Reelworld is Canada’s most diverse film festival festival and each year, they put the spotlight on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) content creators. Actor and founder, Tonya Williams spoke to Defective Geeks about the festival, the films and creators, and her insight into the industry.

Hello Tonya, thank you for taking the time on answering our questions. Tell us about the Reelworld Film Festival and about some of the programming, filmmakers and films you showcased. What are the highlights from this year? 

Thank you for the opportunity to chat! This year was the 19th Reelworld Film Festival and for the first time ever, the festival showcased 100% of its festival films created by Canadian BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) filmmakers. For 2019, our programmers picked films with stories about finding a home in the community, in culture and in people. Some of the films that are part of this year’s lineup includes “Farewell Regent,” a documentary which charts the complex canvas of the Toronto neighborhood Regent Park, and puts a human face on the unique tensions and fellowships of the country’s most infamous social housing project. The closing film “Becoming Labrador,” explores the story of a whole generation of Filipino men and women who have traveled halfway across the world to work in Labrador, leaving behind families and friends as they struggle to adjust to a remarkably different climate and culture in Canada. It was a great festival this year and we are already excited and in the planning stages for next year!