The First Call by Angela Onuora won the prize for Best Feature Film and Subjects of Desire by Jennifer Holness won for Best Feature Documentary at the 2021 CineFAM Film Festival.

In The First Call, after the death of his brother, Richard Oreke decides that it is a sign for him to take up the mantle of leadership and reunite his ‘scattered’ family. He sends out a video message to his four children. His plea is simple. Bring your list of offenses and be ready to address them. Nothing will be off-limits.

Subjects of Desire is a thought-provoking feature documentary that examines the cultural shift in beauty standards towards embracing Black aesthetics and features. The film deconstructs what we understand about race and the power behind beauty.

CineFAM, founded by award winning filmmaker and Academy member Frances-Anne Solomon, introduces audiences around the globe to bold and original stories by women and non-binary creators of colour. The 2021 festival theme, ”5 Years of Limitless Imagination’’ was brought to life by this year’s filmmakers. The festival opened with the powerful, thought-provoking Film “Subjects of Desire” by Jennifer Holness and closing out the festival No Justice No Peace by KahRa Azania Martin, What I Meant to Say by Oshini Wanigasekera and Stateless by Michèle Stephenson.

CineFAM Film Festival 2021 award recipients

Best Feature Film
The First Call by Angela Onuora (Kitchener, Ontario)

Best Feature Documentary
Subjects of Desire by Jennifer Holness (Toronto, Ontario)

Best Short
What I meant to Say by Oshini Wanigasekera (Calgary, Alberta)

Best Director
AI: Artificial Immortality by Ann Shin (Toronto, Ontario)

Best Overall Film
Wash Day by Kourtney Jackson (Toronto, Ontario)

Best Cinematography
The Curse of Willow Song by Karen Lam (Burnaby, British Columbia)

Impact Award (Tied)
No Justice No Peace by KhaRa Azania Martin (Pickering, Ontario)
Only Light will touch us by Alicia K. Harris (Scarborough, Ontario)