The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival has named Professor Ali Kazimi, from York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD), the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Fire Horse Award. The honour, announced in April, celebrates Kazimi’s exceptional contributions to the film and media arts community in Canada and beyond.
An award-winning filmmaker, educator and leading voice in Canadian documentary and media practice, Kazimi has long been recognized for his bold storytelling and deep commitment to social justice. His extensive body of work spans film, installation and 3D media, exploring themes of race, memory, migration and colonial history. As this year’s Fire Horse Award winner, he joins a distinguished group of changemakers whose work has left a lasting imprint on the creative landscape.
Presented annually during Asian Heritage Month, the Fire Horse Award recognizes an Asian Canadian individual who exemplifies originality, vision and leadership in film and media arts.
The nomination for the 2025 Fire Horse Award was submitted by writer and curator Kerri Sakamoto and Karen Tisch, executive director of Toronto’s Why Not Theatre.
“Ali Kazimi is one of our most celebrated artists whose contribution to Canadian cinema and video art is remarkable,” said Sakamoto and Tisch in their nomination. “Spanning documentary, experimental film, photographic montage, and 3D media art installation, his work explores race, social justice, migration, history and memory. A master storyteller, Ali demonstrates deep empathy for his subjects, ethical engagement, and a beautiful cinematic eye, while exposing difficult truths. As both creator and educator, Ali has inspired and uplifted younger generations of media makers in true Fire Horse fashion.”
Watch the tribute video honouring Professor Kazimi's legacy, featuring comments from his nominators.
Kazimi’s recognition is not only a celebration of his artistic achievements, but also of his decades-long role as a mentor and educator at AMPD. As a professor in the Department of Cinema & Media Arts, Kazimi has guided generations of filmmakers in developing meaningful, socially engaged work. His teaching foregrounds research-based practice, ethical storytelling and a commitment to amplifying marginalized voices. Values that closely align with the spirit of the Fire Horse Award.
“Recognizing Ali Kazimi with this award has been a long time coming,” said Deanna Wong, Executive Director of Reel Asian. “We first screened his work Rex VS Singh—co-directed with Richard Fung and John Greyson—back in 2009, and have proudly showcased his films over the years. Honouring him as our 2021 Canadian Spotlight Artist was a meaningful milestone in our ongoing appreciation of his work. He truly embodies the spirit of the Fire Horse, and we’re so proud to celebrate his legacy with this award.”
Watch Professor Kazimi’s acceptance speech from the Fire Horse Awards ceremony.
Over the years, Kazimi’s films have garnered more than 30 national and international awards and have been taught widely across universities. Works such as Continuous Journey (2004) and Beyond Extinction: Sinixt Resurgence (2022) have challenged viewers to rethink Canadian history and identity through a critical lens. His commitment to unearthing overlooked stories, whether related to the Komagata Maru incident or Indigenous resurgence movements, has positioned him as a key figure shaping Canada’s media arts landscape.
Beyond the screen, Kazimi has also contributed significantly to advocacy and community-building within the documentary field. He was instrumental in the founding of the Documentary Organization of Canada (formerly the Canadian Film Caucus), which continues to support non-fiction creators across the country.
Kazimi’s influence is evident not only in his own creative work, but in the classroom, where he challenges students to interrogate form, history and power in their own storytelling.
The 2025 Fire Horse Awards Ceremony took place May 26 at the Shangri-La Hotel in Toronto, hosted by CP24’s Jennifer Hsiung. Learn more about Kazimi’s award and the ceremony at ReelAsian.com.
Cover photo: Yi Shi, Hao Nguyen, and Yujie Wang