The screening for Crossings will be shown at OCADU Auditorium and it will be free on a first come first serve basis. This feature film will also be shown as a ticketed free online screening from Nov 14 – Nov 20.
USA202294 minutesEnglish, KoreanCanadian PremiereDocumentary, Women Filmmakers
In a crucial feminist interrogation of inter-Korean politics and U.S. imperialism, Crossings follows international women activists attempting to cross the 38th parallel, demanding an end to the ongoing Korean War. With incisive style, Deann Borshay Liem documents the Women Cross DMZ movement—including Christine Ahn, Leymah Gbowee, and Gloria Steinem—as they undertake a precarious peacemaking journey.
Weaving interviews with modern and archival footage, Liem exposes the lingering scars of the so-called Forgotten War and the complexity of the political landscape left in its wake. Women Cross DMZ’s struggle to navigate conflicting political interests, including the movement’s own controversial racial and national politics, lays bare the frustrating and arduous nature of collective action.
With rare attention to the intersections of gender and war, Crossings offers not a romantic fairytale but a reckoning with the moral ambiguity of past and present —and dares to look to the future with hope.
– Blythe Shulan Hunter
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, 2022
Hawai’i International Film Festival, 2021
Asian American International Film Festival, 2022
Deann Borshay Liem
Deann Borshay Liem has over 20 years’ experience working in the development, production, and distribution of independent documentaries. She is the producer, director, and writer of the Emmy Award-nominated documentary, First Person Plural (2000), as well as the award-winning films In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee (2010) and Memory of Forgotten War (2015).
10 Nov, 2022 7:00 pm
OCADU AuditoriumThe screening for Crossings will be shown at OCADU Auditorium and it will be free on a first come first serve basis. This feature film will also be shown as a ticketed free online screening from Nov 14 – Nov 20.
RATED PG
CONTENT WARNING: Depictions of war and armed conflict
Available captions will be updated closer to the festival dates.
Immediately following the in-person screening of CROSSINGS, join filmmaker Deann Borshay Liem, documentary subject Christine Ahn, and moderator Min Sook Lee for a post-screening reception with complimentary refreshments in the Lambert Lounge, adjacent to the OCADU Auditorium screening room.
Inspired by age-old Filipino folklore, this frightening thriller is a chilling story about the resurfacing of dark family secrets.
So You Think You Can Pitch is back in person for Reel Asian’s 26th annual festival! Catch the live showdown between finalists as they pitch their short-film projects to a jury for a chance to win our amazing prize package to kickstart or finish their film.
Following her previous basketball documentary Finding Big Country (2018), Kat Jayme embarks on an equally quixotic journey to find out why the Grizzlies abandoned Vancouver.
Canada, Philippines200412 minComedy
This collaboration with comedian Ron Josol is a farcical time capsule of Asian male aughts humour.
Romeo Candido is a CSA winner and proud Filipino Canadian story teller with experience in film, television, theatre, documentary and advertising. Recent credits include writing / directing a film for the NBA called SHORTY, directing on S29 of THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES, directing two episodes of the upcoming CIRCUIT BREAKERS for Apple TV and writing an episode of the hit comedy SON OF A CRITCH. He is currently the co-showrunner of S8 of popular dance series The Next Step for CBBC and YTV. His ten part musical series TOPLINE, which he serves as creator, writer, director and composer premiered to rave reviews on CBC Gem March 31 2022. His original musical PRISON DANCER will have its world premiere as a stage musical at the Citadel Theatre in spring of 2023.
This film is a part of the Retro Screenings Online programme presenting a collection of short and mid-length work from Candido’s career.
PG-13
Canada, Philippines20218 minMusic
In Shorty, a father gives his daughter a history lesson of the greatest small NBA players to illustrate that height isn’t all you need.
An NBA Films for Fans created by a partnership with the OLG and Toronto Film Festival, SHORT Y is part of collection of short films commemorating the NBA's 75th anniversary
Romeo Candido is a CSA winner and proud Filipino Canadian story teller with experience in film, television, theatre, documentary and advertising. Recent credits include writing / directing a film for the NBA called SHORTY, directing on S29 of THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES, directing two episodes of the upcoming CIRCUIT BREAKERS for Apple TV and writing an episode of the hit comedy SON OF A CRITCH. He is currently the co-showrunner of S8 of popular dance series The Next Step for CBBC and YTV. His ten part musical series TOPLINE, which he serves as creator, writer, director and composer premiered to rave reviews on CBC Gem March 31 2022. His original musical PRISON DANCER will have its world premiere as a stage musical at the Citadel Theatre in spring of 2023.
This film is a part of the Retro Screenings Online programme presenting a collection of short and mid-length work from Candido’s career.
G
Canada, Philippines20154 minMusic
A music-video collaboration between dance troupe Hataw and Candido’s music project A La Una (née Datu).
Romeo Candido is a CSA winner and proud Filipino Canadian story teller with experience in film, television, theatre, documentary and advertising. Recent credits include writing / directing a film for the NBA called SHORTY, directing on S29 of THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES, directing two episodes of the upcoming CIRCUIT BREAKERS for Apple TV and writing an episode of the hit comedy SON OF A CRITCH. He is currently the co-showrunner of S8 of popular dance series The Next Step for CBBC and YTV. His ten part musical series TOPLINE, which he serves as creator, writer, director and composer premiered to rave reviews on CBC Gem March 31 2022. His original musical PRISON DANCER will have its world premiere as a stage musical at the Citadel Theatre in spring of 2023.
This film is a part of the Retro Screenings Online programme presenting a collection of short and mid-length work from Candido’s career.
G
Canada, Philippines320028 minMusic
A fly-on-the-wall look at the early days of R&B group Kuya as they perform for New York’s top labels.
Romeo Candido is a CSA winner and proud Filipino Canadian story teller with experience in film, television, theatre, documentary and advertising. Recent credits include writing / directing a film for the NBA called SHORTY, directing on S29 of THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES, directing two episodes of the upcoming CIRCUIT BREAKERS for Apple TV and writing an episode of the hit comedy SON OF A CRITCH. He is currently the co-showrunner of S8 of popular dance series The Next Step for CBBC and YTV. His ten part musical series TOPLINE, which he serves as creator, writer, director and composer premiered to rave reviews on CBC Gem March 31 2022. His original musical PRISON DANCER will have its world premiere as a stage musical at the Citadel Theatre in spring of 2023.
G
This film is a part of the Retro Screenings Online programme presenting a collection of short and mid-length work from Candido’s career.
Canada, Philippines200226 minDocumentary
A documentary following members of the Toronto Filipinx Canadian community preparing for Fiesta.
Romeo Candido is a CSA winner and proud Filipino Canadian story teller with experience in film, television, theatre, documentary and advertising. Recent credits include writing / directing a film for the NBA called SHORTY, directing on S29 of THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES, directing two episodes of the upcoming CIRCUIT BREAKERS for Apple TV and writing an episode of the hit comedy SON OF A CRITCH. He is currently the co-showrunner of S8 of popular dance series The Next Step for CBBC and YTV. His ten part musical series TOPLINE, which he serves as creator, writer, director and composer premiered to rave reviews on CBC Gem March 31 2022. His original musical PRISON DANCER will have its world premiere as a stage musical at the Citadel Theatre in spring of 2023.
G
This film is a part of the Retro Screenings Online programme presenting a collection of short and mid-length work from Candido’s career.
Canada, PhilippinesEnglish and other languages with English subtitles
Presenting a collection of short and mid-length work from Romeo Candido's career.
Romeo Candido is a CSA winner and proud Filipino Canadian story teller with experience in film, television, theatre, documentary and advertising. Recent credits include writing / directing a film for the NBA called SHORTY, directing on S29 of THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES, directing two episodes of the upcoming CIRCUIT BREAKERS for Apple TV and writing an episode of the hit comedy SON OF A CRITCH. He is currently the co-showrunner of S8 of popular dance series The Next Step for CBBC and YTV. His ten part musical series TOPLINE, which he serves as creator, writer, director and composer premiered to rave reviews on CBC Gem March 31 2022. His original musical PRISON DANCER will have its world premiere as a stage musical at the Citadel Theatre in spring of 2023.
Canada, Philippines201260 minComedy, Dance, Drama
Inspired by the real-life dancing rehabilitation program that became a worldwide viral sensation on YouTube, Prison Dancer details the poignant and hilarious stories of six prison dancers who turned a maximum-security prison into a world stage.
Canada, Philippines200226 minDocumentary
A documentary following members of the Toronto Filipinx Canadian community preparing for Fiesta.
Canada, Philippines320028 minMusic
A fly-on-the-wall look at the early days of R&B group Kuya as they perform for New York’s top labels.
Canada, Philippines20154 minMusic
A music-video collaboration between dance troupe Hataw and Candido’s music project A La Una (née Datu).
Canada, Philippines20218 minMusic
In Shorty, a father gives his daughter a history lesson of the greatest small NBA players to illustrate that height isn’t all you need.
An NBA Films for Fans created by a partnership with the OLG and Toronto Film Festival, SHORT Y is part of collection of short films commemorating the NBA's 75th anniversary
Canada, Philippines200412 minComedy
This collaboration with comedian Ron Josol is a farcical time capsule of Asian male aughts humour.
9 Nov, 2022
to 20 Nov, 2022
OnlineThis shorts programme will be shown exclusively online from Nov 9 – 20. The ROMEO CANDIDO RETRO VOD PASS will give FREE access to
PG
TBA
Join Romeo Candido and writer director Amanda Parris as they discuss Candido’s career.
Following three Muslim women activists who have come of age since 9/11, An Act of Worship is a unique glimpse into the lives of a new generation of American Muslims deeply impacted by over 40 years of history that has shaped their lives and trajectories in powerful and irreversible ways.
Romeo Candido’s latest musical foray Topline takes us into the world of topliners: the people who write the lyrics, melodies, and hooks for the industry’s biggest stars.
These films do not shy away from difficult and layered stories, distant memories, and buried feelings. Our characters ground, trace, and reconnect pathways toward recognizing the resiliency within oneself through their roots and relations to the places around them.
Canada, Philippines201260 minComedy, Dance, Drama
Inspired by the real-life dancing rehabilitation program that became a worldwide viral sensation on YouTube, Prison Dancer details the poignant and hilarious stories of six prison dancers who turned a maximum-security prison into a world stage.
Romeo Candido is a CSA winner and proud Filipino Canadian story teller with experience in film, television, theatre, documentary and advertising. Recent credits include writing / directing a film for the NBA called SHORTY, directing on S29 of THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES, directing two episodes of the upcoming CIRCUIT BREAKERS for Apple TV and writing an episode of the hit comedy SON OF A CRITCH. He is currently the co-showrunner of S8 of popular dance series The Next Step for CBBC and YTV. His ten part musical series TOPLINE, which he serves as creator, writer, director and composer premiered to rave reviews on CBC Gem March 31 2022. His original musical PRISON DANCER will have its world premiere as a stage musical at the Citadel Theatre in spring of 2023.
PG
This film is a part of the Retro Screenings Online programme presenting a collection of short and mid-length work from Candido’s career.
Canada, Philippines2006105 minutesEnglishDrama, Music
Inspired by age-old Filipino folklore, this frightening thriller is a chilling story about the resurfacing of dark family secrets. When word arrives that grandmother Lola has died, Johnny and his sister Anna travel back to the Philippines to learn that they’ve inherited the matriarch’s country estate. They begin to realize that not only is the farm haunted by Lola’s ghost, but also deeply connected to perilous supernatural forces.
With no way out, Johnny must call upon Lola’s legendary lessons to vanquish monsters and ultimately save his family from doom. Featuring an almost entirely Canadian cast, this modern-traditional horror flick breathes some fresh Filipino life into the genre.
– Heather Keung
Darrel Gamotin
Nadine Villasin
Phoemela Baranda
Nicco Lorenzo Garcia
Caroline Mangosing
Romeo Candido is a CSA winner and proud Filipino Canadian story teller with experience in film, television, theatre, documentary and advertising. Recent credits include writing / directing a film for the NBA called SHORTY, directing on S29 of THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES, directing two episodes of the upcoming CIRCUIT BREAKERS for Apple TV and writing an episode of the hit comedy SON OF A CRITCH. He is currently the co-showrunner of S8 of popular dance series The Next Step for CBBC and YTV. His ten part musical series TOPLINE, which he serves as creator, writer, director and composer premiered to rave reviews on CBC Gem March 31 2022. His original musical PRISON DANCER will have its world premiere as a stage musical at the Citadel Theatre in spring of 2023.
9 Nov, 2022
to 20 Nov, 2022
OnlineInnis Town Hall
2 Sussex Av
Toronto
Tickets for this screening will be distributed subject to availability at the venue on a first-come/first-served basis.
This screening will be online from Nov 9 – 20. The ROMEO CANDIDO RETRO VOD PASS will give FREE access to
Rated PG
Available captions will be updated closer to the festival dates.
This screening is part of the Canadian Spotlight: Romeo Candido programme.
Challenging norms, paving the road, and telling fresh stories, our Canadian Spotlight Artist program is dedicated to a member of the dynamic and talented Asian Canadian film community. This program celebrates a selected artist by activating their journey, process, and future works.
When a man from the “extinct” Sinixt people in what’s called British Columbia’s Slocan Valley challenges his deportation to the United States, the question arises: How can his people be extinct when he is very much alive? This feature film will also be shown as an online screening.
When reserved, late-bloomer Grace gets passed up for a major promotion at work, she tries to break out of her shell by pursuing a one-night stand at the club.
Canada2022120 minEnglishCanadian PremiereDrama, Music
Romeo Candido’s latest musical foray Topline takes us into the world of topliners: the people who write the lyrics, melodies, and hooks for the industry’s biggest stars. Tala is a reclusive singer-songwriter whose alter ego is named Illisha. When Tala is discovered by and joins a hitmaking team of topliners, she must secretly follow her passion while dealing with her family’s grief over their mother’s passing. And in the process, Tala just might find her voice. Topline features many of Candido’s hallmarks: dramatic, funny, and touching, with an amazing soundtrack. This web series has something for everyone. Featuring emerging talent from across the Greater Toronto Area, the Topline cast will perform its songs live, for a one-of-a-kind experience.
Romeo Candido is a CSA winner and proud Filipino Canadian story teller with experience in film, television, theatre, documentary and advertising. Recent credits include writing / directing a film for the NBA called SHORTY, directing on S29 of THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES, directing two episodes of the upcoming CIRCUIT BREAKERS for Apple TV and writing an episode of the hit comedy SON OF A CRITCH. He is currently the co-showrunner of S8 of popular dance series The Next Step for CBBC and YTV. His ten part musical series TOPLINE, which he serves as creator, writer, director and composer premiered to rave reviews on CBC Gem March 31 2022. His original musical PRISON DANCER will have its world premiere as a stage musical at the Citadel Theatre in spring of 2023.
20 Nov, 2022 7:00 pm
to 9:00 pm
Isabel Bader TheatreIsabel Bader Theatre
93 Charles St W
Toronto
This screening is a part of the Canadian Spotlight: Romeo Candido programme.
PG
Available captions will be updated closer to the festival dates.
Join us to celebrate the closing night of the 26th annual Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival with TOPLINE and our Canadian Spotlight Artist. $10 at the door or FREE for badge-holders & ticket-holders of the Festival Closing Night Gala Event.
9:30PM-12:30AM at CSI Annex
So You Think You Can Pitch is back in person for Reel Asian’s 26th annual festival! Catch the live showdown between finalists as they pitch their short-film projects to a jury for a chance to win our amazing prize package to kickstart or finish their film.
This year, Reel Asian spotlights S-Express Indonesia programmed by Fransiska Prihadi of Minikino, featuring five short films with the hopes of recharging your festival experience.
Asian Canadian comics will discuss the ways they’ve broken down barriers to tell their jokes to a wide audience on stage, in sketches, and on film and TV. Together, they’ll discuss their individual approaches to the craft, how they navigate stereotypes, personal experiences in their work, and how comedy has allowed them to challenge, explore, and find comfort in their identities.
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
