International Black & Diversity Film Festival

On April 19, 2026, the 6th International Black & Diversity Film Festival held its awards ceremony in Ajax, Toronto. New Century Films emerged as one of the night’s biggest winners, receiving five festival awards for its productions The Lucky Draw and The Housemaid.

Dedicated to celebrating multicultural storytelling, IBDFF provides a platform for independent filmmakers from around the world. The Lucky Draw won Best Foreign Language Film, Best Experimental Film, and Best Supporting Actress, while The Housemaid received Best Drama Short and Best Actress in a Short Film.

Both films were screened during the three-day festival and received warm feedback from attending filmmakers and audience members. American filmmaker Isabella Dudley, whose own film was also selected and awarded at the festival, praised The Lucky Draw for creating “such a well-crafted and complex story with a limited cast and crew,” noting that it resonated with audiences from around the world, including the United States.

Dudley was also moved by the message of The Housemaid, saying the film reminds viewers to remain humble and honourable even when facing misunderstanding or blame.

Alicia Akpomughe, who supported on-site festival activities, said The Lucky Draw deeply resonated with her. She highlighted the film’s portrayal of human nature in the face of sudden wealth, as well as its message of reconciliation, forgiveness, and meaningful communication—values she described as especially important in today’s fast-moving society.

The Lucky Draw stars rising New Century Films talents Phohbe Chen and Grace Mo. While accepting the award, Mo shared, “I believe I shaped the character, and the character also shaped me.” Chen added, “These awards encourage us to keep working hard and create even better productions.”

With five awards and strong audience recognition, New Century Films concluded the festival on a celebratory note, marking another proud milestone for its cast and creative team.