched in 2025, The Black List is Planet Africa Legacy’s annual showcase celebrating Black films, filmmakers, talent and PAL alumni featured at TIFF.
The Black Market
A guide to Black, African, Caribbean and Diaspora industry organizations, associations, networks and events
The Spotlights
AfroToronto inaugural edition @ TIFF 2026, created by Yanibes Foundation organizer of AfroCannes & AfroBerlin
Orla La-Wayne Garriques is a cultural curator and screen industry professional whose work spans film programming, producing, marketing, business and talent development. She was part of the Planet Africa programming team at the Toronto International Film Festival, serving as Program Assistant in 2000 and 2001. Being part of this historic moment at the turn of the century remains a meaningful chapter in her journey and a lasting connection to African and diasporic cinema.
As part of TIFF’s 25th anniversary celebration of Planet Africa in 2020, she created Planet Africa Legacy, a digital archive honouring the programme’s history and enduring contribution to African and diasporic cinema. In 2025, the initiative entered a new chapter with the expansion of The Black List and The Black Market, evolving into a platform that celebrates Black cinema, connects communities and creates new pathways for filmmakers and stories.
Her curatorial practice is deeply rooted in documenting, celebrating and safeguarding Black arts and cultural history for future generations. This commitment extends across three interconnected digital archival initiatives:
Planet Africa Legacy , CELAF25 , and the Black Film and Video (BFVN) Digital Archive, currently in development.
Acknowledgements
The Planet Africa Legacy website was made possible through the support and contributions of Inner City Films, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), TIFF Film Reference Library (FRL), Yanibes Foundation, and the dedicated volunteers whose time and efforts helped bring the project to life.
