CONTENT ADVISORY
Discussions of homophobia, transphobia, family violence
Philippines, Singapore2026100 minEnglish, Mandarin, Thai, Malay, Tagalog, Norwegian with English Subtitles Toronto Premiere
An intimate and joyful documentary profiling the emerging ballroom scene across Southeast Asia, 10s Across the Borders captures what it means to come from a long lineage of LGBTQ+ trailblazers, and how to carry the torch onto untested grounds. Part documentary, part dance film, the electrifying performances and arresting visuals will appeal to ballroom fans’ wide embrace of dance, fashion, and performance.
Born from Black and Latino trans and queer communities in New York in the 1970s, the ballroom scene has grown internationally and has become a safe place for chosen family and radical self-expression. Hailing from legendary houses, Xyza Pinklady Mizrahi (Philippines), Aurora Sun Labeija (Thailand), and Teddy Neverland Oricci (Malaysia) provide us with an inner look on what it takes to carve out a space for their community amidst a world of transphobia and homophobia, while honouring the history that has paved the path for them to do so.
– Khanh Tudo
PARTICIPANTS
Aurora Sun Labeija
Xyza Pinklady Mizrahi
Teddy Neverland Oricci
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Busan International Film Festival, 2026
BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, 2026
New York Asian Film Festival, 2026
AWARDS
Audience Choice Award—Documentary Film, Trans Film Fest Tampa, 2026
Sze-Wei Chan
Sze-Wei Chan is a documentary and experimental dance filmmaker who observes alternate histories, identities, and social issues as expressed in the body, movement, and art. Since 2015, their films have screened across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Chan’s first feature has been presented at the Cannes Film Festival’s Docs-in-Progress, Sheffield DocFest’s MeetMarket, and Poitiers Film Festival.
13 Nov, 2026 8:15 pm
TIFF Lightbox C3PG
CONTENT ADVISORY
Discussions of homophobia, transphobia, family violence
In the spirit of Reel Asian’s 30th anniversary, the extended reality (XR) programme this year is both a retrospective celebrating the breadth of work in immersive media and an opening for playful explorations of how established and emerging artists are exercising their right to speak their truth into reality. Explore and take a step into the many projects and events in the world of Expanded Dis/Closures.
11 Nov.
As the sole camerawoman at Kabul’s state television network, Naru navigates a daily battleground of misogyny just to hold her rightful place. She is hardened by her realities and her worldview is absolute: There are no good men left.
14 Nov. 8:45 pm
Reel Ideas brings storytellers, artists, and industry voices together to share how the work gets made, the risks that push stories forward, and the ideas that challenge what audiences expect. Discover new work, meet the people shaping what comes next, connect with future collaborators, and take home the skills and insight to bring your own vision to life.
12 Nov.
Founded in Toronto in 1997, Reel Asian is Canada’s largest pan-Asian film festival and a year-round cultural organization dedicated to championing Asian and Asian diasporic artists and storytellers. What began as a grassroots film festival has grown into a national platform supporting filmmakers and audiences through screenings, education, industry initiatives, artist development, and community programming presented across Toronto, the GTA, and online across Canada.
401 Richmond Street West, The Commons (Suite 448)
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3A8 Canada
(416) 703 – 9333
info@reelasian.com
Charitable number: 870021383RR0001
