Reelworld Trailblazer
Award Recipients

Mrinal is a Toronto-based cinematographer known for his award-winning and Emmy-nominated work on films like Slumdog Millionaire and Court. His documentaries, broadcast globally, reflect a humanistic lens on urgent narratives. Trained in India, he blends vérité and stylized drama, capturing stories with intimacy and visual poetry.

Kaniehtiio Horn showcases her creative versatility as an actress, writer, producer, and directorwhose work centers on Indigenous identity and emotional complexity. Her feature directorial debut, SEEDS, premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and earned multiple Canadian Screen Award nominations. Horn also starred in Rutherford Falls and will appear in FX's The Lowdown, as well as voice Wynona Whitecloud in the animated sitcom Grimsburg.

Humberly González is a rising star known for her roles in Netflix's The Waterfront and Ginny & Georgia. She appeared with Michelle Yeoh in Star Trek: Section 31 and stars in the hit game Star Wars: Outlaws, earning the Best Performance award at the Canadian Game Awards. Born in Venezuela, she is a graduate of the CFC and the National Theatre School of Canada.

Gayle Ye is an Emmy-award-winning director of photography, recognized for their work at Cannes and Tribeca. Notable projects include "Late Bloomer" and "Paying For It." In 2021, Gayle became the first queer gender-fluid person of colour to win a Daytime Emmy, and in 2025, two Canadian Screen Awards.

Dalmar Abuzeid is a Canadian actor who brings emotional depth and authenticity to screen roles spanning drama and thrillers. From his breakout on Degrassi to award-winning work in Anne with an E, he champions complex, underrepresented characters. His recent projects spotlight his range as both a leading man and a dynamic ensemble performer.

Caleb Chan is an award-winning composer and producer known for his work with Netflix, Nickelodeon, CBC, and DreamWorks, including My Little Pony: The Movie. He blends orchestral and contemporary styles, crafting rich cinematic storytelling and has created nearly 250 songs, including arrangements for Beyoncé and SZA in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.