China202393 minCantoneseDrama, First Feature
While picking juicy lychees on an endless summer day, Ting is uneasy. She’s on the verge of marriage in her hometown in mainland China. Her father will not be there. He long ago left her and her mother to stay with his preferred family in Hong Kong — part of the legacy of men from the region who had extramarital affairs in China in the 1980s and '90s. Before she ties the knot, Ting ventures to Hong Kong to find the father she’s never known. While on her journey, she finds she has other loose ends to tie up, too.
Luscious imagery, moody music, and sultry summer vibes saturate Guangdong filmmaker Choy Ji’s first feature film with wistful longing for love in another place, another time. Through Ting and her family story, Director Choy brilliantly displays the Hong Kong of his own youth — mysterious and magical, distant despite being so close.
– Aram Siu Wai Collier
Lin Dongping
Sunny Sun
Eddy Au-Yeung
Pan Jie
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Busan International Film Festival, 2023
Rotterdam International Film Festival, 2024
Hong Kong International Film Festival, 2024
Choy Ji
Choy Ji was born in 1988 in Chaozhou, Guangdong, China. His works have won the Best Short Film at the China Independent Film Festival, and have been selected for the Busan International Short Film Festival and the Tampere Film Festival. Borrowed Time is his first feature film, and premiered at the 28th Busan International Film Festival.
14 Nov, 2024 8:00 pm
TIFF Lightbox C5PG
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.
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In-
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.
It’s the holidays, and Ben Santhanaraj shows up to Sri Lanka to see Suzanne Hopper, his long-distance partner who works there. Unfortunately, Suzanne’s been informed she now has to work through the holidays, thwarting their dream vacation plans (and his amorous intentions). They decide to go along with their itinerary, her laptop in tow, but nothing seems to work out as planned, leading to candid conversations and chaotic twists. Will their relationship endure — or have they grown too far apart?
Trivial or not, these short films push and push ... and push. Is it provocation, retaliation, or sheer determination? Regardless of the answer, how far might you be willing to go?
The notion of love transcends you and me. It resides in the personal, the familial, the imaginary, and a nation.
Sit in on this exclusive screening and deep dive of Late Bloomer, the groundbreaking series from the creative mind of Jasmeet Raina (Jus Reign). Centred on Jasmeet Dutta's life, the show unpacks family expectations, intergenerational relationships, and racial identity in ways rarely seen on Canadian TV. We’ll screen Episode 1: "Nudes" and Episode 4: "The Turban," offering a glimpse into Jasmeet’s complex journey as he navigates personal desires that go against familial pressures. Stick around to hear from the creative team about how Late Bloomer has landed in the community, and how it will continue to shape these conversations in real life.
Ashley Ganger
Actor
Ashley Ganger is a Canadian actor who made her onscreen debut as a series regular in the Netflix Original series Grand Army. She has since gone on to work as a series regular on the new Canadian hit show Late Bloomer, which was released this year and is set to return for a season 2. Additionally, Ashley is set to star whilst also receiving her first Executive Producer credit on upcoming American Indie film, The Trucker. It is set to shoot in 2025 in Bakersfield California and it will be directed by Ben Rekhi. Having recently relocated to New York, she hopes to take advantage of the city’s storied arts culture and is exploring theatre as one of many avenues to grow as an actress. Ashley is represented by Zero Gravity Management, Greene Talent in the U.S, and Susan J Talent Agency in Toronto. Thank you for taking the time to read about my work, it’s been an honour to get to share this with you.
Gayle Ye
DOP
Gayle Ye is an Emmy award-winning director of photography whose work has screened at Cannes Court Metrage and the Tribeca Film Festival. Gayle has received praise from the New York Times and Roger Ebert for their stunning cinematography. They recently lensed season one of Jasmeet Raina’s “Late Bloomer” and Sook-Yin Lee’s hotly anticipated feature film, “Paying For It.”
Lakna Edirisinghe
Writer
Lakna Edirisinghe is a Sri Lankan-Canadian writer and producer based out of Toronto. Originally from Windsor, Ontario, Lakna moved to Toronto to study Film at the University of Toronto. She then went on to do a post-graduate program in Television Writing and Producing at Humber. Since breaking into the industry, she has written for a wide variety of television shows, including hour-long law dramas like Diggstown (CBC), animated shows like Pinecone and Pony (Apple+), and educational kid’s comedies like Odd Squad (PBS), for which she was nominated for an Emmy. In 2022, she won a Writer’s Guild of Canada Award, and in 2023, she won a Canadian Screen Award for her writing. Her work can be seen on networks like Netflix, Universal, Family Channel, Hulu, CBC, PBS, Apple, Bell and more. She’s currently returning as a writer and co-executive producer on Season 2 of Late Bloomer with Bell/Crave.
17 Nov, 2024 10:00 am
TIFF Lightbox C5Due to a quirk in our ticketing system, you will be prompted to select seats for this event; however this event will have open seating. You may sit in any available seat without a reserved sign or hood on it, except the front row which is reserved for people with disabilities.
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Wheelchair spaces and step-free seating is available for this event – click below to book accessible seats.
It’s no secret that filmmaking requires grit, stamina, and a whole lot of determination. Reel Ideas celebrates the behind-the-scenes perseverance that drive creators to follow their instincts and shape their stories.
So you have a great idea for a documentary—what’s next? Join our panel of Producers and Directors as they break down the journey of transforming a concept into a compelling finished project. From the early stages of research, fundraising, and story development, to navigating production challenges and securing distribution, this discussion will cover the essential steps and strategies for bringing a documentary idea to life. Gain insights on pitching to funders, the importance of crafting diverse and authentic narratives, and how to collaborate with key stakeholders in the industry. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your approach, this session will provide valuable takeaways from experienced professionals who have successfully turned their ideas into reality.
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.
Fresh off its world premiere at TIFF, Amar Wala’s Shook serves as an ideal case study for filmmakers, particularly those transitioning from shorts to feature films. Set in Scarborough, Ont., the film captures the area's multicultural essence and reflects on identity, place, and personal growth through rich, site-specific details. This panel explores the craft of the film, the intricate score, and the writing process, capturing a slice of life that local audiences can resonate with. As a family story, Shook presents a narrative that showcases the beauty of everyday life, balancing complex personal narratives with broader cultural commentary. By examining Wala’s experience with Shook, we'll shed light on how an honest love letter to a city and its diverse communities can be crafted.
Winnie Wang
Writer, Film Programmer
Winnie Wang is a writer and film programmer. Their work can be found in Cinema Scope, Documentary Magazine, POV and Toronto Star.
Amar Wala
Filmmaker
Amar is a Mumbai born, Toronto based filmmaker whose works include his first feature documentary The Secret Trial 5, which received a Jury Prize at Hot Docs and was named one the Best Docs of the Decade by Real Screen Magazine, and Shook, his scripted feature debut which premiered at TIFF in 2024. His body of deeply human and richly visual work has led to a CSA nomination, and the prestigious Vanguard Award from the DOC Institute. Amar has also produced and directed numerous acclaimed series for CBC, Vice, and Bell Media among others, his latest being the CBC doc series Witness (Hot Docs, Doc NYC ‘23), which he also created. Amar is also the founder of Scarborough Pictures, an award-winning production company based in Toronto.
Kalaisan Kalaichelvan
Composer
Named as one Playback’s 10 to Watch, Kalaisan’s compositional practice spans multiple disciplines, drawing from film, dance, theatre, installation and deals with themes of translation and transference. He was a 2021 Fellow of the prestigious Sundance Composers lab and an alumna of the Canadian Film Centre as one of the 2021 Slaight Music residents. Kalaisan has scored films that have premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, TIFF and AFI FIlm Festival. He is currently working on various commissions and scoring a new Netflix series directed by Simon Barry.
Adnan Khan
Co-Screenwriter
Adnan Khan is a screenwriter, novelist, and journalist. His debut novel, There Has to Be a Knife, was named a best Canadian novel of 2019 by the CBC. His second, The Hypebeast, will be published spring 2025. He was the recipient of the 2022 National Magazine Award for best profile, and has taught screenwriting at the University of Guelph. His first feature film, Shook, premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.
14 Nov, 2024 5:30 pm
TIFF Lightbox C5Due to a quirk in our ticketing system, you will be prompted to select seats for this event; however this event will have open seating. You may sit in any available seat without a reserved sign or hood on it, except the front row which is reserved for people with disabilities.
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Wheelchair spaces and step-free seating is available for this event – click below to book accessible seats.
Join us for an in-depth conversation about Ann Marie Fleming's CAN I GET A WITNESS?, Reel Asian's opening night film this year. This thought-provoking movie examines a near-future society grappling with climate change, mortality, and the value of life. Fleming draws inspiration from her personal experiences, including her time in Vancouver's West End and the environmental upheaval of Stanley Park.
Closing out the 28th Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, join us for the live So You Think You Can Pitch competition.
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.
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
