Grab your popcorn! It’s time for the 16th edition of the Reel Asian Film Festival!
Founded in 1997, the Reel Asian Film Festival began as a 3-day event to meet the growing desires for films in the Asian community in Toronto. Since then, the festival has grown to a 10-day annual event with over 10,000 people in attendance. This year the festival will present 60 films and videos from 14 countries including Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kashmir, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States.
The festival combines programming that reflects Canada’s cultural diversity through films, socials and industry events. International guests including directors and actors attend and social are planned to be one of the most exciting years yet!
Wondering what to check out? Here are a few recommendations….
FIRST TIME ~ Directed by Han Yan. Starring Mark Chao and Angelababy. Produced by William Kong (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). China/Hong Kong. Opening Night Gala. Canadian Premiere. A contemporary Asian film about an ill and shy college student Song Shiqiao (Angelababy) who spend each day with her overprotective mother and chronicles her life on cassette tapes in order to replay to jog her memories. When Shiqiao runs into an old school crush Gong Ning(Mark Chao) who is now a rock singer, and an unlikely romance unfolds between them reminding us that there are two sides to every story.
THE FRUIT HUNTERS ~ Directed by Yung Chang (Up the Yangtze, China Heavyweight). Based on Adam Gollner’s best selling book by the same name. Stars Bill Pullman (Independence Day, Lost Highway). World Premiere. The Fruit Hunters are those who are passionate about nature’s gifts. This documentary follows those on a quest to find the world’s treasures from deep in the jungles to fruit markets in Asia to serene locales in Italy and to the eccentrics in Hollywood Hills. There are those who take it as a personal challenge to seek and preserve fruits but there are also realizations that the world’s common fruit, the banana, could easily be wiped out should disease strike. The film is rich and colourful – a real feast for the senses!
ARCHITECTURE 101 ~ Directed by Lee Yong-joo (Possessed 2009). South Korea. Canadian Premiere. Closing Night Gala. Seung-min (Uhm Tae-woong) is an architect in a big firm who was visited by a wealthy and beautiful woman who insisted he build her a new house. It is soon revealed to be a classmate from architecture classes in university – and also his secret first crush. As they get reacquainted we are taken back to their past. The film is cleverly crafted on themes related to architecture and the our relationship with time, place and other people.
SEEKING ASIAN FEMALE~ Directed by Debbie Lum, USA. Toronto Premiere. In this English speaking documentary we trail the quest of Steven, a caucasian man who’s in his 60s living in San Francisco. He’s searching to find the Asian woman of his dreams. He fantasizes and explains what he’s looking for and we are taken on the journey of finding his perfect mate. He’s clear about his desire to marry a Chinese woman and through the internet he meets and marries his ideal companion. Neither of them realize what they were in for and the director, Lum, gets caught in the bizarre union. This is a story that touches on skepticism and humour and makes you wonder if such an arrangement can be for real.
VALLEY OF SAINTS ~ Directed by Musa Syeed, Kashmir/USA,Toronto Premiere.
Sundance Film Festival multi-award winner. Dal Lake is widely considered to be the jewel of Kahmir. Gulzar, a young working class boatman, lives with his elderly uncle but longs to escape to the big city. Gular is forced to take a job assist Asifa, an attractive young scientist who is in Kashmir conducting a environmental study. When Asifa’s research reveals harmful pollutants in the water, Gulzar’s worldview is shaken as he realizes that his livelihood, as well as his community may soon disappear. Director Syeed contrasts two different worlds in this film and how real life consequences creep into the serene world of the lake. It’s a sensitive film about finding one’s path in a changing world. Winner of hte Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Feature Film Prize and the World Cinema Audience Award at Sundance Film Festival 2012.
COLD STEEL ~ Directed by David Wu, China/Hong Kong, Toronto Premiere.
A chinese war epic, Cold Steel is packed with suspense and choreographed with jaw-dropping action sequencess. Canadian raised Peter Ho plays the lead role as the hunter-turned-sniper Lianfeng who is torn between his duty and honour and the irresistible widow Yan (Song Jia). High-strung action film is balanced by romance against the tragic backdrop of war. Winner of the Lengedary Action Excellence Award at Fantastic Fest Austin, 2012.
UNSUNG VOICES ~ is a collection of shorts created this past summer with young film-makers who have little to no formal industry experience with mentorship from Canadian experts. The short films is a great taste of some of great emerging talents here at home and worth checking out!
There are several special events that surround the Reel Asian Film Festival including live music showcases
, industry sessions, and a karaoke afterparty. A RUM AND ROTI LIME following Richard Fung’s Dal Puri Diaspora will serve guests rotis, rum drinks, Caribbean music and an art performance.
, industry sessions, and a karaoke afterparty. A RUM AND ROTI LIME following Richard Fung’s Dal Puri Diaspora will serve guests rotis, rum drinks, Caribbean music and an art performance.
On closing night winners of the 2012 awards will be announced. An independent jury made up of media and arts community members will select the award winning films. Samsung is the sponsor of the Audience Award where all films are eligible for the prize.
The festival runs from November 6 to 11 at various locations in Toronto.
And November 16 & 17 in Richmond Hill.
For more information and complete listing of screenings and events, please visit the official website at www.reelasian.com