Actress and entrepreneur Tonya Lee Williams, best known for her 15-year starring role on The Young and The Restless, founded ReelWorld in 2001 in direct response to a lack of positive diverse stories on screen and sustainable opportunities for emerging talent of colour trying to break into the Canadian entertainment industry. Every year in April, cineastes, filmmakers, and industry professionals flock to ReelWorld for five days of the best features, documentaries, animations, shorts, and music videos from Canadian and international film artists.
Over the years, ReelWorld has introduced many initiatives that make us a creative and welcoming environment for a wide variety of filmmakers and audiences alike. Many established film artists got their start at ReelWorld and look back fondly at their time spent with our organization. Along the way, ReelWorld has illustrated that it is a unique and important festival and foundation dedicated to mentoring and showcasing diverse film talent.
2001
- The first annual ReelWorld Film Festival is held
- Festival and Foundation Founder and Executive Director – Tonya Lee Williams
- Foundation Co-Founders – Ramona Ramtej and Joan Jenkinson
- Founding Partner – City TV
2002
- The first annual Indie Film Lounge is held – a forum to open doors for emerging diverse filmmakers (now known as the Emerging 20)
- The ReelWorld Trailblazer Awards are introduced – to recognize the accomplishments of ethnically diverse Canadian industry artists
2003
- ReelWorld introduces Children’s Film Series and Workshop (now known as ReelYouth)
2004
- ReelWorld creates OMDC Industry Brunch – special invitation for ReelWorld filmmakers to meet and network with industry professionals
2006
- ReelWorld Special Free Sessions – Make Work Flow by Kodak and Writers Boot Camp Seminar (from LA, first time in Canada)
- Special Presentation Session by Tonya Lee Williams – Empowering the Artist Within
- Spotlight: La Francophonie – ReelWorld celebrates French Language and Culture in film
2007
- ReelWorld creates the Trade Show – where sponsors showcase their latest products
- Spotlight: Jamaica – exciting films and special events which capture essence of Jamaican culture
2008
- In response to demand – ReelWorld introduces repeat screenings of a select number of programmed films
2009
- Industry Networking – a networking night for industry professionals
2010
- ReelWorld celebrates its 10th Anniversary!
- Foundation Co-Founder Joan Jenkinson receives the 2010 Tony Stoltz Visionary Award
2011
- ReelWorld awards two recipients the 2011 ReelWorld Visionary Award – Moses A. Mawa and Patricia Bebia Mawa
2012
- The Trade Show is back! (Now known as the Gift Lounge)
- ReelWorld turns the spotlight on Jamaica, as the nation celebrates 50 years of independence.
