Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival Announces Lineup

The 2010 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival will celebrate its 14th year as Canada's longest-running and largest showcase of contemporary cinema by East Asian and Southeast Asian moviemakers from Canada and around the world. From November 9 to 15, 2010, the festival will present more than 50 films and videos from 12 countries, including Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Canada and the U.S.

The festival is starting with an advanced screening of Ip Man 2, but the big gala opener is ScreenAnarchy favourite Martial Arts Feel Good Comedy Gallants starring a host of old school kung fu veterans, not the least of which is Bruce Leung (Recently seen as Kung Fu Hustle's villain) and the iconic Teddy Robbin (who is used here to magnificent effect (and pictured above) as the brusque and womanizing Martial Arts Master.)

The rest of the festivals offerings are outlined below from the festivals press release:

GALAS & CENTREPIECE:

OPENING NIGHT GALA: GALLANTS (directors: Clement Sze-Kit Cheng & Derek Chi-kin Kwok, Hong Kong 2010; Toronto premiere, director in attendance)

CENTREPIECE PRESENTATION: GOLDEN SLUMBER (director: Nakamura Yoshihiro, Japan 2010; Toronto premiere)

CLOSING NIGHT GALA: AU REVOIR TAIPEI (director: Arvin Chen, Taiwan/USA 2010; Toronto premiere, director in attendance)

INTERNATIONAL FEATURES:

Vietnam/France/Germany -- BI, DON'T BE AFRAID! by Dang Di Phan, winner of SACD Best Screenplay Award at Cannes International Critic's Week (2010)

Japan -- DEAR DOCTOR by Nishikawa Miwa, winner of more than 21 awards in Japan, including the Japanese Academy Award for Best Screenplay (2009)

South Korea/China/France -- DOOMAN RIVER by Lu Zhang received a Crystal Bear Special Mention at the Berlin International Film Festival (2010) and the Special Jury Prize at the Paris Cinema International Film Festival (2010)

South Korea -- EIGHTEEN by Jang Kun-jae, winner of the Vancouver International Film Festival's Dragons & Tigers Award for Young Cinema (2009)

Philippines/USA -- THE MOUNTAIN THIEF by Gerry Balasta, winner of the Special Jury Prize at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (2010)
 
China -- OXHIDE II by Liu Jiayin was part of the Quinzaine/Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival (2009) and won the Blue Chameleon Award and White Chameleon Award at the Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival (2009)

CANADIAN PROGRAMMING:

HOME -- Reel Asian's Canadian Spotlight on Desiree Lim
ONE BIG HAPA FAMILY (director: Jeff Chiba Stearns) and MARKER (director: Louise Noguchi)
REDRESS REMIX (director: Lesley Loksi Chan)
Best of Canadian Shorts Presentation: ON THE FLIP SIDE
TOILET (director: Naoko Ogigami, Japan/Canada, 2010) was shot in Toronto and features a all-Canadian cast

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: SUITE SUITE CHINATOWN -- a new commission of works by Chinese Toronto-based directors on the theme of "Chinatown," with new music and a live performance by the Mary Ward Secondary School Stage Band

SPOTLIGHT PRESENTATION: KOJI YAMAMURA -- MASTERY OF THE FORM
Oscar-nominated Koji Yamamura (FRANZ KAFKA'S A COUNTRY DOCTOR), one of the most successful animation filmmakers in Japan today, will be giving a master class as part of the Industry Series, followed by a screening of selected works.