Jean’s ‘It Comes in Waves’ dominates Reelworld’s 25th edition

The 25th anniversary edition of the Reelworld Film Festival opened with a powerful statement this year, as “It Comes in Waves”, a debut feature from Haitian Canadian filmmaker Fitch Jean, claimed five top honours, including Outstanding Feature Film.

The screening took place at The Royal Theatre on October 16, marking a high-profile launch to the festival’s milestone celebration. The film was met with both critical acclaim and audience enthusiasm, continuing a successful festival run that began with the Audience Award at the Sidewalk Film Festival and a warmly received Canadian premiere at Cinefest Sudbury.

Jean’s intimate drama, which follows a young man navigating family obligations and intergenerational trauma in the wake of his mother’s declining health, took home awards for Outstanding Feature Film, Feature Actor, Feature Producer, Feature Cinematographer, and Feature Writer. It was an emphatic sweep that placed Jean’s name among the most talked-about new voices in Canadian cinema.

“It’s hard to put this into words,” Jean said following the awards ceremony. “Opening the 25th anniversary of Reelworld was an honour in itself. To be recognized like this  by a festival that champions stories too often ignored is deeply meaningful. This film is for anyone who’s had to be strong while quietly falling apart. I hope it gives people the courage to heal.”

Set in Ottawa and centred on a family that escaped the Rwandan genocide, It Comes in Waves focuses on Akai, played by Adrian Walters, who must care for his younger sister after their family’s stability begins to unravel. Walters was awarded Outstanding Feature Actor for his performance, which marks his first lead film role after appearances in The Handmaid’s Tale and The Porter.

The supporting cast includes Olunike Adeliyi, Brandon McKnight, Emmanuel Kabongo, Marium Carvell, Ryan Rosery, McKenzie Small, and Nendia Lewars. Filmed in Ottawa, Perth, and Toronto over just two weeks, the production integrated members of Ottawa’s Rwandan community, with dialogue performed in Kinyarwanda to reflect the characters’ cultural roots with authenticity.

The screenplay was written by Sammy Mohamed from a story by Jean, who also served as one of the executive producers. Amir Zargara produced the film, while Jelan Maxwell handled cinematography and colour grading. The film’s creative team also included Weggon Allen, Sam Ibrahim, Franckie Francois, and Lovell Adams-Gray in executive production roles.

Distributed in Canada by Mongrel Media, the film continues to gain momentum internationally, with upcoming screenings scheduled for the Austin Film Festival, Urbanworld Film Festival in New York, the Windsor International Film Festival, and the Ottawa Canadian Film Festival. Its world premiere took place in June at the American Black Film Festival in Miami.

The Reelworld Film Festival, founded in 2001 by Tonya Williams, has grown into a national platform for underrepresented filmmakers, spotlighting work by Black, Indigenous, Asian, and other creators of colour in Canada’s screen industries.

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