Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival Announces Four New Board Members

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (Reel Asian) is excited to announce the addition of four new board members: Amanda de Souza, Robin Soukvilay, May Cheng, and Meelad Moaphi. These distinguished individuals bring a wealth of experience and diverse backgrounds that will enhance Reel Asian’s mission to celebrate and support Asian cinema in Canada.

Amanda de Souza is a Canadian filmmaker, designer, and writer with over 15 years of experience in the entertainment industry across Toronto, New York City, and Los Angeles. Her career includes roles in public relations for Broadway productions, senior design at Condé Nast’s W Magazine, and film marketing and production for major studios like Netflix, Disney, and Lionsgate. She is currently a Producer at LA-based Apartment 3C Productions, working with director and filmmaker Jennifer Morrison.

Robin Soukvilay is a Senior Art Director at Leo Burnett Toronto with a decade of experience in the advertising industry. Soukvilay’s work, recognized and awarded nationally and globally, focuses on driving positive impacts for clients’ businesses through creativity. Proudly of East and South-East Asian descent, Soukvilay is dedicated to enhancing BIPOC representation in media and sees his role with Reel Asian as a platform to further amplify Asian voices.

May Cheng is an internationally ranked lawyer and an LSO Certified Specialist in Intellectual Property Law at Dipchand LLP. With over 30 years in Big Law firms in Toronto, Cheng represents clients across various industries including financial services, retail, travel, and luxury brands. Her recent move to Dipchand LLP allows her to focus more on protecting creative works for artists and filmmakers, alongside her volunteer work for causes such as Reel Asian.

Meelad Moaphi is a Toronto-based director and filmmaker. His directorial feature debut, His Father’s Son, funded by Telefilm, is slated for release in 2024. Moaphi has served as Associate Producer on Antoine Bourges’ Telefilm-funded feature Concrete Valley, which screened at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival and the 2023 Berlinale. Born in Iran and raised in Japan, Moaphi has also worked in Spain, broadening his directorial range across languages and cultures. His short films include Arrhythmia (2009), Republic of God (2010), A Scene (2018), and Worth (2019), all of which have been featured in international festivals. Moaphi is also a Permanent Professor at Humber College’s Bachelor of Film and Media Production department and holds BFA and MFA degrees from York University’s Film Production program.

“We are so excited to be welcoming Amanda, Robin, May, and Meelad to our board,” said Deanna Wong, Executive Director of Reel Asian. “Their diverse expertise and commitment to storytelling, creativity, and representation align perfectly with our mission. We look forward to their contributions in shaping the future of Reel Asian and supporting the vibrant Asian film community.”

“We are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to our new board members, each poised to strengthen our strategic direction with their diverse skills and perspectives,” said Board Chair Julie Chang.

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival continues to be a vital platform for Asian filmmakers and artists, and the addition of these new board members marks an exciting chapter in its ongoing journey to showcase diverse voices and stories going into the 28th edition of the festival in November 2024.