Sit in on this exclusive screening and deep dive of Late Bloomer, the groundbreaking series from the creative mind of Jasmeet Raina (Jus Reign). Centred on Jasmeet Dutta's life, the show unpacks family expectations, intergenerational relationships, and racial identity in ways rarely seen on Canadian TV. We’ll screen Episode 1: "Nudes" and Episode 4: "The Turban," offering a glimpse into Jasmeet’s complex journey as he navigates personal desires that go against familial pressures. Stick around to hear from the creative team about how Late Bloomer has landed in the community, and how it will continue to shape these conversations in real life.
Ashley Ganger
Actor
Ashley Ganger is a Canadian actor who made her onscreen debut as a series regular in the Netflix Original series Grand Army. She has since gone on to work as a series regular on the new Canadian hit show Late Bloomer, which was released this year and is set to return for a season 2. Additionally, Ashley is set to star whilst also receiving her first Executive Producer credit on upcoming American Indie film, The Trucker. It is set to shoot in 2025 in Bakersfield California and it will be directed by Ben Rekhi. Having recently relocated to New York, she hopes to take advantage of the city’s storied arts culture and is exploring theatre as one of many avenues to grow as an actress. Ashley is represented by Zero Gravity Management, Greene Talent in the U.S, and Susan J Talent Agency in Toronto. Thank you for taking the time to read about my work, it’s been an honour to get to share this with you.
Gayle Ye
DOP
Gayle Ye is an Emmy award-winning director of photography whose work has screened at Cannes Court Metrage and the Tribeca Film Festival. Gayle has received praise from the New York Times and Roger Ebert for their stunning cinematography. They recently lensed season one of Jasmeet Raina’s “Late Bloomer” and Sook-Yin Lee’s hotly anticipated feature film, “Paying For It.”
Lakna Edirisinghe
Writer
Lakna Edirisinghe is a Sri Lankan-Canadian writer and producer based out of Toronto. Originally from Windsor, Ontario, Lakna moved to Toronto to study Film at the University of Toronto. She then went on to do a post-graduate program in Television Writing and Producing at Humber. Since breaking into the industry, she has written for a wide variety of television shows, including hour-long law dramas like Diggstown (CBC), animated shows like Pinecone and Pony (Apple+), and educational kid’s comedies like Odd Squad (PBS), for which she was nominated for an Emmy. In 2022, she won a Writer’s Guild of Canada Award, and in 2023, she won a Canadian Screen Award for her writing. Her work can be seen on networks like Netflix, Universal, Family Channel, Hulu, CBC, PBS, Apple, Bell and more. She’s currently returning as a writer and co-executive producer on Season 2 of Late Bloomer with Bell/Crave.
17 Nov, 2024 10:00 am
TIFF Lightbox C5Due to a quirk in our ticketing system, you will be prompted to select seats for this event; however this event will have open seating. You may sit in any available seat without a reserved sign or hood on it, except the front row which is reserved for people with disabilities.
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Wheelchair spaces and step-free seating is available for this event – click below to book accessible seats.
Fresh off its world premiere at TIFF, Amar Wala’s SHOOK serves as an ideal case study for filmmakers, particularly those transitioning from shorts to feature films. Set in Scarborough, Ont., the film captures the area's multicultural essence and reflects on identity, place, and personal growth through rich, site-specific details. This panel explores the craft of the film, the intricate score, and the writing process, capturing a slice of life that local audiences can resonate with. As a family story, SHOOK presents a narrative that showcases the beauty of everyday life, balancing complex personal narratives with broader cultural commentary. By examining Wala’s experience with Shook, we'll shed light on how an honest love letter to a city and its diverse communities can be crafted.
It’s no secret that filmmaking requires grit, stamina, and a whole lot of determination. Reel Ideas celebrates the behind-the-scenes perseverance that drive creators to follow their instincts and shape their stories.
Join us for an in-depth conversation about Ann Marie Fleming's CAN I GET A WITNESS?, Reel Asian's opening night film this year. This thought-provoking movie examines a near-future society grappling with climate change, mortality, and the value of life. Fleming draws inspiration from her personal experiences, including her time in Vancouver's West End and the environmental upheaval of Stanley Park.
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
