Accessibility
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ASL interpretation will be provided for the intro and Q&A for this presentation. Wheelchair spaces and step-free seating is available for this screening – click below to book accessible seats.
USA202383 minEnglish, Urdu with English subtitlesCanadian PremiereComedy, Family-friendly, First Feature
When 13-year-old Ilyas’s parents yank him out of his comfortable Islamic private school and force him to adjust to life in public school, he develops a plan to change their minds. After a staged fondness for non-halal food and explicit music fails to sufficiently scandalize his parents, Ilyas asks his whip-smart former classmate, Yasmeen, to help devise a more foolproof plan. However, underneath those faux concerns, what really preoccupies prepubescent Ilyas is his wispy, dark mustache growing much sooner than that of his peers, prompting a self-loathing born and reinforced by the taunting and teasing of classmates.
Director Imran J. Khan’s gently humorous and refreshing take on the Muslim American coming-of-age experience, as well as lead Atharva Verma’s impeccable performance as the charming and determined Ilyas, are the perfect combination in this timeless, hilarious, and heartwarming journey of pre-teen self acceptance.
– Mariam Zaidi
Atharva Verma
Rizwan Manji
Ayana Manji
Hasan Minhaj
Meesha Shafi
Alicia Silverstone
OFFICIAL SELECTION
SXSW, 2023
Imran J. Khan
Pakistani American filmmaker Imran J. Khan has written and directed award-winning short films including Prom (2016). He was also on the editing teams for Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021) and Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022). He recently was selected to the Pillars Artist Fellowship, created by Pillars, Riz Ahmed, and Left Handed Films.
PG
12 Nov, 2023 7:30 pm
TIFF Bell Lightbox C2–
ASL interpretation will be provided for the intro and Q&A for this presentation. Wheelchair spaces and step-free seating is available for this screening – click below to book accessible seats.
Join us for a Q&A immediately after the theatrical presentation with director Imran J. Khan and actor Atharva Verma.
Join us at CSI Spadina for the Centrepiece Gala Party after the screening of MUSTACHE.
10PM-12AM at CSI Spadina
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This space is wheelchair and step-free accessible via a series of ramps at the
main entrance. The rest of the venue, including the accessible washroom,
is all on one level. This event may include loud music, flashing lights, and
crowds. A calmer, quieter respite room is available for those with environmental
sensitivities. Click here to advise us of your access needs.
A job interview, a children’s clothing store, a government registry office. These are just some of the everyday sites for which the characters of Terrestrial Verses must navigate cultural, religious, and institutional constraints imposed on them.
You rarely couple poop and romance together, but Okiku and the World does it effortlessly in the most genuine and adorable way.
Be warmed by friendship and held by the depth of feelings in this collection of wholesome shorts for all ages in a relaxed screening environment. Stick around to participate in fun and simple art activities post-screening.
Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival is a unique showcase of contemporary Asian cinema and work from Asia and the Asian diaspora. Works include films and videos by artists in Canada, the U.S., Asia and all over the world. As Canada’s largest pan-Asian film festival, Reel Asian provides a public forum for Asian media artists and their work, and fuels the growing appreciation for Asian cinema in Canada.
401 Richmond Street West, The Commons (Suite 448)
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3A8 Canada
(416) 703 – 9333
info@reelasian.com
Charitable number: 870021383RR0001
