Canada20208 minEnglishAnimation, Documentary, Family, Women Filmmakers
Rated PG
Tenderly crafted, director Anne Koizumi recounts a shameful childhood memory spurring conversation and a self-realization that which felt out of reach was there all along.
AWARDS
Honorable Mention – Betty Youson Award for Best Canadian Short Documentary, Hot Docs, 2020
Best Canadian Animation Winner, Ottawa International Animation Film Festival, 2020
Anne Koizumi
Anne Koizumi’s films have screened nationally and internationally. Additionally, Koizumi teaches stop-motion animation workshops across Canada and is currently a media arts educator at the NFB.
12 Nov, 2020 10:00 am
to 19 Nov, 2020 11:59 pm
Canada202015 minEnglish with English SubtitlesDocumentary, Family, LGBTQ+ Filmmakers, Open Captions, Women Filmmakers
Rated PG
Pairing personal home videos with audio-recorded stories from Katherine Chun, Wenda Li, Tamai Kobayashi, and Nancy Seto - four queer Asian women recall, relive, and reflect upon their adolescent years.
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
Inside Out Film Festival, 2020
Iris Prize Film Festival, 2020
AWARDS
Nominated, Iris Prize, 2020
Amanda Ann-Min Wong
Amanda Ann-Min Wong is a filmmaker, writer, and musician originally from Singapore who now lives in Toronto. In her free time, she loves jamming out with her queer alt-rock band, cutsleeve.
12 Nov, 2020 10:00 am
to 19 Nov, 2020 11:59 pm
Canada, China, USA65 minEnglish and various languages with English SubtitlesAnimation, Dance, Documentary, Drama, Family, LGBTQ+ Filmmakers, Women Filmmakers
These six dynamic films touch upon art not solely as a creative practice for self expression but an integral force in making space, along with the responsibilities that come with it.
USA202013 minEnglishInternational Premiere Dance, Documentary, Family, LGBTQ+ Filmmakers, Open Captions, Women Filmmakers
Rated PG
A love letter to the queer Asian community, director Allie Cuerdo finds the strength to come out and rebuild a relationship with her mom with a little help and inspiration from New York’s radical dance party Bubble_T.
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
Bentonville Film Festival, 2020
Asian American International Film Festival, 2020
Alexandra Cuerdo
Alexandra “Allie” Cuerdo is an award-winning Filipino-American director, writer and producer recently named one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women In the World by the Filipina Women’s Network.
USA202010 minEnglishInternational Premiere Documentary
Rated PG
Hardcore and punk to the max, this electric documentary shares the story of Atomic Nancy and the infamous Atomic Café in L.A.
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, 2020
Tadashi Nakamura, Akira Boch
Tadashi Nakamura was named one of CNN’s “Young People Who Rock” for being the youngest filmmaker at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and listed as one of the “Top Rising Asian American Directors” on IMDb.
Akira Boch is an Emmy-winning filmmaker and Director of the Watase Media Arts Center at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.
Canada201914 minEnglishDrama, Family, Women Filmmakers
Rated PG-13
CW: Sexual harassment
A newcomer to the film industry, Margo’s careful and cautious actions make clear the insidious traces of misogyny that permeate through.
Maya Wong
Anthony Caputo
Logan Freeman
Sam
Emily Bolanos
Steffi Tupe
Steffi Tupe is a first-generation Filipino-Canadian writer, director and producer with three dramatic short films under her belt Two Ladies, Sister and Margo.
Canada20202 minEnglish with English SubtitlesInternational Premiere Animation, Family, Open Captions, Women Filmmakers
Rated PG
Created by a community of local Filipinx creatives, Novena is an affectingly crafted poetry animation touching upon grief, mourning, and healing.
Shirley Camia
Born in Winnipeg, Shirley Camia is a Filipina-Canadian poet who has lived across Canada, the Philippines, Japan and Kenya. Novena, based on her poem of the same name, is her debut poetry film.
Canada20195 minEnglishWorld Premiere Documentary, Family, Open Captions, Women Filmmakers
Rated PG
Pakistani-Canadian artist Wahab Jaffer endearingly retells his journey from collector to artist and imparts the lessons he’s learned along the way.
Tanya Hoshi
Tanya Hoshi is a Pakistani-Canadian film and web series producer/director based in Toronto, Canada. When she’s not working, Hoshi is mentoring emerging filmmakers by helping them find their footing in the industry.
China202019 minChinese Sign Language and Shanghainese with English SubtitlesCanadian PremiereDance, Drama, Family, Open Captions, Women Filmmakers
Rated PG-13
CW: Homophobic statements
Beautifully poetic, Handscape tells the story of Xia Qing and his desire to dance despite his mother’s outright disapproval.
Zhenyu Tang
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
Show Low Film Festival 2020
National Film Festival for Talented Youth, 2020
Yiru Chen 陈伊如
Yiru Chen is a film director, artist, and poet. Her goal is to promote education and art of sign languages – an essential key to Deaf culture, along with members of both communities.
12 Nov, 2020 10:00 am
to 19 Nov, 2020 11:59 pm
Join us in conversation with directors and special guests in attendance! ASL interpretation will be made available thanks to Toronto Sign Language Interpreter Services. Ticket holders can watch on the CineSend Reel Asian portal.
November 16, 2020 at 8PM
China202019 minChinese Sign Language and Shanghainese with English SubtitlesCanadian PremiereDance, Drama, Family, Open Captions, Women Filmmakers
Rated PG-13
CW: Homophobic statements
Beautifully poetic, Handscape tells the story of Xia Qing and his desire to dance despite his mother’s outright disapproval.
Zhenyu Tang
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
Show Low Film Festival 2020
National Film Festival for Talented Youth, 2020
Yiru Chen 陈伊如
Yiru Chen is a film director, artist, and poet. Her goal is to promote education and art of sign languages – an essential key to Deaf culture, along with members of both communities.
12 Nov, 2020 10:00 am
to 19 Nov, 2020 11:59 pm
Canada201914 minEnglishDrama, Family, Women Filmmakers
Rated PG-13
CW: Sexual harassment
A newcomer to the film industry, Margo’s careful and cautious actions make clear the insidious traces of misogyny that permeate through.
Maya Wong
Anthony Caputo
Logan Freeman
Sam
Emily Bolanos
Steffi Tupe
Steffi Tupe is a first-generation Filipino-Canadian writer, director and producer with three dramatic short films under her belt Two Ladies, Sister and Margo.
12 Nov, 2020 10:00 am
to 19 Nov, 2020 11:59 pm
Canada20202 minEnglish with English SubtitlesInternational Premiere Animation, Family, Open Captions, Women Filmmakers
Rated PG
Created by a community of local Filipinx creatives, Novena is an affectingly crafted poetry animation touching upon grief, mourning, and healing.
Shirley Camia
Born in Winnipeg, Shirley Camia is a Filipina-Canadian poet who has lived across Canada, the Philippines, Japan and Kenya. Novena, based on her poem of the same name, is her debut poetry film.
12 Nov, 2020 10:00 am
to 19 Nov, 2020 11:59 pm
Canada20195 minEnglishWorld Premiere Documentary, Family, Open Captions, Women Filmmakers
Rated PG
Pakistani-Canadian artist Wahab Jaffer endearingly retells his journey from collector to artist and imparts the lessons he’s learned along the way.
Tanya Hoshi
Tanya Hoshi is a Pakistani-Canadian film and web series producer/director based in Toronto, Canada. When she’s not working, Hoshi is mentoring emerging filmmakers by helping them find their footing in the industry.
12 Nov, 2020 10:00 am
to 19 Nov, 2020 11:59 pm
USA202010 minEnglishInternational Premiere Documentary
Rated PG
Hardcore and punk to the max, this electric documentary shares the story of Atomic Nancy and the infamous Atomic Café in L.A.
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, 2020
Tadashi Nakamura, Akira Boch
Tadashi Nakamura was named one of CNN’s “Young People Who Rock” for being the youngest filmmaker at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and listed as one of the “Top Rising Asian American Directors” on IMDb.
Akira Boch is an Emmy-winning filmmaker and Director of the Watase Media Arts Center at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles.
12 Nov, 2020 10:00 am
to 19 Nov, 2020 11:59 pm
USA202013 minEnglishInternational Premiere Dance, Documentary, Family, LGBTQ+ Filmmakers, Open Captions, Women Filmmakers
Rated PG
A love letter to the queer Asian community, director Allie Cuerdo finds the strength to come out and rebuild a relationship with her mom with a little help and inspiration from New York’s radical dance party Bubble_T.
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
Bentonville Film Festival, 2020
Asian American International Film Festival, 2020
Alexandra Cuerdo
Alexandra “Allie” Cuerdo is an award-winning Filipino-American director, writer and producer recently named one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women In the World by the Filipina Women’s Network.
12 Nov, 2020 10:00 am
to 19 Nov, 2020 11:59 pm
Canada, USA55 minEnglishDance, Documentary, Family, Women Filmmakers
In a world that feels ever so divisive, these three documentaries take a closer look at what it means to create new pathways for community mobilizing, recognize shortcomings of identity markers, and acknowledge the solidarity work that remains undone.
Canada202022 minEnglishDocumentary, Family, Open Captions
Rated PG
Friend, immigration attorney, father, brother and ultimately a humanist, this inspiring documentary sheds light on the ways El-Farouk Khaki has dedicated himself to creating a world of wellness and oneness.
Jinung Chung
Jinung Chung is the Producer at JbyJ, a team of award-winning documentary artists based in Toronto doing their part to make our world a more inclusive place for all. Chung makes his directorial debut with Accidental Activist.
USA202013 minEnglishToronto PremiereDance, Descriptive Captions, Documentary, Open Captions
Rated PG
Paving their own paths towards freedom and independence, Turf Nation follows the street dancers who perform on BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) trains in Oakland as they navigate their interpersonal relationships, the system, and their burgeoning dance influence.
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, 2020
Cinequest Film Festival, 2020
Calgary International Film Festival, 2020
Jun Bae
Jun Bae is a Tokyo-born Korean director. His work often centers on dancers, exploring themes of underground culture and freedom of movement. He holds an MFA degree in Documentary Film from Stanford University.
Canada201919 minEnglishDocumentary, Family, Women Filmmakers
Caught between two seemingly isolated worlds, director Danielle Ayow interrogates her own cultural identity as Trini and Chinese with much heart and humour. Sometimes asking is not enough as Ayow’s process makes clear the harm of essentializing identity and ultimately, the limitations of language.
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
Trinidad + Tobago Film Festival, 2020
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, 2020
AWARDS
Best Documentary Award, Caribbean Tales International Film Festival, 2020
Danielle Ayow
Danielle Ayow is a Toronto-based writer, actor, and comedian. In 2017, Ayow developed an 8-minute proof of concept version of But You’re Not Black with the help of Reel Asian to secure funding for this 20-minute version. This is her first time directing and writing a documentary.
12 Nov, 2020 10:00 am
to 19 Nov, 2020 11:59 pm
Join us in conversation with directors and special guests in attendance! ASL interpretation will be made available thanks to Toronto Sign Language Interpreter Services.
November 16, 2020 at 1PM
Somi and her husband met and fell in love while fighting alongside fellow Naxalites, a communist rebel group fighting for the rights of tribal communities in India for the past 50 years. Although the group represents a quarter of the population and lives in extreme poverty, Naxalites are seen as the biggest threat to national security for the State of India.
A cowardly horse robbery ends in murder, leaving a boy fatherless and his family in disarray. When the boy’s mother is forced to move the family out of their village, a mysterious man arrives who might be able to help restore order. What may appear to us as a “Western,” with its familiar framing of vast vistas and sublime steppes, is really a story about fractured families and survival in the wake of violence.
What does a hot bowl of lovingly prepared soup remind you of? The taste of home? The warm embrace of a loved one? For Long, a widower and cook at a Vietnamese restaurant in Warsaw, his famous pho is his pride, and his grade-school daughter Mia is his joy. But their world changes when the restaurant is sold, forcing Long to learn to make sushi. Meanwhile, Mia is frustrated by her father's caring but old-fashioned ways, while fearing he is moving on from the memory of her late mother.
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
