Caught in a standstill, these films follow the choices made and risks taken by characters to impel even the smallest of pivots.
KASHIF
Haaris Qadri • Canada • 2019 • 9:00 • English, Urdu with English Subtitles • World Premiere • Drama
Kashif feels trapped by his struggle of straddling the pressures of being both the dutiful son and a supportive friend, leaving him in a difficult position when his friend Omar owes someone money.
Haaris Qadri* is currently finishing his fourth year at York University for a BFA in Film Production. Qadri aims to create films with meaningful stories that focus on character that are often underrepresented in mainstream media.
*In attendance
SHOOK
Amar Wala • Canada • 2019 • 11:33 • English • Canadian Premiere • Drama
This day starts off like any other for Ash (or Asheesh) until he sees a note from his Mom about reaching out to his estranged father.
Born in India and raised in Toronto, Amar Wala*‘s work often explores themes of immigration, justice and identity. Working in both documentary and fiction, Wala’s debut feature The Secret Trial 5 won him the Emerging Filmmaker Jury Award at Hot Docs, and the Magnus Isacsson Award at RIDM. Often using his cinema as activism, Wala has firmly planted himself as a daring and vital young voice in Canadian film.
*In attendance
NORAH & POPPY
Bea Macapagal • Canada • 2019 • 13:01 • English • World Premiere • Drama
Norah and Poppy are two sisters with an unbreakable bond despite having just lost their mother. When Poppy falls ill, Norah considers everything she can do to make Poppy better.
Born in Manilla, Philippines, Bea Macapagal* and her family immigrated to Toronto, Ontario before the age of one. Growing up with multiple families under one roof, Macapagal found it hard to be seen and heard. Movies were her escape. She decided to use filmmaking as her method of communication and creative expression. She is a graduate of Sheridan College and has gone on to create various short films.
*In attendance
NOT YOUR PANDA
Tigris Alt Sakda • Canada • 2018 • 5:19 • English, Chinese and English Subtitles • Other • Animation / Experimental
Who doesn’t love pandas? Think again with this experimental film that offers insight into a critical, alternate history of this charismatic animal.
Tigris Alt Sakda, blue banner Manchu, was born in Beijing and moved to Canada as a teen. She first studied biology and anthropology, later found herself graduating in film animation. She lives and works in Montreal.
LONG DISTANCE
Anoop Lokkur • Australia • 2019 • 7:16 • English, Hindi with English Subtitles • Other • Comedy
How do you handle your nagging parent while living abroad? Aayushi tries her best to balance her needs while being understanding of her mom.
Anoop Lokkur is a Melbourne-based filmmaker. Informed by his own experiences as an immigrant, Lokkur’s interest has honed in on exploring the subtleties of identity within a contemporary setting, particularly those aspects which are affected by inter- and intra-cultural differences. He is currently working on a feature film script based on Long Distance.
MAY FLOWERS
Marianna Phung • Canada • 2018 • 6:33 • English • Other • Action / Comedy
A misunderstanding occurs when Jimmy goes to pick up an order for his boss at a flower shop.
Marianna Phung* is a Toronto-based director, writer and actor of Vietnamese descent. Phung is an emerging artist whose mission is to break boundaries and challenge the status quo in front and behind the camera while telling stories that entertain and enlighten audiences.
*In attendance
LEXICAL GAP
Yoko Okumura • USA • 2018 • 6:54 • English • Canadian Premiere • Musical
A wild lady-punk musical that follows Lex and her quest to redefine virginity.
Yoko Okumura is an award-winning writer, director, producer, and performer. Born in a Buddhist temple in Japan and raised in the frostbite of Minneapolis, Okumura now lives and works under the blazing sun of Los Angeles.
SECRET LIVES OF ASIANS AT NIGHT
KEFF • USA • 2018 • 18:00 • English, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, & Mandarin with English Subtitles • Canadian Premiere • Comedy / Thriller
What does the model minority do at night? A screwball noir in five different languages.
KEFF is a Taiwanese-American writer/director, musician, and artist based in NYC. His various works have garnered millions of impressions online and off, and have been featured in reputable cultural publications such as TIME, VICE, Highsnobiety, and more. He currently attends NYU Graduate Film on scholarship, and is the recipient of both the Willard T.C. Johnson Fellowship and the Spike Lee Film Fellowship.
SPORTS DAY
Lin Tu • China • 2018 • 10:54 • Mandarin with English Subtitles • Canadian Premiere • Horror
On an ordinary hot summer day, Bai and Zhao decide to escape their high school’s mandatory sports day to spend some private time together. Bai becomes apprehensive when she realizes that all is not what it seems.
Lin Tu is a director, screenwriter and playwright, born and raised in Beijing, China. Tu was 16 when her writing was first published by the most widely circulated teen literature magazine, Top Novel. Sports Day is her first film.
Content Warning: This film contains scenes that depict sexual assault and the resulting effects which viewers may find triggering.
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women Against Rape: Need help now? Call the 24-hour crisis line 416-597-8808 for support.