This film is part of the Shorts Presentation: THE STRANGE, THE ODD, AND THE FAMILIAR shorts programme.
Malaysia202312 minEnglishExperimental, Fantasy
Two crocodilian men go to a swimming pool to cool off. One of them is seemingly of a different and special kind; the other is unable to control his desire.
Mark Chua & Lam Li Shuen
Mark Chua and Li Shuen Lam are a filmmaker and artist duo. Their films often employ absurdist imagery, thinking on place, histories and the peculiarity of human desire.
This film is part of the Shorts Presentation: THE STRANGE, THE ODD, AND THE FAMILIAR shorts programme.
At the heart of Baby Queen is a tender and joyful relationship between Singaporean drag queen Opera Tang and her 90-year-old grandmother, who makes many of her performance costumes.
In our inaugural First Films event, award-winning Asian Canadian filmmakers show the first films they’ve ever made. They will reveal their origin stories—that time they caught the movie bug; the place their creative voices first started cracking.
Visit the PIGEONHOLE, nest and rest from the festival chaos, listen to collaborative pigeon music, watch raw footage, compose your own ditties, and collage a flock of desired futures together with other attendees. Check the festival website or rarara.ca for a full program schedule including artist talks and facilitated collage sessions.
Canada1999-20102hEnglish
Film culture loves a genius. Auteurs anointed by the cinematic gods with a touch of movie magic make for good film lore. And there may be a few geniuses among us—however, most filmmakers languish from one film to the next, carrying hard-earned lessons forward in the hopes of another big swing.
In our inaugural First Films event, award-winning Asian Canadian filmmakers show the first films they’ve ever made. They will reveal their origin stories—that time they caught the movie bug; the place their creative voices first started cracking.
Here, we salute the earnest creation, irrational confidence, and the miracle of early- (or pre-)career filmmaking. What filmmakers call their “first film” is often arbitrary. They usually cite the first film that “did well”—as in played film festivals, sold to distributors, or won awards. But we’ve convinced three successful filmmakers to show their actual first short films.
In some cases, these films have never been seen publicly until now. Join us as these brave filmmakers celebrate, commiserate, and cringe through their first films.
– Aram Siu Wai Collier
This presentation is in a cabaret-style format, with each filmmaker taking turns presenting their work and then joining the others for a short roundtable of good-natured critique. There will be a cash bar and free snacks and the audience is encouraged to partake before the event, during the roundtable portions, and after the event.
Canada19995 minEnglishFirst Films
Renuka Jeyapalan
Renuka Jeyapalan is a Toronto-based writer and director. Her shorts have screened at TIFF, Tribeca, and the Berlinale. She has directed episodes of Kim’s Convenience, Workin’ Moms, Sort Of, Children Ruin Everything, Son Of A Critch, and the Netflix original series Ginny & Georgia. Her first feature, Stay The Night, premiered at South by Southwest and played at Reel Asian in 2022.
Canada201010 minEnglishFirst Films
Sami Khan
Sami Khan is a Canadian filmmaker who directed St. Louis Superman (2019), a short documentary that was shortlisted for the 2020 Academy Awards and was acquired by MTV Documentary Films. Khoya, his first fiction feature as writer-director, was selected for the Tribeca Film Institute’s All Access grant. Khan is also the director of Angel Dose and the PBS series Spice Road.
Canada20048 minEnglishFirst Films
Joyce Wong
Joyce Wong is an award-winning director and writer. Her debut narrative feature, Wexford Plaza, is a dark comedy that screened in competition at Slamdance in 2017, and was nominated for the Toronto Film Critics Association’s Best Canadian Film Award. She has directed for shows such as Sort Of, The Sticky, Baroness Von Sketch Show, Fakes, Workin’ Moms, Spencer Sisters, and Run The Burbs.
PG
Content Warning: drug use, needles
18 Nov, 2023 7:00 pm
CSI Annex*Please note the date/time and location has been updated here since the programme guide has been issued
–
The works in this program are historic and are being presented without captions. Wheelchair spaces and step-free seating is available for this screening – click below to book accessible seats.
Sharjil Rasool
Comedian, Actor and Writer
Sharjil Rasool is a comedian, actor and writer. He is an alumni of The Second City Toronto Mainstage where he wrote and performed in three critically acclaimed revues, and was featured in JFL42’s New Faces. You can catch him as Nikhil in Run the Burbs (CBC) and the voice of Ajit in Bakugan (Cartoon Network). Other television credits include What We Do in the Shadows (FX), Baroness von Sketch Show (CBC/IFC) and Abroad (Omni). He’d really love it if you followed him on Twitter (@sharjilrasool) and Instagram (@sharjilr).
You rarely couple poop and romance together, but Okiku and the World does it effortlessly in the most genuine and adorable way.
The Sari-Sari Xchange is a project that seeks to amplify Asian representation in the creative emerging media industries in Canada, particularly through a community-building residency program that engages artists with digital and extended reality (XR) technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, 360 cinema, game-engine animation, and 3D scanning.
Last fall, the DOC Institute invited creative producers to reimagine a documentary ecosystem that recognizes the needs of BIPOC producers with critically acclaimed projects, and published their thoughts in the “Creative Producer Think Tank Report.” A key point highlighted was producer/director relationships—listen as panelists delve into the critical and vital collaboration that underpins any successful film.
Canada19995 minEnglishFirst Films
Renuka Jeyapalan
Renuka Jeyapalan is a Toronto-based writer and director. Her shorts have screened at TIFF, Tribeca, and the Berlinale. She has directed episodes of Kim’s Convenience, Workin’ Moms, Sort Of, Children Ruin Everything, Son Of A Critch, and the Netflix original series Ginny & Georgia. Her first feature, Stay The Night, premiered at South by Southwest and played at Reel Asian in 2022.
This film is part of the CANADIAN SPOTLIGHT First Films shorts programme.
The Sari-Sari Xchange is a project that seeks to amplify Asian representation in the creative emerging media industries in Canada, particularly through a community-building residency program that engages artists with digital and extended reality (XR) technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, 360 cinema, game-engine animation, and 3D scanning.
Directed by Meredith Hama-Brown. Judith, a Japanese Canadian woman, and her reluctant white husband attend a week-long couple’s retreat on a coastal British Columbia island, their two daughters in tow. With Judith grieving the recent loss of her mother, and her connection to her Japanese Canadian identity, the couple’s disconnect grows as she finds herself infatuated with another, seemingly perfect, interracial couple at the retreat.
Canada201010 minEnglishFirst Films
Sami Khan
Sami Khan is a Canadian filmmaker who directed St. Louis Superman (2019), a short documentary that was shortlisted for the 2020 Academy Awards and was acquired by MTV Documentary Films. Khoya, his first fiction feature as writer-director, was selected for the Tribeca Film Institute’s All Access grant. Khan is also the director of Angel Dose and the PBS series Spice Road.
This film is part of the CANADIAN SPOTLIGHT First Films shorts programme.
Explore this app for mobile devices that shares the journey of a child refugee, activated by the steps you take.
Be warmed by friendship and held by the depth of feelings in this collection of wholesome shorts for all ages in a relaxed screening environment. Stick around to participate in fun and simple art activities post-screening.
Some family stories are so epic they demand telling. Some moments in history require the intimate and inside knowledge of community storytellers. The venerated Chinese Canadian filmmaker Keith Lock narrates the story of how his mother married his father in Australia, who was training with other Chinese Canadian veteran volunteers for the top secret suicide mission, Operation Oblivion.
Canada20048 minEnglishFirst Films
Joyce Wong
Joyce Wong is an award-winning director and writer. Her debut narrative feature, Wexford Plaza, is a dark comedy that screened in competition at Slamdance in 2017, and was nominated for the Toronto Film Critics Association’s Best Canadian Film Award. She has directed for shows such as Sort Of, The Sticky, Baroness Von Sketch Show, Fakes, Workin’ Moms, Spencer Sisters, and Run The Burbs.
This film is part of the CANADIAN SPOTLIGHT First Films shorts programme.
Visit the PIGEONHOLE, nest and rest from the festival chaos, listen to collaborative pigeon music, watch raw footage, compose your own ditties, and collage a flock of desired futures together with other attendees. Check the festival website or rarara.ca for a full program schedule including artist talks and facilitated collage sessions.
Free-spirited 12-year-old Zaffan is the first of her friends to get her period and experience the body-changing horrors that come with puberty and menstruation.
The Sari-Sari Xchange is a project that seeks to amplify Asian representation in the creative emerging media industries in Canada, particularly through a community-building residency program that engages artists with digital and extended reality (XR) technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, 360 cinema, game-engine animation, and 3D scanning.
Canada, Philippines200182 minutesEnglishDrama, Music
Amidst a mountain of food, jokes, prayers, joints, songs and Filipino Elvis impersonations, Lolo's Child questions, criticizes and celebrates the intricate underbelly of the Filipino-Canadian community. Reel Asian's Opening Night Film in 2002.
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 screening will be online from Nov 9 – 20. The ROMEO CANDIDO RETRO VOD PASS will give FREE access to
Rated PG
This screening is part of the Canadian Spotlight: Romeo Candido programme.
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.
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.
A collaborative exhibition by Jasmine Gui (special projects programmer, RA) & keiko Hart (co-curator), RA:X Puncta aims to present a plurality of punctum moments (as defined by Roland Barthes) that disturb and prick at diasporic Asian narratives and slip beyond an easy legibility of “Asianness”.
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.
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.
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Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3A8 Canada
(416) 703 – 9333
info@reelasian.com
Charitable number: 870021383RR0001
