Ali’s extensive body of work delves into themes of race, history, migration, and memory. His films offer a unique perspective on the past, providing fresh lenses through which we can view history. Whether exploring the historical injustices faced by Indigenous peoples in Canada, the racism endured by early South Asian immigrants on the Komagata Maru, or the challenges faced by Muslims in the face of prejudice as he does in the 3D short video Hazardous. Ali’s approach remains resolute and insightful. The unique relationships Ali has built with his subjects and communities over extended and ongoing periods of time and space are evident in his exceptional storytelling. Through his groundbreaking research with a sharp and deep understanding and appreciation of the craft of filmmaking, Ali fills critical gaps in the history of immigration in North America, offering narratives that are often overlooked. He meticulously unearths the core of these stories, peeling back layers to reveal the complexities at the heart of each issue.

Ali has influenced and helped shape the careers of his students but on the Canadian media landscape. In addition to his filmmaking, Ali was deeply engaged with the Documentary Organization of Canada (formerly the Canadian Film Caucus), serving on the executive board of the Toronto chapter in the mid-1990s and eventually as its chair (1996–1997). As a teacher, mentor, and guide, he has profoundly influenced the careers and artistic visions of numerous emerging filmmakers. One of his students expresses her gratitude, saying, “Ali Kazimi’s mentorship was foundational—not only to my film but to who I became as a filmmaker.”

For decades, Ali has been deeply engaged in the critical, intricate work of deconstructing colonialism and promoting cross-cultural dialogue, all while constantly challenging the limits of form and innovation in documentary storytelling. Ali connects us globally through his complex engagements with Indigenous peoples  and communities across Canada, the South Asian communities in India and Canada, and Chinese Americans in the USA. 

Ali Kazimi embodies the very best traits of a Fire Horse: passion, creativity, transformation, boldness and ambition. He is truly a unique Asian-Canadian documentary filmmaker, an immigrant who lives, works, thrives amongst us and who has contributed so much to the media art scene as a social justice activist, media arts advocate and university educator.  Congratulations and best wishes to Ali! 

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.”

“I am deeply honoured to receive the 2025 Fire Horse Award. This recognition is not only a celebration of my journey, but of the many communities, collaborators, students, and storytellers who have shared their truths and trusted me with their voices. I have always believed that film is not merely about telling stories—it is about listening, witnessing, and amplifying those whose histories have been overlooked, erased, or misunderstood. My hope is that this award serves as a reminder that the stories we tell—and how we tell them—matter. Thank you to Reel Asian for this profound honour, and for continuing to create space for bold, necessary and authentic storytelling.”

“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.”

Ali Kazimi is a once-in-a-generation artist whose award-winning documentaries—including Shooting Indians: A Journey with Jeffrey Thomas (1997), Continuous Journey (2004), and Beyond Extinction: Sinixt Resurgence (2022)—have been widely screened, garnering over 30 awards, and taught across Canada and internationally. His groundbreaking film Continuous Journey exposed Canada’s role in the 1914 Komagata Maru incident and contributed to a national reckoning with anti-Asian racism and colonial policies. Beyond filmmaking, Kazimi has played a pivotal role in shaping the Canadian media landscape through his work with organizations like the Documentary Organization of Canada and as a professor at York University, where he has mentored a generation of filmmakers.

The Fire Horse Award recognizes one Asian Canadian member of the film and media-arts community whose work and leadership embody the qualities of the Chinese zodiac Fire Horse—changemakers, creative thinkers, and visionary leaders with lasting impact. The award was created on the occasion of Reel Asian’s 25th Anniversary in 2021 in honour of Anita Lee, founder of Reel Asian and a trailblazing figure in Canada’s media arts landscape.

The 2025 recipient will receive a $25,000 cash prize, generously supported by contributions from Golden Globe-winning actor Sandra Oh, Ha-kyung Helen Song, and Pan Asia Food Co., Ltd., as well as continued support from the Reel Asian community. The recipient will also receive the Fire Horse Award sculpture designed by Toronto- based artist and curator Myung-Sun Kim. The award design, a floating, malleable form, evokes the relationship between body and memory; our familial and cultural inheritances across the diaspora.

“I’m thrilled to join Reel Asian in wholeheartedly supporting the Fire Horse Award,” said Sandra Oh. “By honouring trailblazers of the Asian Canadian media arts community, we are recognizing ourselves. It deeply matters who makes our images, and to these pioneers we owe a debt—and our promise to keep striving to tell our stories to the world.”

Join us in celebrating the incredible legacy and ongoing work of Ali Kazimi—a Fire Horse in every sense of the word. Tickets and tables for the 4th Annual Fire Horse Award Ceremony and Fundraiser are on sale now.