Reelworld Film Festival

Last updated
Reelworld Film Festival
Location Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Founded2001
Festival dateOctober 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]

Contents

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

AwardWinnerRef
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

AwardWinnerRef
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

AwardWinnerRef
Outstanding Feature Film AwardKim 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 ProducerGavin 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 CinematographerLeo Harim Miranda, With Love and a Major Organ

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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.