Reelworld Film Festival

Reelworld Film Festival

Location	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Founded	2001
Festival date	October 20–27, 2021
Website	www.reelworld.ca

Reelworld Film Festival, founded in 2001 by Tonya Williams, is held annually in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[1] The festival screens film and provides professional development for Canadian racially diverse and indigenous filmmakers and media artists.[2]

History

Reelworld was founded by Tonya Williams, who noted the lack of opportunities for minorities to break into the film industry.[3] 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.[4]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, the 2020 festival was presented entirely online.[5]

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.[6]

2021 ReelWorld Film Festival

The 21st annual ReelWorld Film Festival was held from October 20 to 27, 2021 in Toronto.

Award winners

Award	Winner	Ref
Outstanding Feature Film Award	In the Rumbling Belly of Motherland (Brishkay Ahmed)
Outstanding Feature Film Director	Kaveh Nabatian, Without Havana (Sin la Habana)
Outstanding Feature Film Writer	Kaveh Nabatian and Pablo D. Herrera Veitia, Without Havana (Sin la Habana)
Outstanding Feature Film Producer	Brishkay Ahmed, In the Rumbling Belly of Motherland
Outstanding Feature Film Actor	Yonah Acosta Gonzales, Without Havana (Sin la Habana)
Outstanding Feature Film Actress	Aki Yaghoubi, Without Havana (Sin la Habana)
Outstanding Feature Film Cinematographer	Juan 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.[7]

Award winners

Award	Winner	Ref
Outstanding Feature Film Award	Golden Delicious (Jason Karman)	[8]
Outstanding Feature Film Director	Jason Karman, Golden Delicious
Outstanding Feature Film Writer	Gorrman Lee, Golden Delicious
Outstanding Feature Film Producer	Ivan Madeira, Pattern
Outstanding Feature Film Actor	Cardi Wong, Golden Delicious
Outstanding Feature Film Actress	Jayne Kamara, Bite of a Mango
Outstanding Feature Film Cinematographer	Kaveh Nabatian, Kite Zo A: Leave the Bones
Audience Choice Award	Ron Dias and Joanne Jansen, Bite of a Mango

2023 ReelWorld Film Festival

The 23rd annual ReelWorld Film Festival was held from November 1 to 7, 2023 in Toronto.

Award winners

Award	Winner	Ref
Outstanding Feature Film Award	Kim Albright, With Love and a Major Organ	[9]
Outstanding Feature Film Director	Jamila Pomeroy, Union Street
Outstanding Feature Film Writer	Lonzo Nzekwe, Orah
Outstanding Feature Film Producer	Gavin Baird, A Storm Blows Over
Outstanding Feature Film Actor	Hamza Haq, With Love and a Major Organ
Outstanding Feature Film Actress	Oyin Oladejo, Orah
Outstanding Feature Film Cinematographer	Leo Harim, With Love and a Major Organ
Outstanding Short Film	Amir Honarmand, Silkworm
Outstanding Short Film Director	Derek Kwan, 100 Days
Outstanding Short Film Producer	Asa Kazerani, Desync
Outstanding Short Film Actor	Mohammad Rashno, Silkworm
Outstanding Short Film Actress	Briauna James, Oversight
Outstanding Short Film Cinematographer	Ashley 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

Award	Winner	Ref
Outstanding Feature Film Award	Nadine Valcin, Simply Johanne (Tout simplement Johanne)	[10]
Audience Choice Award	Bobby Singh Brown, Stealing Vows
Outstanding Feature Film Director	Reza Dahya, Boxcutter
Outstanding Feature Film Writer	Corey Payette, Les Filles du Roi
Outstanding Feature Film Producer	Bobby Singh Brown, Stealing Vows
Outstanding Feature Film Actor	Olivier Ross-Parent, The Madman
Outstanding Feature Film Actress	Gia Sandhu, Stealing Vows
Outstanding Feature Film Cinematographer	Hazem Berrabah and Omar Bouhoula, The Madman
Outstanding Short Film	Amir Zargara, A Good Day Will Come
Outstanding Short Film Director	Tara Aghdashloo, Empty Your Pockets
Outstanding Short Film Writer	Ian Singh Bawa, My Son Went Quiet
Outstanding Short Film Producer	Amir Zargara, A Good Day Will Come
Outstanding Short Film Actor	Kiarash Dadgar, Empty Your Pockets
Outstanding Short Film Actress	Aixa Kay, Hatch
Outstanding Short Film Cinematographer	Carine Zahner, Strangers

References

1. Marina Hanna, "Toronto filmmakers to watch at Reelworld Film Festival". Hamilton Spectator, October 13, 2020.
2. Byron Armstrong, "Tonya Williams Marks 19 Years Celebrating Black Stories On Screen At ReelWorld Film Festival". ByBlacks, October 10, 2019.
3. "ReelWorld Film Festival to show off artists of varied ethnic backgrounds". Cape Breton Post, November 25, 2000.
4. Chris Jancelewicz, "Tonya Williams, former ‘Y&R’ star, launches Access Reelworld to help racially diverse Canadians". Global News, October 6, 2020.
5. "Toronto filmmakers to watch at Reelworld: This year's film fest features a lineup that's all-Canadian, racialized". Toronto Star, October 13, 2020.
6. Connie Thiessen, "Marilyn Denis, John Brunton among Canadian Academy ‘Special Award’ recipients". Broadcast Dialogue, March 19, 2024.
7. Marriska Fernandes (October 12, 2022). "'They will be the next big names of tomorrow': Reelworld Film Festival returns to Toronto and online". Toronto Star.
8. Victoria Ahearn (October 20, 2022). "Golden Delicious wins four Reelworld Film Festival prizes". Playback. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
9. Taimur Sikander Mirza, "With Love and a Major Organ wins $25,000 prize at Reelworld". Playback, November 14, 2023.
10. Jamie Casemore, "Simply Johanne named Outstanding Feature at Reelworld". Playback, November 13, 2024.

External links

• Official website