All Canadian feature films are eligible for this prize.
$2,000 cash prize
The Mother and The Bear, Johnny Ma
Jury Statement
Johnny Ma’s The Mother and the Bear is this year’s jury selection for the RBC Best Canadian Feature Film Award. A whimsical story of a Korean mother’s moments of revelation as she cares for her comatose daughter Sumi amidst the harsh beauty of a Winnipeg winter, this film was as entertaining to the jury as it was beautiful to look at. The jury was deeply moved by the film’s nuanced exploration of Sumi’s secret and veteran actor Kim Ho-Jung’s compelling portrayal of her mother.
All feature films are eligible for this prize.
$2,000 cash prize
Pierce, Nelicia Low
Jury Statement
The jury is proud to recognize Pierce by Nelicia Low, for the Dipchand LLP Best Feature Award for 2024. A first feature by the Singaporean filmmaker, it seamlessly blends technical prowess with a great concept and story, with outstanding nuanced performances by the leads. This tense psychological drama keeps you guessing until the very end, taking the audience on a thrilling ride. The director’s deep knowledge of fencing was evident and she was able to make it very accessible and authentic. Overall, a highly enjoyable movie that is very deserving of this award.
Amrou Al-Kadhi
Jury Statement
The jury would like to give an Honourable Mention to Layla by Amrou Al-Kadhi. This courageous and bold film about queer identity and belonging showcases strong writing and overall filmmaking. Despite tackling a difficult topic, Layla does so with grace and beauty.
All Canadian feature films are eligible for this prize.
$1000 cash prize
His Father’s Son, Meelad Moaphi
Jury Statement
The jury is proud to recognize Meelad Moaphi with the DGC’s Best Canadian Director Award for his first feature film, His Father’s Son. A lovely and delicate story about a guarded family secret that comes to light, the film’s sharp writing, consistent pacing, strong editing and great music, made His Father’s Son feel polished and elevated. Strong performances by the cast helped to effectively express this film’s touching message.
Ann Marie Fleming
Jury Statement
The jury also gives an honorable mention to Can I Get a Witness? by Ann Marie Fleming for a unique and poignant rumination on life, death and sustainability
All first feature films are eligible for this prize.
$1,000 cash prize
The Glassworker, Usman Riaz
Jury Statement
The jury awards the Osler Best First Feature Award to The Glassworker, an ambitious, hand-drawn animated feature that follows Vincent, who dreams of becoming a master glassblower in a war-torn land. With its themes of young love, war and following your passions amidst conflict, Vincent’s story stayed with the jury long after the film ended. An impressive accomplishment that distinguishes itself within the body of work from a country not typically renowned for its animation.
Mukaddas Mijit, Bastien Ehouzan
Jury Statement
The jury would also like to recognize Nikah with an honorable mention for its poignant and urgent story of Dilber, a young Uyghur woman who feels the pressures to find a husband for a safer future.
All documentary feature films are eligible for this $1,500 cash prize, donated by Diang Iu, Sonia Sakamoto-Jog and Victoria Shen.
$1,500 cash prize
Ashima, Kenji Tsukamoto
Jury Statement
Ashima is an intimate family portrait that warmed our hearts. The complex dynamic between Ashima and her father is explored with gentle observation, and their tenacious dedication to achieving greatness is displayed with a powerful tenderness. For its compelling storytelling and reflection on family and fortitude, we are pleased to award the film with the Reel Asian Best Documentary Award.
All short films and videos are eligible for this prize. Opportunity to be broadcasted on Air Canada’s in-flight entertainment screens on all flights.
$2,000 cash prize distributed among winning films
Jury Statement
The five films honoured with this year’s Air Canada Short Film Award showcase the immense talent emerging in Canadian and global Asian cinema. This selection takes us on a journey through self-discovery, grief, love, and reclamation. From an intimate exploration of reclaiming control over one’s mind and body, a girl’s love for her grandmother defying reality, a self-conscious monsoon ready to let loose, a road trip marked by moments of beauty and pain, to a lonely soul seeking connection through their love for a popstar—these films capture the human experience and the complexities of simply being.
Me and My Teeth, Anna Quon
Monsoon Blue, Jay Hiukit Wong and Ellis Kayin Chan
Lola, Grace Hanna
Detours Ahead, Esther Cheung
The Popstar Water Deer and I, Sasha Lee
All short films are eligible for this prize.
$1,000 cash prize
WAShhh, Mickey Lai
Jury Statement
The jury recognizes WAShhh by Mickey Lai as the winner of the Wattpad WEBTOON Studios Best Short Film Award for its unflinching exploration of a little-known practice, highlighting prevailing taboos around womanhood that stand in stark contrast to a so-called ‘modern-day’ society.
All animated works are eligible for this award. With support from Sheridan College.
$1,000 cash prize
My Wonderful Life, Calleen Koh
Jury Statement
For the Michael Fukushima AnimAsian Award, we selected My Wonderful Life by Calleen Koh for its bold defiance of expectations, using dark, at times, absurdist humour to unearth the pressures of motherhood. Through a textured and deeply personal exploration, the director offers a playful yet relatable narrative that poignantly reminds us to show kindness to our mothers.
Sasha Lee
Jury Statement
We would also like to give an honourable mention to The Popstar Water Deer and I by Sasha Lee for its surreal and vivid visuals that capture a poignant sense of loneliness in a world that offers only fleeting glimpses of happiness. Through a caring and intimate lens, the film explores our own mortality while reminding us to chase what brings us joy. Lee’s work exemplifies the magic of animation as a storytelling medium where rules and limits are meant to be broken.
All films made by women or non-binary Ontario-based artists are eligible for this award.
$1,000 cash prize
A Fermenting Woman, Priscilla Galvez
Jury Statement
Priscilla Galvez’s directorial debut is a testament to the power of risk-taking and a commitment to bold narratives that invite audiences to embrace discomfort. Known for her work as a producer, Galvez delivers a captivating story and proves herself to be a natural-born director. The jury is thrilled to award the DGC Ontario and WIFT-Toronto Award to A Fermenting Woman and looks forward to seeing more of Galvez’s work in the future.
All Canadian short films are eligible for this prize.
$500 cash prize
Unblending, Michelle Ku
Jury Statement
The jury recognizes Michelle Ku as the winner of the Directors Guild of Canada Best Direction in a Short Film award for Unblending and its delightful hand-painted animation that succinctly captures the myriad thoughts and colourful feelings that keep us awake at night, eventually lulling us to sleep as we come to embrace these sensations as our own.
All short films made by BIPOC cinematographers who live in Canada are eligible for this prize.
$500 cash prize
Reunion, Director of Photography Andrew Lee
Jury Statement
The jury would like to present Andrew Lee of Reunion with the Best Canadian Cinematography Award. Told with outstanding discipline and visual acuity, this difficult subject matter was lensed with originality and craftsmanship. Its engaging framing injects a sense of unease and strangeness, supporting this powerful and original film.
We’d like to thank the filmmakers, cinematographers and crew who worked to make all these films a reality. In the end it was a tough decision, as there were many strong entries and beautiful works. We wish all the entrants luck and success in their future endeavours.
Benjamin Wong
Jury Statement
The jury extends an honourable mention to Rosa’s Flowers for its daring, creative execution, filled with various looks, lensing and lighting design, deserving recognition and applause.
The award recipient will receive full class tuition coverage of a class at Armstrong Acting Studios. Recipient must be an Ontario resident.
$2,250 value
Lovin’ Her, performance by Yên Sen
Jury Statement
For the Armstrong Acting Studios Outstanding Performer in a Canadian Short Film Award, we selected Yên Sen of Lovin’ Her for their delicately interwoven portrayal of the main character, Ann Lai. Yên’s performance, infused with profound depth and compassion, evokes the possibilities and pluralities inherent in a single life. We would also like to extend an honourable mention to JueMeili Olaes and Micah Chu for their generous, collective presentation of a character, a person, who lingers in our minds long after the film concludes.
The winner of the Reel Asian Audience Award—Feature is selected through a tally of votes from the viewers of the 28th Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival.
$2,000 cash prize
His Father’s Son, Meelad Moaphi
The winner of the Reel Asian Audience Award—Short is selected through a tally of votes from the viewers of the 28th Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival.
$500 cash prize
15 Ways My Dad Almost Died, Sura Mallouh
The 2024 Pitch Jury will announce the winner during the live event on Sat Nov 23 from 5PM.
Special Partners
and with support from
$5,000 cash prize + over $15,000 in services
Ella Saini & Chen Sing Yap
Logline
A climate change obsessed psychotherapist who grew up during the Cold War compares the mental stresses of nuclear apocalypse in the 1980s, to our climate change-fueled collective doom spiral now.
$500 cash prize + over $350 in services for each finalist
Weiye Su
Logline
Facing societal rejection, transgender activist Cece Chow sets out to guide her non-binary teen, Ezra, through their coming-of-age. Together, they navigate the complexities of identity and acceptance, culminating in a cultural celebration that redefines their family bonds.
Jenny 진희 Lee
Logline
After their mother dies in an unexpected car accident, two sisters must decide what to do with her piano.
Oshini Wanigasekera
Logline
A young girl is caught in her parent’s custody battle and escapes into fantasies of being famous. The complexity of divorce is revealed in the moments she is transferred between them.
Natalie Murao
Logline
With only one night in Tokyo, a grieving Japanese Canadian woman is haunted by her doppelganger.
Aisha Jamal
Aisha Jamal is a filmmaker, film programmer and college professor, based in Toronto. Jamal’s feature documentary debut A Kandahar Away premiered in 2019 and played festivals as well as on Documentary Channel and CBC. Her previous short films include the award-winning The Long Way Home (2017) and Seeds of the Past (2015). She directed, co-produced and co-wrote the 11-part doc web series How We Die, rethinking our relationship to death and dying. Her latest short film, Field Notes (2023) about a bird advocate, premiered in 2023 and played festivals worldwide. Jamal programs Canadian films for Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and she is currently working on her second feature documentary.
Alan Wong
Alan Wong is an award-winning, multi-disciplinary performing artist, independent producer, and arts leader. A seasoned performer of stage and screen, Wong has also worked in film and television in various technical and administrative roles behind the camera, as well as corporately for the veteran production company Buffalo Gal Pictures. He is the founder and president of FascinAsian Film Festival, a film festival dedicated to celebrating the stories of the Asian diaspora in the prairies, held in Winnipeg and Calgary. Wong is an advocate for equity and fair working conditions, and serves as the council president of ACTRA Manitoba.
Chrisann Hessing
Chrisann Hessing is a documentary filmmaker and impact producer based in Toronto. Hessing’s short film Turning Tables won Best Short Documentary at the 43rd American Indian Film Festival, and has screened in over 30 film festivals internationally. Her debut feature, We Will Be Brave, premiered at the Calgary International Film Festival and won Audience Choice Feature Film at Reel Asian 2023. In 2024, the film was also nominated for a Heritage Toronto Public History Award. Recently, Hessing directed episodes of TVO’s Unrigged. She is passionate about using visual storytelling as a tool to educate, raise awareness, and inspire positive change. She currently sits on the board of POV Magazine.
Vince Ha
Vince Ha is a writer, director, and media educator. He is currently a Fulbright visiting researcher at Cornell University, where his research examines the impact of transnational media on local visual ecologies, with a focus on queer diasporic communities. Alongside his screenbased work, Ha is deeply involved in community-engaged projects. He co-founded Rice Roll Productions, a series of collaborative efforts expanding queer Asian narratives, and has been a key instigator in initiatives such as House of Freaks, Invisible Footprints, and Water Lullabies. More recently, he has emerged as one of the primary organizers of the Queer Asian Performing Arts Network.
Lu Linares
Lu Linares is a festival programmer and arts administrator. Born in Peru and based in Toronto, their work is deeply influenced by their experiences as a queer immigrant. Linares has programmed and worked for festivals such as imagineNATIVE, JAYU’s Human Rights Film Festival, aluCine Latin Film + Media Arts Festival, Toronto Queer Film Festival, Urbanworld Film Festival, and Breakthroughs Film Festival. In 2021, they received the Queer Emerging Artist Award from Buddies in Bad Times Theatre for their work in film and theatre. As the programming coordinator at the Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival, Linares focuses on showcasing new queer and trans talent in film. Most importantly, they’re one-third of Boyband the Boyband, a Latinx drag king boy band, and a proud Virgo.
Yunah Chung
Yunah Chung is the vice-president of content at SAMANSA, a Tokyo-based streaming platform dedicated to highlighting compelling short films from all around the world. She oversees global acquisitions and licensing of short films. She also serves as executive producer of SAMANSA’s originals, working closely with filmmakers from development through post-production. Before joining SAMANSA, she cut her teeth at CAA, MTV, Infinite Studios in Singapore, and 9 Story Media Group in New York, where she developed animated and live action content. When she’s not nose-deep in scripts, she mentors and watches the latest K-drama.
Amanda de Souza
Director/Producer
Amanda de Souza is a Canadian Director/Producer with a career spanning over 15 years in the entertainment industry including Advertising in Toronto, PR for Broadway theatre and design for W Magazine in NYC, and film marketing/distribution in LA. Her contributions as an Assistant to Directors, Producers and Showrunners in Canada includes series and feature films with Netflix, Disney, Lionsgate and Universal with extensive experience in every step of filmmaking from the writers’ room to post-production. She is currently a Producer for Apartment 3C Productions in Los Angeles, under founder and Director/Actress Jennifer Morrison.
Meelad Moaphi
Filmmaker
Meelad Moaphi is a Toronto-based filmmaker. Born in Iran, Meelad spent most of his childhood in Japan and has also worked in Spain. In 2024, he completed his directorial feature debut, entitled His Father’s Son. Meelad was Associate Producer on Antoine Bourges’ feature Concrete Valley, which screened at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival and the 2023 Berlinale. Meelad’s short film credits include Arrhythmia (2009), Republic of God (2010), A Scene (2018), and Worth (2019). He is also an Assistant Professor at Wilfrid-Laurier University’s Department of English and Film Studies.
Sami Khan
Filmmaker
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
