Instagram story viewer> @directedbyrt> Posts

R.T. Thorne

@directedbyrt

8.7K

followers

1997

following

Creator + Filmmaker + Storyteller
Director x Writer x Producer

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

What dreams are made of.
9 Canadian Screen Awards for @40acresthemovie!!! The 2026 Cinematic Arts night at the CSAs is one that we will never forget. 🙏🏾 @thecdnacademy for celebrating our story of family & community resistance:

🎥 Achievement in Cinematography @jeremy_benning
Jeremy & I ran around in the same music video streets back in the day, but never worked together until 40. Since then we’ve become @crossonprime fam and made up for lost time. Thank you for focusing my vision.

🚪Achievement in Production Design @peter.cosco
Peter’s world building has a beautiful sensitivity & humanity infused into it, just like the man himself. Thank you for breathing life & love into the dark world the Freeman’s call their home.

🎙️🔊Achievement in Sound Editing @_available_light_ & Dermain Finlayson
Ed & Dermain were recruited by the incredibly resourceful team at @urbanpost_toronto & I am forever grateful. 🙏🏾 both for what words cannot say. Sending love & strength Dermain.

🎼 Achievement in Music - Original Score @kobakov
Music has always been an important part of my filmmaking process coming from music video. I’ve been a fan of Todor’s work for years but collaborating w/ him was a masterclass.

🥋Best Stunt Coordination @foxhann
I heard about a young, diligent, imaginative stunt coordinator who just happened to be a Black woman & so Angelica time to make 🌊

🎭Achievement in Casting @gorinstephanie
I started my TV career w/ this casting legend so I couldn’t be happier our 1st film together won her 1st CSA in an illustrious 30+ year career. 🙏🏾 for searching for talent where no one else would look.

🖋️Original Screenplay R.T. Thorne & @glenntaylor
Some people call themselves writers, others write regardless if people call them. 40 drafts later my bro…

🎬 Achievement in Direction - R.T. Thorne
We stand on shoulders of those who inspire us to climb. 🫡 @tripgore & my dear brother @charles.officer_ for blazing the trail.

🎞️ John Dunning Best 1st Feature Film Award - R.T. Thorne
Filmmaking is a human team sport Immeasurable thanks @jenniferjholness @tajtheblacklion @officialsudzsutherland @sandympereira @djsingh32 our incredible cast & crew. by @directedbyrt

647

127

4 months ago

We don’t got In-N-Out in Toronto but we got more than a full meal to go. Thank you @thecdnacademy for celebrating our @40acresthemovie crew family with 9 #CanadianScreenAwards 🏆🎥🎬🍔🏆
.
#awardwinners #crewlove #burgerpriest by @directedbyrt

2k

366

4 months ago

For the real collectors out there @40acresthemovie is officially on Blu ray & DVD! Avail in stores across the 🇺🇸 & on Amazon.
.
Can’t lie it’s wild to be holding a blu ray of a story about Black & Indigenous family defending their land, that years ago only existed in my head. I been collecting 💿 of my favorite movies for as long as I can remember, checking the special features, rewatching my favorite films to see new things I didn’t catch the first time, learning filmmaking and digging deeper on the meanings behind the stories. Now I get to add my movie to my collection, right next to the greats that inspired my life’s journey. Its crazy.
.
To my dedicated and incredble crew of artists, performers, and techs that created this with me, once again thank you from the heart. Big Love to the amazing festivals for supporting @magnoliapics @verbalslick all the press & special S/O the indie film bloggers & fans who found us for riding with us constantly commenting and reviewing to spread the word & let people know that if they’re looking for a kick ass movie night, check out the likkle indie movie that could called #40Acres. And yes we got deleted scenes for you too!
.
Get your copy now cause you never know when these streamers gonna decide you can’t watch what you want to when you want!
.
#filmmakers #bluray #bluraycollection #collectibles #getyours #40acres #thriller #director #certifiedfresh by @directedbyrt

523

83

a year ago

BDC Magazine proudly presents acclaimed filmmaker R.T. Thorne as the cover star of our Special Edition Cinema Issue.

From music videos to Utopia Falls, The Porter, episodes of Cross and Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story, and now his groundbreaking feature debut, 40 Acres, @directedbyrt continues to expand what Canadian storytelling can look and feel like on screen.

Fresh off nine Canadian Screen Award wins this year, he represents not only the filmmaker of the moment, but one of the visionary architects shaping what comes next.

Culture. Shared.

GET IMMERSIVE! View our free Digital Mobile Motion Editorial experience. LINK IN BIO
GET YOUR PRINT COPY TODAY! Available at BDCMagazine.ca
Powered by @fujifilmprintlife
#cultureshared #BDCMagazine #RTThorne #TIFF2026 #40Acres by @directedbyrt

3

58

a month ago

BDC Magazine proudly presents acclaimed filmmaker R.T. Thorne as the cover star of our Special Edition Cinema Issue.

From music videos to Utopia Falls, The Porter, episodes of Cross and Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story, and now his groundbreaking feature debut, 40 Acres, @directedbyrt continues to expand what Canadian storytelling can look and feel like on screen.

Fresh off nine Canadian Screen Award wins this year, he represents not only the filmmaker of the moment, but one of the visionary architects shaping what comes next.

Culture. Shared.

#BDCMagazine #RTThorne #TIFF2026 #40Acres CanadianCinema by @directedbyrt

3

52

a month ago

From music videos to the big screen. 🎬

RT breaks down the making of 40 Acres, how he put the cast together, and what went into bringing his first feature film to life.

Danielle Deadwyler. Michael Greyeyes. Kataem O’Connor. A Black and Indigenous family at the centre of a post apocalyptic story. This wasn’t a small swing.

This is what it looks like when a Canadian director gets the opportunity to build his vision on a bigger canvas.

Full conversation with RT is LIVE NOW on YouTube.

MOBB WITH US. taken in Toronto Canada by @directedbyrt

97

2

2 months ago

If you watched music videos on MuchMusic 20 years ago, you KNOW this moment.

That quick 2 second RT stamp before the video started became part of the experience. You saw it and already knew who was behind the visuals.

RT breaks down the story behind one of the most recognizable signatures from that era.

Full episode drops TODAY at 6PM.

MOBB WITH US. taken in Toronto, Canada by @directedbyrt

203

25

3 months ago

"40 Acres" was created to explore community — including the relationship between Indigenous and Black communities.

Accepting the Canadian Screen Award for Original Screenplay alongside co-writer Glenn Taylor, director R.T. Thorne spoke about the ideas behind the film.

"[40 Acres] wanted to be a film that was about community. It was about Indigenous and Black communities coming together, but also greater communities that think alike."

Thorne said the story was inspired in part by his relationship with his mother.

"We need to have a conversation about community in hard times. We need them, we need community, and even though it's difficult, you need to find your way."

40 Acres, which stars Michael Greyeyes and Danielle Deadwyler, went on to earn 9 Canadian Screen Awards, making it one of the most awarded productions of the week.

—

What did you think of 40 Acres?

Source: @thecdnacademy

#Entertainment | #CSAs by @directedbyrt

1k

27

4 months ago

Last night was an incredible night for 40 Acres and for Canadian cinema as a whole. So many amazing nominees, artists, and stories being celebrated.
I feel blessed to have shared the night with my partner in crime, @directedbyrt , who definitely got his cardio in running up and down those stairs all evening. Congratulations on all the well-deserved wins.
This was my first Canadian Screen Awards and our first feature film, which makes this all even more surreal. I’m grateful for how deeply 40 Acres has resonated with audiences everywhere, but especially here at home in Canada. Huge thank you to the @thecdnacademy for recognizing the story, the characters, and the voice behind the script by honoring us with the award for Original Screenplay.
And congratulations to the entire 40 Acres team whose talent and hard work made all of this possible. From @foxhann incredible stunt coordination bringing those epic showdowns to life, to the visuals, music, sound editing, casting, production design, and every single department that helped bring this film from page to screen — thank you.
🏆 Original Screenplay — @directedbyrt & Glenn Taylor 🏆 Achievement in Art Direction — Peter Cosco 🏆 Best Stunt Coordination — Angelica Lisk-Hann 🏆 Achievement in Cinematography — @jeremy_benning  🏆 Achievement in Sound Editing — Ed Douglas & Dermain Finlayson 🏆 Achievement in Music – Original Score — Todor Kobakov 🏆 Achievement in Casting — Stephanie Gorin 🏆 Achievement in Direction — RT Thorne 🏆 John Dunning Best First Feature Film Award — RT Thorne
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
#CanadianScreenAwards #CSA #40Acres #OriginalScreenplay by @directedbyrt

309

41

4 months ago

Giving thanks 🙏🏾 @40acresthemovie is No.1 in 18 countries!!! & jumped up to #4 on @netflix worldwide after just debuting two weeks ago! Mad love to our Latin American and Caribbean community who made it #1 across the region! Thank you to all new and old fans that joined our kick ass Freeman family! 🙏🏾❤️🖤🧡🫡 We see you! 🇲🇽🇬🇹🇯🇲🇹🇹🇦🇷🇪🇨🇻🇪🇧🇷🇩🇴🇨🇱🇵🇦🇧🇸🇨🇷🇨🇴🇭🇳🇵🇪🇻🇪🇸🇻🇧🇴🇵🇾
.
#director #40Acres #thriller by @directedbyrt

263

49

6 months ago

Yesterday morning as I took my son to daycare, I found out our @40acresthemovie family was nominated for 10 Canadian Screen Awards!!!
.
Mad ❤️to the wild community of artistic rebels that came together in northern Ontario to make a film about preparing the next generation for a world that seems like its eating itself alive, and the absolute importance of ensuring we cultivate community, culture and love as a means of resistance. It’s our insanely talented cast and crew who powered this story, centering a unique, kick ass Black & Indigenous family, and I’m forever grateful.
.
-Best Motion Picture
@jenniferjholness
-Achievement in Direction Motion Picture
RT Thorne
-John Dunning Best 1st Feature
RT Thorne
-Original Screenplay
@glenntaylor & RT Thorne
-Achievement in Cinematography
@jeremy_benning
-Achievement in Production Design
@peter.cosco
-Achievement in Sound Editing
Ed Douglas & Dermaine Finlayson
-Achievement in Music - Original Score
@kobakov
-Best Stunt Coordination
@foxhann
-Achievement in Casting
@gorinstephanie
.
If you haven’t seen #40Acres yet, we’re streaming @cravecanada in 🇨🇦 & @hulu in 🇺🇸Thank you @thecdnacademy for your consideration @40acresthemovie Voting is open until April 13th so please show your support for these amazing artists and their incredible work that made our film what it is 🎬🌽🪏🖤🧡
#canadianscreenawards #awards #nominations #film by @directedbyrt

622

175

7 months ago

The Man. The Myth. The (Scape) G.O.A.T. @hatetheplayertv The Ben Johnson Story premieres March 26th!
.
Real talk this is hands down the most ludicrous series I’ve ever worked on. You know you’re doing something special when the people you work with got you laughing your ass off everyday. Big S/O to @aqfarrell for this wild take of one man’s History, @shamieranderson for running a mile in the legends shoes, my brother in art @corybowles and the rest of the incredible crew & hilarious cast @kingbach @mrkristianbruun @karenrobinsonofficial @ennisesmer @gitagritz @andrewphung @hindssight @boostrocket @laadlam @aplife7 @mark_dmckinney @realsureshjohn @lisahorner26 @jonathanmlangdon that jumped back in time to tell the story of the dirtiest race in history that changed that the games forever. Much respect to the legend himself @iamben.johnson @newmetricmedia @mark_montefiore @lanamaclin @wolfmanstrong96 @tsedaniel @baymillsstudios 🎬🥇💪🏾
.
Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson story premieres March 26th @paramountplusca @gametvnetwork
#winner #History #gold #tvseries by @directedbyrt

311

26

7 months ago