# Reelworld Film Festival

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

## History

Reelworld was founded by Tonya Williams, who noted the lack of opportunities for minorities 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.
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.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, the 2020 festival was presented entirely online.
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.

### 2021 ReelWorld Film Festival

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

#### 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 October 11 to 17, 2022 in Toronto.

#### Award 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: 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 |
| Outstanding Feature Film Award | Kim Albright, With Love and a Major Organ |
| 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 |
| Outstanding Feature Film Award | Nadine Valcin, Simply Johanne (Tout simplement Johanne) |
| 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 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 |