Reelworld Film Festival
 | This article may contain excessive or inappropriate references to self-published sources. (April 2020) |
| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 |
| Festival date | October 20–27, 2021 |
| Website | http://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]
Williams is an industry staple, and her Reelworld Film Festival launched Access Reelworld, which is a platform designed to recruit BIPOC creators on and off the screen.[3] “Reelworld uses their experience and scope to put people in places they need to be – they’re looking at areas others might not be,” says Sasha Leigh Henry.[4][5].
History
Reelworld was founded by Tonya Williams who noted the lack of opportunities for people of color to break into the film industry. The festival's mandate states that they showcase diverse work from Canada and abroad while bringing together assorted communities. Since 2001, Reelworld has started a number of initiatives directed towards diverse artists. Williams being an actress in the industry for so long seen first hand the lack of representation within the Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, Middle Eastern, Latinx and all other racially diverse communities in the Canadian entertainment industry. Reelworld was born with the helping hand to unrepresented voices that couldn't necessarily get their movies in large festivals like TIFF or Sundance, however Williams thought that someone had to champion these voices and she hasn't stopped since 2001.[6][7]
"The initiative is already being used by companies like Telefilm Canada, Canadian Media Fund and more in order to hire diverse talent, both in front of and behind the camera. It also aids productions aiming to meet the new Oscars diversity guidelines."[8]
2021 ReelWorld Film Festival
The 21st annual ReelWorld Film Festival was held from 20 to 27 October 2021 in Toronto.[9] It was the first edition after a one-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Award winners
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| 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 11 to 17 October 2022 in Toronto.[10].
Awards Winners
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Outstanding Feature Film Award | Golden Delicious (Jason Karman) |
| 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 |
| Audience Choice Award | Ron Dias and Joanne Jansen, Bite of a Mango |
References
- ^ Marina Hanna, "Toronto filmmakers to watch at Reelworld Film Festival". Hamilton Spectator, October 13, 2020.
- ^ [1] Archived October 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "ReelWorld Founder".
- ^ "Now Toronto". 8 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
- ^ "CMPA.ca". 18 May 2001. Retrieved 18 May 2001.
- ^ "CTV". 2 April 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
- ^ "CTV NEWS". 28 Jan 2021. Retrieved 28 Jan 2021.
- ^ "Global News". 7 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
- ^ "ReelWorld 2021 announces festival WINNERS"". Reel World. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ^ "ReelWorld 2022 announces festival WINNERS"". Reel World. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
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