The Reelworld Film Festival+Summit marks its 25th anniversary with 34 films celebrating Canadian BIPOC talent. The 2025 edition will run from October 14 to 26.
The Reelworld Film Festival and Summit return this fall with a landmark celebration. Marking its 25th anniversary, the festival continues its trailblazing mission of amplifying diverse Canadian voices in film and media. Running from October 14 to 19 with in-person programming, followed by an online edition from October 20 to 26, this milestone year showcases 34 films, all directed by Black, Indigenous, Asian, South Asian, and People of Colour talent from across Canada.
Founded in 2000 by actress and producer Tonya Williams, Reelworld has grown into a cultural institution. For a quarter century, it has been a platform where underrepresented filmmakers could bring their stories to the forefront. Williams reflects on this journey with pride, noting that Reelworld has not only nurtured creatives but pushed the Canadian screen industry toward greater equity and inclusion. “Our silver anniversary is both a reflection on how far we’ve come and a promise of what’s ahead,” she says.
The Reelworld Summit
The festival begins with the Reelworld Summit on October 14 and 15 at the Courtyard by Marriott Toronto Downtown. The Summit brings together creators, executives, and policymakers for two days of critical conversations. Topics range from equity and representation to the influence of new technologies on the screen sector. These discussions set the tone for the festival, reinforcing Reelworld’s role as both an artistic showcase and a hub for industry transformation.
Opening Night Film
This year’s Opening Night Film is It Comes in Waves, directed by Haitian-Canadian filmmaker Fitch Jean, an alum of Reelworld’s Directors Immersion Program. Screening at The Royal Theatre on October 16, the film tells the story of Akai, a Rwandan-Canadian youth grappling with trauma and family legacy. Jean describes the film as a meditation on courage and healing, honouring those who choose to break cycles and seek help despite immense burdens.
Feature film highlights
Reelworld’s 2025 feature lineup continues its tradition of powerful, boundary-pushing stories. Highlights include:
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Have You Heard Judi Singh? (Baljit Sangra) – A rediscovery of Edmonton’s overlooked Black-Punjabi jazz legend.
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In the Room (Brishkay Ahmed) – A moving account of Afghan women in exile reclaiming their voices.
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A Tribe Called Love (Mohamed Ahmed) – A Toronto-set Somali Romeo and Juliet tale blending humour and social commentary.
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Foreigner (Ava Maria Safai) – A horror-infused coming-of-age story about assimilation and identity.
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Circo (Lamia Chraibi) – The poetic journey of a Brazilian circus artist searching for belonging.
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Designed by Preeti (Gayatri Everitt Bajpai) – A drama of resilience and reinvention after escaping an oppressive marriage.
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Montréal, Ma Belle (Xiaodan He) – The story of a Chinese immigrant mother confronting liberation and identity in Quebec.
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Rising Through the Fray (Courtney Montour) – A documentary about Indigenous Rising, the first Indigenous roller derby team to compete internationally.
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Treasures of the Rice Terraces (Kent Donguines) – A personal return to the Philippines to explore fading cultural traditions with 107-year-old tattoo artist Apo Whang-od.
Short film selections
This year’s shorts program features 25 works, curated into four themes: A Retrospective of Resilience, Genre Fever, Grief, and Entanglements. The retrospective highlights alumni such as Corey Bowles, Joyce Wong, R.T. Thorne, and Supinder Wraich, while emerging voices explore themes of justice, memory, and resilience. Program Director Safia Abdigir, alongside Richard Pierre and Aisha Evelyna, curated the lineup to reflect the urgency and ambition of Canada’s rising filmmakers.
Awards and recognition
Reelworld’s awards remain a cornerstone of the festival. Cash prizes include $15,000 for Outstanding Feature and $10,000 for Outstanding Short, with additional awards recognizing excellence in acting, directing, writing, cinematography, and producing. Audience participation remains vital with the Reelworld Audience Choice Award.
The festival will also present three major honours: the Trailblazer Award (Dalmar Abuzeid, Humberly Gonzalez, Kaniehtiio Horn, Caleb Chen, Mrinal Desai, Galye Ye), the Visionary Award (Prem Gill), and the Award of Excellence (Clark Johnson). These recognitions underscore the festival’s ongoing commitment to celebrating leadership and resilience in Canadian film.
Looking back and looking forward
For 25 years, Reelworld has not only showcased films but created an ecosystem of training, mentorship, and advocacy. From its Directors Immersion Program to the Access Reelworld hiring platform, it has actively reshaped the Canadian film industry to reflect the country’s diversity. This anniversary serves as both a celebration and a challenge—acknowledging progress while recognizing that the push for equity continues.
The festival’s broad support also demonstrates its importance. Funders include Telefilm Canada, the Canada Media Fund, TD Bank Group, CBC, Paramount+, Ontario Creates, the Ontario Arts Council, and numerous other organizations. Such backing confirms Reelworld’s role as a vital bridge between artists, audiences, and institutions.
Conclusion
The 25th edition of Reelworld Film Festival+Summit is both a milestone and a vision statement. By centring stories from Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities, it affirms that Canada’s cinematic identity is inseparable from its diversity. With 34 films, rich discussions, and meaningful awards, the 2025 edition reflects the festival’s history while looking boldly toward the future.
As audiences gather in Toronto and online, Reelworld stands as a testament to the transformative power of storytelling. Its legacy is built on creating space for voices too often excluded, and its future promises to carry that mission even further. In celebrating its silver anniversary, Reelworld reminds us that Canadian cinema thrives when all its stories are seen, heard, and valued.
