Join us for an in-depth conversation about Space Cadet, a moving animated film that speaks volumes without a single word of dialogue. Director Kid Koala will share how a memory of watching Charlie Chaplin films with his grandmother became the north star that guided this deeply personal story. That early connection to silent cinema — bridging cultural and language barriers — inspired the creation of Space Cadet as a work of solace, imagination, and reflection.
Kid Koala and Lillian Chan, Space Cadet’s head of story and production designer, will discuss the journey from book to film, exploring how to translate vulnerability into craft — through storytelling, visual design, and music — and how to make authenticity come through in every frame. Together, they’ll reflect on how Space Cadet found its voice without dialogue, and how its journey reveals the power of art in connecting past, present, and future.
Kid Koala
Director
Kid Koala (Eric San) is a Montreal-based DJ, composer, and visual artist. Creator of five solo albums and the graphic novels Nufonia Must Fall and Space Cadet, he has collaborated with Gorillaz and Radiohead. His first animated feature, Space Cadet, premiered at the Berlinale and screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Lillian Chan
Head of Story and Production Designer
Lillian Chan is an experienced animation filmmaker known for her work on various projects, including the award-winning children’s film Jaime Lo, Small and Shy (NFB, 2007), an educational short for TEDed, and a VR prototype for the CFC Medialab. Her commercial clients include DisneyXD, Nelvana, Guru Studios, and Mozilla. Lillian serves as professor of animation at Seneca Polytechnic in Toronto.
Richard Koo
Vice President, Analytics & Strategic Insights
Richard Koo has over 20 years of experience in audience research and leads the analytics, strategic reporting, and foresight teams at the Canada Media Fund (CMF). At the CMF, his work focuses on leveraging data to address equity challenges and promote growth and economic opportunities in the media industry.
Richard began his career at CBC Sports, contributing to programs like Hockey Night in Canada and the Olympic Games. He is also a 3-time Boston Marathon finisher, an international umpire with World Rowing, a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, and a former president of the International Olympic Academy Participants Association. Originally from Canada’s west coast, Richard holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Science in Planning from the University of Toronto.
6 Nov, 2025 2:00 pm
CineCycle129 Spadina Avenue (coach-house down the lane behind), Toronto, ON M5A 1J7
This venue is not accessible to people using wheelchairs, and would present significant challenges to people with moderate to severe mobility difficulties. This venue is not suitable for those with low vision.
The discussion will explore how festivals can better support accessibility — from accommodating filmmakers with disabilities and reaching diverse audiences, to guiding creators on inclusive practices like budgeting for captioning.
Filmmaker Ian Tuason’s debut feature The Undertone, recently acquired by A24, transforms the intimacy of caregiving and the eerie power of audio into a chilling, single-location horror story.
A discussion on artist labour conditions and funding challenges. The IMAA team will present on the Alliance’s resources including the Fee Schedule, the Resource Access Network and the Advocacy Toolkit, followed by a reception and mingling portion. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with the Alliance team, industry leaders, artists, and peers. Free and open to the public!
The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival is Canada’s largest pan-Asian film festival, showcasing bold contemporary cinema by Asian and Asian diasporic artists from Canada, the U.S., Asia, and around the world. Held each November in Toronto, Reel Asian presents a dynamic lineup of film screenings, panels, and special events, with programming and education initiatives continuing throughout the year. Founded in 1996, Reel Asian celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026, marking three decades of championing underrepresented voices and fostering dialogue through film and media arts.
401 Richmond Street West, The Commons (Suite 448)
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3A8 Canada
(416) 703 – 9333
info@reelasian.com
Charitable number: 870021383RR0001
