Music videos can turn a song into a visual world, giving us new ways to experience the music we listen to — whether we’re watching with friends at a party or alone at 2 a.m. when we can’t fall asleep. What draws us in and what makes a music video stay with us? Hear from directors, producers, and creatives working across music and visual media about building worlds around songs, collaborating with artists, and finding new ways to connect music and image while navigating tight budgets and production schedules.
Stay afterwards for a music video party and mingle with fellow guests and artists from 9–10PM.
Verdah Ansari
Host, Content Producer and Graphic Designer, MuchMusic
Verdah is a host, content producer and graphic designer at MuchMusic whose early love of album cover art sparked her journey into graphic design. Her fascination with music’s visual world shapes her work, from thoughtful artist interviews to exploring the imagery, design and creative choices behind the music
Nathan Lau
Director, Photographer, Producer, Luno Blvd Productions
Nathan Lau is a Toronto-based director, photographer, and producer. Founding his creative production company, Luno Blvd, in 2022, he works across film, documentary, and fashion, grounded in curiosity and human connection.
Julian Nieva
Executive Producer, Common Good
Julian Nieva is a producer who has built a reputation specializing in film and design. Merging his interest in sports, culture, fashion and art into his work has always been infused into his work. Julian is often seen picking up sandbags or submitting receipts to accounting.
20 Nov, 2026 7:30 pm
It's OK* Studios468 Queen St. W
Stay for a music video party and mingle with fellow guests and artists.
9 - 10PM at It's Ok* Studios
RENT A PLUS-ONE, offers a case study in what happens when filmmakers build for a vertical frame. Its creators unpack their journey from traditional web series to vertical.
16 Nov. 6:30 pm
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.
Celebrating 20 years of Reel Asian’s pitch competition, five finalist filmmakers will take the stage to pitch their projects to a live jury and audience.
21 Nov. 7:00 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, Asian diasporic, and Asian Canadian 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
