reel asian film festival

---

Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival Opens this week, November 11-15

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (Reel Asian) celebrates its 13th year as Canada’s premier showcase of contemporary Asian cinema! This year’s festival presents 49 East/Southeast Asian titles from 14 countries, including Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Singapore, Germany, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, and the USA.

With over 30 Asian Canadian titles, this year’s festival presents the biggest and best selection of recent Asian Canadian films, videos and new media works, including the world premiere of THE ACHE by Toronto-based director Keith Lock; REX VS. SINGH, a collaboration between Ali Kazimi, Richard Fung, and John Greyson; and an installation by Jin-Me Yoon.

For more info: 416-703-9333, www.reelasian.com.


FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Wed Nov 11 7:00 PM | Bloor Cinema | Opening Night Gala
OVERHEARD
Dir. Alan Mak & Felix Chong | Hong Kong 2009 | Canadian Premiere
Lau Ching-wan, Louis Koo and Daniel Wu star as three cops torn between money and justice in the highly anticipated Canadian premiere of this suspenseful crime drama. Preceded by a live multi-media animation by Lesley Loksi Chan and Serena Lee.

Thu Nov 12, 5-8 PM | Trinity Square Video | Gallery Reception
“IT WILL ALL BE DIFFERENT”
Exhibition: November 12 to December 12
ANGST ESSEN / EAT FEAR (Ming Wong) is a reconstruction of the Fassbinder movie, Angst essen Seele auf (1973). In this scandalous love story between an elderly cleaning woman from Munich and a young Moroccan immigrant worker, Wong unlocks a playful state of ‘in-betweenness’ (in-between ethnicities, languages and genders) by humorously playing all of the characters in the film.
AS IT IS BECOMING, BEPPU, JAPAN SERIES (Jin-Me Yoon) - Through rigorous action that evokes scenes of evasion and/or survival combat techniques, Yoon crawls like an alien creature throughout the Kannawa District, a former U.S. Army Base converted into a park, and the Atomic Treatment Centre.

Thu Nov 12 | 7:30 PM | Innis Town Hall
FRUIT FLY Dir. H.P. Mendoza | USA
An outrageously gay San Francisco musical about a Filipina performance artist in search of her birth parents.

Fri Nov 13 | 6:15 PM | Innis Town Hall
SENSE OF WONDER
Inspiring our imaginations in the darkest of moments, this year’s selection of the best Asian Canadian shorts invokes a playful outlook on tragedy. Including films and videos by Leslie Supnet, Jong Wook Choi, Lydia Fu, Yung Chang, Paramita Nath, Victoria Cheong, Randall Okita, Richard Fung, John Greyson, and Ali Kazimi.

Fri Nov 13 8:00 PM | The Royal | Centrepiece
RED HEROINE with Live Score by Devil Music Ensemble | Dir. Wen Yimin | China
Red Heroine and White Monkey unleash the art of hand, sword, and powerful magic in the Canadian premier of the only surviving silent “Kung Fu” film from China (1929), featuring a modern score performed live by Boston band, Devil Music Ensemble.

Fri Nov 13, 10:00 PM | The Rivoli
CANADIAN MOVIEMAKERS PARTY
Celebrate Canadian Moviemakers! Live music by THE WORST POP BAND EVER joined by LEO37, MAGNOLIUS, THE ABYSS, SUNCLEF to new animations by Howie Shia (PPF HOUSE), and DANCING with DJ TAD.

Sat Nov 14 2:00 PM | Innis Town Hall
AGRARIAN UTOPIA | Dir. Uruphong Raksasad | Thailand
Two families find themselves farming together on the same field as they face economic, political and social changes sparked by national policy and industrial globalization. Panel with Uruphong Raksasad: Tue Nov 10, 6-8pm at the Asian Institute, Munk Centre

Sat Nov 14 10:00 PM | Innis Town Hall
FISH STORY | Dir. Nakamura Yoshihiro | Japan
A doomsday adventure about a Japanese punk song that rescues humanity—adapted from the acclaimed book by Kotaro Isaka.

Sun Nov 15 12:30 PM | Innis Town Hall
A SCHOOLGIRL’S DIARY | Dir. Jang In-hak | DPRK (North Korea)
A story about the daughter of a national researcher provides a remarkably lucid window into the social fabric and cinematic culture of the contemporary DPRK. Preceded by Chosun Forever by Joohyun Kwon.

Sun Nov 15 5:30 PM | Innis Town Hall
THE ACHE | Dir. Keith Lock | Canada
A young Chinese Canadian woman working in an erotic parlour unravels the shameful mysteries of her cursed family and father’s illicit affair with a spirit.

Sun Nov 15 8:00 PM | The Royal | Closing Night Gala & Awards Ceremony
BREATHLESS | Dir. Yang Ik-June | South Korea
Debut director, writer and actor Yang Ik-June plays a frustrated extortionist who tries to escape his violent past after he meets a wayward schoolgirl.

FESTIVAL INFORMATION
Phone: 416 703 9333, Email: info@reelasian.com, Website: www.reelasian.com

SCREENING VENUES
Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor St W at Bathurst
The Royal, 608 College St at Clinton
Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Ave at St. George

BOX OFFICE INFO
During the Festival
Festival Box Office: Nov 12-15. Innis College Lobby (2 Sussex Av) open from noon. Cash only.
Venue Box Offices: Nov 11-15. At each screening venue. Opens an hour before each screening. Cash only.
Advance Box Office
Web Sales (until Monday, Nov 9 at 11:59pm). Online at www.reelasian.com
Walk-Up Sales (until Saturday, Nov 7 at 6:30pm). T.O. Tix (Yonge-Dundas Square), Tuesday through Saturday, 12:00pm – 6:30pm.
ADVANCE BOX OFFICE INFOLINE – call T.O. Tix at 416 536 6468 x 40

TICKETS & PASSES

	Regular Price/Discount Price*
Regular Programmes	$12/$10
Opening Night Gala	$20/$15
Centrepiece Presentation	$15/$12
Closing Night Gala	$15/$12
Festival Pass	$80/$65

*Discount applies to students (with valid current ID), seniors over 65 (no ID required), or group sales (by arrangement)

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Media Development Corporation, Ontario Tourism, Toronto Arts Council, Telefilm and the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Reel Asian Charitable # 870021383RR000