The 24th edition of Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival (Reel Asian) will take place online November 12th to 19th, 2020, presenting 58 films from various regions. Nearly all programming is available Canada-wide for the first time. 3 Taiwanese shorts have been selected, including SING ME A LULLABY, a documentary directed by Taiwanese Canadian Tiffany Hsiung(熊邦玲); ISLE OF CHAIR, an animation directed by Taiwanese Ivyy Chen(陳鈺螢); and BIND, directed by Taiwanese American Emory Chao Johnson.
SING ME A LULLABY documents director Tiffany Hsiung’s personal journey to Taipei to uncover the missing pieces of her mother’s fragmented past. After 15 years in the making, this documentary short just had its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival this September. According to TIFF’s description, “This documentary weaves a tender, personal story about unexpected familial healing and connection.” The heart-achingly touching story, alongside other shorts, will be streaming in the “Side by Side” short program. Hsiung will attend a live Q&A on Wed, November 18th at 9pm ET.
ISLE OF CHAIR is a contemplative animation wondering what happens when a chair falls on a secluded island. This animation short film “is inspired by Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood and the experience of myself and others on mental illness,” director Ivyy Chen once said. “If a fallen chair symbolizes death, loss, damage and dysfunction, would you want to help the chair to stand again? If the chair can never stand in a way that you prefer, would you accept that? Or, would you let it be?” ISLE OF CHAIR will be streaming for free in the “Wee Asian” program.
BIND, though brief and contained, provides an extensive glimpse into the trans-Asian diaspora when protagonist Jules is confronted by a surprise visit from their mother with their chest binder. The short will be streaming in the “Resurgence” short program. Director Emory Chao Johnson, now a MFA film student at the University of California, will attend a live Q&A on Fri, Nov 13 at 8pm ET.
The screenings of 3 Taiwanese Shorts is supported by Taipei Cultural Center in New York. For more information, please visit Reel Asian’s website: https://www.reelasian.com/festival/.
The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (Reel Asian) is a unique showcase of contemporary Asian cinema and work from the Asian diaspora. As Canada’s largest pan-Asian film festival, Reel Asian provides a public forum for Asian media artists and their work, and fuels the growing appreciation for Asian cinema in Canada.
Source: The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival