The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival is excited to announce this year’s Unsung Voices participants! The Unsung Voices Summer Youth Video Production Workshop will provide young Asian Canadians who have a keen interest in film and media art the chance to express themselves as artists, learn from professionals in the field, and to produce a distinctly Asian Canadian story on screen. The films made will receive a world premiere at the 26th Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival in November 2022.

We asked this year’s cohort to answer the following questions: What about Unsung Voices are you most excited for? Why do you want to get into filmmaking? Read their responses below!

What about Unsung Voices are you most excited for? Why do you want to get into filmmaking?

“Unsung Voices gives me the opportunity to share my voice and create work from the perspective of a Kurdish artist, a voice we don’t often see in the media. Unsung Voices allows me to create work from a west asian perspective that doesn’t focus solely on war and conflict and highlights actual experiences and the culture of western Asia.”

What about Unsung Voices are you most excited for? Why do you want to get into filmmaking?

“I started writing my film two years ago. I didn’t think I’d ever feel ready to make it, so finally being in the process of bringing it to life feels surreal. I’m excited that I get to work with one of my close friends on the project, as we’ve collaborated together in the past and always inspire each other in unexpected ways.”

What about Unsung Voices are you most excited for? Why do you want to get into filmmaking?

“I am especially looking forward to challenging and exploring my identity as a filmmaker in the structured space that Unsung Voices provides, with the support of a talented community of peers from across the country and the invaluable guidance of industry mentors. I’m drawn to filmmaking because for me, it represents the perfect medium that can best allow me to amalgamate the myriad of interests and curiosities that keep me up at night. Filmmaking is the collaborative, tangible application of storytelling that I crave after spending so much time in my mind during the writing process, which can often feel quite lonely. Film never ceases to feel like a form of magic to me – and I really want to be able to create that magic myself!”

What about Unsung Voices are you most excited for? Why do you want to get into filmmaking?

“I’m excited to spend a summer exploring and expanding on an idea I’m passionate about, as well as engaging with musical elements in a short film! I’m interested in filmmaking as I would love to translate my inner cinematic vision to a tangible experience for others to share. As well, the collaborative aspect of film feels precious to me.”

What about Unsung Voices are you most excited for? Why do you want to get into filmmaking?

“Unsung Voices is a platform to express hidden narratives, those of international adoptees, who are also part of the Asian diaspora. Filmmaking has always been part of my practice in anthropology and literature, but I was scared to fully dive in. It is a way to access unconscious memory, trust the image, let it evoke, without words, and create a new language. Thanks to Reel Asian, I am excited to explore new forms of documentaries by mixing performance and archiveology.”

What about Unsung Voices are you most excited for? Why do you want to get into filmmaking?

“Through the Unsung Voices program, I am ready to learn more about filmmaking professionally. The resources and mentorship we are given access to are unparalleled. Too used to being a one-person crew, this will be my first time writing and directing a film on a bigger scale. I’m also excited to jump out of my comfort zone and bring my vision to life along with this year’s cohort – healing broken hearts, one story at a time. There will never be too many queer diaspora stories.”

Announcing the 2022 Fire Horse Award Recipient

Keith Lock

In true celebration of Asian Heritage Month, we’re excited to announce that filmmaker Keith Lock will be the first recipient of the Fire Horse Award! The $25,000 cash award is being presented annually to an Asian Canadian individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to the film and media-arts community.

Lock has been making experimental, documentary, and dramatic films since 1969 and is considered one of Canada’s first Chinese Canadian filmmakers. Lock’s experimental feature EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE AGAIN ALIVE (1975) was selected in 2020 by AGO Film Curator Jim Shedden as one of the “100 Best Canadian Films of All Time”. Lock collaborated as cinematographer on several Michael Snow films including TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY (1974), which was selected as one of TIFF’s 150 Essential Works of Canadian Cinema.

As a leader and pioneer Lock was the founding Chair of the country’s first film co-op, the Toronto Filmmaker’s Co-op, which became LIFT (Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto). LIFT continues to operate as the largest artist-run media arts co-op in the country and just last year celebrated its 40th anniversary. Lock also founded “New Films”, the first regular screenings of independent and experimental films in Toronto, which led to the establishment of storied underground film film production and exhibition centre The Funnel in 1977.

Keith Lock will be presented with his award at a ceremony on May 31st hosted by Reel Asian.

Award-winning actor Sandra Oh pledges $50k to establish annual $25k award

“I’m thrilled to join Reel Asian in wholeheartedly supporting the Fire Horse Award,” said Sandra Oh. “By honouring trailblazers of the Asian Canadian media arts community, we are recognizing ourselves. It deeply matters who makes our images, and to these pioneers we owe a debt—and our promise to keep striving to tell our stories to the world. Let’s pause to celebrate those who blazed those trails—it’s beautiful and necessary. And I can’t wait for the next 25 years.”

Canadian film and television star Sandra Oh has committed $10,000 per year to the prize for the next five years. This contribution matches a generous lead donation from an anonymous donor. Ongoing contributions from the Reel Asian community will ensure the sustainability of the award for years to come.

The Fire Horse Award recognizes one Asian Canadian member of the film and media-arts community. This member demonstrates qualities of the Chinese zodiac symbol in their work: Fire Horses are changemakers, creative thinkers, and visionary leaders who significantly impact the larger community. The award was created on the occasion of Reel Asian’s 25th Anniversary in 2021 to honour Reel Asian founder Anita Lee whose groundbreaking work and determination has made Reel Asian a staple in Canada’s festival landscape.

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival is celebrating its 25th festival in 2021. Started in 1997, Reel Asian is a unique showcase of contemporary Asian cinema and work from the Asian diaspora. Works include films and videos by Asian-identifying artists in Canada, the U.S., Asia and all over the world.

Here For The Bigger Picture

Reel Asian is commissioning three original short animated videos to celebrate the landmark 25th festival based on our theme “Here For the Bigger Picture” which exemplifies the spirit of cinema and our endeavours for the future. The videos will be featured in the festival’s marketing and festival screenings in November 2021. 

We’re looking for original short videos that will:

• Engage with and be based on the theme “Here For The Bigger Picture” 
• Be between 15-60 seconds
• Use sound and/or music
• Be used for promotions on social and pre-roll before festival screenings
• Completed by Oct 13, 2021

Honorarium provided to selected artists. 

Deadline to apply is August 20, 2021. 

We are no longer accepting applications.