Ashley Duong’s Ba’s Book, Reel Asian’s opening night film, begins with her father’s memoir and unfolds with the process of recreating her family’s history of war, displacement, and migration from Vietnam. Moving between documentary, staged scenes, and intimate moments with her family, Duong uses filmmaking itself to uncover memories and guide emotion. She will unpack the creative choices behind the film — from form and performance to image and editing — and how each became a way of making space for her family while finding authenticity in the process of telling their story.
Samir Ballou
Industry and Education Manager, Reel Asian
Samir is a film festival programmer, educator, screenwriter and producer based in Toronto. Currently, he is the Industry and Education programmer at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, where he continues his efforts to strengthen the inclusion of Asian Canadian filmmakers in the media industry.
Ashley Duong
Director, BA'S BOOK
Ashley Duong is a Vietnamese Canadian director based in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal who specializes in stories about relationships between humanity and the natural world.
12 Nov, 2026 2:00 pm
Commons Lobby at 401 Richmond Street
Reel Ideas brings storytellers, artists, and industry voices together to share how the work gets made, the risks that push stories forward, and the ideas that challenge what audiences expect. Discover new work, meet the people shaping what comes next, connect with future collaborators, and take home the skills and insight to bring your own vision to life.
12 Nov.
Writers from Reel Asian’s TV Writing Program bring their original series to the table for a live reading of selected scenes, presented in collaboration with ACTRA Toronto. Professional actors will bring the characters and stories to life, followed by a reception with the writers, performers, and industry guests.
19 Nov. 7:30 pm
Drawing on the Disability Screen Office’s newly launched REFRAMING ACCESS: A BEST PRACTICES GUIDE ON DISABILITY INCLUSION IN CANADA'S SCREEN INDUSTRY, this conversation will explore how filmmakers can establish inclusive accessibility practices across all stages of production and beyond.
17 Nov. 6:30 pm
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
