About Reel to Real: A Celebration of Moving Images for Youth Society

The Reel to Real: A Celebration of Moving Images for Youth Society (Reel to Real) is a non-profit registered charity supported through individual and business donations, memberships, sponsorships, grants, and dedicated volunteers. Your support aids us in presenting films and providing educational programs for students and life-long learners of all ages. We are grateful for donations of time and expertise, goods and services, and philanthropic gifts.

There are many ways you can support Reel to Real today: make an online donation, become a member, or volunteer.

Our Mission

The Reel to Real: A Celebration of Moving Images for Youth Society (Reel to Real) is dedicated to showing the best in culturally diverse, authentic programming for audiences ages 6 to 19.

Reel to Real presents the annual Real 2 Real International Film Festival for Youth (R2R), and filmmaking programs year-round. Through public screenings, hands-on workshops, and interactive panel discussions, R2R actively engages children and youth in new ideas and cultural perspectives, and empowers them to create films that explore issues relevant to their lives.

A unique sponsorship opportunity

Reel to Real is the only organization of its kind in Western Canada. Individual donors, sponsors, and partners share our commitment to inspiring youth, through film, to make positive changes in their schools and their communities.

The R2R Festival atmosphere is exhilarating, as each day hundreds of children and youth take part in screenings and workshops at the Roundhouse Community Centre and Vancity Theatre. Our year-round workshops at the Museum of Vancouver and Richmond Cultural Centre are just as electric, as young people discover the skills to animate their ideas to life.

In 2017, Reel to Real became a proud recipient of the New Chapters grant. This highly-competitive program attracted over 2,000 applications – from which only 200+ exceptional projects were selected. The grant will allow Reel to Real to expand nationally.

Who is the audience?

Children and youth between the ages of 6 and 19 enjoy our annual film festival with the families and teachers in their lives. Over 3,000 people attend our week-long festival, which includes elementary and secondary schools, public and private, from across Metro Vancouver. Another 2,500 youth attend our year-round programs. Reel to Real has also travelled to over fifteen communities in BC, Alberta, and the Yukon, bringing filmmaking workshops to young people least able to access such opportunities.

We welcome donations of time and expertise, goods and services, and philanthropic gifts. In return, we can offer you a tax receipt for the full value of your gift or generous promotional consideration.

Contact us for a sponsorship package.