ReelWorld Film Festival Announces 2014 Award Winners!

Toronto, Ontario (April 8, 2014) – The 14^th Annual ReelWorld Film Festival honoured 15 individuals at its Brunch With Brilliance Awards on April 6, 2014, midway through the eight-day festival. Awards were given for outstanding filmmaking for Canadian and international features, documentaries and shorts, including the audience choice awards for best film and best music video. The previously announced 2014 Visionary Award recipient and the 2014 Trailblazers were also presented with timepieces designed by Pierre Laurent. 

2014 Award recipients: 

2014 ReelWorld Award for Outstanding Canadian Feature, presented by TD Bank Group:  The Desert Fish (directed by Mohammad Ghorbankarimi and produced by Mohsen Kasesaz and Habibalah Kasesaz).

Jury wrote: An emotionally articulate, yet simple and understated film – grappling with universal themes of grief, hardship, love and determination. Directed and performed with skill, specifically the lead young actor and the Uncle role in the film. With vibrant cinematography and a well-crafted portrayal of the unique world the characters inhabit, The Desert Fish gave us a film with a distinct voice that resonated long after the end credits receded. 

2014 ReelWorld Award for Outstanding International Feature: Lakshmi (directed by Nagesh Kukunoor and produced by Jayantilal Gada, Satish Kaushik, Pramod Sharma and Elahe Hiptoola).

Jury wrote: … a harrowing, uplifting and brave portrayal of a young girl sold into prostitution and what she endures. Its unflinching depiction of the reality of human trafficking was matched by an astonishing performance by Monali Thakur as the title character and writer-director and supporting actor Nagesh Kukunoor, who both led a note-perfect cast in Lakshmi.  The jury also gave an honorable mention to Debosyon, recognizing the artistic risks it took and creative sure handedness in execution.

2014 ReelWorld Award for Outstanding International Debut: The Red House (directed by Alyx Duncan).

Jury wrote: The Red House takes us on a meditative journey as it presents an intimate and poetic portrait of cross-cultural couple, Jia and Lee. Beautifully shot, the visual language of the film successfully juxtaposes the personal with the global, and is at once, melancholic and life affirming. This film is a lyrical debut from an assured, progressive and unique new voice.

2014 ReelWorld Award for Outstanding Documentary: Beyond all Boundaries (directed by Sushrut Jain and produced by Sushrut Jain and Kunal Nayyar).

Jury wrote: This film was chosen by a unanimous juror decision.  Jurors commented that the plot uniquely tells the story not only of three lives, but also of India’s relationship with cricket. The stories of each of the characters were in their own right interesting, while the interweaving of each of the tales added a complexity to the overarching narrative.

2014 ReelWorld Award for Outstanding Canadian Short: Wakening (directed by Danis Goulet).

2014 ReelWorld Award for Outstanding International Short: La Ville Lumiere (directed by Pascal Tessaud). 

2014 ReelWorld Audience Choice Award:  The Desert Fish (directed by Mohammad Ghorbankarimi and produced by Mohsen Kasesaz and Habibalah Kasesaz).

When accepting the award Ghorbankarimi said, “The ReelWolrd Film Festival is the reason for filmmakers like me and they manage to show our work to the world so I really really thank ReelWorld.”

2014 ReelWorld Music Video Audience Choice Award: Remember to Remember by Shad

Award categories for outstanding features, outstanding documentary and outstanding shorts were juried by industry professionals who volunteered their time to review each film in their category and vote on selections. The 2014 jurors included: Daniel Bekerman, Producer, Sythia Films Inc.; Vanessa Case, Executive Vice President, Programming and Production, Blue Ant Media; Patrick Cassavetti, Independent Producer, Greenpoint Films and Shaftesbury; Corrie Coe, Senior Vice President, Independent Production, Bell Media Inc.; Sandra Cunningham, President and Producer, Strada Films; Sonya Davidson, Programming Manager, Channel Zero; Sonya Di Rienzo, Development, Whizbang Films; Lauren Grant, Producer, Clique Pictures; Brad Horvath, Producer and Sales and Acquisitions Executive; Christina Kubaki, Manager Acquisitions (Canada), Entertainment One; Gave Lindo, Deputy Director, Business and Rights, CBC Television; Lea Marin, Producer, NFB; David Miller, President, A71 Productions Inc.; George Tsioutsioulas, Creative Director, Engine 8 Media; Lisa Valencia-Svensson, Producer, Storyline Entertainment; Sugith Varughese, Writer-Director Actor, Varughese Productions; and Sadia Zaman, Director, Original Program Development, CBC News and Centres.

In addition to the announcement of this year’s award winners, ReelWorld Film Festival presented international leader in digital media Ana Serrano with the 2014 Visionary Award. Writer, director and producer, Roy T. Anderson; Award-winning playwright and actor Ins Choi, Actor, producer and writer, Waawaate Fobister; ET Canada Entertainment Reporter, Sangita Patel; Actress Kim Roberts; and Actress Ellen Wong were honoured as 2014 Trailblazers. Pierre Laurent designed the awards for the Visionary Award recipient and the Trailblazers, creating engraved timepieces.

About ReelWorld Film Festival

The ReelWorld Film Festival screens dramas, documentaries, shorts and music videos by emerging and establishing artists who view the world from a variety of perspectives. Founded in 2001 by Actress Tonya Williams, ReelWorld has become a game-changer in the industry, helping racially diverse talent find their niche and exercise their entrepreneurial spirit.  In addition to slating films that answer audience demands to include more than 50% Canadian content, the ReelWorld Film Festival is among the leaders in offering professional development activities for talent who are focused on lifelong Arts careers. Key sponsors include: TD Bank Group, Telefilm Canada, NBCUniversal Canada, Global Toronto, Wired Messenger Inc., Pierre Laurent, DJ Woods, City of Markhamand Cineplex Entertainment LP.  The ReelWorld Film Festival runs from April 2 to 6, 2014 in Toronto and April 11 to 13, 2014 in Markham. Tickets for Markham screenings are available at www.reelworld.ca

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For more information, please contact: 

Sasha Stoltz (Sasha Stoltz Publicity), ReelWorld Publicity Manager and Director of Special Events
mobile: 416-579-4804, [email protected].