The Reelworld Film Festival, founded in 2001 by Tonya Williams, is held annually in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Marina Hanna, "Toronto filmmakers to watch at Reelworld Film Festival". Hamilton Spectator, October 13, 2020. The festival screens film and provides professional development for Canadian racially diverse and indigenous filmmakers and media artists.Byron Armstrong, "Tonya Williams Marks 19 Years Celebrating Black Stories On Screen At ReelWorld Film Festival". ByBlacks, October 10, 2019.
History Reelworld was founded by Tonya Williams, who noted the lack of opportunities for minorities to break into the film industry."ReelWorld Film Festival to show off artists of varied ethnic backgrounds". Cape Breton Post, November 25, 2000. The festival's mandate states that they showcase diverse work from Canada and abroad while bringing together assorted communities.
Reelworld has started a number of initiatives directed towards diverse artists. In 2020 Williams launched Access Reelworld, a casting database to help publicize and promote minority actors.Chris Jancelewicz, "Tonya Williams, former ‘Y&R’ star, launches Access Reelworld to help racially diverse Canadians". Global News, October 6, 2020.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, the 2020 festival was presented entirely online."Toronto filmmakers to watch at Reelworld: This year's film fest features a lineup that's all-Canadian, racialized". Toronto Star, October 13, 2020.
In 2024, Williams was named the recipient of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television's Changemaker Award at the 12th Canadian Screen Awards, for her work with Reelworld.Connie Thiessen, "Marilyn Denis, John Brunton among Canadian Academy ‘Special Award’ recipients". Broadcast Dialogue, March 19, 2024.
2021 ReelWorld Film Festival The 21st annual ReelWorld Film Festival was held from October 20 to 27, 2021 in Toronto.
Award winners +AwardWinnerRefOutstanding Feature Film AwardIn the Rumbling Belly of Motherland (Brishkay Ahmed)Outstanding Feature Film DirectorKaveh Nabatian, Without Havana (Sin la Habana)Outstanding Feature Film WriterKaveh Nabatian and Pablo D. Herrera Veitia, Without Havana (Sin la Habana)Outstanding Feature Film ProducerBrishkay Ahmed, In the Rumbling Belly of MotherlandOutstanding Feature Film ActorYonah Acosta Gonzales, Without Havana (Sin la Habana)Outstanding Feature Film ActressAki Yaghoubi, Without Havana (Sin la Habana)Outstanding Feature Film CinematographerJuan Pablo Ramirez, Without Havana (Sin la Habana)
2022 ReelWorld Film Festival The 22nd annual ReelWorld Film Festival was held from October 11 to 17, 2022 in Toronto.
Award winners +AwardWinnerRefOutstanding Feature Film AwardGolden Delicious (Jason Karman) Outstanding Feature Film DirectorJason Karman, Golden Delicious Outstanding Feature Film WriterGorrman Lee, Golden Delicious Outstanding Feature Film ProducerIvan Madeira, Pattern Outstanding Feature Film ActorCardi Wong, Golden Delicious Outstanding Feature Film ActressJayne Kamara, Bite of a Mango Outstanding Feature Film CinematographerKaveh Nabatian, Kite Zo A: Leave the BonesAudience Choice AwardRon Dias and Joanne Jansen, Bite of a MangoOutstanding Short FilmCazhhmere Downey, I Remember the Footprints in the SnowOutstanding Short Film DirectorAlireza Kazemipour, Split EndsOutstanding Short Film ProducerAmir Zargara, More Than HairOutstanding Short Film ActorGitz Crazyboy, Peace PipelineOutstanding Short Film ActressNicole Nwokolo, I Remember the Footprints in the SnowOutstanding Short Film CinematographerGabriela Osio Vanden, Saturday Fuego DiabloOutstanding Short Film WriterTesh Guttikonda, Mom vs Machine
2023 ReelWorld Film Festival The 23rd annual ReelWorld Film Festival was held from November 1 to 7, 2023 in Toronto.
Award winners +AwardWinnerRefOutstanding Feature Film AwardKim Albright, With Love and a Major Organ Taimur Sikander Mirza, "With Love and a Major Organ wins $25,000 prize at Reelworld". Playback, November 14, 2023.Outstanding Feature Film DirectorJamila Pomeroy, Union StreetOutstanding Feature Film WriterLonzo Nzekwe, OrahOutstanding Feature Film ProducerGavin Baird, A Storm Blows OverOutstanding Feature Film ActorHamza Haq, With Love and a Major OrganOutstanding Feature Film ActressOyin Oladejo, OrahOutstanding Feature Film CinematographerLeo Harim, With Love and a Major OrganOutstanding Short FilmAmir Honarmand, SilkwormOutstanding Short Film DirectorDerek Kwan, 100 DaysOutstanding Short Film ProducerAsa Kazerani, DesyncOutstanding Short Film ActorMohammad Rashno, SilkwormOutstanding Short Film ActressBriauna James, OversightOutstanding Short Film CinematographerAshley Iris Gill, The Future Above Us
2024 ReelWorld Film Festival The 24th annual ReelWorld Film Festival was held from October 21 to November 3, 2024 in Toronto.
Award winners +AwardWinnerRefOutstanding Feature Film AwardNadine Valcin, Simply Johanne (Tout simplement Johanne) Jamie Casemore, "Simply Johanne named Outstanding Feature at Reelworld". Playback, November 13, 2024.Audience Choice AwardBobby Singh Brown, Stealing VowsOutstanding Feature Film DirectorReza Dahya, BoxcutterOutstanding Feature Film WriterCorey Payette, Les Filles du RoiOutstanding Feature Film ProducerBobby Singh Brown, Stealing VowsOutstanding Feature Film ActorOlivier Ross-Parent, The MadmanOutstanding Feature Film ActressGia Sandhu, Stealing VowsOutstanding Feature Film CinematographerHazem Berrabah and Omar Bouhoula, The MadmanOutstanding Short FilmAmir Zargara, A Good Day Will ComeOutstanding Short Film DirectorTara Aghdashloo, Empty Your PocketsOutstanding Short Film WriterIan Bawa, My Son Went QuietOutstanding Short Film ProducerAmir Zargara, A Good Day Will ComeOutstanding Short Film ActorKiarash Dadgar, Empty Your PocketsOutstanding Short Film ActressAixa Kay, HatchOutstanding Short Film CinematographerCarine Zahner, Strangers
2025 ReelWorld Film Festival The 25th annual ReelWorld Film Festival was held from October 16 to 19, 2025 in Toronto.
Award winners +AwardWinnerRefOutstanding Feature Film AwardFitch Jean, It Comes in Waves Kelly Townsend, "It Comes in Waves leads 2025 Reelworld Film Festival winners". Playback, October 20 2025.Audience Choice AwardMohamed Ahmed, A Tribe Called LoveOutstanding Feature Film DirectorLamia Chraibi, CircoOutstanding Feature Film WriterSammy Mohammed, It Comes in WavesOutstanding Feature Film ProducerAmir Zargara, It Comes in WavesOutstanding Feature Film ActorAdrian Walters, It Comes in WavesOutstanding Feature Film ActressJoan Chen, Montreal, My Beautiful (Montréal, ma belle)Outstanding Feature Film CinematographerJelan Maxwell, It Comes in WavesOutstanding DocumentaryLamia Chraibi, CircoOutstanding Short FilmKevin Jin Kwan Kim, My Dad, the RockstarOutstanding Short Film DirectorVanessa Magic, I Am PleasedOutstanding Short Film WriterJenny Lee-Gilmore, With TimeOutstanding Short Film ProducerGrace Shutti and Momo Spaine, Lost WaxOutstanding Short Film ActorSangbum Kang, My Dad, the RockstarOutstanding Short Film ActressRochelle Avis, LichunOutstanding Short Film CinematographerAntonia Ramirez, Lost Wax
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