#FIRSTLOOK: 2024 REEL ASIAN WINNERS ANNOUNCED

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (Reel Asian), Canada’s premier pan-Asian arts showcase, is pleased to announce that The Mother and the Bear directed by Johnny Ma won the RBC Best Canadian Film Award at the 2024 Festival. Also, WAShhh directed by Mickey Lai was awarded the Wattpad WEBTOON Studios Best Short Film Award. The Reel Asian Awards will be celebrated with an Awards brunch on Saturday, November 16, bringing together filmmakers, jury, and industry partners in attendance. The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival runs until November 24, 2024. To find more details, visit reelasian.com.

“It’s always been a great honour to share these captivating stories with Canadian audiences, and this year is no exception,” said Deanna Wong, Executive Director, Reel Asian. “Reel Asian gives us a platform to celebrate and highlight the rich perspectives of the Asian diaspora here and globally. Congratulations to all the filmmakers and creators involved with Reel Asian this year.”

The 2024 Features Jury includes filmmaker, film programmer and college professor Aisha Jamal, award-winning, multi-disciplinary performing artist, independent producer, and arts leader Alan Wong and documentary filmmaker and impact producer Chrisann Hessing. The 2024 Shorts Jury includes writer, director, and media educator Vince Ha, festival programmer and arts administrator, Lu Linares and vice-president of content at SAMANSA, Yunah Chung.

Reel Asian continues its commitment to supporting diverse voices with the annual Fire Horse Award, recognising an Asian Canadian in the media arts or screen-based industries who have dedicated their energy and talents to breaking down barriers, uplifting Asian Canadian communities, and sparking cultural change. Acclaimed actor and Fire Horse Award contributor Sandra Oh comments on the award’s importance, “This is part of our responsibility, which is to help pave the way and support our artists from the past and our artists into the future. Reel Asian is the place to do it”.

Reel Asian is currently accepting nominations for next year’s Fire Horse Award recipient. More details can be found here.

This year’s festival will conclude with the annual So You Think You Can Pitch? Live Finale on Saturday, November 23, hosted by award-winning actor, host and comedian Andrew Phung (Kim’s Convenience, Run the Burbs, Lucky Star). This lively event features five teams pitching their projects to a distinguished panel of jurors and a live audience, for a chance to win cash and industry prizes to support their film projects.

FULL LIST OF REEL ASIAN AWARD WINNERS FOR THE 28TH EDITION:

RBC Best Canadian Feature Film Award
The Mother and the Bear by Johnny Ma

Johnny Ma’s The Mother and the Bear is this year’s jury selection for the RBC Best Canadian Feature Film Award. A whimsical story of a Korean mother’s moments of revelation as she cares for her comatose daughter Sumi amidst the harsh beauty of a Winnipeg winter, this film was as entertaining to the jury as it was beautiful to look at. The jury was deeply moved by the film’s nuanced exploration of Sumi’s secret and veteran actor Kim Ho-Jung’s compelling portrayal of her mother.

Dipchand LLP Best Feature Film Award
Pierce by Nelicia Low

The jury is proud to recognise Pierce by Nelicia Low, for the Dipchand LLP Best Feature Award for 2024. A first feature by the Singaporean filmmaker, it seamlessly blends technical prowess with a great concept and story, with outstanding nuanced performances by the leads. This tense psychological drama keeps you guessing until the very end, taking the audience on a thrilling ride. The director’s deep knowledge of fencing was evident and she was able to make it very accessible and authentic. Overall, a highly enjoyable movie that is very deserving of this award.

The jury would like to give an Honourable Mention to Layla by Amrou Al-Kadhi. This courageous and bold film about queer identity and belonging showcases strong writing and overall filmmaking. Despite tackling a difficult topic, Layla does so with grace and beauty.

Directors Guild of Canada Best Direction in a Feature Film
His Father’s Son by Meelad Moaphi

The jury is proud to recognize Meelad Moaphi with the DGC’s Best Canadian Director Award for his first feature film, His Father’s Son. A lovely and delicate story about a guarded family secret that comes to light, the film’s sharp writing, consistent pacing, strong editing and great music, made His Father’s Son feel polished and elevated. Strong performances by the cast helped to effectively express this film’s touching message.

The jury also gives an Honourable Mention to Can I Get a Witness? by Ann Marie Fleming for a unique and poignant rumination on life, death and sustainability.

Osler Best First Feature Award
The Glassworker by Usman Riaz

The jury awards the Osler Best First Feature Award to The Glassworker, an ambitious, hand-drawn animated feature that follows Ali, who dreams of becoming a master glassblower in a war-torn land. With its themes of young love, war and following your passions amidst conflict, Ali’s story stayed with the jury long after the film ended. An impressive accomplishment that distinguishes itself within the body of work from a country not typically renowned for its animation.

The jury would also like to recognize Nikah with an Honourable Mention for its poignant and urgent story of Dilber, a young Uyghur woman who feels the pressure to find a husband for a safer future.

Reel Asian Best Documentary Award
ASHIMA by Kenji Tsukamoto

ASHIMA is an intimate family portrait that warmed our hearts. The complex dynamic between Ashima and her father is explored with gentle observation, and their tenacious dedication to achieving greatness is displayed with a powerful tenderness. For its compelling storytelling and reflection on family and fortitude, we are pleased to award the film with the Reel Asian Best Documentary Award.

Air Canada Short Film or Video Award
Me and My Teeth (dir. Anna Quon)
Monsoon Blue (dir. Jay Hiukit Wong and Ellis Kayin Chan)
Lola (dir. Grace Hanna)
Detours Ahead (dir. Esther Cheung)
The Popstar Water Deer and I (dir. Sasha Lee)

The five films honoured with this year’s Air Canada Short Film Award showcase the immense talent emerging in Canadian and global Asian cinema. This selection takes us on a journey through self-discovery, grief, love, and reclamation. From an intimate exploration of reclaiming control over one’s mind and body, a girl’s love for her grandmother defying reality, a self-conscious monsoon ready to let loose, a road trip marked by moments of beauty and pain, to a lonely soul seeking connection through their love for a popstar—these films capture the human experience and the complexities of simply being.

Wattpad WEBTOON Studios Best Short Film Award
WAShhh by Mickey Lai

The jury recognises WAShhh by Mickey Lai as the winner of the Wattpad WEBTOON Studios Best Short Film Award for its unflinching exploration of a little-known practice, highlighting prevailing taboos around womanhood that stand in stark contrast to a so-called ‘modern-day’ society.

Michael Fukushima AnimAsian Award (Supported by Sheridan College)
My Wonderful Life by Calleen Koh

For the Michael Fukushima AnimAsian Award, we selected My Wonderful Life by Calleen Koh for its bold defiance of expectations, using dark, at times, absurdist humour to unearth the pressures of motherhood. Through a textured and deeply personal exploration, the director offers a playful yet relatable narrative that poignantly reminds us to show kindness to our mothers.

We would also like to give an honourable mention to The Popstar Water Deer and I by Sasha Lee for its surreal and vivid visuals that capture a poignant sense of loneliness in a world that offers only fleeting glimpses of happiness. Through a caring and intimate lens, the film explores our own mortality while reminding us to chase what brings us joy. Lee’s work exemplifies the magic of animation as a storytelling medium where rules and limits are meant to be broken.

Directors Guild of Canada and WIFT+ Toronto Film Award
A Fermenting Woman by Priscilla Galvez

Priscilla Galvez’s directorial debut is a testament to the power of risk-taking and a commitment to bold narratives that invite audiences to embrace discomfort. Known for her work as a producer, Galvez delivers a captivating story and proves herself to be a natural-born director. The jury is thrilled to award the DGC Ontario and WIFT+ Toronto Award to A Fermenting Woman and looks forward to seeing more of Galvez’s work in the future.

Directors Guild of Canada Best Direction in a Short Film
Unblending by Michelle Ku

The jury recognizes Michelle Ku as the winner of the Directors Guild of Canada Best Direction in a Short Film award for Unblending and its delightful hand-painted animation that succinctly captures the myriad thoughts and colourful feelings that keep us awake at night, eventually lulling us to sleep as we come to embrace these sensations as our own.

Canadian Society of Cinematographers Best Cinematography Award
Reunion, Director of Photography Andrew Lee

The jury would like to present Andrew Lee of Reunion with the Best Canadian Cinematography Award. Told with outstanding discipline and visual acuity, this difficult subject matter was lensed with originality and craftsmanship. Its engaging framing injects a sense of unease and strangeness, supporting this powerful and original film.

We’d like to thank the filmmakers, cinematographers and crew who worked to make all these films a reality. In the end it was a tough decision, as there were many strong entries and beautiful works. We wish all the entrants luck and success in their future endeavours.

Honourable Mention: Benjamin Wong of Rosa’s Flowers The jury extends an honourable mention to Rosa’s Flowers for its daring, creative execution, filled with various looks, lensing and lighting design, deserving recognition and applause.

Armstrong Acting Studios Outstanding Performer in a Canadian Short Film
Yên Sen in Lovin’ Her

For the Armstrong Acting Studios Outstanding Performer in a Canadian Short Film Award, we selected Yên Sen of Lovin’ Her for their delicately interwoven portrayal of the main character, Ann Lai. Yên’s performance, infused with profound depth and compassion, evokes the possibilities and pluralities inherent in a single life. We would also like to extend an honourable mention to JueMeili Olaes and Micah Chu for their generous, collective presentation of a character, a person, who lingers in our minds long after the film concludes.

So You Think You Can Pitch? Awards:

The 2024 Pitch Jury will announce the winner of the Silver Prize Award and Gold Prize Award during the live event on November 23 from 5:00 pm. The Pitch Jury includes director/producer Amanda De Souza, filmmaker Meelad Moaphi and filmmaker Sami Khan.

Audience Choice Film Awards

The winners of the Blue Ant Media Audience Choice Feature Award and the BFL CANADA Audience Choice Short Film Award will be announced on Saturday November 23.

Click here for a list of 2024 Reel Asian Award Winners and for more information on the Festival, visit reelasian.com.

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of government partners Telefilm Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, Canadian Heritage, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Ontario Creates, and the City of Toronto; and the support of Premier Partners Crave and Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada.

So thrilled to attend opening night festivities. Some highlights here, including Opening Night Gala, CAN I GET A WITNESS?

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