Reel Asian TIFF Delegation Recap 2026

Reel Asian sent ten delegates to attend TIFF: The Market from Sept 10–16, 2026! Across the board, they described their experience as an inspiring week of learning and connecting. They split their time between panels, screenings, and networking, reconnecting with colleagues and meeting new contacts from around the world. Many also left with promising project leads and partnerships to pursue in the months ahead.

Thank you TIFF for the opportunity to send participants from our industry programs, and RAAN members to attend TIFF: The Market.

Read more about what the delegation got up to!

Lillian Chan (Animation Filmmaker)

What Lillian got up to at TIFF: The Market?

TIFF: The Market was a great time for me to connect with colleagues from across the industry (live action, Reel Asian, animation, immersive) and meet new contacts along the way.

Favourite experience

My favourite panel was the one hosted by Reel Asian’s very own Christine Vu, interviewing legendary directors Kore-eda Hirokazu & Yeon Sang-ho – a one-of-a-kind exchange across Korean/Japanese translations and expertly moderated!

Sana A. Malik (Writer, Director)

What Sana got up to at TIFF: The Market?

I attended a few industry sessions, and had meetings with producers from Canada and the UK. Got to see some high-profile premieres (Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother!) and connect with new and old faces at the festival.

Favourite experience

Honestly, just seeing so many familiar faces at TIFF. It’s been a few years since I’ve been at the festival, and it’s amazing to see old friends come through (especially at the iconic Reel Asian TIFF Reception). A reminder that Toronto is a thriving film city!

Fanny Lord-Bourcier (Filmmaker, Animator)

What Fanny got up to at TIFF: The Market?

As it was a first for me at TIFF and TIFF: The Market, I was curious to try everything. All in all, I attended 5 panels, 6 feature films, 1 shorts program, 2 networking events, 1 party and beat 2 rush lines. The number of coffees from the Lavazza counter? Undisclosed…

Favourite experience

My favourite experience from TIFF: The Market was the panel with Lee Chang-Dong. What a chance it was to understand his creative process and philosophy behind filmmaking! His convictions show through clearly in his creations, and it deepened my understanding of his film Possible Love, that I also got to see at TIFF: The Market.

Chrisann Hessing (Filmmaker, Impact Producer)

What Chrisann got up to at TIFF: The Market?

Had a fabulous time attending TIFF: The Market as a Reel Asian delegate! From reconnecting with colleagues and making new connections to attending receptions hosted by Ontario Creates, South Asian Screen Office, and Reel Asian, and learning from insightful market panels, I’m leaving with exciting new project leads to explore in the months ahead.

Favourite experience

Hearing Danny Boyle declare himself a lifelong “punk” and share insights into his career and creative process was a definite highlight!

Rielle Ramos (Producer)

What Rielle got up to at TIFF: The Market?

I spent the week meeting with potential partners for my upcoming films and soaking up as many panels and talks as I could fit in.

Favourite experience

Connecting with producers from all over the world. Hearing how other people make their films happen was inspiring, and I left with some great new relationships.

Julia Kwan (Filmmaker)

What Julia got up to at TIFF: The Market?

Watching films, attending panels, meetings, connecting/re-connecting, being inspired.

Favourite experience

My favourite experience was the Kore-eda Hirokazu and Yeon Sang-ho talk. It was a privilege hearing two masters, meeting for the first time, share insights, gush over each other’s work and all brilliantly moderated by Reel Asian’s Christine Vu.

Yasmin Lau (Actor, Filmmaker)

What Yasmin got up to at TIFF: The Market?

I spent my time at TIFF: The Market attending lots of panels and screenings, and meeting other emerging filmmakers and hearing about their work. Inspired to say the least!

Favourite experience

My favourite part at TIFF: The Market was getting to connect with other emerging filmmakers and industry professionals from around the world. As an emerging filmmaker, it was really exciting to be in a space where I could have conversations about filmmaking, collaboration, and what comes next for my own work.

Srutika Sabu (Writer)

What Srutika got up to at TIFF: The Market?

At TIFF: The Market, I got to attend industry panels, press screenings (didn’t have to fight for tickets) and connect with filmmakers from all over the world.

Favourite experience

Connecting with peers and hearing about how films and crafted, made and distributed in other markets—particularly in the Global South. The Market opened my baby filmmaker eyes that there is a whole world outside of Toronto. It expanded my understanding of what more is possible. I felt like my imagination expanded.

Claudine Yip (Writer)

What Claudine got up to at TIFF: The Market?

Filled the creative well in all the best ways! I laughed and cried over movies from 10 different countries, took copious notes while learning from legacy filmmakers, tastemakers, and rising creative voices, and soaked in the passion and warmth of the TIFF community.

Favourite experience

Pairing panels with screenings was such an exciting opportunity! I’ll never forget watching Possible Love after hearing Lee Chang-Dong’s philosophies on storytelling, craft, and industry.

Timothy Yeung (Writer, Director)

What Timothy got up to at TIFF: The Market?

I spent most of my time at the Canada booth in meetings with Telefilm, discussing co-production and production funding for my next project. Telefilm pointed me in the right direction for our team’s future projects, and I also connected with local collaborators to explore Hong Kong–Canada co-production possibilities.

Favourite experience

Connecting with other passionate filmmakers and attending panels & screenings really re-inspired me as a filmmaker. It was a great reminder that there are many people in the industry who want to make personal projects and tell meaningful stories.

Join RAAN (Reel Asian Alumni Network) to access industry opportunities like these.