The 2011 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival commemorates its 15th anniversary with a series of new initiatives to recognize the organization’s 15-year history, including free screenings, larger venues to accommodate growing audiences, a multi-venue media art installation, special guest filmmakers from across Asia and the world, and a major expansion into Richmond Hill. From November 8-13 (Toronto) and November 18-19 (Richmond Hill), the festival will present more than 55 films and videos from over 12 countries, including Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, the United States and Canada.

This year marks 15 years of celebrating the incredible diversity of the communities of Toronto. As the city’s Asian population has grown, Reel Asian has experienced increasing demand for its multi-cultural and diverse offerings, and has expanded its reach beyond downtown Toronto to Richmond Hill, Markham, and Scarborough, reaching new audiences in their own neighborhoods.

• OPENING NIGHT GALA: LOVER’S DISCOURSE (Hong Kong 2010, Canadian premiere, director Derek Tsang in attendance)
• CENTREPIECE PRESENTATION: JUMP ASHIN! (Taiwan 2011, Canadian premiere, director Lin Yu-hsien in attendance)
• CLOSING NIGHT GALA: BUDDHA MOUNTAIN (China 2010, Toronto premiere, guest in attendance)

Other films of note include Saigon Electric, Surrogate Valentine, Fullmetal Alchemist movie: THE SACRED STAR OF MILOS, and Pearls of the Far East.

Reel Asian also embarks on its largest venture to date – a weekend film festival at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts from November 18 to 19. After several successful presentations at the centre, Reel Asian is eager to bring the festival to the Town of Richmond Hill, a major supporter of the festival and independent film. As part of our initiative to reach new audiences beyond the downtown core, Reel Asian recently presented films such as Last Train Home (Lixin Fan) and Merry Go Round (Clement Cheng) to over one thousand excited audience members in the 905 area.

2011 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival