Writer-director-producer R. Paul Dhillon’s feature documentary Gone Are The Days, which is a powerful indictment of institutional racism in Canada, won an Award of Recognition at the Impact DOCS Awards, a digital film festival which is a member of the Global Film Awards (GFA) family of competitions who have been hosting competitions for 14 years. The Impact DOCS Awards recognition comes after Gone Are The Days was awarded the Jaipur International Film Festival’s (JIFF) runner-up prize as Second Best Documentary film out of over 240 films selected for the festival in January 2020. 

By  DESIBUZZCanada Staff

SURREY - Writer-director-producer R. Paul Dhillon’s feature documentary Gone Are The Days has won another award.

The film, which is a powerful indictment of institutional racism in Canada, won an Award of Recognition at the Impact DOCS Awards, a digital film festival which is a member of the Global Film Awards (GFA) family of competitions who have been hosting competitions for 14 years.  

The Impact DOCS Awards recognition comes after Gone Are The Days was awarded the Jaipur International Film Festival’s (JIFF) runner-up prize as Second Best Documentary film out of over 240 films selected for the festival January 2020. 

 “It’s so gratifying to have Dr. Bhullar and his fellow veterinarians’ struggle and fight against racism and abuse by their professional association be recognised at another international film festival,” Dhillon told DESIBUZZCanada. 

'“It’s a proud moment for me personally as it took me a decade to shoot this epic story of Indo-Canadian Veterinarians who endured more than decade of extreme form of racism and abuse,” Dhillon added.

Impact DOCS recognizes film, television, videography and new media professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. Documentaries were received from 30 countries, including veteran award winning filmmakers and fresh new talent.  Entries were judged by highly qualified and award winning professionals in the film and television industry.

In winning an Impact DOCS award, Dhillon and his company MMM Films joins the ranks of other high-profile winners of this internationally respected award including the Oscar winning director Louie Psihoyos for his 2016 Best of Show – Racing Extinction, Oscar winner Yael Melamede for (Dis)Honesty – The Truth About Lies, and Emmy Award winner Gerald Rafshoon for Endless Corridors narrated by Oscar winner Jeremy Irons, and many more.

Rick Prickett, who chairs Impact DOCS, had this to say about the latest winners, “The judges and I were simply blown away by the variety and immensely important documentaries we screened. Impact DOCS is not an easy award to win. Entries are received from around the world from powerhouse companies to remarkable new talent. Impact DOCS helps set the standard for craft and creativity as well as power catalysts for global change. The goal of Impact DOCS is to help winners achieve the recognition they deserve for their dedication and work.”

Dhillon is extremely honoured by these recognitions of his film which he made with limited funds raised by him as he followed the story of these abused veterinarians over a decade as they fought their professional body which showed extreme form of discrimination and abuse of process.

Gone Are The Days was commended by JIFF for its realist approach and unique filming style. 


 “So humbled and honoured to have our feature documentary Gone Are The Days not only make it’s world premiere at the Jaipur International Film Festival on Monday, January 20th (lucky 20-2020) but we were honoured with the Runner-Up (Second Best) featured documentary award at the festival tonight,” Dhillon said earlier, adding that he’s equally humbled by the love shown at the Impact Docs Awards. 

Gone Are The Days is the story of the epic struggle of Canadian-South Asian Veterinarians led by their leader Dr. Bhullar, who fought against institutional racism and abuse of power for more than decade against the very government body that regulates their profession. It is a powerful story of heartbreak, perseverance and ultimately human triumph of the human spirit and a fight for justice to realize their Canadian dream against great odds.

Major stars like Prem Chopra, a noted film actor; and, TP Aggarwal, a Bollywood film director and producer, were present amongst others. Participants and guests arrived from all over the world to view the festival, such as: Germany, Poland, USA, France, China, Japan, Canada, etc. The following three days of the festival were scheduled between two locations of the GT Bazaar INOX Theater and Amer Clarks Conference Hotel. Panels were held with well known directors, actors, producers and lyricists throughout the middle days with question/answer assemblies taking place. 

The documentary was commended for its realist approach and unique filming style. Overall the film festival was a great success and gave film makers and participants a platform to learn and showcase their talent for the world to see.

Writer-director-producer R. Paul Dhillon says Canadian elites talk a big game about fighting racism but what Dr. Hakam Bhullar and his colleagues did in fighting this absolutely abhorrent form of extreme racism and abuse was remarkable and a testament to the human spirit and the spirit of the IMMIGRANT.  The film written, directed and produced by Dhillon will begin rolling out on the international film festival circuit early next year. 

“We are so proud to tell this story that the Canadian establishment doesn’t want the world to see. Mighty is the Pen and the Camera,” said Dhillon.

ABOUT Impact DOCS 

Impact DOCS Awards is the newest member of the Global Film Awards (GFA) family of competitions who have been hosting competitions for 14 years.  As one of the original trend-setting digital online competitions, GFA set the standard for this exciting new breed of film competitions. GFA’s Accolade Competition was named by MovieMagazine “…as one of the top 25 festivals worth the entry fee”. It is truly international in scope offering filmmakers from large powerhouses like Disney, The Weinstein Company, Discovery and Ridley Scott all the way to first time filmmakers and students, the opportunity to receive valuable feedback from an impartial judging panel comprised by highly qualified and award winning professionals in the industry.  Often the first stop on the festival circuit, GFA award winners have gone on to win Oscars like the short doc “The Lady in Number Six” and “Mr Hublot” as well as countless Emmys, Tellys and more. Information about the Impact DOCS Awards and a list of past and recent winners can be found at www.ImpactDocsAwards.com