it’s a BIG deal. Major Sponsor: 15th Anniversary Edition November 8 – 19, 2011 reelasian.com 1 contents CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2 TORONTO VENUE MAP & TICKETING 3 SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE 4 SPONSORS & GOVERNMENT FUNDERS 6 COMMUNITY PARTNERS 7 BACK (Left-Right): Eva Ho, Henry Wong, Tina Zafreen Alam, Sonia Sakamoto-Jog, Gina Rim, Louanne Chan, Joyce Wong. FRONT (Left-Right): Nobi Nakamura, Heather Keung, Aram Siu Wai Collier, Selena Lee, Chris Chin, Bjorn Hochschild. (Missing: Vicci Ho) PRESENTATIONS BY DAY FREE CELEBRATION SCREENING 13 This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, Canada’s largest Asian film festival, and we are both amazed and elated to be here. Over the past 15 years, Reel OPENING NIGHT GALA 15 Asian has risen to become the leading exhibitor of Asian films in Canada, presenting work by some of Asian cinema’s most celebrated filmmakers: Cannes Palme d’Or winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul, WED NOV 9 17 Oscar™-nominated Christine Choy, Genie Award winner Yung Chang, Governor-General’s Award winner Paul Wong, and acclaimed Hong Kong director Johnnie To, to name only a few. Reel Asian has also EXHIBITION: LOST SECRETS OF THE ROYAL 18 dedicated itself to showcasing films being made right here in our own backyard, by Canada’s smartest, funniest, and most thought-provoking Asian filmmakers, telling stories that are distinctly Canadian and THU NOV 10 25 distinctly ours. This year, Reel Asian brings more incredible work from across Asia, including the Opening Night Gala, CANADIAN SPOTLIGHT: LILY ENG 28 Lover’s Discourse, a star-studded journey through infatuation, betrayal, and ultimately love from directors Derek Tsang and Jimmy Wan. Our Centrepiece Presentation, Jump Ashin!, is a heart-warming FRI NOV 11 33 tale from Taiwan of a young gymnast who follows his dreams. And the festival closes with Buddha Mountain, a powerful drama about two generations in China in the aftermath of the Sichuan SAT NOV 12 39 earthquake. CENTREPIECE PRESENTATION 45 We are also pleased to announce a second festival weekend in Richmond Hill, a film-loving community whose enthusiastic audiences have welcomed us whole-heartedly since we expanded our festival in 2010. In Richmond Hill we open with the highly anticipated Hong Kong blockbuster Overheard 2 from SUN NOV 13 49 directors Felix Chong and Alan Mak. CLOSING NIGHT GALA & awards CEREMONY 55 Reel Asian’s Industry Series continues to foster Asian talent through networking opportunities and industry-focused workshops. Look for past winners of our annual So You Think You Can Pitch? competition—Sugar Bowl in the Trailblazers Shorts Presentation, and Searching for Wonder in the Crossroads Youth Presentation. festival AWARDS & JURY 56 Fifteen years doesn’t happen without incredible support from the community. A huge and heartfelt PITCH awards & jury 57 thank you to our government liaisons, community organizations, festival sponsors, interns, volunteers, board of directors, and staff for your passion and commitment. We simply wouldn’t be here without INDUSTRY SERIES 58 you. Let the celebrations begin! Sonia Sakamoto-Jog RICHMOND HILL VENUE MAP & TICKETING 61 Executive Director RICHMOND HILL OPENING NIGHT 62 SAT NOV 19 63 I started programming for Reel Asian in the spring of 2006, the year of its 10th anniversary. Now, six festivals later and celebrating our 15th anniversary, I’m given the opportunity to reflect on all the joy RICHMOND HILL CLOSING NIGHT 63 and insight I’ve gained from being a part of this organization. When I first started, I didn’t really understand the significance of an organization like Reel Asian, and how truly special it was. In Toronto, we are surrounded by generations of Asian communities and audiences of all backgrounds with a genuine interest in Asian culture and art. Our unique situation provides a rich context for presenting Asian film and media arts. PRINT SOURCE/INDEX 64 This year’s programming highlights work by incredible local talent. Pearls of the Far East is a cinematically stunning debut feature by Vietnamese-Canadian director Cuong Ngo, based on love stories by award-winning Vietnamese author Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc. Our Canadian Spotlight on Lily Eng looks at one of Canada’s first Asian performance artists, who blew Western audiences away with her powerful combination of formal dance, conceptual art, and martial arts. In a two-part exhibition at the Blackwood and A Space galleries in collaboration with LIFT, we present four new commissions TORONTO REEL ASIAN International FILM Festival inspired by an archive of 35mm Hong Kong films from the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s, recovered by Colin 401 RICHMOND ST W, SUITE 309 Geddes from the basement of what is now Toronto’s Royal Theatre (and this year’s main festival venue). Installations include Never A Foot Too Far, Even by Daïchi Saïto, Yokai & Other Spirits by Cindy TORONTO, Ontario Mochizuki, Snake’s Shadow by Louise Noguchi, and Officer Tuba Meets the Happy Ghost by soJin Chun. M5V 3A8, Canada This year brings a diverse selection of feature films from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, and more. Original, significant, and relevant, these films create a deeper understanding of true friendship, human rights, and artistic freedom. We also welcome International T: 416 703 9333 Programming Consultant Vicci Ho to Reel Asian, and I would like to thank her and our hardworking programming committees, talented artists, and directors for bringing together this year’s deep and F: 416 703 9986 varied lineup of thought-provoking films. Enjoy the festival. [email protected] REELASIAN.COM Heather Keung Artistic Director Charitable registration NUMBER: 8700 21 38 3RR 0001 2 credits & acknowledgements Chair Emeritus & Founder Executive Director Finance Committee Special Events Committee Festival Trailer Extras Anita Lee Sonia Sakamoto-Jog Diang-Yee Iu, Chair Adia Addageethala Tanya Barretto, Jon Bunning, Chris Teresa Ho Lauren Avinoam Chin, Natalia Chiu, Barnett Chow, Chair, Board of Directors Artistic Director Norm Lau Ieva Balciute Daryl Chow, Aram Collier, Rebecca Karla Bobadilla Heather Keung Barnett Chow French, Jason Karman, Heather Features Programming Committee Jennifer Dang Keung, Francis Klein, Harvey Vice-Chair, Board of Directors International Programming June Kim Kristine Estorninos Lalonde, Elena Lau, Hyunse Lee, Richard Kim Consultant Joanna Miles Rebecca Gimmi Young Wook Lee, April Lim, Philbert Vicci Ho Lisa Roosen-Runge Monia Hanafi Lui, Ashley Perl, John Tran, Shiren Directors Alice Shih Angela Holzer Van Cooten, Dean Vargas, Samara Jennifer Chen Operations Manager Grace Wang Vivian Huang Wolofsky, Mary Yang, Suu-Ann Pablo de Ocampo Chris Chin Jennifer Kelly Yang, Arthur Yeung, Colin Zavitz Diang-Yee Iu Shorts Programming Committee Mariko Kojima Joanna Miles Director of Marketing Aram Siu Wai Collier Vithiya Murugadas Design Interns Victoria Shen Louanne Chan June Kim Prasad Pradhan Mary Ip Alice Shih Selena Lee Victoria Shen Jennifer Rong Evelyn Siu Director of Communications Johnson Ngo Sabrina Spence Sophie Tran Danish Vahidy Joyce Wong Coman Poon Terence Tam Danish Vahidy Press Clips Reel Editor Festival Advisory Industry Series Coordinator Lost Secrets of the Royal Project Shiren Van Cooten Henry Wong Nobu Adilman Aram Siu Wai Collier Ben Donoghue, Co-Curator Amanda Wong Linda Fong Vicky Moufawad-Paul, A Space Sam Wong Web Developer Michael Fukushima Marketing Coordinator/ Christof Migone, Blackwood Gallery Chris Davis Richard Fung Industry Series Assistant Festival Design Colin Geddes Henry Wong Marketing Committee Creative Director: Copy Editors Carolynne Hew Yoomee Choo, Co-Chair Terry Lau, beehivedesign.com Patrick Dolan Anita Lee Programming Assistant/ Imelda Nurwisah, Co-Chair Kieran Joyes Helen Lee Print Traffic Coordinator Festival Merchandise Ian McKellar Sally Lee Selena Lee Marketing Toronto Team Terry Lau, Beehive Design Linh Phan Keith Lock Jon Bunning Howie Shia, PPF House Winnie Luk Special Events Coordinator Barnett Chow Publicity Kerri Sakamoto Nobi Nakamura Rebecca French Festival Video Producer Virginia Kelly, VK & Associates Ana Serrano Rodrigo Fritz Dean Vargas Volunteer Coordinator Mingu Kim Translators Legacy Circle Gina Rim Tai Lam Festival Trailer Cuong Ngo Co-Founder Pansy Lee Producer/Director: Joyce Wong Gina Rim Andrew Sun Guest Services Coordinator Anita Li Campaign: Beehive Design Satomi Takei Tina Zafreen Alam Joanna Miles Cast: Franco Nguyen Yang Zeng Former Board Members Evelyn Siu Copywriter: David Strasser Lucy Zhang Cheuk Kwan Educational Outreach Coordinator Satomi Takei Production Manager: Eva Ho Kwoi Johnson Ngo Danish Vahidy Cinematographer: Maya Bankovic Box Office Captain Du-Yi Leu Production Designer: Sonia Hong Jonathan Goldsbie Simon Racioppa Technical Coordinator Marketing Richmond Hill Team Editor: Chris Murphy Eyan Logan Ryan Armitage Sound Design: Chandra Bulucon Theatre Reps Former Executive Directors Jennifer Dang Gaffer: Jeff Hanley Danielle Ayow Grace Bai Festival Assistants Philbert Lui 1st Camera Assistant: Justin Crouch Christina Barry Sally Lee Eva Ho Swing: Joel Kim Donna Dwyer Caroline Sin Björn Hochschild Industry Series Committee Make-up: Meena Patel Deanna Wong Nobu Adilman Production Assistants: Batotsyren Stage Manager Exhibitions Assistant Karla Bobadilla Bazarov, Sam Ho, Mahmud Moral, Scott Seetoo Founding Staff Ruo Bing (Robin) Li Jennifer Chen David Schmidt, Thila Vijayan Ann Chiu Diang-Yee Iu Production Designer’s Assistant: Front of House Assistant Shelly