Connected Transported REEL ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL NOV 8 –16 2018 REELASIAN.COM PROGRAMMES

MARQUEE 17

VISTA 33

CANADIAN SPOTLIGHT 47

REEL ASIAN: X 50

WEE ASIAN 53

PULSE 55

REEL IDEAS 71 CONTENTS

WELCOME 02

CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 04

THANK YOUS 05

TORONTO REEL ASIAN FESTIVAL MAPS 06 INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 401 Richmond Street West, TICKETING 07 Suite 448 Toronto, ON M5V 3A8 416 703 9333 SCHEDULE 08 [email protected] SPONSORS 10 Charitable registration number #87002 1383 RR0001 LETTERS 12

Cover image credit: Co-Effect Creative Inc. JURY 14

MEMBERSHIP 15 REELASIAN.COM GENERASIAN NOW 16

#REELASIAN22 PRINT SOURCE 76 Welcome to the 22nd annual edition of the

Toronto Reel Asian

International Film Festival,

presented by National Bank! Proud To Offer Our Support & Applause

The conversation has deepened on the necessity We wouldn’t be able to put on such a successful National Bank is proud to serve once again as the Presenting Sponsor of the Toronto Reel Asian to expand the diversity of representation to fulfill event without the deep commitments and International Film Festival now celebrating its twenty second year. the hunger of the audience, and we’re extremely contributions of our dedicated staff, exceptional

excited to be able to introduce Toronto audiences volunteers and engaged Board of Directors. We At National Bank, we are committed to promoting social and cultural development and to be a to the wealth of talent that can be found in Asian are grateful to the support and generosity of our cinema. We can’t wait to hear and experience the members, donors, government funders, sponsors part of the community in which we serve our customers. Our main areas of focus include: conversations, films, events and exhibits from the and community partners that have enabled Reel entrepreneurship, education, health, sports and culture – National Bank helps to support hundreds filmmakers, panelists and media influencers that Asian to grow and build our talent in Toronto and of organizations across Canada, and is pleased to include Canada’s largest Asian film festival on will be at this year’s festival. internationally. As well, we must also applaud the bold and brilliant filmmakers and industry this list. This year marks National Bank’s ninth year of involvement and sixth consecutive year as We welcome our award-winning and critically- professionals that have brought us their stories Presenting Sponsor for the festival. acclaimed Canadian Spotlight Artist Min Sook Lee, and experience to share with the audiences. who has opened up our minds and forced us to Most importantly, we must thank the audiences, We look forward to celebrating another amazing year of Asian cinema, culture and ethnic reconsider the practices in our society in her body whose encouragement is instrumental to of work. This year, we’ll be revisiting her Hot Docs continuing this change. filmmakers. We hope you enjoy the film festival and all the wonderful films that will surely delight Best Canadian feature winner Hogtown: The Politics and entertain us. of Policing with a deeper conversation on the We must also recognize the courageous and

themes of the film. talented filmmakers that have often made hard choices to create and share their stories with We’re also thrilled to be able to present a strong audiences, which we’ve had the pleasure to share

showcase by female voices, with over 50% of with Toronto through Reel Asian. Lastly, we must Tarek E. Naguib our film programming by female filmmakers, and not forget to thank the audiences - you! - for Vice President have over 80% representation within our Reel coming out and enjoying the movies with us. Personal Banking, Ontario & Western Canada Ideas series, including speakers at our Reel Ideas

Conference and mentors and jurors for our pitch Thanks for coming out and see you at the festival! competition.

Linda Smart Vice President Commercial Banking, Ontario

Savine Wong Kristine Estorninos Interim Executive Director Head of Programming

2 3 CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS THANK YOUS

Top L-R: Kelly Zheng, Kelly Lui, Jason To, Abby Ho, Savine Wong, Rebecca Hong, COMMUNITY PARTNERS Chris Gehman Osamu Shiohara Quentin Thwaites Chris Chin, Betty Xie, Amanda Clarke, Nicolas Uribe, Kristine Estorninos Cindy Gouveia Donald Simmons Eleana Tong Bottom L-R: Madge Yao, Henry Wong, Jillian Maniquis, Jasmine Gui, Joseph Laura Hagglund Vanessa Tam Richard Torres Chung, Kat Baggio Missing: Yoko Nakamura, Dilani Rabindran, Sabrina Spence, Aki Anime North Takabatake, Tony Lau, Hanako Fuji, Vithiya Murugadas Association of Chinese Martin Harbury Karen Thorne-Stone Molly Tsoi Canadian Entrepreneurs Mark Haslam Karen Tisch Philip Tsui ATK Magazine Alistair Hepburn Closs Tong Candice Wang Technical Coordinator LIVE SHOW HOST CPAC James Heron Richard Torres Martin Wasserman Angela Sun Eyan Logan Deloitte Maria Ho Florence Tsang Kathy Wazana Volunteer Coordinator LIVE SHOW COORDINATOR Hong Kong Canada Business Martin Hofer Urbanspace Property Group Dave Wong Association Amanda Clarke Cathleen Calica Claire Hopkinson Indu Vashist Philip Wong ILAC Michelle Howell Thomas Vaughan Savine Wong Homestay VR Development Japan Exchange Teaching Alumni Catherine Yung-mei Hsu Risa Veffer Zhen Xiang Committee PROJECT BY Association Toronto Morgan Hsu Vithushan Vivegananthan Betty Xie Karthiga Ratnasabapathy National Film Board Singapore Malaysia Association Brian Hu Alex Wong Susan Yang E.J. Alon of Canada of Ontario Ben Hum Deanna Wong Ree Chen Jam3 Thai Society of Ontario Sarah Hunter Greg Woodbury Nayeon Kim Paisley Smith Times Physiotherapy and Jakub Jasinski Denise Yan DONORS Norman Lem Rehabilitation Centre Marketing Committee Sara Jones Joanna Yu Amy Thind Toronto Animated Image Society Alex Khotsiphom (Chair) Sumit Judge Ivy Yue Louanne Chan Jason To Toronto Youth Shorts Aashti Vijh Heather Keung Loretta Yuen Chris Chin Aasthi Vijh Woori Education Taiwan Bhupesh Shah (Advisor) Mingu Kim Michelle Zikovitz Tina Chu Victoria Yang Department Veronica Lin Peter Kingstone Michael Fukushima Philbert Lui (Advisor) Jacoba Knaapen Rebecca Hong Chair Emeritus Legacy Circle Submissions Coordinator Finance Committee Erica Tsou Alice Il Shin & Founder CO-FOUNDER Hanako Fujii Geoffrey Peers (Chair) THANK YOUS Eddy Kuo MEMBERS Anita Lee Andrew Sun Marie May Emma Ward Tony Lau Michael Kashuba Asian Heritage Francesca Accinelli Jani Lauzon E.J. Alon Immanuel Lanzaderas Month School Tour Programming Events Committee Chair, Board of Directors FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS E.J. Alon Sally Lee Jaron Andre Lisa Roosen-Runge Coordinator Committee Sabrina Spence (Chair) Karthiga Ratnasabapathy Grace Bai Evelyne Au-Navioz Toro Lee Grace Awang Kalpana Srinarayanadas Yoko Nakamura Kelly Lui (Chair) Luke Bandara Louanne Chan Cameron Bailey Norman Lem Rolando Basmayor III Amy Thind Vice-Chair, Hanako Fujii (co-chair) Nadia Junaid Sally Lee Festival School David Barnard Irwin Li Tommy Brown Ian Tuason Board of Directors Ziyan Hossain Amanda Kwan Sonia Sakamoto-Jog Coordinator William Barron Roman Lifshitz Zenia Castanos Savine Wong Sidney Chiu Haaris Qadri Joan Liao Alka Sharma Jason To Eric Birnberg Deirdre Logue Louanne Chan Betty Xie Directors Vanessa Tam Kerry Yang Liu Caroline Sin Karla Bobadilla Adam Lopez Andy Chau Yang Zeng Geoffrey Peers (Treasurer) Reel Ideas Producer Nara Moon Terence Tam Deanna Wong Jasmine Gui Carolle Brabant Michelle Lu May Cheng Anonymous Nara Moon (Secretary) Vithiya Murugadas Festival Campaign Pat Bradley Winnie Luk Tina Chu Dave Wong FORMER BOARD CHAIRS Festival & Operations Gina Rim Design Maura Broadhurst Karam Masri Doris Chung Richard Cheung Karla Bobadilla Manager Prajjwal Rajawat Co-Effect Creative David Burkes Julie McLean Stephen Chung Sarah Goodwin Jennifer Chen Chris Chin Prescreeners Colin Carter Johanna McLellan Anneli Ekborn Immanuel Lanzaderas Festival Trailer Editor FORMER BOARD MEMBERS Marketing Manager Terence Tam Godwin Chan Jared Menkes Rebecca Gimmi Simran Prihar Richard Torres Kwoi Gin (Outgoing) Sonia Pang Kathy Chan Joanna Miles Sarah Goodwin Tamara Shannon Richard Kim Philbert Lui Dave Seol Festival Photographer Ginny Chen Renata Mohamed Sonia Sakamoto-Jog Jennifer Shin Cheuk Kwan Veronica Lin Michael Tjioe Jason Kendlbacher Marketing Manager Yingfang Chen Celine Moore Austin Wong Du-Yi Leu Alex Khotsiphom Cheuk Kwan Henry Wong Festival Videographer May Cheng Amy Mui Festival Advisory Simon Racioppa Özge Olcay Philip Cheung Kristine Murphy Doris Lau Communications FilmLoft Production Nobu Adilman Phil Tsui Milica Dodic Richard Cheung Nobiru Nakamura Rajah Lehal Assistant Jihee Min Copy Editors Jennifer Liao Karla Bobadilla FOUNDING STAFF Abby Ho Sam Chou Jonathan Ng Aashti Vijh Louanne Chan Philbert Lui Jennifer Chen Ann Chiu Hilda Chow Karen Ng Social Media Assistant Amy Thind Scott Ferguson Lisa Mai Linda Fong Shelly Hong King-Wei Chu Mimi Ng Michael Fukushima Jillian Maniquis Ching-Fang Hsu Laura-Louise Tobin Tim Chuang Yumi Nishio Verna Mai Richard Fung Interim Executive Stephanie Chung Daniel Northway-Frank Alistair Martin Director Design and Video Unsung Voices 7 Publicity Colin Geddes Assistant PROGRAMME FACILITATOR Shannon Cochrane Jamie Okorofsky Yohan Mathew Savine Wong Touchwood PR Carolynne Hew Kelly Zheng Tony Lau Gilad Cohen Martin Oliver Tracey Meyer Diang-Yee Iu Head of Programming Box Office & Ticketing Keith Cole Chico Pacheco Joanna Miles Marketing Intern PROGRAMME COORDINATOR Anita Lee Kristine Estorninos TIFF Box Office Aidan Cowling John Panneton Nobi Nakamura Madge Yao Joseph Chung Helen Lee Erin Creasey Georgina Physentzou Iris Ng Programmers Guest Services Sally Lee Development Manager MENTORS Coordinator Julia Culpeper Marguerite Pigott Linda Obadia Dilani Rabindran Keith Lock (Outgoing) Matt Bendo Vithiya Murugadas Christa Dickenson Debbie Read Geoffrey Peers Betty Xie (Outgoing) Winnie Luk Betty Xie Aram Collier Kadon Douglas Bianca Reino Kaisa Pitsi Accreditations Joanna Miles International Rich Duhaney Jordan Reznick Simran Prihar Development Associate Ammar Keshodia Coordinator Programming Karthiga Ratnasabapathy Kerri Sakamoto Rebecca Hong Sikandar Saleem Nicolas Uribe Aravinthan Ehamparam Collyn Rezsnyak Sonia Sakamoto-Jog Associates Nathalie Younglai Michael Fukushima Vito Ruffalo Jen Sakato Ana Serrano Aki Takabatake Festival Coordinator Guest Services Drivers Florence Fung Jason Ryle Jaspreet Sandhu So You Think You Can Alan Peng Victoria Shen Yoko Nakamura Jamie Fung Sonia Sakamoto-Jog Tamara Shannon Programming Pitch 13 Derek Chan Kozue Sato David Shanta Alice Shih Coordinator Community Outreach & PITCH CLINIC MENTORS Matthew Garrow Angela Sue Deanna Wong Kelly Lui Development Assistant Jasmin Mozaffari Stage Manager Maryse Gauthier Kathleen Sharpe Brian Terry Kat Baggio Shasha Nakhai Scott Seetoo Colin Geddes Linda Shen 4 5 Festival Maps Ticketing

SCREENING & 04 TICKET TYPES REGULAR* MEMBERS INDUSTRY VENUES BLOOR ST W FRIENDS & PARTNERS, CHAMPIONS RD

PL 06 SUPPORTERS & PATRONS CHARLES ST W

01: Isabel Bader Theatre 7 ( ) 2 ENUE 05 AV 93 Charles St W • (416) 585-4498 NSHIRE 01 $15 $11.25 $9

VO REGULAR & YOUTH SCREENINGS CT

DE ND $25 $18.75 $15 OPENING NIGHT & CLOSING NIGHTMO GALA 02: TIFF Bell Lightbox 4 ( ) 4 HARBORD ST RA ES

350 King St W • (416) 599-8433 GA CR OPENING NIGHT & CLOSING NIGHT PARTY (AT THE DOOR) $10 FREE FREE RK PA 03: Bachir/Yerex Presentation Space / HARI KONDABOLU KEYNOTE Y $25 $18.75 $15 WYNFORD DR WA

RK ST

The Commons QUEEN’S PA

RD JAPANESE CANADIAN CULTURAL CENTRE PARTNER PRESENTATIONS $15 $12 $12 GE S

EY 401 Richmond St W, Suite 440 DR OR

S LL AI GE

VA $49 $44 $44

(416) 703-9333 N MILL HOT DOCS PARTNER PRESENTATION (INCLUDES CATERED DINNER) N RV ST DO GE DO COLLEGE ST W CARLTON ST EGLINTON AVE E 04: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema 4 4 506 Bloor St W • (416) 637-3123 E REEL IDEAS CONFERENCE REGULAR* MEMBERS E E ST Y AV FRIENDS & PARTNERS, CHAMPIONS AV GERRARD ST IT ST

ST THURSDAY 15 NOVEMBER A AV 4 4 ST

05: Innis Town Hall RS SUPPORTERS & PATRONS UL E ST CA NG Y THUR VERLEY 2 Sussex Ave • (416) 946-7066 ADIN SP MC BA BE UNIVE BA YO DAY PASS (INCLUDES LUNCHEON) $20 $20 $20 06: Kobayashi Hall DUNDAS ST W PER SESSION (DOES NOT INCLUDE LUNCHEON) $6 $6 $6 ST (Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre) 6 Garamond Ct • (416) 441-2345 08 10 ESTNUT * Students (with valid current ID) and seniors over 65 (no ID required) are eligible for a $2 discount off regular prices (does not apply to partner CH presentations or conference fees) and free admission to films that start before 5:00 PM. All tickets purchased through the Festival Box Office are subject to additional per-item service fees

QUEEN ST W BUYING TICKETS IN ADVANCE – • for shows at the Japanese Canadian BUYING TICKETS IN PERSON EVENT VENUES RICHMOND ST W Cultural Centre, tickets are available ST

FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE 03 Walk-up sales are available from the venue

ND exclusively through our presentation

ST

07: The Spoke Club LA Advanced tickets for Toronto shows go on box offices as follows: ER partner: www.jccc.on.ca 07 600 King St W • (416) 368-8448 ET 02

PORT sale at 10:00 AM on October 11, 2018 and • for shows at TIFF Bell Lightbox, walk-up KING ST W 09 are available through the following: • for shows at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, sales are available from the Festival Box

03: The Commons YP MERCER ST tickets are available exclusively through

th WA • In person at TIFF Bell Lightbox box Office right up until showtime 401 Richmond St W, 4 Floor WELLINGTON ST W our presentation partner: www.hotdocs.ca YS ST

JA office (350 King St W • Mon–Sun, 10:00

(416) 703-9333 N • for shows at Isabel Bader Theatre, walk- UE 06 AM–10:00 PM) • for shows at Innis Town Hall, admission is JOH BL FRONT ST W free but tickets must be reserved through up sales are available on the day of the • By phone at (416) 599-TIFF the Asian Institute’s system: show starting at 6:00 PM (Mon–Sun, 10:00 AM–7:00 PM) 04 munkschool.utoronto.ca/events • for shows at Bachir/Yerex Presentation BLOOR ST W The Festival Box Office does not sell tickets • tickets & passes to the Reel Ideas Space, walk-up sales are available on the RD

PL ACCOMMODATIONS ACCESSIBILITY 06 to partner presentations or the Reel Ideas day of the show starting at 9:30 AM CHARLES ST W Conference are available through 05 ENUE Conference. AV 08: DoubleTree by Hilton NSHIRE 01 fully accessible / seats available reelasian.com (powered by EventBrite) • for shows at the Japanese Canadian VO CT Cultural Centre and Hot Docs Ted Rogers 108 Chestnut St • (416) 977-5000DE Tickets purchased online can be picked ( ) partially accessible / seats available ND BUYING TICKETS ONLINE MO Cinema, walk-up sales are available on the HARBORD ST up at the Festival Box Office 24 hours RA

ES braille throughout the venue day of the show starting an hour before 09: Hilton Garden Inn GA Online sales begin at 10:00 AM on October after purchase. For shows at the TIFF Bell CR show time 92 Peter St • (416) 595-1975 RK 11, 2018 through reelasian.com (powered Lightbox only, you may carry your e-tickets

PA ( ) limited braille at the venue Y by TIFF Ticketing). on your mobile device – please be sure to • for shows at Innis Town Hall, same-day WYNFORD DR WA

10: Super 8 RK download your tickets (with a bar code) ST seating available for support persons

tickets are subject to availability on a first- QUEEN’S PA

RD • for shows at TIFF Bell Lightbox, online GE S

EY 222 Spadina Ave • (647) 426-8118 DR completely to your device. All tickets come, first-served basis starting an hour OR S LL sales continue right up until showtime AI GE

VA expire 15 minutes before scheduled show before show time N MILL N RV ST GE DO DO • for shows at Isabel Bader Theatre, online time, subject to the discretion of the • for sessions of the Reel Ideas COLLEGE ST W CARLTON ST EGLINTON AVE E sales continue until 5:00 PM. Buy in person festival. at the venue starting at 6:00 PM. Conference, same-day admissions are All our venues welcome service animals and guide dogs. Films not in English are presented with available at the door starting 15 min E

English subtitles. E E • for shows at Bachir/Yerex Presentation

ST before session’s scheduled start time, Y AV

AV GERRARD ST IT ST

ST Visit reelasian.com/ticketingFAQs A AV ST Space, online sales end at 10:00 PM the

RS subject to capacity. A limited quantity of UL For more information on accessiblity, please visit our website reelasian.comE , email ST CA

NG for more information Y THUR VERLEY ADIN night before the show. Buy in person at the [email protected] orcall (416) 703-9333. Day Passes are available on the day of the SP MC UNIVE BE BA BA YO venue after that. conference from 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM only.

DUNDAS ST W

6 ST

08 10 ESTNUT CH

QUEEN ST W

RICHMOND ST W ST 03 ND ST

LA 07 ER

ET 02 PORT KING ST W 09

YP MERCER ST WA WELLINGTON ST W YS ST JA

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UE 06 BL JOH FRONT ST W Schedule

9 AM 10 AM 11 AM 30 12 PM 30 1 PM 30 2 PM 30 3 PM 30 4 PM 30 5 PM 30 6 PM 30 7 PM 30 8 PM 30 9 PM 30 10 PM 30 11 PM 30 12 AM 30

OPENING NIGHT GALA P. 18 SPECIAL EVENT P. 19 THURSDAY NOV 8 DEAR EX OPENING NIGHT GALA PARTY

Isabel Bader Q&A Spoke Club

FRIDAY SHORTS P.56 FEATURE P.34 NOV 9 UNSUNG VOICES 7 DEAD PIGS

TIFF Lightbox C3 Q&A TIFF Lightbox C3

SATURDAY FEATURE P.21 FEATURE P.23 FEATURE P.25 KEYNOTE P.72 NOV 10 RAMEN SHOP MIRAI HOUSE OF THE RISING SONS HARI KONDABOLU TIFF Lightbox C3 TIFF Lightbox C3 TIFF Lightbox C3 TIFF Lightbox C3

KIDS SHORTS FILMS & ACTIVITIES P.54

WEE ASIAN 2018 TIFF Lightbox Green Room

SUNDAY FEATURE P.35 FEATURE P.27 FEATURE P.37 FEATURE P.29 NOV 11 FINDING BIG COUNTRY TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY FAMILY IN THE BUBBLE INUYASHIKI Q&A TIFF Lightbox C3 Q&A TIFF Lightbox C3 Q&A TIFF Lightbox C3 TIFF Lightbox C3 Q&A

PITCH COMPETITION P.73

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN PITCH Bachir/Yerex

MONDAY SHORTS P. 58 SHORTS + CANADIAN SPOTLIGHT P. 48/60 FEATURE P.38 NOV 12 SPECTRUM COUNTERBALANCE ULAM: MAIN DISH Q&A Bachir/Yerex Q&A Bachir/Yerex Q&A Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema

FEATURE P.39 FEATURE P.41

ORIGIN STORY HIGH FLASH

TIFF Lightbox C4 Q&A TIFF Lightbox C4

TUESDAY SHORTS P. 62 SHORTS P. 64 FEATURE P. 42 NOV 13 ENTANGLED TALES IN THEIR WORDS NANG BY NANG

Bachir/Yerex Q&A Bachir/Yerex Q&A Bachir/Yerex Q&A

SHORTS P. 66 SHORTS P.68 FEATURE P.43 MARQUEE EVENT WEDNESDAY NOV 14 NOT IN UNIFORM UPROOTED THIS SHAKING KEEPS ME...

Bachir/Yerex Q&A Bachir/Yerex Q&A Innis Town Hall Q&A VISTA EVENT FEATURE P.48

WEE ASIAN HOGTOWN: THE POLITICS OF POL...

Bachir/Yerex Q&A

PULSE EVENT THURSDAY CONFERENCE P.74 CONFERENCE P.74 CONFERENCE P.75 CONFERENCE P.75 FEATURE P.44 NOV 15 ELEVATE YOUR PITCH! INFLUENCING IMPACT REMAPPINGS VOICING ACROSS MEDIUMS A TIME TO SWIM REEL IDEAS Bachir/Yerex Bachir/Yerex Bachir/Yerex Bachir/Yerex Innis Town Hall Q&A FEATURE P.45

CDN SPOTLIGHT ARTIST ONE CUT OF THE DEAD Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre

FRIDAY CLOSING NIGHT GALA P.30 SPECIAL EVENT P.31 REEL ASIAN X: NOV 1- 10 NOV 16 WISH YOU WERE HERE CLOSING NIGHT GALA PARTY

Isabel Bader Q&A Spoke Club

8 9 Sponsors

GOVERNMENT FUNDERS INDUSTRY PARTNERS

PRESENTING SPONSOR FOUNDATIONS

PLATINUM SPONSOR PREMIER SPONSOR GUEST HOSPITALITY SPONSORS

MUST BE 1.5” MIN HEIGHT

OFFICIAL SPECIAL SPONSORS AUTOMOTIVE SPONSOR Festival Awards

Menkes Audience Award Animasian Award All feature films are eligible for this prize. All animated films and videos are eligible for this $5,000 cash prize. prize. $500 cash prize.

Fasken Martineau Best Feature Film Award All feature works are eligible for this prize. Air Canada Short Film or Video Award MEDIA SPONSORS $4,000 cash prize. All Canadian short films and videos are eligible for this prize. Opportunity to broadcast on Air Canada’s in-flight entertainment screens on National Bank Best First Feature Film Award international flights. All first feature films are eligible for this prize. $4,000 cash prize. DGC Ontario & WIFT-T Film Award All films made by female Ontario-based artists are Channel Zero Best Canadian Film or Video Award eligible for this prize. $1,000 cash prize, $1,200 All Canadian works are eligible for this prize. programming pass and one-year membership $1,000 cash prize. from WIFT-T.

10 11 Government Letters

nd Congratulations to all those taking part in the 22 annual Filmmakers and artists from a number of regions around the world It is with great pleasure that I welcome attendees, organizers and making the Toronto Reel Asian InternationalPremier Film of Festival Ontario - Premiera reality ministre de l’Ontario Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, where unique, will come to Canada to celebrate their culture. Thank you to all the volunteers to this year’s Toronto Reel Asian International Film year after year. provocative and passionate stories will be told. These stories are a participants for being a part of the Toronto Reel Asian International Festival. Congratulations on another successful year in enhancing testament to those who dare to reach for their dreams and whose Film Festival and for championing culturally diverse storytelling. our community’s artistic landscape. Sincerely, November 8 – 16, 2018 determination and passion are promoting culture. I wish every one of you a memorable event! As Canada’s premier presenter of pan-Asian contemporary cinema, A MESSAGE FROM PREMIER DOUG FORD For 22 years, the Reel Asian festival has created a space where with a focus on Asian Canadian works, the Toronto Reel Asian

Asian cinema can thrive and where artists can speak up, share International Film Festival has become a significant source of cultural I’m very pleased to extend greetings to everyone attending the 22nd their stories and advocate for Asian representation. The festival enrichment and a significant public forum to showcase Asian art. Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. gives filmmakers a home for continuing their art, as well as a platform and an audience to showcase their films. In addition, I thank you for your dedication to promoting multiculturalism AAdam big round Vaughan, of applause M.P. goes out to everyone who helped to make this educational initiatives and youth workshops are organized during and diversity in our community and for your continued efforts in terrificSpadina-Fort event aYork success, including the participating filmmakers and the festival and throughout the year-giving Asian artists of all Julie Payette artists, and the festival’s staff, sponsors and volunteers. ages the chance to learn and refine their craft. Governor General of Canada You can all be proud of your dedication to showcasing contemporary Asian cinema. You can also be proud of the role you play in strengthening Ontario’s cultural landscape.

I’m very pleased to extend greetings to everyone attending the 22nd event, I hope you enjoy your stay in our province’s capital, and have To all those who made the journey to Toronto to take part in this Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. the chance to take in some of the city’s exciting attractions.

Photo: Sgt Johanie Maheu, Rideau Hall event, I hope you enjoy your stay in our province’s capital, and have © Her Majesty The Queen in Right of Canada represented by the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General (2017) / © Sa Majesté la Reine du Chef du Canada représentée par le Bureau du secrétaire du gouverneur général (2017) Dear Friends: the chance to take in some of the city’s exciting attractions. A big round of applause goes out to everyone who helped to make I hope you all enjoy this year’s festival.

I am pleased to extend my warmest greetings to everyone attending On behalf of the Government of Canada, I offer my best wishes for this terrific event a success, including the participating filmmakers I hope you all enjoy this year’s festival. the 22nd annual Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. a memorable and enjoyable festival. and artists, and the festival’s staff, sponsors and volunteers.

This festival offers a wonderful opportunity for participants to Sincerely, You can all be proud of your dedication to showcasing experience cinema from talented Asian filmmakers from Canada contemporary Asian cinema. You can also be proud of the role you and around the world. I am sure that everyone in attendance will play in strengthening Ontario’s cultural landscape. Doug Ford enjoy this artistic showcase, and I would like to commend all of the Doug Ford To all those who made the journey to Toronto to take part in this PremierPremier of Ontario filmmakers for sharing their passion with the community.

I would also like to thank the organizers for their hard work and dedication, and for their commitment to promoting multiculturalism The Rt. Hon. Justin P. J. Trudeau, P.C., M.P. in the film industry. Events such as this one remind us that our Prime Minister of Canada country is made great not in spite of its diversity, but because of it.

On behalf of the Government of Ontario, I am delighted to welcome I wish everyone a memorable 2018 festival. everyone to the 22nd Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. Best wishes, This wonderful festival helps us celebrate the rich history of Welcome to the 22nd Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival! bring this celebration of cinema to life. You have made an outstanding our province and its diverse Asian communities. It also plays an contribution to Toronto’s cultural landscape. Enjoy the films! important role in strengthening Ontario’s economy by attracting Canada’s stories, shaped by our immense and vibrant diversity, visitors and improving our quality of life. should be celebrated and shared between Canadians and with the world. Our government is proud to support the Reel Asian Festival The Ontario government is proud to be a champion of the Reel because we share its goal of empowering diverse storytelling. This Asian International Film Festival and the Ontario film industry. I festival offers filmmakers from Asia and the Asian diaspora a prime want to thank the many artists who put their hearts and souls into Sylvia Jones showcase for their work, while giving Canadians of all backgrounds these films, and to also thank the hardworking Festival staff and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport a chance to enjoy some great movies and see the world from volunteers for helping to make this annual event such a success. different perspectives. The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez Minister of Canadian Heritage and As Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism, I would like Multiculturalism to thank all the organizers, filmmakers and volunteers who helped

12 13 jury JOIN THE REEL ASIAN FAMILY TODAY!

FEATURES JURY BECOME A REEL ASIAN MEMBER TODAY TO

Jason Gorber is a film journalist and member of the Jason McGrath is an Associate Professor in Asian ENJOY THE PREMIER EXPERIENCE OF ASIAN Toronto Film Critics Association. He is the Managing Languages and Literatures at the University of Editor of ThatShelf.com, a Features Editor at DTK Minnesota, with affiliations in Moving Image Studies and MEDIA ARTS AND CHAMPION DIVERSE Magazine and a critic for HighDefDigest. His writing has Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature. His book appeared in Esquire, The Toronto Star, The Globe and Postsocialist Modernity: Chinese Cinema, Literature, and STORYTELLING IN CANADA. Mail, The National Post, Screen Anarchy, Birth.Movies. Criticism in the Market Age was published by Stanford Death, IndieWire and more. He has appeared on CTV University Press, and his current book project is entitled NewsChannel, CBC, CP24, RogerEbert.com and many Inscribing the Real: Realism and Convention in Chinese other broadcasters. Cinema from the Silent Era to the Digital Age.

Ananya Ohri is most interested in exploring how what we say shapes who we become. She was the Executive Director of the Regent Park Film Festival for 7 years and is currently the Artistic Director of the festival’s nation- wide project, Home Made Visible.

SHORTS JURY PITCH JURY

Casey Mecija is an accomplished multi-disciplinary artist, Aisling Chin-Yee is an award-winning producer, writer, primarily working in the fields of music and film. She and director based in Montreal, Canada. She is currently played in Ohbijou, the Canadian orchestral pop band, and in post-production on her feature film directorial debut, recently released her first solo album, Psychic Materials. The Rest of Us, starring Heather Graham, Sophie Nélisse, Casey is also an award-winning filmmaker whose work and Jodi Balfour. She began her production career as an has screened internationally. She is completing a PhD at associate producer at the National Film Board of Canada the University of Toronto where she researches art, media in 2006 before joining Prospector Films as producer and and cultural studies as they relate to queer diaspora. director in 2010. Chin-Yee founded Fluent Films in early 2016. She co-created #AfterMeToo aimed to analyze the issue of sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry. Lillian Chan is an illustrator and animation filmmaker from Toronto, and was Reel Asian’s Spotlight Artist of 2017. Her children’s film, Jaime Lo, small and shy, was With over twenty years of experience in the film produced by the National Film Board of Canada, and & television industry, Teresa M. Ho is currently in won public prize at both the Ottawa International production on Season 2 of Frankie Drake Mysteries for Animation Festival and Anima Mundi in Brazil. Her CBC/UKTV. Her feature documentary My Piece of the favourite pastime is drawing silly doodles of her City will screen on CBC. Previously, she managed CBC/ two cats, Frankie and Mao. See more of her work at Netflix’s Series Anne with an E, multiple units on NBC www.lilch.ca Universal’s reboot TV Series Heroes Reborn, and all of Shaftesbury production teams for over eight years including Murdoch Mysteries, The Moblees, and The Listener. Barbara Goslawski is a freelance writer whose work has been featured in national dailies and magazines, and is a broadcaster turned podcaster, working as co-host and Aliya Pabani is an artist and podcaster. Most recently, she producer of Frameline, a weekly film chat show, which was host/producer of CANADALAND’s arts and culture began at CKLN and expanded to international reach at podcast The Imposter, a show that covered everything Radio Regent and now iTunes. Goslawski has been an from interviews with groundbreaking artists like Tanya independent programmer for cinemas, special events, Tagaq, to the story of an early synthesizer pioneer from and festivals across Canada and around the world, most the Maritimes who scored the Apollo 11 moon landing. notably in Belgium and Taiwan. Other career highlights The Imposter was featured as one of the best podcasts of include her work as a distributor of shorts and avant-garde 2017 by CBC’s Podcast Playlist, and Ben Cannon of the works at the Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre. AV Club called it "one of the finest, most compulsively listenable shows in the world of podcasts today." SIGN UP TODAY AT WWW.REELASIAN.COM/MEMBERSHIP

14 Marquee

In the warm, welcoming glow of the silver screen, we welcome the master story-tellers, perfecting the craft of story, design, acting, and adaptation. Have a cinematic encounter with the stars of tomorrow.

16 17 MARQUEE OPENING ISABEL BADER THURSDAY, NOV 8TH OPENING NIGHT GALA NIGHT GALA THEATRE 7:30 PM

Dear Ex 誰先愛上他的

Taiwan 2018 Dear Ex follows three people who are linked by fate because Mag Hsu is a critically acclaimed SPECIAL EVENT SPECIAL SPONSORS 100:00 of love and family. Adolescent Song Chengxi loses his father screenplay writer and theatre Mandarin with English Song Zhengyuan to cancer, but instead of having time to director. She won the 2012 Golden OPENING NIGHT subtitles mourn, Chengxi finds himself caught in a feud between his Bell Award for best screenplay. Her most famous screenplays include PG Canadian Premiere widowed mother Liu Sanlian and his father’s gay lover Jay. GALA PARTY ∙ the TV dramas Story in Time, Apple As Liu fights Jay for Song’s insurance money, Chengxi in Your Eye and In Time with You. DIRECTOR gradually learns that what holds both Liu and Jay back is not Thursday, th Mag Hsu 徐譽庭 the money, but the weight of the loving memories they each Nov 8 • 10:00 PM – 12:00 AM (in attendance) Chih-Yen Hsu is a Taiwanese The Spoke Club (600 King St W) have with his father. Chih-Yen Hsu filmmaker and music video director who has made music $10 AT THE DOOR / FREE FOR MEMBERS As conservative groups continue to voice opposition in videos for legendary hip-hop CAST OR WITH OPENING NIGHT TICKET STUB advance of same-sex marriage becoming legal in Taiwan in label KAO! Dear Ex is the debut for Roy Chiu 邱澤 (in attendance) May of 2019, Dear Ex is a timely reminder of the social and both Chih-Yen Hsu and Mag Hsu Ying-Shiuan Hsieh as feature film directors. Join us at Toronto’s exclusive Spoke Club to kick off Joseph Huang human impact that results from the lack of acceptance for Reel Asian’s 22nd year. We’ll be in the heart of the Spark Chen LGBTQ rights. The film, however, does not sensationalize or victimize queer love. With its heartfelt sincerity, it leaves us entertainment district to celebrate with co-director Mag Hsu and lead actor Roy Chiu. OFFICIAL SELECTION with the hope for a more inclusive society. AWARDS 2018 Udine Far East Film 2018 Taipei Film Festival Festival This is a pivotal film for co-director Mag Hsu and lead actor Best Narrative Film 2018 Taipei Film Festival Roy Chiu, who were previously known for their work in TV. Best Lead Actor 2018 Busan Film Festival With compelling storytelling, nuanced performances and a Best Lead Actress beautiful score, Dear Ex is one of the finest films to emerge Audience's Choice Award from Taiwan this year. - BX

18 19 FEATURE TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX SATURDAY NOV 10TH PRESENTATION CINEMA 3 12:00 PM

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fasken.com RAMEN SHOP 情牽拉麵茶

Eric Khoo was the first Singaporean In Takasaki, Japan, Masato works with his father to run Singapore/Japan/France to have his films invited to major their ramen shop. Despite living together, their strained 2018 film festivals such as Berlin, Venice relationship makes communication stifled and sparse. When 90:00 and Cannes. He was awarded the Masato finds his mother’s diary filled with recipes, memories, English, Japanese, Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des and entries written in Chinese—a language foreign to Mandarin, and Cantonese Letters, from the French Cultural him—he decides to visit Singapore to uncover and relive his with English subtitles Minister and his feature, My Magic, mother’s history. Working his way through Singapore’s food PG Toronto Premiere was nominated for the Cannes ∙ Palme d’Or in 2008. In 2017, Khoo landscape, Masato stumbles across something much more DIRECTOR sat on the jury for the Cannes Short personal than discovering family recipes, secrets, and stories. Eric Khoo Film Competition Palm D’or. Reel Instead, he comes across connections and meaning to his Asian screened Khoo’s feature film, existence long buried and thought to be best forgotten. Tatsumi, in 2012. CAST Takumi Saitoh Eric Khoo’s latest film, Ramen Shop, delves into the myriad Jeannette Aw of ways food permeates our lives whether it is the taste of a Mark Lee mother’s cooking, a reminder of an indigestible history, or the WITH SUPPORT FROM Beatrice Chen togetherness of sharing food. Tsuyoshi Ihara Tetsuya Bessho Ramen Shop is a story about belonging, reunions, and Seiko Matsuda burdensome knowledge alongside a bowl of bak kut teh noodle soup. - KL OFFICIAL SELECTION 2018 Berlinale COMMUNITY PARTNERS Deloitte Preceded By Our Filipino-Canadian Family by Dianne Pearl Singapore Malaysia Association Tanada, the Audience Choice winner from Reel Asian’s See Yourself Here social media contest. 20 21 FEATURE TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX SATURDAY NOV 10TH PRESENTATION CINEMA 3 2:30 PM Proud design partner of Reel Asian.

coeffect.ca MIRAI 未 来のミライ

Mamoru Hosoda was born in Mirai is Mamoru Hosoda’s heartwarming look at the difficulties Japan 2018 1967 in Toyama. After graduating of becoming the older sibling, as seen through the eyes of 98:00 from Kanazawa College of Art, young Kun. When his parents arrive home with his baby sister, Japanese with English he joined Toei Doga studio (now Mirai, Kun is less than thrilled. As the new addition becomes subtitles Toei Animation Co, Ltd) and began the center of his parents’ attention, Kun becomes increasingly PG Toronto Premiere his career as an animator. In ∙ jealous. He withdraws into himself and takes refuge in the 2011, with Yuichiro Saito (the backyard, where a magical family tree grows. DIRECTOR producer who has accompanied Mamoru Hosoda him throughout his career), he As he spends more time by the tree, Kun finds himself created his own animation studio, CAST Studio Chizu, and spearheaded suddenly catapulted into a fantasy world where the past and Moka Kamishiraishi a new movement in theatrical present mingle. Guided by his relatives at different ages of Haru Kuroki animation. The studio’s first their own lives, Kun finally manages to carve out his own story Gen Hoshino production, Wolf Children (Reel as the older sibling. - KE Kumiko Aso Asian, 2012), followed by The Boy and the Beast, cemented Hosoda’s OFFICIAL SELECTION popularity in Japan and abroad. new time 2018 Cannes Film Festival - Fridays 8pm Director’s Fortnight 2018 Annecy International WITH SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY PARTNERS Animated Film Festival Anime North Japan Exchange Teaching Alumni Association chch.com Toronto Animated Image Society

22 23 FEATURE TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX SATURDAY NOV 10TH PRESENTATION CINEMA 3 5:00 PM

Here’s to Toronto, to craftsmanship, to quality and pride of ownership. To new places and new faces. Here’s to the waterfront, to the market districts that distill and paths that take us to other places. HOUSE OF THE RISING SONS Here’s to Canada’s most exciting mixed-use community. To sugary beaches and wharfs that never end. 兄弟班

Anthony Chan is a Hong Kong “A legend for the ages, a brotherhood with a new sound was Hong Kong 2018 Register at menkes.com/sugarwharf actor, director and producer who, born…” 100:00 along with Alan Tam, Kenny Bee, Cantonese with English Bennett Pang and Danny Yip, House of the Rising Sons is an adrenaline-fueled musical subtitles formed the band The Wynners, one joyride that chronicles the chart-topping success of 1970s PG ∙ Canadian Premiere of the most popular groups in Hong Hong Kong pop sensations, The Wynners. Kong history. Chan formed the DIRECTOR company Go Go Film in the early Despite opposition from their parents, five young men form Anthony Chan 1980s, producing and directing a neighbourhood band called The Loosers to play music a series of successful comedies, and rebel against the staid conformity of their traditional CAST including Let’s Make Laugh, Happy Carlos Chan upbringing. As they began to pursue their dreams, they find Bigamist, To Err is Humane and Him Ng that the journey to stardom is never easy. Armed with grit, Her Fatal Ways. He also directed Lam Yiu Sing A Fishy Story, which earned him a perseverance and raw talent, the band weathers the strain Yu Tan nomination for Best Director at the brought on by creative conflicts, personnel shake-ups and Eugene Tang Hong Kong Film Awards. their rapidly growing popularity to become The Wynners and Jonathan Wong establish themselves as true musical legends. OFFICIAL SELECTION Co-written and directed by the band’s drummer Anthony 2018 New York Asian Film PREMIER SPONSOR Chan, the nostalgic House of the Rising Sons deftly balances Festival drama and comedy to tell the heartwarming tale of the origins of one of Hong Kong’s most popular bands. The film’s young actors bring the familiar personalities of the band to life, COMMUNITY PARTNERS supported by cameo performances by some of the best- Hong Kong Canada Business Association known names in Hong Kong. The result is a vibrant, feel-good Times Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation story that will win over fans—new and old. - SW Centre 25

MEN 38101 Corporate Sugar Wharf-Design Lines DPS Ad_Walk.indd 1 2018-09-13 10:48 AM FEATURE TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX SUNDAY NOV 11TH PRESENTATION CINEMA 3 3:00 PM PROUD SPONSOR

TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY 黃金花

Tai-Lee Chan is a Hong Kong based Mrs. Wong knows her husband is having an affair, but for the Hong Kong 2017 director and screenwriter. He is sake of their marriage and their autistic son, she chooses to 91:00 the screenwriter for the critically silently endure his infidelity for the time being. What follows Cantonese with English acclaimed drama The Way We is a realistic, heartfelt drama of a working-class woman subtitles Dance (Reel Asian 2014 Spring struggling to break through her midlife crisis. 14A Canadian Premiere Showcase) and the Ip Man film ∙ series. Tomorrow is Another Day Tomorrow is Another Day provides a compelling snapshot DIRECTOR is his directorial debut. of everyday life for the working class in Hong Kong and Tai-Lee Chan additionally, the film serves to raise awareness for families with autistic children. Stylistically, the film embodies the CAST Teresa Mo PREMIER SPONSOR tone of Hong Kong auteur Ann Hui’s work. The intense drama Ling Man Lung 凌文龍 is masterfully infused with a sense of matter-of-factness, (in attendance) constantly reminding its viewers that this is just another Ray Lui unremarkable day in the life of a Hong Kong family. Bonnie Xian

The ensemble cast deliver remarkable performances with OFFICIAL SELECTION veteran actress Teresa Mo earning the Best Actress trophy 2018 Asian Pop Up Cinema from the Hong Kong Film Awards. Her onscreen chemistry Chicago with Ray Lui will surely evoke nostalgia from fans of Hong COMMUNITY PARTNER Kong films and TV from the 1980s and 1990s. New talent Ling Hong Kong Canada Business Man Lung is one to watch, with his convincing portrayal of AWARDS Association an autistic teenager. - BX Best Actress, NAAAP Toronto 2018 Hong Kong Film Awards Times Physiotherapy and Best New Actor, Rehabilitation Centre 2018 Hong Kong Film Awards dag.cars/reelasian 27

DAG_Reel Asian Ad 8x10_LR_Proof.indd 1 2018-09-14 3:49 PM PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS JUST A PROOF PLEASE PRINT FROM PDF/ X-1a PROVIDED FEATURE TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX SUNDAY NOV 11TH PRESENTATION CINEMA 3 8:30 PM

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

rd EDITION / JULY   / MONTREAL WWW.FANTASIAFESTIVAL.COM INUYASHIKI いぬやしき

After finding success as a Ostracized by his family and working in a dead-end job, Ichiro Japan 2018 scriptwriter, Shinsuke Sato (b. Inuyashiki feels that his life has served no purpose. One 127:00 1970) made his directorial debut evening while in a public park, he is caught in a mysterious Japanese with English with Love Song in 2001. Sato explosion that replaces his fragile, old body with a high- subtitles began to carve out a reputation powered, mechanized shell. Finding a renewed sense of 14A Toronto Premiere as an action director with The ∙ purpose with his newly-bestowed abilities, he sets out to Princess Blade. After his first major fight crime and help whomever he can, including healing DIRECTOR commercial hit with the 2010 those with incurable diseases. Shinsuke Sato 佐藤 信介 feature Sand Clock, he directed (in attendance) Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror, the hit sci-fi thriller High school student Hiro Shishigami was also in the CAST Gantz and Gantz Perfect Answer. explosion, leaving him with the same powers as Inuyashiki. Noritake Kinashi Sato has continued to turn out However, unlike Inuyashiki, he becomes a merciless Takeru Satoh action hits, including I Am a Hero, psychopath that murders people for his own amusement. a manga adaptation about humans Brought together by a cruel twist of fate, Shishigami and OFFICIAL SELECTION struggling to survive a zombie Inuyashiki progress towards their destiny as the stage is set 2018 Udine Far East Film holocaust. for an epic clash of good versus evil. Festival Based on a popular manga by Hiroya Oku, Shinsuke Sato 2018 Brussels International LEAD SPONSOR spins an electrifying and suspenseful tale that honours its Fantastic Film Festival source material, delving into human psychology, age and 2018 Fantasia Festival relationships in between the action and special effects. 2018 New York Asian Film Kinashi and Satoh are spectacular in their roles, embodying Festival SPECIAL WITH SUPPORT SPONSOR FROM the depth and multi-facetness of the characters. A masterful 2018 Sitges Film Festival reinvention of the superhero genre, audiences will be taken for a ride that they won’t soon forget. - SW COMMUNITY PARTNER Deloitte

28 29 MARQUEE CLOSING ISABEL BADER FRIDAY, NOV 16TH CLOSING NIGHT PRESENTATION NIGHT PRESENTATION THEATRE 7:00 PM

Wish You Were Here 在乎你

China/Japan 2018 “What’s kept hidden has its own power on us.” Kenneth Bi’s directorial debut, SPECIAL EVENT WITH SUPPORT FROM 113:00 Rice Rhapsody, won Outstanding Mandarin, Japanese with On the eve of her latest fashion showcase in Beijing, Screenplay from Taiwan’s GIO and CLOSING NIGHT English subtitles successful entrepreneur Yuan Yuan is approached by Keiko, screened at the Tokyo International PG ∙ North American a mysterious young Japanese woman. An admirer of Yuan Film Festival. The Drummer (Reel GALA PARTY Premiere Yuan’s career, Keiko has learned Mandarin and fashion design Asian, 2008) was selected for for a chance to speak with her idol. As Yuan Yuan takes Keiko competition at the Sundance Friday, Film Festival. It also won Best th DIRECTOR under her wing, long suppressed memories begin to surface Nov 16 • 9:30 PM – 12:00 AM Supporting Actor (Tony Leung Ka COMMUNITY PARTNERS Kenneth Bi 畢國智 of her time in Hokkaido and the husband she’d left behind. The Spoke Club (600 King St W) (in attendance) Fai) at the Golden Horse Awards. ACCE In 2010, Bi followed up with the Deloitte Yuan Yuan finally builds up the courage to visit the small town $10 AT THE DOOR topical social drama, Girl$, and in CAST she left behind more than 20 years ago in order to confront OR FREE WITH CLOSING NIGHT TICKET STUB 2013, he directed the neo-noir Faye Yu, Takao Osawa, Ayane her past decisions and face her deepest fears. A journey of suspense thriller Control, starring Kinoshita, Lu Yangyang, Goki forgiveness and reconciliation, Wish You Were Here marks Daniel Wu, Simon Yam, Yao Chen Join us at Toronto’s exclusive Spoke Club to wrap up Reel Maeda, Yuriko Hoshi, Shingo Kenneth Bi’s return to Reel Asian. His latest feature, a co- and Leon Dai. Wish You Were Here Asian’s 22nd year. Join director Kenneth Bi and other festival Tsurumi, Zhou Tie, Liu Dan, production between China and Japan, is an examination of is Bi's fifth film. guests in raising a glass to celebrate Reel Asian’s 22nd edition. Ma Yinyin a woman traversing through modernity and tradition; youth and maturity; past and future. - KE

30 31 Women in Film & Television—Toronto is a proud supporter of Reel Asian International Film Festival. Vista WIFT-T provides professional development, mentorship, and CELEBRATING 32 YEARS! networking opportunities that APRIL 11-18, 2019 empower women to be driven, connected, and confident leaders in today's film, TV + digital media industry.

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Look beyond the horizon, below the surface, outside stay the box. Dare to explore with filmmakers as they take you through their worlds of animation, fiction, FILL OUT OUR SuRVEY FOR A and documentary, reflecting on connections with CHANCE TO WIN A LUCKY connected DRAW PRIZE VALUED AT $200 enter @ WWW.REELASIAN.COM/SURVEY their community and their culture. RINE SRES ALSO AAILALE .

32 33 FRIDAY, NOV 9TH TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX FEATURE FEATURE TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX SUNDAY NOV 11TH 8:00 PM CINEMA 3 PRESENTATION PRESENTATION CINEMA 3 11:30 AM

Dead pigs 海上浮城 FINDING BIG COUNTRY

China 2018 As thousands of dead pigs mysteriously float down the Born in China and raised between Based in Vancouver, B.C., Despite the Vancouver Grizzlies’ six-year existence ending Canada 2018 130:00 Yangtze River, five people cross paths as they search for Hong Kong and Washington, D.C., Kathleen S. Jayme is an award in 2001, documentarian Kathleen S. Jayme remains a huge 44:00 Mandarin with English their place in a rapidly transforming modern China. Cathy Yan is based in New York City. winning Canadian filmmaker Grizzlies fan — even with the team’s poster boy Bryant “Big PG Toronto Premiere She received her MBA from NYU’s who is passionate about telling ∙ subtitles Country” Reeves, who after criticism and career-ending Stern School of Business and MFA meaningful and personal stories. PG Toronto Premiere Candy Wang is a feisty salon owner protecting her turquoise- injuries left the sport and the media spotlight when he was DIRECTOR ∙ at the Tisch Graduate Film Program. From 2012-2016, Kathleen worked painted home from being sold to land developers. Her Kathleen S. Jayme Her directorial debut, the short at the National Film Board of forced into retirement. DIRECTOR brother, a pig farmer whose pigs have befallen the same (in attendance) film Last Night, premiered at the Canada where she coordinated and Cathy Yan fate as the others down the river, has debts with the local Shanghai International Film Festival. oversaw over thirty documentaries, Seventeen years later, Jayme sets out to track down her gangsters that compel him to convince his sister to change As a reporter for the Wall Street animations, and digital projects hard-luck hero, fuelled to redeem both herself and him from CAST Kathleen S. Jayme PRODUCERS her mind. And there’s his son, who pretends to be a success Journal in New York, Hong Kong and through all stages of production. crushed dreams, and to reconsider one of the city’s most Bryant "Big Country" Reeves Clarissa Zhang in the city when in actuality waits tables in a suckling pig Beijing, she was one of the youngest Jayme is a fellow of the 2016 maligned sports figures. - KE Jane Zheng restaurant. Can they beat the march of progress, or — with writers in the paper’s history to pen Inspirit Foundation’s Story Money OFFICIAL SELECTION one final battle cry, while singing Teresa Teng’s 1986 hit “I multiple front-page stories. Yan will Impact program, the 2017 Hot CAST 2018 Vancouver Only Care About You” — will they give in? become the first Asian-American Docs Documentary Channel Doc Yang Haoyu, Vivian Wu, to direct a Hollywood superhero Accelerator program, and the International Film Festival Hu Yangyang, Wang Yige, Based on true events, Cathy Yan’s directorial debut is a movie, the forthcoming DC Comics 2017 Telus Storyhive Banff World David Rysdahl, Zhang Qin adaptation Birds of Prey. Media Festival program. Reel Asian dark comedy about the conflicting social norms shaping Tiger Darrow, Mason Lee, screened Jayme’s last short film, Li Meng, Li Jinfei, Sun contemporary China. - KE Paradise Island, which was about AWARDS Mengchun, Zazie Beetz AWARDS Boracay Island in the Philippines People's Choice Award,

Special Jury Prize, 2018 Sundance and the local children who make 2018 Vancouver International Preceded By Chinatown by Alan Peng, the Grand Prize winner OFFICIAL SELECTION New Directors Prize, 2018 Seattle sandcastles for money. Film Festival 2018 Sundance from Reel Asian’s See Yourself Here social media contest. International Film Festival 2018 Seattle International Film Festival COMMUNITY PARTNERS CPAC 34 35 FEATURE TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX SUNDAY NOV 11TH PRESENTATION CINEMA 3 5:30 PM

FAMILY IN THE BUBBLE

Minji Ma was born in 1989. She The Ma family lives in Gangnam District, a wealthy borough South Korea/Finland graduated from the Korea National in Seoul, yet they can’t afford the rent and barely keep their 2017 University of Arts with a BFA in bills in check. Once thriving in the real estate business 77:00 Film Directing and an MFA in during South Korea’s 1980s economic boom, they refuse Korean with English Documentary Filmmaking. Her to accept the reality that they can no longer maintain their subtitles works explore themes of space and upper middle class lifestyle. PG Canadian Premiere place in cities, especially the ways ∙ in which capital influences and In her feature documentary debut, Minji Ma turns the camera DIRECTOR changes the environment. on her economically and emotionally dysfunctional family Minji Ma as they hope that the financial crisis of 1997 will somehow reverse itself before it’s too late. - KE CAST Minji Ma AWARDS Haesook Rho Festival Choice (Grand Prix), 2017 Poonglak Ma EBS International Documentary Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION 2017 Jeonju International Festival. Tour. Institute Film Festival 2017 Seoul International imagineNATIVE.org COMMUNITY PARTNERS Women’s Film Festival ATK Magazine 2018 Sitges Film Festival @imagineNATIVE Deloitte

36 37 MONDAY, NOV 12TH TED ROGERS FEATURE FEATURE TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX MONDAY NOV 12TH 5:45 PM HOT DOCS CINEMA PRESENTATION PRESENTATION CINEMA 4 5:15 PM

Ulam: Main Dish ORIGIN STORY

USA 2018 Award-winning chefs and restaurateurs Nicole Ponseca Alexandra Cuerdo is a Filipino- Kulap Vilaysack is the child of Lao When, at age 14, Kulap Vilaysack took her father’s side in an USA/Laos 2018 80:00 (New York), Charles Olalia (San Francisco), and Alvin Cailan American director, producer and refugees. Born in Washington, D.C. argument, her mother replied, “Why are you defending him? 106:00 English (Los Angeles), amongst others, are introducing Filipino editor. She was recently named and raised in Eagan, Minnesota, He’s not your real dad.” Twenty years later, she’s finally ready English, Laotian with unrated cuisine and culture in restaurants across the continent. one of the 100 Most Influential she currently resides in Los to learn what that means. English subtitles Toronto Premiere Filipina Women In the World by Angeles with her husband, Scott, PG ∙ Toronto Premiere Meet this new generation of passionate food artists and the Filipina Women's Network. and two dogs, Georgia Michaela Origin Story is a deeply personal but universally relevant tale As a content producer and editor, DIRECTOR discover the spectacular flavours that make up their cuisine and Molly Ringwald. Her debut of immigration, identity, conflict, and personal responsibility. DIRECTOR Cuerdo's videos for BuzzFeed documentary Origin Story Alexandra Cuerdo in ULAM: Main Dish, a delicious introduction to the exploding In her directorial debut, actor/writer/podcaster Kulap Kulap Vilaysack have garnered over 200 million chronicles a road trip into her (in attendance) Filipino food movement. Including dishes such as Kamayan, Vilaysack explores her tangled family tree to find out who (in attendance) views and over 1.5 million shares complicated past. Vilaysack is also a feast served on banana leaves, adobo, a preparation that on Facebook. Previously, she has the creator and showrunner of the she is. Through travels to Los Angeles, Minnesota, and Laos, CAST CAST features vinegar, lumpia egg rolls and pancit, a variety of worked on films, television and 4-season semi-scripted comedy Vilaysack lets the viewer join her in meeting the biological Alvin Cailan, Nicole Ponseca, Kulap Vilaysack noodles — traditional recipes are gracing the North American digital content for HBO, ABC, NBC, series Bajillion Dollar Propertie$. father she never knew. On the road, unforeseen revelations Miguel Trinidad, Romy Scott Aukerman food landscape with a fresh twist. Netflix, Hulu, Sony/Columbia strike, running from the hilarious to the heartbreaking. - KE Dorotan, Amy Besa, Johneric Casey Wilson Pictures, Participant Media, Walt Concordia, Christine Arquel- June Diane Raphael This delicious documentary confronts issues inherent in Disney Imagineering and more. Concordia, Charles Olalia, Howard Kremer Chase Valencia, Chad representing Filipino and American identity, and challenges ULAM: Main Dish is Cuerdo’s first AWARDS from both the Filipino community and the world at large. feature length documentary. Valencia, Andre Guerrero Tiger Uncaged Audience Award, OFFICIAL SELECTION Ultimately, ULAM is a celebration — and confirmation — that 2018 CAAMFest 2018 CAAMFest Filipino food, and Filipinos, are here to stay. - KE Best Documentary Audience Choice Award, 2018 CAAMFest PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: Taste the food you see on the screen! Rudy Boquila, Daniel Cancino and Admission includes an introduction to restaurateur Les Sabilana, moderated by Filipino food, with a cocktail, appetizers, Kristine Estorninos, Reel Asian’s Head of COMMUNITY PARTNERS main dish and dessert, from Toronto’s Lamesa Programming. Thai Society of Ontario Filipino Kitchen. For ticket details, please go to: reelasian. Followed by a Q&A with director Alexandra com/festival-events/ulam Cuerdo, Toronto chefs Robbie Hojilla,

38 39 FEATURE TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX MONDAY NOV 12TH PRESENTATION CINEMA 4 8:15 PM

November 8 | 7:30 pm Isabel Bader Theatre

November 12 | 8:15 pm TIFF Bell Lightbox

November 13 | 10:30 am Bachir/Yerex Screening Room at the Commons @ 401 Richmond HIGH FLASH 引爆點

Ching Shen Chuang received his Fisherman Ah-Hai is found dead of self-immolation during Taiwan 2018 Master's degree in Directing from a village protest against a petrochemical company, an 109:00 the Taipei National University of incident which instantly makes media headlines. Medical Mandarin with English the Arts. He served as the assistant examiner Chou is assigned to work on the case with Public subtitles director for 7 Days in Heaven and as Prosecutor Jin, who happens to be Chou’s former fiancé. They 14A Canadian Premiere the producer and cinematographer ∙ quickly suspect that Ah-Hai did not intend to self-immolate. for Jump Ashin!. High Flash, his first As they seek to uncover the truth, Chou and Jin become DIRECTOR feature work, was awarded the Ching Shen Chuang CNC Cash Prize at the 2013 Golden entangled in a web of complicated business and political Horse Project Promotion. maneuvers, risking their personal safety and well-being. CAST High Flash strikes an intricate balance between plot-driven Kang Jen Wu Yi Ti Yao thriller and character-driven social drama. Underpinning the Chia Kuei Chen truth-seeking mission of Chou and Jin is a critique against Yi Wen Chen a capitalist-driven society. Yet the film is by no means a Wei Hua Lan SPECIAL SPONSORS one-sided tale, as it also explores the moral ambiguity of the Shin Yin protesters and villagers. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and in the end, who is to decide what actions are OFFICIAL SELECTION justified in the name of pursuing justice? - BX 2018 Taipei Film Festival 2018 Hong Kong Asian Film Festival

COMMUNITY PARTNERS Woori Education Taiwan Department ILAC

40 41 TUESDAY, NOV 13TH BACHIR/YEREX FEATURE FEATURE INNIS WEDSDAY NOV 14TH 6:30 PM PRESENTATION SPACE PRESENTATION PRESENTATION TOWN HALL 7:00 PM

THIS SHAKING Nang by Nang KEEPS ME STEADY

Canada/Trinidad 2018 Nang has always lived outside the box. Richard Fung is an artist and writer Shehrezad Maher was born This visually reflective documentary by Shehrezad Maher Pakistan 2018 40:19 born in Trinidad and based in and grew up in Karachi, Pakistan attempts to reconstruct trauma — both of first responders in 61:00 English, with English Born in a Trinidadian village in 1934, she grew up poor, Toronto. He is a Professor in the (1988) and is currently based Karachi, confronted with death every day, and of the victims Urdu with English subtitles illegitimate, mixed-race and female, yet she survived and Faculty of Art at OCAD University, in Brooklyn, New York. She and survivors whose experiences are shown via televised subtitles G thrived by defying convention. She left her first of five teaching in Integrated Media and studied visual arts at Bennington re-enactments replayed for mass entertainment. 14A ∙ Toronto Premiere husbands after he cheated on her. With no formal training, Art and Social Change. His work College and received a Master DIRECTOR she danced with choreographer Geoffrey Holder, who later comprises challenging videos on of Fine Arts degree from Yale Originating from a prompt to two ambulance drivers in DIRECTOR a wide range of subjects including University (2014). Her work has Richard Fung (in attendance) won Tony Awards for The Wiz. In her twenties, she went to Karachi to retell their recurring dreams, this film explores Shehrezad Maher the role of the Asian male in screened at institutions and work in the Orinoco delta in Venezuela, and saved enough to the permeable boundaries between memory and fiction, (in attendance) gay pornography, colonialism, festivals such as Visions du CAST and between lived trauma, its recollection, and its re- buy a house. She attended university in New York in her 40s. immigration, racism, homophobia, Réel (Nyon, Switzerland), RIDM Nang enactment. First responders reflect on the aftermath of OFFICIAL SELECTION Through her stubbornness, resourcefulness and resilience, AIDS, justice in Israel and Palestine, (Montréal, Canada), the LA Film violent events, while television re-enactment actors audition 2018 Montreal International Nang has surmounted life’s traumas and tragedies. In this and his own family history. Forum (Los Angeles, CA), Anthology vivid portrait, filmmaker Richard Fung gets to know Nang, his Film Archives (New York, NY), for, and perform the gendered roles of victim, perpetrator, Documentary Film and witness in scenarios ranging from the banal to the This screening will be previously unknown first cousin, at her current home in New and Experiments in Cinema Festival tragic. Unfolding through rituals, preparations, dreams, and followed by a discussion Mexico and on the road in Trinidad. - KE (Albuquerque, NM). 2018 Visions du Reel performance, we never see the tragic events themselves, but moderated by Lisa Steele, instead catch traces of the extent to which they have been co-founder of VTape. internalized by a society. - KE

SPECIAL SPONSOR Free admission for screening, but guests must This screening will be followed by a discussion register for the event through Asian Institute at: moderated by Michelle Buckley, an urban and economic geographer whose research lies at munkschool.utoronto.ca/ai/event/26390/ the intersections of urbanization, work and employment, and labour migration.

42 43 THURSDAY, NOV 15TH INNIS FEATURE FEATURE JAPANESE CANADIAN THURSDAY NOV 15TH 7:00 PM TOWN HALL PRESENTATION PRESENTATION CULTURAL CENTRE 7:00 PM

ONE CUT OF THE DEAD A Time to Swim カメラを 止 め る な！

Canada/Malaysia 2017 Much has changed in Sarawak, Malaysia since Mutang Urud Ashley Duong is a Montreal- Shinichiro Ueda formed the “I’ve never seen anything quite like One Cut of The Dead. A Japan 2018 82:00 was exiled to Montreal, Canada, more than 20 years ago. A based filmmaker and multimedia film company PANPOKOPINA sublime, almost religious, experience that reminds me why I love 95min. English, Malay with renowned activist for Indigenous rights, Mutang now lives storyteller working to amplify in 2010, and his films have movies.” – ScreenAnarchy Japanese with English English subtitles as a family man. Filmmaker Ashley Duong follows Mutang marginalized voices. A Time to received numerous grand prize subtitles Swim is her feature length awards at various film festivals. PG Toronto Premiere as he travels with his family back to Borneo to reunite with A Japanese indie phenomenon comes to Toronto! One Cut of 14A Toronto Premiere ∙ directorial debut. She has also His filmography includes short ∙ his village relations, their travel visa contingent on Mutang the Dead went from two cinemas to sold-out screenings across recently produced Land and titles Okome to Oppai, Koisuru DIRECTOR staying away from the local politics. the country and the #1 spot at the box office. DIRECTOR Ashley Duong Legends, an interactive podcast Shosetsuka, Kanoja no Kokuhaku Shinichiro Ueda about the connection between Ranking, and Take 8. His personal (in attendance) The remote village in Sarawak, however, is not like he By turns a “making of” mockumentary, a zombie movie, a film the landscapes and myths of slogan is to “make films which industry satire and a hilarious warm-hearted comedy, One CAST remembers it. His cousins who once fought for the forest the Kelabit. will still be fun after 100 years,” CAST Cut of the Dead is something entirely unique and very special. Harumi Shuhama alongside him have joined forces with the logging companies of which One Cut of the Dead is a Mutang Urud Opening with a 37-minute, one-take shot in a run-down, Kazuaki Nagaya that are destroying it. Despite the threat of a lingering arrest perfect example. Noeli Urud abandoned warehouse, a film crew is making a very mediocre Mao warrant, Mutang can’t deny his activism. A Time To Swim traces Agan Urud zombie film — then learn that this is no ordinary warehouse, Takayuki Hamatsu Mutang’s search for belonging in a village where everyone is COMMUNITY PARTNER Natasha Blanchet-Cohen but the site of shadowy military experiments. Suddenly, real related, yet the very idea of home and heritage seems to be Singapore Malaysia Association zombies arrive and terrorize the crew! What may sound like the slipping away. - KE OFFICIAL SELECTION PRESENTED IN plot of a clichéd zombie film, One Cut of the Dead is anything 2018 CAAMFest o PARTNERSHIP WITH: but! This hilarious satire of indie filmmaking and charming, 2017 LA Asian Pacific audience-friendly comedy is not to be missed. - JH Film Fest Free admission for screening, but guests This screening will be followed by a must register for the event through Asian discussion moderated by Takashi Fujitani, SPECIAL SPONSOR Institute at: Professor of History at the University of Tickets for this screening are sold through the Sushi bentos courtesy of Yamato Restaurant Toronto where he holds the Dr. David Chu Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. Visit jccc.on.ca, may be purchased and enjoyed prior to this munkschool.utoronto.ca/ai/event/26394/ Chair and is Director of the Dr. David Chu torontojff.com or call 416-441-2345 screening. Program in Asia-Pacific Studies. 44 45 Film & TV Cloud Delivery

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46 47 NOV 12 & 14TH BACHIR/YEREX CANADIAN SPOTLIGHT CANADIAN SPOTLIGHT BACHIR/YEREX NOV 12 & 14TH VARIOUS TIMES PRESENTATION SPACE ARTIST RETROSPECTIVE PRESENTATION SPACE VARIOUS TIMES

Min Sook Lee

NOVEMBER 12TH @ 1:30 PM: Reel Asian has followed Min Sook Lee’s active involvement in the A Statement from the Artist: LEAD SPONSOR Youth Shorts Program: Counterbalance community, as her work focuses on identifying important and social and economic issues in Canada. I believe in the social function of art. The alienation of the artist This series of short films, focused on issues from migrant from communities is a power blackout that goes both ways. I experiences to settler colonialism and racism to culture In 2017, Min Sook Lee directed Migrant Dreams, a documentary suggest that to forfeit the power of art to the mystification of clash, will have a special Q&A moderated by Spotlight that sheds light on the untold story of migrant workers struggling ‘individual genius’ in pursuit of art for art’s sake is a strategy of Artist Min Sook Lee. against Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) that political neutralization. My recent documentary work has been treats foreign workers as modern-day indentured labourers. built around the experiences and stories of migrant workers in NOVEMBER 14TH @ 7:00 PM: Canada. These projects have been produced in conversation with Retrospective Screening of COMMUNITY PARTNERS Min Sook Lee has directed numerous critically-acclaimed feature migrant justice activists and political allies in the broader social HOGTOWN: THE POLITICS OF POLICING Tiger ATK Magazine documentaries, including: Donald Brittain Gemini winner movement that counters border imperialism. Activating the screen Spirit Hogtown Hogtown: The Politics of Policing is an unblinking look , Hot Docs Best Canadian Feature winner , Gemini is a focus of my documentary work and creating spaces for my El Contrato The at the Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB), a civilian nominated and Canadian Screen Award winner, documentary projects to be discussed, expanded upon or used as Real Inglorious Bastards. body that exercises civilian governance of policing. an organizing tool is paramount to me. I have worked with unions, Historically, appointees to the board have been supporters schools, community organizers, arts groups and faith groups to Lee is a recipient of numerous awards, including the Cesar E. of traditional policing methods. Suddenly, with the newly activate my documentary work. I believe more strongly than ever Chavez Black Eagle Award, and the Alanis Obomsawin Award elected progressive Mayor, left-wing councillors were that genuine social and political change must be accompanied by for Commitment to Community and Resistance. Canada’s oldest appointed to the TPSB. Hogtown follows the politically media re-construction. As Audre Lorde succinctly observed: “The labour arts festival, Mayworks, has named the Min Sook Lee divided board stickhandling charges of internal corruption master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house." Labour Arts Award in her honour. in the force, community concerns of racial profiling and an enormous police budget request during a summer of Currently, Lee is an Assistant Professor at OCAD University, her unprecedented gun deaths in the city. More than a decade area of research and practice focuses on the critical intersections after its Hot Docs premiere, we return the film to the big of art+social change in labour, border politics, migration and screen to re-examine policing in city politics. Colin Ellis social justice movements. of On Docs, TVO’s brand new podcast on documentaries, will be hosting a live Q&A with Min Sook Lee on the intersection of advocacy and documentary filmmaking.

48 49 FESTIVAL LOUNGE, THE COMMONS NOV 1ST – 10TH 401 RICHMOND ST W, RM 450B 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM

REEL HOMESTAY Every year, Canada welcomes hundreds of thousands Paisley Smith (Co-Creator) is a Jam3 (Designer and Developer) Rob McLaughlin (Producer) is a Paisley Smith, Jam3, & of students from around the world. To make the most Canadian filmmaker and virtual is one of the world’s top digital Canadian producer and journalist the NFB Digital Studio of their Canadian experience, many opt to live with reality director based in Los production and design agencies. best known for his work in inter- Canada 2018 a host family. Homestay is one family’s story of life Angeles and Vancouver. She is They specialize in creating highly active media. He is currently fascinated by technology’s ability advanced, experiential works the Executive Producer of the with international students—a look at how complete 15:00 to draw audiences in and open in both the advertising and National Film Board of Canada’s immersion in another culture can create a clash of them up to difficult conversations. entertainment industries. At Jam3, Digital Studio in Vancouver. From expectations and change our understanding of family, ASIAN: Homestay is her personal story—a everything is informed by its three 2008 to 2011, he was the Director hospitality, nationality and love. reflection on suicide, grief, and core principles: story, craft and of Digital Content and Strategy cultural understanding. technology. If it is possible, Jam3 at the NFB, where he led the Homestay is a multi-layered experiment that can do it. development of the institution’s incorporates the latest in VR technology to create a Smith was named one of the 10 digital programming strategy beautiful folded paper-craft representation of the Nitobe filmmakers to watch in 2016 by The Jam3 is one of the most awarded and pioneering interactive Memorial Garden at the University of British Columbia Independent and she was selected interactive design studios in North documentary work, including that narrator Paisley Smith visited while grieving the loss as a youth leader at the 2017 America, globally recognized Welcome to Pine Point and Bear 71. X of a friend and “family member.” Walrus Talks series, presented by major interactive and design Reel Asian X is the variable. in partnership with the Order bodies, including Cannes Lions, Prior to working at the NFB, The paper garden signifies the failure of cultural symbols of Canada and Canada 150. She the Webbys, Awwwards, the Mclaughlin was a producer at The unknown quantity that to fully represent people in all their complexity. As users holds an MFA from the University Favourite Website Awards (FWAs), the Canadian Broadcasting move through the botanical world and interact with key of Southern California’s School of the Advertising and Design Club of Corporation. There he focused escapes the constants of screen, elements, the heavily symbolic visuals fold into existence Cinematic Arts. Canada, and the One Show. Jam3 is on developing new forms of the only Canadian company in the audiovisual content designed to enabling you to literally construct the environment, from time, and space. Everything that FWA Hall of Fame. attract new audiences, including a single leaf to a beautiful, immense garden. the interactive radio service, CBC Radio 3. He also served is not everything else, is X. Smith’s narration powerfully conveys both the youthful as the CBC’s Director of Digital observations of someone who is discovering much of Programming. the world for the first time and the mature insights of a person with a more seasoned understanding of universal themes such as family, culture, empathy and tragedy.

50 51 㐀㄀㘀∠㘀 ㌀∠㘀㔀㘀㐀 挀猀瘀䀀挀栀愀爀氀攀猀猀琀爀攀攀琀瘀椀搀攀漀⸀挀漀洀 WEE ASian Wee Asian is back!

Bring your kids, the next generation of media makers, for a fun day of activities, as they enjoy the Proudly Provides Videography Service for the moving image through crafts, videos, and dance! Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival

52 53 SATURDAY, NOV 10TH TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX KIDS 9:00 AM GREEN ROOM PROGRAM

COLORS WINDS OF SPRING LIGHTS FOR GITA

I AM NOT PRETTY WATER IN THE CUP ROSES SING ON NEW SNOW

WEE ASIAN FREE SCREENINGS (playing on loop) Pulse 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM Hop in and out of the screening room, where you can enjoy short films 2018 made for little ones to enjoy! Colors (Yuki Chen, 6:00) Figuring out who you are is not always easy. Neither is holding yourself to the diverging standards of your family and peers. Kevin, Let your little ones explore the art of movie- a high school boy, navigates being open about his sexuality at school and home. making and fuel their creativity through I Am Not Pretty (Keung Yin-ni & Sin Man-Ting, 6:00) Della often relies on films, crafts, and dance! makeup to feel beautiful. When her boyfriend takes her on a date to the amusement park, Della goes to absolute lengths to keep her makeup intact.

Winds of Spring (Keyu Chen, 6:00) A seedling ready to sprout, a young girl COLOUR: DRAWINGS BY CUP DOODLE realizes her desire to leave home and explore what her purpose is becoming 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM increasingly insuppressible. Pick up a crayon, marker, pencil, and colour in drawings Water in the Cup (Ikuo Kato, 6:00) In a circular manner, this whimsical animation sketched by the Cup Doodle Collective! explores the similarities between humans and the flow of water.

CRAFT: NAIL ART Lights for Gita (Michel Vo, 7:00) Eight-year-old Gita can't wait to celebrate 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Divali, the Hindu festival of lights, in her new home. When a terrible ice storm Great things come in small packages. Our eclectic Nail art for the wee ones! Local nail artist Rhymes With cuts the power, the festival comes alive in a sparkling new way. Pizza will transform your little one’s hands by adding shot film programmes, like your favourite mixtapes, some fun glitter, glitz, and glam using kid-friendly nail Roses Sing on New Snow (Yuan Zhang, 7:00) Maylin cooks mouth-watering polish. meals at her father's Chinatown restaurant, but her father and brothers take all are sure to have something for everyone. Laugh, the credit. When a dignitary from China arrives for a sumptuous banquet, Maylin PLAY: BABY LION KUNG FU finally receives the credit she deserves for her inspired fusion of Old and New cry, sing, and shout with these powerful bursts World cuisine. 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Spend the afternoon with the Chung Martial Arts of cinema. Academy learning kung fu steps and watching martial arts demonstrations. Your little ones can also pose with the Admission is FREE. All ages are welcome. baby lion head mask!

54 55 SHORTS TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX FRIDAY, NOV 9TH PRESENTATION CINEMA 3 6:00 PM

JEZEBEL

LOVEKILL DARD-E-BEDARMAN TIME SPACE AND LEE BURNT OUT

Unsung Voices 7

English, and Various LOVEKILL | Jessica Lee • Canada • 2018 • 11:00 • English JEZEBEL | Karla Villanueva Danan • Canada • 2018 • 8:15 BuRNT OUT | Lina Li • Canada • 2018 • 15:00 • English, Mandarin languages with English Rose, a socially out-of-touch individual, problem solves in a way that is incomprehensible to English, Tagalog with English subtitles with English subtitles subtitles the average person. An innocent promise, made between her and her best friend, ends up Mal is living her best life this summer swiping right on all the An introspective teenage daughter craves her mother’s love in any PG ∙ world Premiere costing a life to fulfill. cute boys across The Six. But will her mother's incessant Catholic way other than materialistic. However, like a candle, she slowly messages distract her from the next cutie sliding into her DMs? burns out after countless attempts. Fearless first-time Jessica Lee (이예지 ) was born in Korea and immigrated to Ontario where she has lived for a majority of her life. Having just graduated high school, she will be taking part in the Cinema and Media Studies program Karla Villanueva Danan - anak of the diaspora - is a second-generation Lina Li (李德慧) has been fostering her passion as a film arts student in filmmakers embarked at York University. She is also a musician and a photographer but is currently focusing on her love for film. Pinay born and raised on Treaty 7 land. Across academic and artistic the Claude Watson Arts Program in Toronto and media manager of CAISA on an intensive summer- [in attendance] disciplines, Danan is most passionate about creating and holding space for Fashion Show, the largest student-run fashion show in Canada. Li hopes to long video production Pinay/Filipinx diasporic stories. She is an avid practitioner of shine theory leverage the power of human emotions to create socially impactful films and cares deeply for community/collective healing and growth. that will make her audience feel more connected, or simply less alienated. workshop and now show DARD-E-BEDARMAN | Mariam Habib • Canada • 2018 • 7:45 • English, Farsi with [in attendance] [in attendance] off their chops in the world English subtitles premiere of Unsung Voices 7. Safa is terrified of being consumed by her own resentment and her father who has to swallow his pride to bring her back home. TIME SPACE AND LEE | Joshua Lang • Canada • 2018 • 11:00 English Mariam Habib is a University of Toronto graduate, with a degree in Political Science. Habib was born in A darker romance explores the heated act of running away with PRODUCED IN COMMUNITY PARTNERS WITH THE SUPPORT FROM Peshawar, where her family had taken refuge during the Afghan Civil War, and raised in Toronto, where one's love and the stark reality of actual execution. Is passion PARTNERSHIP WITH Toronto Youth Shorts she irrevocably fell in love with filmmaking. [in attendance] alone enough?

Joshua Lang (蓝信义) was born in Vancouver, and hails from a background in advertising, having worked as a strategist and project coordinator SPECIAL THANKS TO before switching his focus to film. Lang hopes to contribute his deeply University of Windsor intersectional and unique perspective as a person of colour and member of the LGBTQ community towards telling raw, personal, and connective stories through the immersive medium of film. [in attendance] 56 57 SHORTS BACHIR/YEREX MONDAY, NOV 12TH PRESENTATION PRESENTATION SPACE 10:30 AM

UNDRESSED COLORS A WOMAN’S WIFE

HIDING BIRDS SUNSET SUNRISE PRIYA LIMBOLAND SPECTRUM

English, and Various HIDING BIRDS | Danica Pablo • Singapore • 2018 • 19 min English, Malay with COLORS | Yuki Chen • Canada • 2018 • 6 min • English, Cantonese A WOMAN’S WIFE | Ahlam Jang • South Korea • 2018 • 20 min • languages with English English Subtitles with English Subtitles Korean with English Subtitles subtitles It’s 1993 in Singapore when homosexuality is criminalized and gay bars are constantly Figuring out who you are is not always easy. Neither is holding Eungyeong and Sunghoon, a newly married couple, arrive at PG raided. Leila is in love with Carmina, a Filipino worker who stays in her home. Stifled by her yourself to the diverging standards of your family and peers. a crossroads when Sunghoon comes out to be transgender. parents’ increasingly invasive interventions, Leila decides what she needs to do for the sake Kevin, a high school boy, navigates being open about his sexuality Not knowing what else to do, Eungyeong decides to sell their Stories abundant with of love and ultimately herself. at school and home. apartment. resilience, desire, and Danica Pablo is a 22-year old Filipino who currently resides in Singapore. She aspires to be a filmmaker Yuki Chen is a Vancouver-based 2D animator and illustrator who graduated Ahlam Jang is currently in the Film Production program at Dongguk agency. This collection of that explores stories of the human condition and moral relativity. from Emily Carr University of Art + Design. Chen loves to explore stories University Graduate School of Film Studies in Seoul, Korea. shorts shares the intricate from different cultures based on people's everyday lives. and intersectional UNDRESSED | Alexandra Tse • Canada • 2018 • 7 min • English LIMBOLAND | Melanie Ramos • USA • 2017 • 18 min • English experiences of the queer This Toronto-based documentary centres on three drag queens and their experiences around PRIYA | Daniela Pinto • Canada • 2018 • 11 min • English Estranged from her family for years, Grace returns home for her Asian community. consent, body, and identity. Priya is stuck in the middle between meeting the expectations of mother’s funeral. As if that wasn’t enough drama, the family soon her mother and maintaining her secret relationship with Ashley. To discovers her mother’s body is missing. Alexandra Tse is a creative and hardworking filmmaker, photographer and cinematographer living and be true to herself, Priya has to face certain decisions. working in Toronto, Ontario. She is currently working towards her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Studies at Melanie Ramos was born and raised in Sacramento, California. She Ryerson University. [in attendance] Daniela Pinto works in the film industry as a sound editor and composer, graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Television, Film and New Media at but also enjoys telling her own stories every now and then. Her work San Diego State University and a Master in Fine Arts at New York University primarily focuses on the intersection of South Asian and LGBTQ identity. Tisch School of the Arts Asia in Singapore. Her work focuses on issues SUNSET SUNRISE | Bruce Chiu • USA • 2018 • 12 min • Mandarin with English Subtitles She is a recent graduate of Sheridan College's Bachelor of Film and surrounding the LGBTQ Filipino American experience. Lily and her son, Bao have a great relationship until Lily finds out that Bao is gay. With all the Television program. [in attendance] intentions to be a good mother, Lily tries to “change” her son however things don’t exactly go as planned.

Bruce Chiu is currently studying film production at USC School of Cinematic Arts, Los Angeles. He is interested in making films about social issues and believes that the power of storytelling can change the world.

58 59 SHORTS BACHIR/YEREX MONDAY, NOV 12TH PRESENTATION PRESENTATION SPACE 1:30 PM

FRENCHIES EAST: A RELATIONSHIP CYPHER NIGHTCALLER

NEWBORN PAGG FORBIDDEN TIKKA MASALA HARU’S NEW YEAR

PAGG | Nardeep Khurmi • USA • 2018 • 17 min • English NIGHTCALLER | Alexander Humilde • Canada • 2018 • 6 min COUNTERBALANCE Mandeep has a great job, a loving wife, and a cute son. After English with English Subtitles hearing about a hate-crime, the July 4th BBQ he is at with Manila is considered the number one call centre of the world. his friends and coworkers begins to feel less celebratory as However, what are the deeper implications behind this statistic in he questions his Sikh identity and becomes aware of the relation to globalization, labour, and capitalism? English, and Various FRENCHIES | Kuan-Fu Lin • USA • 2017 • 13 min • English microaggressions he experiences on a daily basis. languages with English When “nice-guy” Arthur gets new neighbours who aren’t exactly who he imagined them to Alexander Humilde was born and raised in Canada. He is a Hot Docs alumni and focuses his work on transnational, contemporary Philippines issues. subtitles be, things get a little out of hand. This satirical fantasy shares insight on current political Nardeep Khurmi is a Los Angeles based writer, director, and actor. Born in Switzerland and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Khurmi's eclectic [in attendance] 14A tensions around migrant issues. childhood helped cultivate his unique vision. Kuan Fu-Lin is the son of two soldiers from Taiwan. Growing up, Lin found solace in comic books as he How does race, gender, struggled with school, hoping to one day become a hero like those in his stories. Lin has gone on to HARU’S NEW YEAR | Alice Shin • Canada • 2018 • 19 min and class establish one’s develop comic fantasies with his brand of social commentary. CYPHER | Lawrence Le Lam • Canada • 2017 • 20 min English, Japanese with English Subtitles English, Korean with English Subtitles New year, new country, new school. Haru has a lot to adjust to in identity? This question Set after the L.A. Riots, tensions still exist within the Korean and Canada let alone figuring out how to make new friends while still fuels the ongoing NEWBORN | Ray Savaya • Canada • 2017 • 6 min • English Black communities. A Korean American high school student, Jay missing the ones she left behind in Japan. When Haru learns about conversations these Tensions arise when a couple discusses how to name their newborn child and realize the feels connected to hip-hop music and its underground community. her weird classmate Frances who doesn’t often appear at school, impact of their decision. When Jay’s father refuses to serve a classmate who is black at their she wonders more about this mysterious person. films raise on issues from restaurant, conflicts start to rise at school and beyond. migrant experiences to Ray Savaya is a filmmaker from Toronto, Canada. He arrived in Canada as an infant when his parents Alice Shin is a Korean filmmaker who has worked in Japan, Korea, USA, escaped the Gulf War in 1991 as refugees. As a film editor, Savaya’s work has been accepted into Lawrence Le Lam is an award winning filmmaker who loves exploring and Canada as a director, producer, and editor. Shin is a winner of the settler colonialism and countless festivals including Cannes, TIFF, VIFF, and LA Shorts Fest. [in attendance] underground worlds and subcultures. Reel Asian’s 2017 Pitch Competition with Haru’s New Year, which is also racism to culture clash. supported by the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, and the Canada Council for the Arts. [in attendance] EAST: A RELATIONSHIP | Noor Khan • Canada • 2018 • 2 min • English with English Subtitles FORBIDDEN TIKKA MASALA | Rahul Chaturvedi • Canada • 2018 Noor Khan dedicates EAST: A Relationship to her connection with the land. East, is where 15 min • English Khan comes from, the Middle East & South Asia, as well as her location in relation to Toronto, When Gayatri, a devout religious vegetarian, accidentally eats i.e. Scarborough. Full of powerful imagery that touch upon her lived experiences, Khan’s meat at her retirement party, her world gets tilted, setting her off short yet resonating film underlies a critical understanding of oneself, community, and on an unexpected adventure. Along the way, Gayatri meets new accountability to land. friends and discovers a different take on life.

Noor Khan is a Scarborough-based community-engaged researcher, screenwriter, and overall digital Rahul Chaturvedi is an Indo-Canadian filmmaker who won the Reel Asian artist. Khan looks to writing and art as forms of reflection and resolution of personal and communal Pitch Competition in 2016 with Forbidden Tikka Masala. He was also challenges. [in attendance] selected as one of ReelWorld Film Festival's Emerging 20 Filmmakers in 2017. [in attendance]

60 61 SHORTS BACHIR/YEREX TUESDAY, NOV 13TH PRESENTATION PRESENTATION SPACE 10:30 AM

TUNDRA WEEKENDS

LINE MA HYPERLIGHT SHIBA SAN AND MEOW CHAN

ENTANGLED TALES

English, and Various LINE | Jihoon Shin • South Korea • 2017 • 17 min • Korean with English Subtitles HYPERLIGHT | Nguyen-Anh Nguyen • Canada • 2018 • 18 min SHIBA SAN AND MEOW CHAN | Chung-Chieh Chiang • Taiwan languages with English A man who passes flyers out to each apartment comes across a door ajar. Unexpectedly, his English 2018 • 30 min • Taiwanese with English Subtitles subtitles goodwill to try and close the door leads him to be involved in the lives of the apartment’s When two elite astronauts wake up from their sleep and struggle Shiba San and Meow Chan is a hit children’s show in Taiwan. 14A inhabitants. to return to their spaceship, they try to piece together what However, behind-the-scenes, there is more than meets the eye. happened in the first place. Shiba san is in love with a married man. Meanwhile, Meow chan is In a world of growing Jihoon Shin is a filmmaker based out of Seoul. He is currently enrolled in the Master of Fine Arts program trying to process his loneliness at home. Together, they confront at Hanyang University. Nguyen-Anh Nguyen is a graduate from the Film Production program at Mel their own emptiness as companions on set and in real life. connections, these stories Hoppenheim School of Cinema and co-founded GreenGround Productions of coincidental encounters and CineGround Media. He recently founded Second Tomorrow Studios, Chung-Chieh Chiang was born in Taiwan and graduated from the TUNDRA | Carol Nguyen • Canada • 2018 • 10 min • English, Vietnamese with where he is developing his first science-fiction feature film, Temple. Department of Radio, Television and Film at Shih Hsin University. and fragile relationships English Subtitles [in attendance] reveal a broader Not knowing what else to do, Thuy continues to search for her missing daughter while living with the traumas of mourning and grief. discussion on what it WEEKENDS | Trevor Jimenez • Canada • 2017 • 15 min means to be connected. Carol Nguyen is a 20-year-old filmmaker based in Toronto. Nguyen’s films often explore the subjects of Set in 1980’s Toronto, a young boy moves around between living cultural identity and family, topics which heavily define her understanding of the world. with each of his separated parents.

Trevor Jimenez is a Canadian filmmaker who has worked as a story artist SPECIAL SPONSOR MA | Andrew Chung • Canada • 2018 • 11 min • English, Cantonese with English Subtitles for over ten years, most notably at Pixar, Disney Feature Animation, and On a snowy winter day, a lonely mother connects with her daughter in the only way she knows. Blue Sky Studios.

Andrew Chung is a Toronto-based film and television director. Chung’s other short films have toured international film festivals in San Francisco, Vancouver, France, Montreal, Regina,Winnipeg, and Rhode Island.

62 63 SHORTS BACHIR/YEREX TUESDAY, NOV 13TH PRESENTATION PRESENTATION SPACE 1:30 PM

DANCING MANILENYOS EAST: A RELATIONSHIP JOURNEYS, DEAR DAD PINKY GURUNG

UNDRESSED KEEPSAKE NIGHTCALLER $30 TO ANTARCTICA

KEEPSAKE | Megan Lau • Germany, Netherlands, USA • 2018 PINKY GURUNG | Gopal Shivakoti • Nepal • 2018 • 13 min • Nepali IN THEIR WORDS 10 min • English, Mandarin and German with English Subtitles with English Subtitles Full of food and hopes, this documentary follows three Asian- In the second phase of elections to the House of Representatives Europeans from different generations who recount their ongoing and State Assemblies, Pinky Gurung, a transwoman and activist, experiences as immigrants in their country. is running her campaign to represent the transgender community English, and Various DANCING MANILENYOS | Patrick Alcedo • Canada • 2018 • 20 min • English in hopes to create more spaces for the voices of the LGBTIQ+ Megan Lau is an aspiring filmmaker from the small town of Martinez, languages with English In Manila, a group of young Filipinos dream of making it big in the ballet world. Amidst the community to be heard. California. Lau is working towards a career supporting the Asian American subtitles city’s disparate social class, ballet teacher Luther hopes to lift his students out of poverty community in Los Angeles and to eventually start her own production Gopal Shivakoti is a documentary filmmaker from Nepal. He has been PG through artistic and life skills one learns from dancing. company with Ukkei Entertainment. [in attendance] working in films and digital media since 2004. Touching on labour, Patrick Alcedo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Dance at York University and holder of the "Early Researcher Award" from the Government of Ontario. Dancing Manilenyos is Alcedo’s 6th JOURNEYS, DEAR DAD | Syafiq Jaafar • Canada, Singapore • 2017 | Joey Chu • Hong Kong • 2017 • 19 min • activism, migration, and documentary film that he has directed, written, and produced. [in attendance] $30 TO ANTARCTICA 3 min • English, Malay with English Subtitles Cantonese with English Subtitles self-perseverance, these Syafiq Jaafar’s poetic documentary combines his memories with Raised in 1960s Hong Kong, Ka Foon Chau faced the bias of her films are not just untold UNDRESSED | Alexandra Tse • Canada • 2018 • 7 min • English those of his late father’s. The two sets of footage connect as a elders who attempted to discourage her interest in the academics. single recollection, flowing in and out of sync to represent the narratives; they are lived This Toronto-based documentary centres on three drag queens and their experiences around Through a small gesture of support she received from a teacher, consent, body, and identity. rhythms and flows of a parent-child relationship. Chau built a life and career that moved beyond the restrictive experiences. boundaries set by her parents’ generation. She is now ready to Syafiq Jaafar has produced numerous media works that explore Alexandra Tse is a creative filmmaker, photographer, and cinematographer living and working in Toronto, fulfill a childhood dream – to see Antarctica. Ontario. She is currently working towards her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Studies at Ryerson University. his Singaporean identity and South East Asian heritage through experimentation with analog film, traditional animation, projections, and [in attendance] Joey Chu was born and raised in Hong Kong. Currently based in Los virtual reality. Angeles, Chu continues to refine her artistry of merging quality filmmaking with authentic stories around the world. EAST: A RELATIONSHIP | Noor Khan • Canada • 2018 • 2 min • English with English Subtitles Alexander Humilde • Canada • 2018 • 6 min Noor Khan dedicates EAST: A Relationship to her connection with the land. East, is where NIGHTCALLER | English with English Subtitles Khan comes from, the Middle East & South Asia, as well as her location in relation to Toronto, i.e. Scarborough. Full of powerful imagery that touch upon her lived experiences, Khan’s Manila is considered the number one call centre of the world. short yet resonating film underlies a critical understanding of oneself, community, and However, what are the deeper implications behind this statistic accountability to land. in relation to globalization, labour, and capitalism? Alexander Humilde was born and raised in Canada. He is a Hot Docs alumni Noor Khan is a Scarborough-based community-engaged researcher, screenwriter, and overall digital and focuses his work on transnational, contemporary Philippines issues. artist. Khan looks to writing and art as forms of reflection and resolution of personal and communal [in attendance] challenges. [in attendance]

64 65 SHORTS BACHIR/YEREX WEDNESDAY, NOV 14TH PRESENTATION PRESENTATION SPACE 10:30 AM

HARU’S NEW YEAR ELASTIC BAND PINKY GURUNG

THE TEST CLIQUE BAIT WHISTLEBLOWER EDUCATE OUR DAUGHTERS

NOT IN UNIFORM

English, and Various HARU’S NEW YEAR | Alice Shin • Canada • 2018 • 19 min • English, Japanese with English CLIQUE BAIT | Anna Mikami • Hong Kong • 2017 • 15 min • English WHISTLEBLOWER | Steven Song • Canada • 2018 • 23 min languages with English Subtitles When Chloe comes across a former childhood friend engaging in English subtitles New year, new country, new school. Haru has a lot to adjust to in Canada let alone figuring intimate affairs, she decides to take a video and share it online. Dealing with a traumatic bullying incident, Tim works through 14A out how to make new friends while still missing the ones she left behind in Japan. When Haru processing the event with his high-school guidance counselor who learns about her weird classmate Frances who doesn’t often appear at school, she wonders Anna Mikami (三上杏奈) is a Chinese Japanese actor, writer, and director pushes him to reveal the names of those involved. based in New York City. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama from Brrring goes the school more about this mysterious person. New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in bell. These films are Steven Song started off in 2010, uploading hip hop dance videos with his Alice Shin is a Korean filmmaker who has worked in Japan, Korea, USA, and Canada as a director, producer, Journalism. [in attendance] best friend, Kevin Lien, to YouTube. As Song transitioned from dance to bursting with potential and editor. Shin is a winner of the Reel Asian’s 2017 Pitch Competition with Haru’s New Year, which is filmmaking, his connection to movement, music and storytelling are not and overspilling anxieties also supported by the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, and the Canada Council for the Arts. left behind. The short film, Whistleblower is a first step in this new and [in attendance] ELASTIC BAND | Alice Liu • Canada • 2017 • 5 min • English exciting direction. [in attendance] found on school grounds. A high school student navigates her racial identity in relationship with her mom and her school friends. THE TEST | Caroline Guo • China • 2017 • 14 min • Mandarin with English Subtitles EDUCATE OUR DAUGHTERs | Belmaya Nepali • Nepal • 2017 Professor Xu is placed in a tricky position when she has suspicions that her entire class Alice Liu is a Chinese Canadian photographer and filmmaker interested in 7 min • Nepali with English Subtitles cheated on their final exam. She soon realizes she alone must decide what to do when her topics of diaspora, female identity and East Asian culture. Liu is currently In this heartwarming documentary, Belmaya Nepali recounts her attending Pratt Institute and is an alumna of TIFF Next Wave and Telluride faculty’s dean refuses to take action. story growing up in a place where education isn’t encouraged for Film Festival’s Student Symposium. girls. Now as a filmmaker and mother, she goes and interviews Caroline Guo is a graduate of Radio/Television/Film at Northwestern University and Film Studies at King’s various girls in Nepal to share their experiences and thoughts College London. Guo is now based in Florida and looks to continue telling personal stories, especially about gender and education. those of women, that help shed light on larger societal issues. Belmaya Nepali is a first-time 25 year-old director from Nepal. Educate Our Daughters is her graduation project and first short film. [in attendance]

66 67 SHORTS BACHIR/YEREX WEDNESDAY, NOV 14TH PRESENTATION PRESENTATION SPACE 1:30 PM

FORBIDDEN TIKKA MASALA JOURNEYS, DEAR DAD MÉMO GIMJANG TUNDRA

NEWBORN PRIYA HAENYO, THE WOMEN OF THE SEA MA RICE BALL

PRIYA | Daniela Pinto • Canada • 2018 • 11 min • English divers of Jeju island, with animations highlighting the musicality UPROOTED Priya is stuck in the middle between meeting the expectations of of the language alongside illustrations depicting their traditions, her mother and maintaining her secret relationship with Ashley. To culture, and history. be true to herself, Priya has to face certain decisions. Eloïc Gimenez is an animator who has worked on many films and TV productions. English, and Various FORBIDDEN TIKKA MASALA | Rahul Chaturvedi • Canada • 2018 • 15 min • English Daniela Pinto works in the film industry as a sound editor and composer, languages with English When Gayatri, a devout religious vegetarian, accidentally eats meat at her retirement party, but also enjoys telling her own stories every now and then. Her work subtitles her world gets tilted, setting her off on an unexpected adventure. Along the way, Gayatri primarily focuses on the intersection of South Asian and LGBTQ identity. MA | Andrew Chung • Canada • 2018 • 11 min • English, Cantonese [in attendance] with English Subtitles PG meets new friends and discovers a different take on life. On a snowy winter day, a lonely mother connects with her Rahul Chaturvedi is an Indo-Canadian filmmaker who won the Reel Asian Pitch Competition in 2016 with daughter in the only way she knows. Family matters are never Forbidden Tikka Masala. He was also selected as one of ReelWorld Film Festival's Emerging 20 Filmmakers MÉMO | Julien Becquer, Elana Dupressoir, Jules Durand, Viviane simple. Ambivalent, in 2017. [in attendance] Guimaraes, Ines Scheiber • France • 2018 • 6 min • French with Andrew Chung is a Toronto-based film and television director. Chung’s English Subtitles other short films have toured international film festivals in San Francisco, affective, and atypical. Louis tests out his independence when he decides to visit a Vancouver, France, Montreal, Regina,Winnipeg, and Rhode Island. These ten snapshots NEWBORN | Ray Savaya • Canada • 2017 • 6 min • English grocery store across the street. [in attendance] cover a range of family Tensions arise when a couple discusses how to name their newborn child and realize the impact of their decision. Julien Becquer, Elana Dupressoir, Jules Durand, Viviane Guimaraes and intimacies. Ines Scheiber completed Mémo together as their graduation short film TUNDRA | Carol Nguyen • Canada • 2018 • 10 min • English, Ray Savaya is a filmmaker from Toronto, Canada. He arrived in Canada as an infant when his parents during their studies at the School of Images Gobelin. Vietnamese with English Subtitles escaped the Gulf War in 1991 as refugees. As a film editor, Ray's work has been accepted into countless Not knowing what else to do, Thuy continues to search for her miss- festivals including Cannes, TIFF, VIFF, and LA Shorts Fest. [in attendance] ing daughter while living with the traumas of mourning and grief. GIMJANG | Lee Da-Na • South Korea • 2017 • 19 min • Korean with English Subtitles Carol Nguyen is a 20-year-old filmmaker based in Toronto. Nguyen's films JOURNEYS, DEAR DAD | Syafiq Jaafar • Canada, Singapore • 2017 • 3 min • English, Malay It’s that time again for all the families to gather and prepare often explore the subjects of cultural identity and family, topics which with English Subtitles kimchi, a Korean tradition also known as gimjang. When an heavily define her understanding of the world. Syafiq Jaafar’s poetic documentary combines his memories with those of his late father’s. unwanted uncle joins in on this family gathering, Yeong Ju begins The two sets of footage connect as a single recollection, flowing in and out of sync to to feel anxious as she is reminded of her traumatic past. | Yusuke Oishi • Japan • 2017 • 15 min • Japanese with represent the rhythms and flows of a parent-child relationship. RICE BALL Lee Da-Na is a student in the Department of Film at Dongguk University. English Subtitles Syafiq Jaafarhas produced numerous media works that explore his Singaporean identity and South East Following a funeral, a father and son share a meal of rice balls Asian heritage through experimentation with analog film, traditional animation, projections, and virtual together while recalling their memories of a loved one. reality. HAENYO, THE WOMEN OF THE SEA | Eloïc Gimenez • France • 2018 • 5 min • Korean and English Yusuke Oishi started his career as an actor in 2002. Rice Ball is Oishi’s directorial debut film. This animated short pairs seven idioms of the Haenyo, the women

68 69 Proud to Reel play our part Osler is pleased to support The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. ideas

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DFI SUMMER DFI GRAD CERTIFICATE CO-FOUNDER OF SENECA DFI Immerse yourself in the community where creative 14-week intensive program 8-month grad certificate Films premiered at Hot Docs: Thai Girls and industry minds come together through panels Divorce: What I See Crimes of the Heart: Adultery and artists talks, as we look to what’s ahead for Apply Today Actuality: The Art and Life of Allan King SENECACOLLEGE.CA/DFI Asian cinema in Canada and around the world. PHOTO BY SHIH-I LIU, DFI GRADUATE

70 71 SATURDAY, NOV 10TH TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX REEL REEL BACHIR/YEREX SUNDAY NOV 11TH 8:00 PM CINEMA 3 IDEAS IDEAS PRESENTATION SPACE 10:00 AM

Keynote: SO YOU THINK YOU CAN PITCH?

Hari Kondabolu th ($8,250 VALUE): The 13 annual Pitch GOLD PRIZE AWARD Competition is back! Catch the • $4,000 Cash showdown between finalists • Business affairs & legal consultation with Behind The Scenes Services This year, the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival is launching Hari Kondabolu is a comedian, writer, and podcaster based in as they pitch their film projects • Acting support (if applicable) from ACTRA Toronto including consultation, coaching, and more our first festival keynote speaker, American comedian, writer and Brooklyn, NY. He has been described by The NY Times as “one of • Opportunity to premiere work at the 2019 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival podcaster, Hari Kondabolu. In 2017, Kondabolu released his critically the most exciting political comics in stand-up today.” In 2018, to a jury for a chance to snag (subject to review), with full festival accreditation his Netflix special Warn Your Relatives was released, and he was acclaimed documentary The Problem with Apu on truTV, where he amazing prize packages. Cheer • Digital film and festival strategy consultation with CineSend named one of Variety’s Top 10 Comics To Watch. confronts his long standing “nemesis” Apu Nahasapeemapetilon – better on the hard work of emerging • A production workflow consultation with Charles Street Video, which includes: known as the Indian convenience store owner on The Simpsons – through > $2,700 in edit suite access and/or production equipment rentals Kondabolu has released two chart-topping comedy albums, Asian Canadian talent and a comedic cultural exposé that questions how it continues to exist in our > $400 artist fee Waiting for 2042 and Mainstream American Comic, on legendary support your favourite team! > 2 sessions with Charles Street Video’s in-house editor hearts and minds of Americans - intact - twenty-eight years later. punk rock label Kill Rock Stars. He has performed on The Late > One-year membership with Charles Street Video Show with David Letterman, Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live, John The evening is a celebration of Asians in the film industry. Kondabolu will Oliver’s NY Stand-Up Show, @Midnight and has his own half- SILVER PRIZE AWARD ($2,800 VALUE): reflect on his personal experiences and speak to the ongoing need for hour special on Comedy Central. He is a former writer and PITCH FINALISTS: diverse Asian representations in the media. Following the phenomenal correspondent on the Chris Rock-produced FX TV show Totally • Business affairs & legal consultation with Behind The Scenes Services Rahul Chaturvedi, Namaste, Santa success of #AsianAugust with Crazy Rich Asians and Searching, and Sandra Biased with W. Kamau Bell. • Acting support (if applicable) from ACTRA Toronto including consultation, coaching, and more Shian Grace, The Diversity Awards Oh’s history-making Emmy nomination, we continue to celebrate the • Opportunity to premiere work at the 2019 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival Tigris Li, OrHoDa collective achievements of Asian creatives working in the media industry. (subject to review), with full festival accreditation Andy Wong, Lost in Itaewon We hope to entertain, inspire and encourage our audience to continue • Digital film and festival strategy consultation with CineSend WITH SUPPORT FROM Kristina Wong, Song Hee the vital work they are doing and uphold our mandate of introducing • A production workflow consultation with Charles Street Video, which includes: and nurturing diverse representation on screen in Canada and the rest > $1,400 in edit suite access and/or production equipment rentals of the world. > $250 artist fee INDUSTRY PARTNERS > 2 sessions with Charles Street Video’s in-house editor > One-year membership with Charles Street Video

Admission: FREE and open to the public.

72 73 REEL BACHIR/YEREX THURSDAY, NOV 15TH IDEAS PRESENTATION SPACE :30 AM

REEL IDEAS CONFERENCE

The Reel Ideas program Elevate Your Pitch! ReMappings Voicing Across Mediums, enriches the Toronto Reel 9:30 AM 2:00 PM In Conversation with Sook-Yin Lee Asian International Film This interactive panel gives emerging filmmakers an opportunity to pitch a project to a panel Explore the documentary form as a means of remapping stories of 4:00 PM Join Sook-Yin Lee and Sherren Lee in this cross-generational artist Festival’s vision by fusing of development executives and funders and receive constructive feedback on how to make traversals and settlement, and as direct interventions into media their pitches more efficient and effective! Panelists will also offer tips and insight on how to representation. The panel will discuss how the documentary form talk on the ways the creative process is transformed and impacted industry and education. generate interest and attention for filmmaker projects to become a reality. lends itself to self-reflexive storytelling, explorations of identity, across multiple genres. How does an interdisciplinary approach Our programming aims to and centering marginalized narratives; what stakes are involved including radio, music and the visual arts enrich the filmmaking provide networking and in telling these stories; and how to navigate truth-telling in these process? What are some insights on making the leap from short skills sharing opportunities personal events as an outsider to the narrative. film format to feature film production? How is the creative process Influencing Impact consistent or different from medium to medium and what is the between emerging talent, 11:30 AM Moderator: April Aliermo, Filmmaker draw of multidisciplinary work? visiting artists and Social platforms such as Twitter and Instagram are now powerful enough to shape career Panelists: Sun-Kyung Yi, Filmmaker & Ashley Duong, Filmmaker established filmmakers. pathways and allow emerging creatives to forge new ways for themselves in all kinds of Moderator: Sherren Lee, Filmmaker industries. In this session, creators and film professionals will learn how to mobilize these Feature Artist: Sook-Yin Lee, Filmmaker Our mandate is to nurture platforms to build opportunity, navigate the nuances of new media, and will receive practical LEAD SPONSOR the growth of Asian tips to harness the power of digital influence for their career. LEAD SPONSOR creatives within film and Moderator: Farah Merani, Actor and Filmmaker the arts at large and to Panelist: Alexa Fernando, Creative Producer explore multiple aspects of Toronto’s entertainment industry in nuanced ways. LEAD SPONSOR

Admission: $6 per talk WITH SUPPORT FROM Day Pass: $20

74 75 Print Source

CLIQUE BAIT HIDING BIRDS MIRAI THIS SHAKING KEEPS ME STEADY Anna Mikami Danica Pablo, Axel Toh MK2 Mile End Shehrezad Maher www.annamikami.com LASALLE College of Arts, Puttnam Ariane Giroux-Dallaire [email protected] School of Film & Animation [email protected] COLORS [email protected] A TIME TO SWIM Yuki Chen www.axeltoh.com NANG BY NANG Catbird Productions [email protected] Vtape [email protected] www.yukichen.org HIGH FLASH [email protected] Enga Chang TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY CYPHER [email protected] NEWBORN Golden Scene Co Ltd Lawrence Le Lam www.activator.com.tw Ray Savaya Pearl Cheung www.facebook.com/cypherfilm [email protected] [email protected] HOGTOWN: THE POLITICS www.raysavaya.com DANCING MANILENYOS OF POLICING TUNDRA Patrick Alcedo Min Sook Lee NIGHTCALLER Carol Nguyen [email protected] Alexander Humilde www.carolnguyenfilms.com HOUSE OF THE RISING SONS Offhand Pictures © DEAD PIGS Sil-Metropole Organization Ltd [email protected] UNDRESSED Mick Ancieto [email protected] Alexandra Tse [email protected] ONE CUT OF THE DEAD Made by Muses Production HYPERLIGHT Third Window Films www.madebymuses.com DEAR EX Nguyen-Anh Nguyen [email protected] Sanling Chang www.facebook.com/hyperlight.io/ thirdwindowfilms.com ULAM: MAIN DISH [email protected] Second Tomorrow Studios Rey Cuerdo www.secondtomorrow.com ORIGIN STORY Kidlat Entertainment

EAST: A RELATIONSHIP [email protected] SuAnn Mitchel [email protected] C Noor Khan [email protected] www.noorkhan.co I AM NOT PRETTY WATER IN THE CUP M Keung Yin-ni and Sin Man-ting PAGG Ikuo Kato EDUCATE OUR DAUGHTERS Hong Kong Arts Centre Nardeep Khurmi TaMaNi Film Y Belmaya Nepali hkac.org.hk [email protected] [email protected] CM [email protected] www.facebook.com/paggfilm

INUYASHIKI @nardeepthoughts WEEKENDS MY ELASTIC BAND Fuji TV Movies Trevor Jimenez Alice Liu c/o [email protected] PINKY GURUNG [email protected] CY [email protected] www.ponycanyon.co.jp/intl/ Gopal Shivakoti www.facebook.com/weekendsfilm [email protected] CMY FAMILY IN THE BUBBLE JOURNEYS, DEAR DAD WHISTLEBLOWER SeeSaw Pictures Syafiq Jaafar PRIYA ZMDE K Heejung Oh Vivo Media Arts Daniela Pinto [email protected] [email protected] www.vivomediaarts.com www.danielapinto.com www.zmde.ca

FINDING BIG COUNTRY KEEPSAKE RAMEN Shop WINDS OF SPRING Michael Grand Megan Lau MK2 Mile End National Film Board of Canada | [email protected] [email protected] Ariane Giroux-Dallaire Office national du film du Canada www.ukkeientertainment.com [email protected] 3155 Côte-de-Liesse Rd., Montreal, FORBIDDEN TIKKA MASALA Québec, Canada H4N 2N4 Rahul Chaturvedi LIGHTS FOR GITA RICE BALL [email protected] www.facebook.com/ Jane Gutteridge Yusuke Oishi forbiddentikkamasala National Film Board of Canada www.facebook.com/RICEBALL.film WISH YOU WERE HERE [email protected] www.oishi-yusuke.jimdo.com Laura Fu FRENCHIES Galaxy Workshop Ltd. Kuan-Fu Lin LIMBOLAND ROSES SING ON NEW SNOW [email protected] www.facebook.com/ Melanie Ramos Jane Gutteridge frenchiesshortfilm [email protected] National Film Board of Canada A WOMAN’S WIFE [email protected] Ahlam Jang GIMJANG LINE [email protected] Da-Na Lee Jihoon Shin SHIBA SAN AND MEOW CHAN DABIN Film Film Dabin Chiang Chung-Chieh [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.facebook.com/shibasan2018 MA HAENYO, THE WOMEN OF THE SEA Jaded Pictures SUNSET SUNRISE Girelle Productions www.jadedpictures.ca Bruce Chiu www.miyu.fr./distribution [email protected] [email protected] brucechiu.myportfolio.com HARU’S NEW YEAR MÉMO Alice Shin GOBELINS, l'école de l'image www.aliceshin.com www.miyu.fr/distribution

76 Project a new perspective

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