Reel Asian is bringing a delegation to 2026 TIFF. Ten selected delegates will receive one TIFF: The Market pass (value $695), which includes exclusive access to industry events, panels, networking opportunities, TIFF: The Market screenings, and more.
Applicants must be a RAAN member. Current Unsung Voices and the TV Writing Workshop participants will also be considered.
Not a RAAN member yet? Sign up as a RAAN Member by Wed, July 29 to be eligible for consideration! Invites will be sent out by Wed, Aug 5 and responses must be received by Thurs, Aug 6. Learn more about RAAN and the exclusive industry perks here.
Eligibility and Important Information
For more information about Reel Asian 2026 TIFF Delegation, please email samir@reelasian.com.
On June 2, 2026, during Filipino Heritage Month, Reel Asian hosted its fifth annual Fire Horse Award Gala & Fundraiser, honouring award-winning producer, visionary leader, and innovator Ana Serrano, OCAD University’s President and Vice-Chancellor.
The event brought together artists, industry leaders, arts advocates, and community members to celebrate Serrano’s extraordinary contributions to Canada’s arts and creative industries.
Serrano’s career is defined by her unwavering commitment to building ecosystems where future generations can thrive. For more than two decades, she has expanded the boundaries of storytelling, technology, and leadership–creating opportunities for artists, students, cultural entrepreneurs, and innovators while reimagining the future of media.
During her acceptance speech, Serrano reflected on what the Fire Horse means to her:
“That is the fire I want to honour tonight: the kind that turns a gathering into a community, and a community into a force…The highest expression of Fire Horse energy is not domination or spectacle. It is the disciplined force that protects, gathers, creates and renews. When the road has no end, you keep walking. When others see one boat, you see a fleet. When there is no one yet, you build a space for everyone still to come. And when it would be easier to close the door, you leave it open. That is love. That is malasakit. That is what we all need to carry forward. So I receive this award with gratitude, humility and a deep sense of responsibility to the community that made it possible.”
Serrano’s remarks underscored a belief that has guided her career: that meaningful leadership is rooted in care, responsibility, and community, values reflected both in the work she has built and the support she has received throughout her career.
Reel Asian is proud to present the 2026 Fire Horse Award to Ana Serrano in recognition of her visionary leadership and lasting impact on Canada’s media and cultural industries. Through her work in storytelling, innovation, education, and cultural leadership, Serrano continues to influence Canada’s digital media landscape and create meaningful opportunities for artists. We honour her for the countless creators and projects she has supported and helped bring to fruition.
This year’s Fire Horse Award Gala & Fundraiser marked the inaugural Fire Horse Auction, featuring more than 65 live and silent auction items, including limited-edition artwork, film memorabilia, community experiences, and unique city-wide offerings.
For three decades, Reel Asian has nurtured, advocated for, and spotlighted pan-Asian storytellers across Canada and around the world. In honour of our 30th anniversary, we set a goal to raise $300,000 in critical funds to sustain and expand our year-round initiatives beyond the annual festival.
Thanks to your support, we have raised $85,000 and counting at this year’s Gala.
If you would like to further your contribution, please consider donating to the Fire Horse Award, starting your own fundraiser using our “30 for 30” toolkit, or becoming a member. All funds support Reel Asian’s mission of championing Asian and Asian diasporic voices around the world.
Thank you to our Fire Horse donors and patrons, design partner Meat, print sponsor Printing Legacy, and hospitality partner Tita Flips, as well as Girl Love Fund and Lumière & Co. for supporting this event.
Shot by Ryan Ng, Lab0916 and Edited by Mike Jeff Wong
Watch Ana Serrano’s tribute video below.
Produced by Nobu Adilman & Byron Kent Wong
Watch Ana Serrano’s acceptance speech below.
View all speeches from the 2026 Fire Horse Award Ceremony here.
The Fire Horse Award honours an Asian Canadian individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to the film and media arts community. It was established on the occasion of Reel Asian’s 25th Anniversary in 2021 in the name of Reel Asian founder Anita Lee, whose groundbreaking work and determination have made Reel Asian a staple in Canada’s festival landscape.
Chinese Café: The Five Energies – Fire – Heart (series 1), 1997, Ed. 4/15Silkscreen print, 44″x24″
Produced during a 1997 Open Studio residency, this limited-edition silkscreen work draws on historical, family, and contemporary photographs of Chinese café culture in Western Canada. One of the final two available from the FIRE – HEART (Series 1) collection, this is a rare opportunity to bid on an early and significant work by media artist and past Fire Horse Award winner Paul Wong.
A pioneering figure in visual and media art, Paul Wong’s work is held in major collections worldwide, including the National Gallery of Canada and the Vancouver Art Gallery.
This piece is donated by Paul Wong Projects, with special thanks to Open Studio and CONSERVATION+CULTURE.
Exclusively for Fire – Heart by Paul Wong, please email firehorse@reelasian.com to coordinate a proxy bidder for the live auction stage and provide the following information:
All proceeds support Reel Asian’s year-round initiatives and annual programming.
Ticket sales for the Fire Horse Award Gala & Fundraiser close Mon, May 25 at 11:59 PM. Join us to honour this year’s Fire Horse Award recipient Ana Serrano and celebration of 30 years of Asian diasporic storytelling and the bold future ahead.
Comedian, Actor, and Host Andrew Phung’s infectious and relatable personality has made him one of Canada’s top and most recognized comedic performers. He is best known for his award-winning performance on the hit CBC/Netflix show, Kim’s Convenience, where he won five consecutive Canadian Screen Awards in the category of Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Andrew is also the co-creator, executive producer, and star of the popular CBC and Hulu series Run the Burbs, for which he won the 2025 Canadian Screen Award for Best Lead Performer in a Comedy Series. His other recent television credits include LOL: Last One Laughing Canada on Amazon Prime, Hate the Player on Paramount + and he’s the host of the new cooking competition series Big Burger Battle on the Flavour Network.
The Fire Horse Award, named after Reel Asian founder Anita Lee, honours Asian Canadian leaders who exemplify originality, creative vision, and leadership. Since its establishment in 2021, the award has held significant importance within the Asian Canadian film and media sector, serving as a tribute to those who have made meaningful and enduring contributions to the community.
Ali Hassan is a comedian, actor, and writer who you’ll recognize as the host of Laugh Out Loud and Canada Reads on CBC. He has also appeared in films like Goon and My Spy, and numerous tv roles including Boston Blue, Odd Squad, Workin’ Moms and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. He should also mention that he was nominated for two CSA’s for his roles in Sort Of and Run The Burbs….but he’s not one to brag.
The Fire Horse Award, named after Reel Asian founder Anita Lee, honours Asian Canadian leaders who exemplify originality, creative vision, and leadership. Since its establishment in 2021, the award has held significant importance within the Asian Canadian film and media sector, serving as a tribute to those who have made meaningful and enduring contributions to the community.
Lis Xu is a Chinese-Canadian painter and comics artist. She writes and draws about everyday moments with warmth and joy. Her work includes When Molly Drew Dogs (OwlKids) and The Adventures of Kelp Creatures (Oceanwise), and well as comics in Gytha Quarterly, POLLE, and Pulping.
Follow her on Instagram at @lisshu
This painting, Afternoon of the Horse, celebrates the 2026 year of the fire horse. As a horse myself, the year is considered bad luck. Many predictions suggest that instead of taking risks, it is better to stay grounded and persistent. So, I drew this scene of response. I wanted to balance the dynamic fire horse in a moment of rest and calm, using bright orange and pink alongside a subdued violet. The orange lighting suggests a late afternoon sun as the day begins to wind down. The windows and doors are depicted with harmonious patterns and the horse forms are inspired by old children’s wooden toys from Russia. I painted this piece with watercolour- a medium where control is important, but instinct and spontaneity expresses the beauty of watercolour best. I used the wet-on-wet painting technique to bring softness into the horse forms and other details. The three windows and horses is a lucky number, as well as the print edition of 37. I hope this piece gives you the energy of fire and quiet strength found in rest.
Afternoon of the Horse illustrated by Lis Xu
The Fire Horse Award, named after Reel Asian founder Anita Lee, celebrates Asian Canadian trailblazers whose work is transformational, representational, and inspiring. Established in 2021, the award is a cornerstone of the Asian Canadian film and media arts community, honouring individuals whose vision, innovation, and dedication have made lasting contributions and left an indelible mark.
DATU is a Toronto-based Filipino Canadian music project by Alex Punzalan and Romeo Candido blending traditional Filipino instruments with contemporary electronic, soul, and experimental production. Drawing inspiration from kulintang gong traditions, layered percussion, and immersive sound design, their work connects ancestral rhythms with modern sonic storytelling.
Over the course of 2025 and 2026, DATU has been releasing a series of singles recorded at a residency in Hawaiʻi, exploring themes of diaspora, mythology, and cultural memory. The recordings form the foundation of an upcoming immersive audio experience, EPIK: THE LAST HUMANS that expands their sound into spatial listening environments, combining traditional instruments, electronic textures, storytelling and cinematic soundscapes.
Listen to their latest single here and follow DATU on Instagram or Facebook.
The Fire Horse Award, named after Reel Asian founder Anita Lee, celebrates Asian Canadian trailblazers whose work is transformational, representational, and inspiring. Established in 2021, the award is a cornerstone of the Asian Canadian film and media arts community, honouring individuals whose vision, innovation, and dedication have made lasting contributions and left an indelible mark.
The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival is excited to announce the addition of two new board members: Wendy Chong (left) and Sebastian Zhou (right).
Their expertise and perspectives will strengthen our ongoing commitment to championing contemporary cinema and works from Asia and the Asian diaspora. As we continue to grow, their insight will help guide Reel Asian’s direction and deepen our support for the vibrant Asian film community.
Wendy Chong is a presentation skills coach and consultant. She established E
As a Canadian of Japanese and Chinese descent with a passion for the movies, Wendy is excited to join the Reel Asian board to support its mission. She is currently a Board member at the Jean Lumb Foundation and Greenwood College School. She previously served on the Bishop Strachan School Board. Wendy also led parent outreach to new Canadians at her children’s TDSB school.
Wendy earned her ICD.D and MBA from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.
Sebastian Zhou is a labour and employment lawyer at Fasken. Born and raised in Chongqing, China, he is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and was actively involved in accesstojustice initiatives, including community outreach with Artists’ Legal Advice Services. He also holds a B.A. in Art History and Curatorial Studies from Sarah Lawrence College, including an academic exchange at the University of Oxford. Sebastian maintains a strong commitment to the arts and culture sector and to supporting the Asian diaspora community.
We’re looking forward to working with these outstanding individuals as we prepare for our 30th anniversary festival in November 2026 and beyond.
Ana Serrano photographed by Mike Tjioe
In celebration of Reel Asian’s 30th anniversary, join us in honouring Ana Serrano at the fifth annual Fire Horse Award Gala & Fundraiser on June 2
Reel Asian is pleased to announce OCAD University President & Vice-Chancellor Ana Serrano as the recipient of the 2026 Fire Horse Award. Ana is an award-winning producer, visionary leader, and innovator in Canada’s arts and creative industries. Join us as we honour her incredible contributions to the digital media landscape at the fifth annual Fire Horse Award Gala & Fundraiser, taking place on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 from 6–10PM at the Delta Hotels Toronto.
The Fire Horse Award celebrates an Asian-Canadian individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to the film and media arts community. This year’s presentation carries profound symbolic weight, coinciding with the Year of the Fire Horse – an alignment that amplifies the award’s recognition of boldness, independence, and the courage to spark transformation. Much like the Fire Horse itself, Ana Serrano represents those who challenge convention, journey into uncharted territory, and ignite lasting change within their communities.
Ana Serrano, this year’s honouree, was selected by the 2026 Fire Horse Committee for the fifth annual award. Their statement follows:
Few individuals have had a greater impact on Canada’s digital media landscape than academic leader, producer, mentor, and visionary Ana Serrano. The 2026 Fire Horse Committee is honoured to present her with the 5th annual Fire Horse Award.
Some people build careers — Ana builds ecosystems. For more than two decades she has expanded the boundaries of storytelling, technology, and leadership—creating opportunities for artists, students, cultural entrepreneurs, and innovators while reimagining what the future of media could be.
This year holds special meaning for the Fire Horse Award. We arrive at its fifth anniversary in the very year of the Fire Horse—a symbol of boldness, independence, and transformation. The Fire Horse represents those who challenge convention, move fearlessly into new territory, and ignite change within their communities. Ana Serrano fully embodies that spirit.
Ana’s impact on Canada’s arts landscape is profound. In 1997, she founded the CFC Media Lab, the Canadian Film Centre’s innovation hub, and over the next two decades transformed it into one of the country’s most influential engines for digital storytelling and media experimentation. At a time when immersive media and nonlinear storytelling were still emerging, Ana was already producing groundbreaking work such as Late Fragment, North America’s first interactive feature film.
Recognizing that creators would also need new tools to navigate a rapidly evolving industry, she launched IDEABOOST in 2012—Canada’s first digital entertainment accelerator. More than a hundred digital media ventures and countless immersive projects were developed, helping to establish Toronto and Canada as leaders in digital media innovation.
As a board member at the Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts and Culture early in its development, she has been instrumental in cultivating the vibrant Filipino arts scene in Toronto and across Canada.
But beyond the institutions she has built, Ana is equally known for the way she uplifts artists. She has been a mentor to generations of creators, offering the kind of thoughtful and individualized support that helps ideas grow into lasting work. One example is her collaboration with filmmaker Romeo Candido on the musical web series Prison Dancer, which later evolved into a celebrated stage production at both the Citadel Theatre and the National Arts Centre.
Throughout her career, Ana has also championed equity and inclusion through initiatives such as OPEN IMMERSION, supporting Indigenous storytellers in virtual reality, and Fifth Wave, Canada’s first feminist business accelerator for women entrepreneurs in digital media.
Ana’s leadership also extends beyond the arts and into civic life. In 2016, she co-founded
DemocracyXChange, an annual lab and conference that brings together artists, thinkers, and changemakers to explore how we can design the kind of society and democracy we want to live in.
Today, as President and Vice-Chancellor of OCAD University, she continues to lead with
vision—championing creativity, innovation, and the next generation of artists and thinkers. For her visionary leadership, her groundbreaking contributions to Canada’s media landscape, and for the countless creators whose work she has helped bring into the world, the committee is proud to present the 2026 Fire Horse Award to Ana Serrano.
“We are proud to honour Ana Serrano with the 2026 Fire Horse Award. Ana’s leadership has shaped Canada’s digital media and arts landscape, from founding the CFC Media Lab to supporting young creators through mentorship and innovation,” says Deanna Wong, Executive Director of Reel Asian. “Her work has expanded the possibilities of storytelling while creating opportunities for artists across the country. She truly embodies the bold, transformative spirit of the Fire Horse.”
The 2026 recipient will receive a $25,000 cash prize, generously supported by contributions from Golden Globe-winning actor Sandra Oh, Lap Chan & Ha-kyung Helen Song, and Pan Asia Food Co., Ltd., as well as continued support from the Reel Asian community.
The fifth annual award ceremony will take place at the Delta Hotels Toronto (75 Lower Simcoe Street) on the evening of Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026. Marking Reel Asian’s 30th anniversary in the Year of the Firehorse, this year’s award ceremony will be its biggest celebration to date and will include an inaugural auction featuring art from previous Fire Horse award recipient Paul Wong.
Join us in celebrating the groundbreaking work of Ana Serrano, the embodiment of the Fire Horse spirit. Tickets and tables for the 5th annual Fire Horse Award Gala & Fundraiser are on sale now.
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
