NOV 9–18, 2017 REEL ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL Instant Noodles: Taiwanese-Japanese inventor in Japan, 1958 Programmes MARQUEE 17 REEL ASIAN: X 33 VISTA 39 WEE ASIAN 53 PULSE 57 REEL IDEAS 75 Contents WELCOME 02 CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 04 THANK YOUS 05 TORONTO REEL ASIAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 401 Richmond Street West, FESTIVAL MAPS 06 Suite 448 Toronto, ON M5V 3A8 TICKETING & MEMBERSHIP 07 416 703 9333 [email protected] SCHEDULE 08 Charitable registration number #87002 1383 RR0001 SPONSORS 10 Cover image credit: LETTERS 12 Co-Effect Creative Inc. JURY 14 REELASIAN.COM MEMBERSHIP 15 GENERASIAN NOW 16 #REELASIAN21 PRINT SOURCE 78 Welcome to the 21st Annual Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, Presented by National Bank! We continue to celebrate and embrace diverse stories in filmmaking, and introduce Toronto audiences to new and exciting voices in Asian cinema. We’re extremely proud of the creators, panelists, and media influencers whose films, events, exhibits, and industry sessions make up our November festival, which will spark meaningful conversation on Asian representation in the arts. This year we shine a spotlight on local artist Lillian Chan, whose body of animated work is a reflection of her multi-faceted talent across a variety of projects. She explores the world of VR in her newest piece, Yumi and Boom. Giving life to an event of this magnitude requires the unparalleled contributions of our dedicated staff, passionate volunteers and outstanding Board of Directors. As a charitable organization, we are grateful for the support and generosity of our members, donors, government funders, sponsors, and community partners that have given Reel Asian the tools to continue to grow and serve our film- making community in Toronto and internationally. We also recognize the courageous and talented filmmakers that have often made hard choices to create and share their stories with audiences, which we’ve had the pleasure to share with Toronto through Reel Asian. Lastly, we must not forget to thank the audiences - you! - for coming out and enjoying the movies and events with us. See you at the festival! Savine Wong Kristine Estorninos Interim Executive Director Head of Programming 02 Proud To Offer Our Support & Applause National Bank is proud to serve once again as the Presenting Sponsor of the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival now celebrating its twenty-first year. At National Bank, we are committed to promoting social and cultural development and to be a part of the community in which we serve our customers. Our main areas of focus include: entrepreneurship, education, health, sports and culture – National Bank helps to support hundreds of organizations across Canada, and is pleased to include Canada’s largest Asian film festival on this list. This year marks National Bank’s eighth of involvement and fifth consecutive year as Presenting Sponsor for the film festival. We look forward to celebrating another amazing year of Asian cinema and culture and ethnic filmmakers. We hope you enjoy the film festival and all the wonderful films that will surely delight and entertain us. 03 Credits & Acknowledgements Back (Left-Right): Development SPECIAL PROJECTS ASSISTANT Dilani Rabindran, Committee Joseph Chung Chris Chin, Jennifer Chen (Co-chair) Aaditya Aggarwal, Marketing Committee Savine Wong, Karthiga Ratasapathy Amanda Clarke, (Co-chair) Hyesoo Kim (Co-chair) Joseph Chung, Aashti Vijh (Co-chair) Philbert Lui E.J. Alon Nayeon Kim Aravinthan Ehamparam Front (Left-Right): (Advisor) Betty Xie, Norman Lem Bhupesh Shah (Advisor) Jihee Min, David Wong Vithiya Murugadas, Ree Chen Philip Wong Sabrina Spence, Rebecca Hong Kristine Estorninos, Karma, Finance Committee Alex Khotsiphom Hazelmae Valenzuela, Geoffrey Peers (Chair) Kathryn Lee Milica Dodic, Norm Lau Hanako Fujii, Veronica Lin Ree Chen Marie May Eugenie Lu Missing: Programming Jaspreet Sandhu Louanne Chan, Committee David Seol Douglas Cunningham, Terence Tam Rebecca Hong, Aaditya Aggarwal (Chair) Munok Song, Ziyan Hossain Nivethika Thambithurai Yoko Nakamura, Amy Thind Aki Takabatake Haaris Qadri Vanessa Tam Emma Ward Nara Moon Events Committee Vithiya Murugadas Chair Emeritus Sonia Sakamoto-Jog Executive Director Development Manager Sabrina Spence (Chair) Gina Rim & Founder Ana Serrano Louanne Chan (on leave) Betty Xie Luke Bandara Anita Lee Victoria Shen Prescreeners Barnett Chow Head of Programming Development Assistant Alice Shih Mark Quioc Nadia Junaid Chair, Board of Directors Kristine Estorninos Rebecca Hong Terence Tam Amanda Kwan Karthiga Ratnasabapathy Legacy Circle Programmers Sponsorship Marketing Jason To Joan Liao CO-FOUNDER Vice-Chair, Dilani Rabindran Intern Jolie Zhou Kerry Yang Liu Board of Directors Andrew Sun Betty Xie Munok Song Jennifer Ng Sidney Chiu Unsung Voices 6 FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Technical Coordinator Carina Niro Programming PROGRAMME FACILITATOR Directors Grace Bai Terence Tam Coordinator Eyan Logan Douglas Cunningham Geoffrey Peers (Treasurer) Sally Lee Aaditya Aggarwal Susanne Wong Festival Photographer Nara Moon (Secretary) Sonia Sakamoto-Jog PROGRAMME COORDINATOR Patricia Yoon International Michael Tjioe David Wong Alka Sharma Yoko Nakamura Programming Festival Campaign Richard Cheung Caroline Sin Volunteer Associates MENTORS Design Sarah Goodwin Deanna Wong Photographer Milica Dodic Aniruddha Pande Co-Effect Creative (year-round) Immanuel Lanzaderas FORMER BOARD CHAIRS Aki Takabatake Kevin Wong Design Volunteer Simran Prihar Yuhan Pan Karla Bobadilla Jaene Castrillon Youth Education Tayler Wong Tamara Shannon Jennifer Chen Volunteer Coordinator Coordinator Sonia Hong Austin Wong Amanda Clarke Festival Trailer Editor FORMER BOARD MEMBERS Yoko Nakamura Khanseng Mein Richard Torres Festival Advisory Pablo de Ocampo Guest Services Piyush Puri Reel Ideas Coordinator Nobu Adilman Kwoi Gin Coordinator Dongjie Lai Festival Videographer Vithiya Murugadas Karla Bobadilla Richard Kim Hanako Fujii So You Think You Can FilmLoft Production Jennifer Chen Cheuk Kwan Festival & Operations Accreditations Pitch 12 Copy Editors Linda Fong Du-Yi Leu Manager Assistant PITCH CLINIC MENTORS Scott Ferguson Michael Fukushima Simon Racioppa Chris Chin Joseph Chung Sidney Chiu Laura-Louise Tobin Richard Fung Bobby Sahni Marketing Manager Jennifer Liao Sonia Sakamoto-Jog Colin Geddes Guest Services Drivers Evelyn Siu Philbert Lui LIVE SHOW HOST Carolynne Hew Phil Tsui Derek Chan Publicity Keith Cole Diang-Yee Iu Danish Vahidy Communications Alan Yang Touchwood PR Assistant Anita Lee Bob Wang Driver Everything In Place Ree Chen Box Office & Ticketing Helen Lee Marco La Rocca CURATOR AND PROJECT MANAGER FOUNDING STAFF TIFF Box Office Sally Lee Marketing & Design Immony Men Ann Chiu Stage Manager Keith Lock Assistant Maiko Tanaka Shelly Hong Winnie Luk Hazelmae Valenzuela Scott Seetoo Been Here So Long Joanna Miles Interim Executive Office Intern PROJECT COORDINATOR Kerri Sakamoto Director Joseph Chung Savine Wong Jihee Min 04 Thank Yous Community Partners Rendezvous With Madness Thank Yous Barb Hefler Yuhan Pan Film Festival Anime North Francesca Accinelli Alistair Hepburn Georgina Physentzou South Asian Professionals Asian Canadian AIDS Services E.J. Alon James Heron Marguerite Pigott Network Association Asian Pop Up Cinema Marj Andre Maria Ho Debbie Read The Director's Cut Association of Chinese Evelyne Au-Navioz Martin Hofer Bianca Reino Toronto Outdoor Exhibition Canadian Entrepreneurs Alan Bacchus Sonia Hong Jordan Reznick Toronto Sinolux Film ATK Magazine Cameron Bailey Scott Honsberger Collyn Rezsnyak Toronto Smartphone Film Cinema Studies Student Union Grant Hooper Vito Ruffalo Festival David Barnard Deloitte Claire Hopkinson Jason Ryle Toronto Youth Shorts Film William Barron Scott Hosmer Kozue Sato Galleria Supermarket Festival Eric Birnberg Michelle Howell Susan Shackleton Hot Docs University of Toronto Thai Karla Bobadilla Humber College (School of Students Association Nina Boric Catherine Yung-mei Hsu Neethan Shan Creative & Performing Arts) Welcome Centre Immigrant Carolle Brabant Brian Hu Kathleen Sharpe Korean Canadian Business Services Dilshad Burman Sarah Hunter Linda Shen Association Why Not Theatre? Carrie Butcher Jakub Jasinski Howie Shia North American Association of Xpace Cultural Centre Colin Carter Sonia Jog Jenny Shin Asian Professionals York Centre for Asian Research Lindsey Cassel Shaun Johnson Osamu Shiohara Power Unit Youth Organization Y+ Contemporary Kathy Chan Sara Jones Jon Silveirades Sweven Media Jennifer Chan Mark Jones Ariel Smith Taiwanese Canadian Members Sumit Judge Jeff Chiba Stearns Association of Toronto Godwin Chan Mingu Kim Vanessa Tam Thai Society of Ontario E.J. Alon Lillian Chan Peter Kingstone Bart Testa The Second City Louanne Chan Siya Chen Jacoba Knaapen Karen Thorne-Stone Times Physiotherapy Andy Chau Kevin Chen Eileen Lam Jennifer Tibbitts Toronto After Dark Film Festival Doris Chung Ginny Chen Tong Lam Laura-Louise Tobin Toronto Animated Image Christine Hernandez May Cheng Tony Lau Closs Tong Society Sonia Jog Joseph Cheng Jani Lauzon Jeff Tran VYbE Dance Studio Doris Lau Richard Cheung Sally Lee Elliot Tse Women in Film & Television Jason Lee Sam Chou Toronto Philbert Lui Hilda Chow Toro Lee Tushar Unadkat York Universty (Department Alistair Martin King-Wei Chu Clayton Lee Indu Vashist of Cinema Studies & Media Solla Park Tim Chuang Benoit Legendre Thomas Vaughan Arts) Geoffrey Peers Shannon Cochrane Norman Lem Risa Veffer Simran Prihar Keith Cole Irwin Li Barry Waite Community Supporters