| Reelworld Film Festival | |
| Location: | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Founded: | 2001 |
| Date: | October 20–27, 2021 |
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]
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]
The 21st annual ReelWorld Film Festival was held from October 20 to 27, 2021 in Toronto.
| 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) |
The 22nd annual ReelWorld Film Festival was held from October 11 to 17, 2022 in Toronto.[7]
| 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, | |
| Audience Choice Award | Ron Dias and Joanne Jansen, Bite of a Mango |
The 23rd annual ReelWorld Film Festival was held from November 1 to 7, 2023 in Toronto.
| 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 |