Nayani Thiyagarjah
Filmmaker
2021 Dates
02
February
Applications Open
Submissions Closed
Deadline to submit your application to the E20 Program
01
June
Sept
Early
Participants Announcement
Selection of E20 participants announced
Sept/Oct
SEPT 22-OCT 1
Pitch + Marketing Workshops and Prep Sessions
Oct
20-26
Face2Face Mentorship Sessions
(One day between the dates - specific date TBA)
Oct
20-26
Industry Mixer & Cocktail Reception
(One day between these dates - specific date TBA)
Applicants must be able to participate in all events which will take place in Toronto. Some experience in the industry is preferred. We are on the lookout for artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, or any Person of Colour from diverse backgrounds and perspectives which are underrepresented in today's media.
About
The E20 Program is Reelworld’s initiative to connect Canada’s racially diverse emerging talent with film and television executives and professionals. E20s are given the opportunity to network, learn, and pitch their projects to industry decision-makers.
We look for 20 emerging content creators and filmmakers with projects to develop. Whether your project is a documentary, narrative feature, web series, or television pilot, you are encouraged to apply. We are looking for stories that explore important themes and issues in ways that entertain, spark conversation, and expand minds.
“I am eternally grateful to Reelworld Film Festival for its support and faith in me, as a first-generation Tamil filmmaker. I've been working in the screen industries for just over 10 years now and it is only with Reelworld's nomination through the E-20 Program, that I was in the position to receive funding for my first feature drama This Place, through Telefilm Canada's Talent to Watch Program. For artists like me, who did not go to film school or follow a "traditional" path, Reelworld is a space that creates direct access for marginalized and often-excluded filmmakers to realize their dreams. I entered the program with the hopes that I could work towards making my dream of bringing this project to fruition. Through the mentorship I received, I submitted the project for consideration, which was then championed by the Reelworld team, resulting in our success in receiving funding to finally make the film. Now in post-production, I am realizing my dream as a direct result of the platform the festival provides for Black, Indigenous, and other filmmakers of colour. At a time where filmmakers like myself continue to create on the margins, Reelworld helps to centre our stories, by celebrating and supporting our work. This is precisely why Reelworld is so crucial to our communities, helping us navigate the screen industries, as we continue to learn and grow forward. I am ever grateful to Reelworld for working with me to ensure that I can continue onward, practicing my craft and creating new stories for the screen.”