Canada202393 minEnglish, Mandarin, CantoneseCanadian PremiereAvailable Online, Comedy, Drama, First Feature
Shan, an immigrant from Dongbei, China, settles in Markham, Ont., a suburb known for its welcoming Chinese community. There, Kevin, a fellow Dongbei local, pulls him into a scheme to rob a Japanese restaurant stealing business from Chinese locals. After the heist goes horribly wrong, they delve into the streets of Markham in a series of chaotic episodes. Fresh Off Markham functions as a satirical anthology, highlighting experiences and dilemmas that some Chinese immigrants encounter amidst relocation.
Paying homage to the best of modern cinema, Kurt Yuen, Cyrus Lo, and Trevor Choi’s feature directorial debut successfully interweaves stories of the diasporic experience in with Markham. They keep generational history in mind, while providing a meaningful look at greed, interracial conflict, and the cost of immigration. Daring, decisive, and tonally diverse, Fresh Off Markham’s charm is rooted in its bold specificity, bringing an often overlooked Greater Toronto Area community to film.
– Amreen Kullar
Nian Chang
Howard Li
Edmond Clark
Jessica Chan
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Hong Kong International Film Festival, 2024
Beijing International Film Festival, 2024
Kurt Yuen, Cyrus Lo, Trevor Choi
Kurt Yuen was born and raised in Hong Kong, and is a graduate of the Hong Kong Film Director’s Guild Masterclass.
Cyrus Lo strives to tell meaningful stories through film. His debut short Aftershock (2023) was an official selection at Vancouver Asian Film Festival.
Trevor Choi is a graduate of the Hong Kong Film Director’s Guild Masterclass, and his short film Ouroboros (2018) screened at the 42nd New York Asian American International Film Festival.
15 Nov, 2024 5:30 pm
TIFF Lightbox C3AA
Tickets for the in-cinema presentation have gone into advance rush. No more public advance tickets are available. Please join the rush line on the day of the screening when we will release unclaimed holds and reserves.
We can usually get everyone in the rush line in but rush tickets are strictly subject to availability and not guaranteed. Rush lines start an hour before the first screening of the day so the earlier you join the rush line the better your chances.
CONTENT ADVISORY
Nudity, violence, racist language; depictions of blood and gore, smoking, drinking
–
This film is scheduled to be presented with subtitles for all spoken dialogue (no sound cues indicated). Wheelchair spaces and step-free seating is available for this screening – click below to book accessible seats.
Join us for a Q&A immediately after the theatrical presentation with directors Kurt Yuen, Cyrus Lo, and Trevor Choi.
Family dynamics are complicated. No matter how intimately familiar kin can feel, there's room for surprise to the point where we wonder if we even knew them at all. Which stories and emotions do we hold inside, and which are we ready to share?
16 Nov. 12:00 pm
At the heart of this captivating coming-of-age sports film is Ashley Chea, a Cambodian American basketball marvel whose high school career we follow. Hailing from a lower-class immigrant family that sought safety in the U.S. after the Khmer Rouge came to power, Chea is given the opportunity to attend a private school and thus pursue a coveted college basketball career. While her parents work vigorously at their doughnut store and can’t attend her games, Chea bonds with her Japanese American coach, who helps her with doctor's appointments and even attaining her driver’s licence.
17 Nov. 10:00 am
Join us for an exclusive Work-In-Progress presentation of SPACE CADET, a captivating animated film directed by Kid Koala. Work-In-Progress events at Reel Asian give audience members a chance to explore the development stages of a piece of work. In this session, we will hear insights from the creative team of SPACE CADET, including director Kid Koala, head of story and production designer Lillian Chan, and artistic director Corinne Merrell, who will guide us through the artistic process and illustrate how animation brings this heartfelt narrative to life.
21 Nov. 7:00 pm
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
