Editor

Vikas Kohli of FatLabs will be the first to receive the coveted Trailblazer Award from the ReelWorld Film Festival for his work solely as a film composer and music producer.

It's been an adventure over the past year, with several of the films Kohli has composed for receiving awards and it seems fitting that now the composer himself will be recognized for his tireless contributions to the arts. It is also perfect timing since the IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) awards - Bollywood's equivalent to the Oscars - are coming to Toronto, and in 2008 Kohli was the first Canadian to have a song performed live at the high profile gala.

"In all honesty, getting the Trailblazer Award just makes me feel like I need to work harder to live up to the expectations this sets. To quote Ozzy Osbourne, 'No rest for the wicked!"' quips Kohli.

With no rest in sight, Kohli just finished composing for the film "Bouma" supported by the NFB (National Film Board of Canada) and will be composing for a trilogy known as "Calcutta Taxi" backed by Bravo! Other awards associated with films that Kohli has worked on include:

• Best Environmental Film from the Toronto Urban Film Festival for "The Bee" (Directed by Vikram Dasgupta). This film was also the only film to receive an additional honourable mention from Oscar-winning director Deepa Mehta.
• Gold Remi from the Worldfest Houston International Film Festival for "I Do. Do I?" (Directed by Lily Ahluwalia & Jay Walia; Produced by About Time Productions)
• Bronze Remi from the Worldfest Houston International Film Festival for "Shanti Baba Ram and the Dancers of Hope" (Directed by Steven Rosenberg; Produced by Heidi Tao Yang & The Canadian Film Centre)

Created in 2002, the Trailblazer Award recognizes the accomplishments of ethnically diverse Canadian entertainment industry professionals who's work has broadened our horizons. For the past ten years ReelWorld has recognized some of Canada's brightest talents for their ability to bring innovative stories to the silver screen and to forge a bright future for the Canadian entertainment industry.

The 11th annual ReelWorld Film Festival, founded by Tonya Lee Williams, will take place from April 6-10 and tickets go on sale March 24. The awards will be presented at the Brunch with Brilliance Awards ceremony on Sunday April 10, 2011 at 11am in Toronto.

About Vikas Kohli

Now a sought-after composer and music producer, Kohli is known internationally for his expertize at fusing together genres as varied as punk, hip-hop and Bollywood pop.  Kohli has been profiled on CBC, The Globe & Mail, The Toronto Star, The Hindustan Times, MSN, AOL, Yahoo, and Zee News. Selected Film Scores: "Apun Ke Saath" for Bollywood film Mission Istaanbul (performed live: IIFAs); "Tere Pyar Mein" for Bollywood film "Tom, Dick and Harry Rock Again"; CFC film "Shanti Baba Ram and the Dancers of Hope" (Bronze Remi: Worldfest Houston Film Festival/Broadcast: Showtime); About Time Productions film "I Do. Do I?" (Gold Remi: Worldfest Houston Film Festival).  Selected Discography: Several projects with platinum-selling Bhangra artist Mika Singh; "The FatLabs Sessions" & "Class*Action*Suit" by The Responsibles (Top 20 Canadian Album: !earshot charts/Nominated Punk Recording of the Year: HMAs); "Did You Think" by Jennifer Abadesso (#1 in Paris, France: Radioalpha); collaborations with Cappadonna (Wu-Tang Clan), Moka Only, Justin Nozuka and Apache Indian.

Born in Nepean (Ottawa), Kohli began playing guitar and painting at fine arts school before receiving his Honors Degree in Mathematics & Philosophy from the University of Toronto, his MBA from the Schulich School of Business and his CFA.  Kohli now lives in Mississauga, Canada.