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Reel Asian is Nominated for a Canadian Screen Award

2022 Reel Asian Awards is nominated for Best Web Program or Series, Non-Fiction at the Canadian Screen Awards which will be televised in May. The 2022 Reel Asian Awards program serves as both a preservation and embodiment of our mission. It encapsulates the essence of what we stand for—providing a stage for Asian creatives to shine and ensuring their contributions are appropriately acknowledged.

We are grateful for this nomination. The Canadian Academy’s support means a great deal to us, and we look forward to the Canadian Screen Awards where we will be alongside our esteemed fellow nominees.

About the 2022 Reel Asian Awards:

The weeks leading up to our annual festival are undeniably the most hectic. Amidst finalizing details with speakers, venues, and worrying about ticket sales, we seized the opportunity to enhance our digital Awards show, something we were thrown into doing during the onset of the pandemic. Although we were thrilled to return with our first fully in-person festival, we recognized the significance of an online Awards show–each award sponsor and winner had their moment to speak, and we were able to incorporate live musical performances from an ever-growing network of Asian talent.

The decision to host a digital Awards show brought its own set of challenges, including assembling a crew, securing a studio, arranging camera equipment, and scripting the event—all amidst an already lengthy pre-festival to-do list. Despite the tight timeline, our community rallied behind us. Through calls for assistance, we were fortunate to have generous members step up willingly, contributing their time and expertise without hesitation and the show came together in about two weeks.

During the peak of our planning schedule, we set aside our day-to-day responsibilities to contribute to the Awards show. For the day, our director of creative marketing and communications assumed the role of director, our shorts programmer became our Covid-19 compliance supervisor, our artistic director took on the role of GAFF and lighting grip, and I took on driving duties and lunch orders. It was a testament to the collaborative spirit within our organization, and it was undeniably rewarding to step into the other side of things and see everyone come together in a new way.

Despite our diverse roles, our shared objective remained constant: to provide a platform for Asian creatives and to duly recognize their outstanding work and achievements.

Join our Board of Directors

Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival is a not-for-profit festival with strong roots in the community. In a strong, effective governance model, strategic planning is the full responsibility of a Board of Directors. The board sets the strategy and the priorities to then enable and support the staff to operationalize the strategy on a day-to-day basis. Strategic planning is the most critical investment of time a Board can contribute to any organization.

Last year, Julie Chang and Shaheen Ali were elected as the Chair and Vice-Chair of Reel Asian’s Board of Directors, and now the festival is looking for more individuals to contribute their skills and expertise to the organization.

Primary Responsibilities & Expectations:

  • The board functions strictly on a volunteer basis.
  • Commitment to 1 term of 3-years, which can be renewed for a total of 6-years.
  • Regular attendance of monthly board meetings, whether virtual or in-person.
  • Become an annual member of the festival at any tier (lowest is $30).
  • Contribute monetary board dues to support staff appreciation events (~$100).
  • Attendance of strategic planning meetings held in 3-year planning cycles for high level clarity and alignment.
  • Utilize resources and network in the best interests of the festival.
  • We highly encourage attendance of festival’s opening and closing events, as well as participation in the events scheduled in between
  • We highly encourage attendance of at least 2 programming events year round.
  • Join at least 1 of the following committees: Governance and Nominating, Development, Finance, Programming, Marketing, Industry & Education, and Human Resources.

Seeking Expertise in:

  • Marketing
  • Not-For-Profit Governance
  • Filmmakers and Artists

To align with Reel Asian’s mandate to meaningfully diversify and be representative of our community, we are actively seeking to enhance representation on our board, particularly among individuals from West and South Asian backgrounds. We warmly invite all interested candidates to apply. Your voices are invaluable to us, and we are eager to broaden the diversity of our leadership team.

Deadline: Applications must be received by March 18th, 11:59PM EST.

For questions or additional support, please email board@reelasian.com.

Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival opens with Fawzia Mirza’s THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS

9 Nov, 2023

Toronto, ON – On Wednesday night, the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival kicked off its 12-day festival (November 8-19) with a special red carpet presentation of a light-hearted coming-of-age queer-themed feature about a mother and daughter’s relationship set in Toronto and Karachi, directed by Fawzia Mirza.

During opening remarks, Reel Asian acknowledged the $72,800 Resilience Communities Fund grant received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) last year that was used to sustain its fundraising infrastructure for its partnership and membership programs by helping with staffing costs — as these are two key revenue streams that help fund programming for the festival and year-round.

“As a representative committed to fostering cultural diversity and artistic expression, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival for their remarkable achievement in securing the Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation,” said Kristyn Wong-Tam, MPP for Toronto Centre. “Through their strategic use of this grant, the festival has further fortified its role in supporting and amplifying the voices of Asian Canadian filmmakers. Their dedication to nurturing a diverse audience and generating enthusiasm for independent Asian artists’ work is essential for cultural enrichment in Canada. Congratulations!”

“The need for this grant to sustain our fundraising efforts cannot be overstated,” said Deanna Wong, Executive Director, Reel Asian. “Now, when we need our stories more than ever, support for media arts festivals like ours has shrunk. But we won’t let this situation stop us from bringing you, our audience, another lineup of films that will speak to your own experiences, or introduce you to new ones. Our loyal partners, members, and donors have demonstrated that there is still a desire to support great storytelling and the celebration of diverse voices.”

The festival is also pleased to announce the election of Julie Chang and Shaheen Ali as the new Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively, of its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Chang and Ali have served on the Reel Asian board since April 2023 alongside outgoing board co-chairs Austin Wong (Head of Legal & Business Affairs, Wattpad WEBTOON Studios) and Jennifer Shin (Director of Development, Comedy, CBC Scripted). Both Wong and Shin are departing from the board after having served two terms, in January 2024. “We are grateful as co-chairs to have had the opportunity to bridge connections between Reel Asian and artists to participate in industry initiatives. Like with anyone who comes through Reel Asian, this is not goodbye and we look forward to coming back every year as family of the festival,” said Austin Wong. “Within 6 years I witnessed Reel Asian pivot to a digital festival during a pandemic, launch a $25,000 award, and retain the same staff year after year — all the while being a platform of hope and inspiration for Asian creatives and community,” said Shin, who co-chaired the board with Austin Wong over the past 3 years.

As the new chair, Chang will oversee the next period of exciting change.

Reel Asian remains committed to bringing you diverse, thought-provoking films, workshops, panels, exhibitions and more to create space and amplify Asian artists.

For the full Festival programme and schedule, please visit: reelasian.com or view the 2023 Programme Guide here.

 

See our Flickr for photos from Opening Night. 

Letter from the Board

8 Nov, 2023

Welcome back to Reel Asian! The last few years have brought so many changes and challenges to the festival and this year was no different. The difficult economic landscape created another hurdle for our organization,  but again as always, the commitment of generous donors, the constant support of you, our audience, and the perseverance of our incredible staff, came through.  We are once again proud to present you with a full, rich, festival experience. It’s the last one under our tenure as co-chairs and we couldn’t be prouder of it. As the world continues to evolve and tensions continue to rise, let’s take this time to celebrate the diversity and creativity of our filmmakers and the knowledge that we can still create a community that supports and encourages all voices.

Board Co-Chairs

Austin Wong                          Jennifer Shin

Introducing the 2023 Festival Creative Artist

18 Oct, 2023

As we approach the 27th edition of the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, running from November 8–19, 2023, we’re excited to introduce this year’s Festival Creative Artist, Ben Luu!

In our commitment to uplift and showcase Asian Canadian voices, stories, creativity, and art, we’ve commissioned a talented local artist to craft the visual identity for our 27th year. Read more about Ben and see his full animation, Flower Pot before every screening at this year’s festival!

Ben Luu

Ben Luu is a graphic designer and artist based out of Tkaronto/Toronto. He is interested in image-making, type design, editorial design, and the intersection of design and dance. His practice encompasses illustration, design, writing, and dance, touching upon topics of wellness, queer identity, technology, and the environment.

Artist Statement

I use flowers in my personal work to symbolize beauty, life, queerness, and celebration. Here, the stylized flowers are a take on the flower motif found in traditional ceramics. In ceramics, stylistic influences, motifs, and natural resources travel between cultures and people, amalgamating human histories—not unlike filmmaking.

There is a lot of uncertainty in a world that is ever automating, attempting to fade artists into obscurity for profit, and I feel that now it is most important to celebrate these practices, like ceramics or filmmaking, where the craft intrinsically captures the human spirit.

Process Work

Animation Music Credit

aaronraays aka RAAYS is a producer, multi-instrumentalist, and sound architect, always approaching music through a lens of curiosity. It’s from this intuitive sense of wonder he synthesizes earthly fragments with cosmic soundscapes, reflecting it all back as shimmering ambient, experimental jazz and radiant left-field electronic beat music.

Join Us in Sustaining Reel Asian:
Help us Reach $50,000

In our remarkable 27-year journey, Reel Asian has brought you the authenticity and diversity of Asian cinema, culture, and storytelling. We’ve celebrated countless moments of inspiration and connection, sharing the magic of film with our wonderful community. However, today we find ourselves facing an unprecedented challenge.

Without adequate funding, we are forced to make painful decisions – not only can we not host the hybrid festival we envisioned, but we are also compelled to cut back on our programming and events. This translates to fewer stories told, fewer voices heard, and fewer chances for Asian talent to be recognized on a global stage.

The financial constraints across the industry have never been this severe, and we are compelled to reach out to you, our cherished supporters, for help.

If you’ve ever found solace, joy, or enlightenment through the films and experiences we’ve brought to Toronto—and in recent years across Canada— if you’ve felt the profound impact of Asian stories on your life, or if you believe in the importance of a platform like Reel Asian, we warmly ask for your support.

The truth is, the challenges we face are not unique to Reel Asian. Across the arts and culture landscape, festivals, and the media industry, organizations are grappling with similar financial strains. It is a testing time for all of us who cherish the power of storytelling and the celebration of diversity.

Your donation, no matter the size, will make a tremendous difference in ensuring that Reel Asian continues to be a beacon of Asian cinema, culture, and artistry for generations to come. With your help, we can overcome these obstacles and continue to inspire, educate, and connect our community through the power of film.

Your support is not just financial; it’s a testament to the enduring spirit of Reel Asian and the importance of the stories we share.

No amount is too small. Donating even just $20 dollars will go a long way in helping us reach our goal of $50,000.

How You Can Help:

Donate: Every dollar makes a difference. Your donation directly contributes to the future of Asian cinema and sustains a diverse, working environment in the industry.

Spread the Word: Share our urgent call for support with your network. Help us reach those who share our passion for diverse storytelling.

Advocate for Change: Join us in advocating for increased support for arts and culture, ensuring our creativity continues to thrive.

Let’s rally for Reel Asian. Together, we can ensure that this festival that has touched the hearts of so many continues to thrive for years to come.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Deanna Wong, Executive Director
Jennifer Shin & Austin Wong, Co-chairs, Board of Directors
Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival

Please note: If you are unable to donate through our website’s ticketing platform, Elevent, an alternative way to donate is through CanadaHelps.
Thank you so much for your support.

Announcing the Inaugural Kalabaw Bursary Recipient

Patrick de Belen

Reel Asian is happy to announce the inaugural recipient of the Kalabaw Bursary, Patrick de Belen! Juried by Romeo Candido, Shasha Nakhai, and Martin Edralin, the $5,000 bursary award is presented annually to a Filipinx emerging artist with a strong voice, clear vision, artistic approach and a story to tell.

We had the distinct privilege to be witness to the incredible depth of talent and compelling narratives within the Filipino community during our selection process. Each applicant brought something special to the table, and although we couldn’t financially support everyone, we wholeheartedly encourage all to persist in bringing your stories to life.

After comprehensive debates and thoughtful reflections, we are awarding the bursary to Last Note by Patrick de Belen. This film courageously explores a personal narrative while addressing an often-silenced issue within our community. Its innovative and experimental approach will be emotional, metal, poetic, honest and while specifically Filipino, promises to resonate beyond our own cultural spheres. Timely and topical, Last Note will bring to light an innovative new voice in Mr. de Belen.

We’re therefore pleased to award the inaugural Kalabaw Bursary to this exceptional project. Our hope is that this funding propels Last Note towards completion, reaching an audience that will be moved by it as profoundly as we have.

We would also like to announce that the focus of year two of the Kalabaw Bursary is to be a fund that will support the creation of a script.  More details to come.

With much respect / Labis na paggalang,

Martin Edralin, Romeo Candido, Shasha Nakhai

Announcing the 2023 Unsung Voices Participants

6 Jun, 2023

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival is excited to announce this year’s Unsung Voices participants! The Unsung Voices Summer Youth Video Production Workshop will provide young Asian Canadians who have a keen interest in film and media art the chance to express themselves as artists, learn from professionals in the field, and to produce a distinctly Asian Canadian story on screen. The films made will receive a world premiere at the 27th Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival in November 2023. Read more about the selected participants and program mentors below!

Meet the 2023 Cohort

Ashna Ali

Ashna Ali is a Kurdish-Canadian artist, multimedia designer, and activist. She is a co-founder at Anti-Heroine Media, where she foregrounds feminist representation and ethical approaches to storytelling for social change.

Twitter: _ashnaali
Instagram: _ashnaali

Melvin Daligdig

Hi my name is Melvin Daligdig and I am a Filipino multidisciplinary artist specializing in film, photography, stunts and dance in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Instagram: M3lbean

Corinne Langmuir

Corinne Langmuir is a Taiwanese-Canadian writer, filmmaker, and student. With a strong passion for the arts, Corinne’s interest in media has become a vehicle for her creative expression. She is fascinated by the various forms that storytelling can take—whether through literature, film, or internet culture commentaries. Corinne’s past work has been in the realm of dance film. The Unsung Voices program serves as her first experience directing a narrative film with dialogue. Corinne co-created two dance shorts, Zì Jǐ (2020) and Something To Forget Me By (2022), which have gone on to screen at international festivals. The latter film recently won the 2022 Audience Choice Award at F-O-R-M (Festival of Recorded Movement). Corinne has also written pieces for various online zines and reviewed films at TIFF for the student-run newspaper, The Varsity. She is thrilled to be a part of this year’s Unsung Voices program and is grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow—both personally and professionally.

Twitter: corinnelangmuir
Instagram: corinnelangmuir

Carthy Ngo

Carthy is a Vietnamese-Chinese-Canadian from Southern Ontario who is exploring filmmaking for the first time while working as a speech-language pathologist by day. She is inspired by the stories of love and loss that she has come across through her work and in life, and hopes to provide comfort with her art.

Instagram: carth

Kevin Matthew Wong

Kevin Matthew Wong (he/him) is a Hakka Chinese-Canadian theatre creator, producer, performer, projection designer, and emerging filmmaker whose work blends documentary media with personal and conversational storytelling.

 www.kevinmatthewwong.com
Instagram: kevinmatthewwong

Satrio Prahasto

As an emerging filmmaker based in Toronto, Satrio is interested in how influences from East and Southeast Asian cinemas can not only inform, but also shape how we tell our respective diasporic stories in a North American setting.

Instagram: satrioprahasto

Meet the 2023 Mentors

Christopher Yip
Filmmaker

Christopher Yip (he/him) is a Queer Chinese Canadian writer & director based in Toronto whose works examine love, family, and sexuality through a distinct diasporic lens. His latest film FISH BOY had its World Premiere at the BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival and was 1 of 8 projects selected for the Frameline Completion Fund. His series Streams Flow From a River, produced by Fae Pictures, had its International Premiere at the Cannes International Series Festival and its Digital World Premiere at the Canadian Film Fest. It is now streaming on Super Channel, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV in Canada. Christopher is represented by Jennifer Irons at META Talent Agency.

Kenya-Jade Pinto
Photographer & Filmmaker

Kenya-Jade Pinto is an Indo-Kenyan-Canadian storyteller and National Geographic Explorer. Her hyphenated worldview informs her work where she focuses on non-fiction and narrative projects that navigate themes of displacement, belonging, and access to justice.

Twitter: kenyajade
Instagram: kenyajade

Kashif Pasta
Film Director

Kashif Pasta is an award-winning director, writer, and producer using film and storytelling to tell character-driven stories centered on South Asian and Muslims with a sense of joy and wonder.  He is the co-founder of Dunya Media, a production company that empowers filmmakers of color to tell stories with joy, wonder, and purpose, where he recently won the 2022 SXSW Grand Jury Prize and Audience Awards – Music Video for producing.  Kashif’s most recent directorial work, the South Asian Muslim sci-fi drama short DESI STANDARD TIME TRAVEL, is currently playing at festivals around the world. He plans to go to camera on his directorial debut feature, LIKE BROTHERS in 2024.

Albert Shin
Filmmaker

Albert Shin is an award-winning Korean-Canadian filmmaker, whose work as a director, writer and producer has been featured at major festivals around the world, including the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), South by Southwest (SXSW), San Sebastian (SSIFF), Locarno and the Berlinale. His work as a writer-director includes his award-winning Korean-language breakout feature, IN HER PLACE (2014), as well as DISAPPEARANCE AT CLIFTON HILL (2019).

In addition, Albert founded the Toronto-based production company, TIMELAPSE PICTURES along with fellow filmmaker, Igor Drljaca. Through the company, he’s produced the features, KRIVINA (2012), THE WAITING ROOM (2015), THE STONE SPEAKERS (2018) and THE WHITE FORTRESS (2020), the last of which was Bosnia-Herzegovina’s selection for the Foreign Language Academy Award in 2021.

Martin Edralin
Filmmaker

Martin Edralin is a Filipino-Canadian, Toronto-based filmmaker. His first short film, HOLE (2014), won the Grand Prize at Clermont-Ferrand, jury prizes at Locarno and Seattle, and screened at Sundance, TIFF, and BFI London. His second short, EMMA (2016), was selected in TIFF Canada’s Top Ten and won Best Live Action Short at the Rhode Island IFF. His debut feature, ISLANDS (2021), premiered at SXSW and was awarded Special Jury Recognition.

Renuka Jeyapalan
Film Director

Renuka Jeyapalan is a Toronto-based writer/director and graduate of the Canadian Film Centre’s Director’s Lab. She has directed episodes of SORT OF (HBOMax), WORKIN MOMS(Netflix), GINNY & GEORGIA (Netflix), THE 410 (CBC), and KIM’S CONVENIENCE (CBC). She has also directed the pilots for CHILDREN RUIN EVERYTHING (Roku) and SON OF A CRITCH(CBC). Recently, she wrapped on the upcoming ABC Signature/Onyx Collective series HOW TO DIE ALONE, created by and starring Natasha Rothwell. Renuka’s short film BIG GIRL (‘05) screened at the Berlinale, Tribeca, and TIFF, where it was awarded Best Short Film. Her other short films include ARRANGED (‘14), A BICYCLE LESSON (‘16), and LIFE SUPPORT (‘19), which screened at TIFF. More recently, she wrote and directed her first feature film, STAY THE NIGHT (‘22), which had its World Premiere at SXSW. Renuka has an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Toronto.

2023 Fire Horse Award Ceremony

On May 31st, Reel Asian wrapped up Asian Heritage Month with its second annual Fire Horse Award reception and ceremony, celebrating film editor Mary Stephen.

Stephen’s work is extensive, with over 52 credits and four best editing nominations to her name. Most well known for being the film editor and occasional co-composer for renowned French New Wave director Eric Rohmer, Mary has always followed her intuition across borders, taking storytelling beyond convention, and approached her work expansively with care and connection.

Through several anecdotes in her acceptance speech, Stephen takes us through moments that remind us to be fearless in exploring the complex tapestry of our being without being defined only by our differences.

“We’ve come a long way, but there is still a long way to go! And as we all know, we are constantly being shoved back to the starting block. Reel Asian provides a precious, safe place and a mutually motivated community to keep us going strongly and bravely on this long journey. This award will certainly motivate me to continue my work in exploring our specific heritage but also our way of belonging to a larger human community.”

Stephen’s artistry, grit, constant mentorship, and collaboration with the next generation of filmmakers is something to both celebrate and emulate. For her career and ongoing work as a mentor, filmmaker and trailblazer, we at Reel Asian are honoured to present Mary Stephen with the 2023 Fire Horse Award.

Presenting Sponsor

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Reception Sponsor

The Fire Horse award honours an Asian Canadian individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to the film and media-arts community. It was created on the occasion of Reel Asian’s 25th Anniversary in 2021 to honour Reel Asian founder Anita Lee, whose groundbreaking work and determination has made Reel Asian a staple in Canada’s festival landscape.

Watch Mary Stephen’s tribute video below.

Watch Mary Stephen’s acceptance speech below.

View all speeches from the 2023 Fire Horse Award Ceremony here.

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