#FIRSTLOOK: REELWORLD FILM FESTIVAL + SUMMIT 2025

The Reelworld Film Festival+Summit marks a historic milestone in 2025 as it celebrates its 25th anniversary of spotlighting all their directors who are 100% Canadian Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, and People of Colour talent from across Canada. Over the past 25 years, Reelworld has become a vital cultural institution, advancing equity in Canada’s screen industries while showcasing the extraordinary artistry of diverse filmmakers and storytellers. This year’s edition, running from October 14–19, will bring together seven days of in-person screenings, keynote speeches, industry panels, fireside chats, pitch opportunities, awards presentations, and networking events that highlight both the creativity and resilience of Canada’s screen community. The Festival continues online from October 20–26, offering a week of virtual screenings along with a dedicated day of digital workshops and panel discussions.

The celebrations begin with the Reelworld Summit on October 14 and 15, 2025 at the Courtyard by Marriott Toronto Downtown (475 Yonge Street). The Summit is a hub for knowledge-sharing and change-making, featuring leading voices from across the industry in conversations that explore urgent issues facing Canada’s screen sector. From discussions on equity and representation to the impact of new technologies, the Summit provides a platform for creatives, executives, and policymakers to engage in dialogue that will shape the future of Canadian storytelling.

“As I mourn the death of Robert Redford, a man I did not know personally, but through his work in creating Sundance, I was inspired to create Reelworld”, says Tonya Williams Founder and Executive Director, “I reflect on what started out as a dream quickly became 25 years of showcasing outstanding talent from Canada’s diverse communities, giving voice to those who no one heard, and expanding Reelworld to have year-round training, giving Indigenous and racialized creatives, executives and crew a place they could call home – a place of belonging. Reelworld not only nurtured creatives, but worked to have the entire screen industry extend its table to include all. As the global audience changed, its desire to see itself on the screen increased to the point when companies could no longer ignore the power of that audience. Our silver anniversary is both a reflection on how far we’ve come and a promise of what’s ahead. This year, we celebrate not only the incredible artistry of our filmmakers but also the resilience of an industry still striving for true equity and inclusion.”

OPENING NIGHT FILM: IT COMES IN WAVES

The Reelworld Film Festival follows from October 16–19, 2025 with its much-anticipated Opening Night Film at The Royal Theatre (608 College St), sponsored by TD Bank Group. The remaining screenings will take place at The Paradise Theatre (1006c Bloor St W).

The Festival is thrilled to announce that this year’s Opening Night film is It Comes in Waves, directed by Haitian-Canadian filmmaker and 2024 Reelworld Directors Immersion Program alum, Fitch Jean. A poignant exploration of the immigrant experience, the film tells the story of Akai, a young Rwandan-Canadian navigating trauma, family responsibility, and the legacy of displacement.

“Having ‘It Comes in Waves’ open the Reelworld Film Festival is an incredible honour, especially for a film so deeply rooted in the immigrant experience.” said director Fitch Jean. “Reelworld has always been a beacon for stories that might otherwise go untold, and to kick off the festival with Akai’s journey, a young Rwandan-Canadian navigating trauma, responsibility, and the weight of family legacy, feels like the perfect alignment of story and space. I hope audiences see themselves in these characters’ struggles and triumphs, and recognize that healing isn’t linear; it truly comes in waves. More than anything, I want people to leave understanding that even in our darkest moments, the act of choosing to heal, to seek help, and to break cycles is its own form of courage. This film is for anyone who’s ever had to be strong for others while barely holding themselves together.”

FEATURE FILM SELECTIONS

This year’s feature film program continues Reelworld’s tradition of powerful, boundary-pushing storytelling. Highlights include Have You Heard Judi Singh? by Vancouver-based director Baljit Sangra, which reintroduces audiences to the extraordinary, overlooked legacy of a Black-Punjabi jazz singer from Edmonton; In the Room by Brishkay Ahmed, a moving documentary that follows five Afghan women in exile as they reclaim their voices and fight for their homeland on the world stage; and A Tribe Called Love by Mohamed Ahmed, a contemporary Romeo and Juliet story set in Toronto’s Somali community that boldly blends stylized comedy with sharp social commentary.

Other features include Foreigner by Canadian-Iranian filmmaker Ava Maria Safai, which merges horror and heart to explore assimilation and identity through the story of a Persian teen navigating high school in 2004; Circo by Lamia Chraibi, a poetic portrait of a young Brazilian circus artist on a journey of belonging; and Designed by Preeti by Gayatri Everitt Bajpai, a heartfelt drama about an Indo-American woman who reclaims her life, career, and chance at love after escaping an oppressive marriage.

The lineup also features Montréal, Ma Belle by Xiaodan He, a powerful story of a Chinese immigrant mother in Montreal reckoning with identity and liberation; and Rising Through the Fray by Kanien’kehá:ka filmmaker Courtney Montour, which chronicles the groundbreaking story of Indigenous Rising, the first roller derby team to represent Indigenous peoples at the Roller Derby World Cup. Filmmaker Kent Donguines returns to the Philippines to reconnect with his fading cultural identity through learning about traditional Kalinga tattoos from 107-year-old artist Apo Whang-od in the documentary Treasures of the Rice Terraces.

SHORT FILM SELECTIONS

Alongside its feature films, Reelworld proudly presents 25 short films organized into four distinct thematic programs: A Retrospective of Resilience, Genre Fever, Grief, and Entanglements. The Retrospective Program will feature films from Corey Bowles, Joyce Wong, R.T. Thorne and Supinder Wraich. This year’s shorts showcase a dazzling range of Canadian voices exploring themes of family, justice, memory, and resilience, further cementing Reelworld’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent.

“As someone who’s had the honour of programming with Reelworld for the past five years, it’s been incredible to witness the evolution of storytelling from underrepresented voices across the country.” said Program Director, Safia Abdigir. “This year, alongside programmers Richard Pierre and Aisha Evelyna, we’ve put in the work to thoughtfully scout and curate a lineup that reflects the rising quality, ambition, and urgency of today’s filmmakers”

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

The Festival will once again honour excellence with its cash awards: $15,000 for Outstanding Feature Film and $10,000 for Outstanding Short Film, alongside categories recognizing Outstanding Actress, Actor, Director, Writer, Cinematographer, and Producer. Audiences will also have their say with the Reelworld Audience Choice Award, which continues to be one of the most anticipated prizes of the festival.

In addition to its film awards, Reelworld will present its prestigious Trailblazer Award, Visionary Award, and Award of Excellence to industry leaders who have transformed the Canadian screen landscape. These awards not only recognize individual achievement but also affirm Reelworld’s ongoing mission to foster equity and amplify diverse voices. This year’s recipients are: Trailblazer Award: Dalmar Abuzeid, Humberly Gonzalez, Kaniehtiio Horn, Caleb Chen, Mrinal Desai, and Galye Ye; Visionary Award: Prem Gill; and Award of Excellence: Clark Johnson.

Reelworld proudly acknowledges the generous support of its partners and funders for the 25th Anniversary Reelworld Film Festival+Summit.

Diamond: Telefilm Canada, Canada Media Fund
Platinum Partner: TD Bank Group – The Ready Commitment
Gold Partners: Access Canada, Paramount+, CBC

Government Funders: Government of Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, Women and Gender Equality Canada, Canadian Heritage, Ontario Creates, Ontario Arts Council

Silver Partners: Amazon Prime Video, Rogers Group of Funds, Inspirit Foundation, Bell Fund
Bronze Partners: Shaftesbury, CMPA, AFBS, DGC, GCR, Blue Ant Media, Toronto Foundation
Associate Partners: Motion Picture Association–Canada, Hollywood Suite, TVO
Supporters: ACTRA, ACTRA Toronto, ANIMIKI See Digital Productions, Writers Guild of Canada

About Reelworld

Reelworld was founded in 2000 by award-winning actress and producer Tonya Williams, O.C. to advance opportunities for Canadians who are Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, and People of Colour in the screen industries by providing professional development and advocating for racial equity in Canadian content and production.

Reelworld Screen Institute, a non-profit, provides training programs and presents the acclaimed Reelworld Film Festival, which celebrates stories by racialized Canadians. Providing access to opportunities is core to Reelworld, and Access Reelworld is Canada’s leading hiring platform for racialized crews and talent. Reelworld Foundation, a registered charity, is transforming the industry by creating mechanisms that hold systems accountable for greater equity.

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