One of the hottest tickets of this year’s Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (TRAIFF) will undoubtedly be Clement Cheng and Derek Kwok’s Gallants, a film celebrating classic martial arts through intoxicating humor, and some big time ass-kicking moments.
But the festival – which includes everything from sessions on filmmaking to the best of Canadian shorts presentation – delivers a mixture of the most noteworthy films and events Asian cinema has to offer. And for the past 14 years, the Festival’s mandate has been to “expand and increase the appreciation and knowledge of Asian culture, and Asian cinema in Canada” said Heather Keung, Artistic Director of TRAIFF.
The tone of this year’s festival exemplifies that with such films as Bi, Don’t Be Afraid, a Cannes hit earlier this year, which takes a frank look at sexual desire and repression in modern-day Vietnam and Dear Doctor, winner of more than 21 awards in Japan, including the Japanese Academy Award for Best Screenplay (2009).
Beyond the programming, part of the festivals success can be found in its steadfast and ever expanding audience who welcomes the work of young filmmakers with enthusiasm and eagerness. The Astral sponsored, So You Think You Can Pitch? competition, which awards funding, was won by three such filmmakers who will premiere their imaginative musical A Dragged Out Affair at this year’s festival.
“It was amazing to have a company like Astral help fund and support our project, it just legitimizes our work” said Director Sonia Hong. The campy satirical tale about forbidden love will capture your hearts and leave you humming some show-stopping tunes.
Other festival highlights include, the closing night film Au Revoir Taipei, which ignites the streets of Taipei in a colourful adventure-romance caper.
And a spotlight presentation with Oscar-nominated Koji Yamamura (Franz Kafka’s A Country Doctor), who teaches a free animation class as part of the Industry Series.
With 50 films and videos from across the world this year's festival which runs from November 9th – 15th promises to do nothing less than satisfy all your cinema needs.
