Winners at the 2023 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival have been announced. The Festival, now in its 27th edition takes place through November 19, 2023.
RBC Best Canadian Feature Film Award
THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS by Fawzia Mirza
This audacious film takes us on a captivating joyride through Bollywood dreams, the swinging Karachi of the 60s via the generational conflicts within a contemporary Pakistani family. Full of theatrical flair, bold design, and a hint of camp The Queen of my Dreams marks the debut of a strong new voice, making Fawzia Mirza a filmmaker to keep a close eye on.
Osler Best Feature Film Award
TERRESTRIAL VERSES by Alireza Khatami & Ali Asgari
An uncomfortably captivating feature of revealing scenes between regular Tehranis and their frustrating interactions with oppressive authority figures. The jury recognizes the duo’s homage to classic Iranian cinema with performances so convincing one may mistake the film for a stylized documentary. The film’s austere form kept the jury riveted and is a challenge to audiences everywhere to consider personal agency in the face of tyrannical oppression.
Cinesend Best First Feature Award
Q by Jude Chehab
Chehab artfully blends home movies along with her striking cinematography to contemplate desire, spiritual longing, and family bonds. Resisting the urge to over-explain, her storytelling allows mystery to simmer, resulting in a complex, emotionally nuanced portrait. In honour of this bold new voice, the jury awards Jude Chehab’s Q the Best First Feature prize.
SHORTS AWARDS
Reel Asian Best International Short Film Award
默 (TO WRITE FROM MEMORY) by Emory Chao Johnson
The jury recognizes To Write From Memory by Emory Chao Johnson as the Winner of Reel Asian Best International Short Film Award in the spirit of enunciating the unspeakable feelings of a personal experience with unrelenting honesty.
National Film Board of Canada Best Emerging Canadian Short Film Award
ABBY by Fanny Lord-Bourcier
Drawing from the director’s personal journey, Abby is an animated short that offers a poignant exploration of the unspoken feelings of isolation experienced as a transracial adoptee, all expressed with a gentle and sincere voice.
Air Canada Short Film or Video Award
ADAGIO by Emma Zuck
JUNGLEFOWL by Kalainithan Kalaichelvan
SAWO MATANG by Andrea Nirmala Widjajanto
THE REPAIR SHOP (L’ATELIER) by Namaï Kham Po
UNIBROW by Nedda Sarshar
PIXELS OF THE ORIENT by Warren Chan
Each film is sharply unique thanks to each director’s distinct perspective, yet each delves into the universal complexities of connection and the struggles, fears, and hopes of being truly seen.
Michael Fukushima Animasian Award
THE SEA ON THE DAY WHEN THE MAGIC RETURNS (마법이 돌아오는 날의 바다) by Ji-won Han
This captivating short employs ingenious visuals to explore personal desires and the essence of the human experience. Its delicate storytelling and open vulnerability linger, leaving a lasting resonance.
OUTSTANDING PERFORMER AWARDS
Armstrong Acting Studios Outstanding Performer in a Canadian Feature Film
Amrit Kaur, The Queen of My Dreams
The jury was captivated by Amrit Kaur’s range of performance and her ability to embody two distinct women in one film, which is why we enthusiastically present her with Outstanding Performance in a Canadian Film in The Queen of My Dreams.
Armstrong Acting Studios Outstanding Performer in a Canadian Short Film
Sherrylyn Vivero, APOY
Sherrylyn brought a special nuance to her performance as the main character’s mother, which made her incredibly engrossing to watch. The complex emotions she is able to convey in this charged piece showcases that she is truly a talent to watch.
Tickets here.
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