The Vancouver Asian Film Festival returns for its 28th year from November 7-17, 2024, both online and in-person.
The array of films selected for this year’s festival showcase the breadth and depth of the Asian diaspora experience through film, industry and networking events throughout the two weeks.
As a proud media sponsor of the festival, check out our top picks for films to watch this year.
Feature Films to Watch at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival
Extremely Unique Dynamic
Nov. 7, Thursday | 6:30 pm | International Village
Dirs. Harrison Xu, Ivan Leung, Katherine Dudas | Canada/USA | 67 min. Narrative Feature
Extremely Unique Dynamic tells the story of two best friends testing the limits of their friendship while making a triple-meta movie during their final weekend together. Harrison Xu and Ivan Leung are an extremely unique directing, writing, producing, and acting duo. Together, they have guest-starred in dozens of network shows and are excited to be making their feature filmmaking debut with Extremely Unique Dynamic.
Between Pictures: The Lens of Tamio Wakayama
Nov. 8, Friday | 4:00 pm | International Village
Dir. Cindy Mochizuki | Canada | 71 min. WestCoast Documentary Feature
Between Pictures: The Lens of Tamio Wakayama is a filmic journey about a Japanese-Canadian photographer who joins the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) during the American civil rights movement. This experience transforms him enough to return “home” to the West Coast of Canada to begin a body of photographic work on the annual Powell Street Festival, celebrating Japanese Canadian culture and heritage.
Cindy Mochizuki creates multimedia installations, animation, performance, public art works, and community-engaged projects. She has exhibited her work in Canada, the US, Australia, and Japan. Mochizuki is a recipient of Vancouver’s Mayor’s Arts Award in New Media and Film and the Jack and Doris Shadbolt Foundation for the Visual Arts’ VIVA Award.
Let the Wind Blow
Nov. 10, Sunday | 9:15 pm | International Village
Dir. Tsuyoshi Yanagawa | Japan | 127 min. Narrative Feature | World Premiere
Let the Wind Blow features Ito Noe, a women’s rights activist in early 20th century Japan where her writing challenged the marriage system and social inequality. She was uninhibited in her life and autobiographical writing until she was killed by police in 1923. Noe’s resolute opposition to social and gender discrimination reverberates still today.
Director Tsuyoshi Yanagawa was born in 1964 and joined NHK in 1988. He worked as a director or assistant director on television drama sets. His most notable works include Kitaro ga Mita Gyokusai: Mizuki Shigeru no Senso, The Last War Criminal, Hanako to Anne, Eien no Nishipa, Ryukokanbo, and Yasashii Neko.
Blue Sunshine
Nov. 9, Saturday | 6:30 pm | International Village
Dir. Samyuktha Vijayan | India | 98 min. Narrative Feature | Canadian Premiere
Aravind, a high school teacher in South India, wants to transition from male to female but Aravind’s parents do not know that Aravind is transitioning and force a marriage upon him. Blue Sunshine shares the story when Aravind starts to live as a woman named Bhanu, and deals with post-transition issues.
Samyuktha Vijayan is a dancer and techie who also happens to be a transgender woman. Blue Sunshine is her debut movie, in which she also plays the lead role. She is currently based out of San Francisco.
Short Film Programs to Watch at the 2024 Vancouver Asian Film Festival
Animated Shorts: “DRAWING OUT THE LESSON” Program
Nov. 9, Saturday | 12:00 pm | International Village
- Amma by Dir. Akash Jones. Having fun with comic book motifs and plasticine, Akash Jones honours the no-nonsense second-generation immigrant mother who raised him, instilling habits that guide him to this day.
- How Do We Speak? by Dir. Julianne Li. A young child quickly loses her ability to speak her native language when she starts school in North America, but discovers there’s more to communicating than just words.
- Entity by Dir. Hui-bin Chung. After making eye contact with the murderer next door, Kim Young challenges and breaks the final societal taboos in the metaverse of 2050 Seoul to survive.
WestCoast Narratives: “REALITY CHECK” Program
Nov. 9, Saturday | 4:00 pm | International Village
- OBSCURA by Dir. Arnold Lim. Sang-Ook, a hikikomori (shut-in) who has locked himself in his room for a year, builds a camera obscura from his room as a conduit to the outside world.
- Common Law by Dir. Kagan Goh. A new bipolar diagnosis puts tremendous strain on a young man’s relationship within his Chinese Canadian family, dramatically challenging his belief that love is always enough.
- The Lost Salmon by Dir. Amir Arab. After his sister’s death in Iran, Ali, a student in Vancouver, must return home to support his mother. Struggling to find funds for the journey, he risks losing his family and future if he doesn’t make it back in time.
Canadian Shorts Narrative: “The Mess We Call Family” Program
Nov. 9, Saturday | 9:00 pm | International Village
- Le Petit Panier à Roulettes (The Little Shopping Trolley) by Dir. Laurence Ly. Living on a shoestring in Montreal, a Vietnamese mother must act in bad faith to assert her right to buy 12 discount laundry detergents that she’s been refused at a grocery store.
- Congratulations It’s A Girl by Dir. Han Liu. In 1990, during China’s strict One Child policy, Hong, a young mother must prevent her own family from swapping her newborn daughter for a boy.
- Breathe by Dir. Andrew Chiu. Myla, a defecting soldier is faced with caring for an orphan girl she encounters as they try to escape the dictatorship in their country together.
WestCoast Shorts Documentary: “Facing Intergenerational Fears” Program
Nov. 10, Sunday | 2:15 pm | International Village
- In Search of Mah Hang by Dir. Victoria So. During the Great Depression in 1931, a young Chinese Canadian woman bravely goes to battle against the powerful, male-dominated Wong Clan Association to save herself and her children.
- Little Miss Sleepy by Dir. Jenny Lee-Gilmore. A filmmaker explores her journey of being diagnosed with narcolepsy at age 21 and documents her participation in a scientific research study to help raise awareness for the condition that currently has no known cure.
WestCoast Shorts Narrative: “MAMM it like a Polaroid Picture” Program
Nov. 16, Saturday | 4:30 pm | Scotiabank Theatre
- Lead Like You by Dir. Meng Li. While entering a very crucial interview in her career, Lily suddenly dives into a tunnel of memories undertaking a search for the power to lead.
- Tang Yuan by Dir. Willan Leung. During World War II, a Chinese Canadian mother fakes an injury to prevent her son from going to the battlefield, fearing his sacrifice would not be appreciated by a country that discriminates against them.
- The Bouncer by Dir. Justin Soliven Villarosa. A stoic nightclub bouncer’s tough exterior hides an unexpected passion for dance that ignites during a heated altercation and explores a world of dreams.
- Velvet Secrets by Dir. Shanthini Balasubramanian. Asha’s life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a revealing red velvet dress in her daughter’s room. Her curiosity leads her to try it on, sparking a journey of self-exploration and empathy.
- The Last Flight by Dirs. Amy Tsai, Brian Cheung. Faced with her beloved dying father’s choice to pursue a medically assisted death, caregiver Lily must find the emotional strength to honour his last request.
- SO-RI by Dir. Sue Yeong Baek. A sensitive, neurodivergent young Korean girl in a new school and country is overwhelmed by the sheer cacophony of the classroom until her father arrives to comfort her.
- Nai Nai: Need 4 Speed by Dir. Brooke Fusick. Nai Nai: Need 4 Speed follows Nai Nai, an elderly Chinese woman working for a ride-share company. In order to keep her perfect five-star rating, she must find the speed within her to get her customers to their final destination.
- Stand In by Dir. Hiromu Yamawaki. Record, Drive, Repeat. Kenji, a Japanese actor by day and Uber driver by night, finds himself standing in for his more successful rival, Chris, an Asian actor. One evening, Kenji picks up Chris, and their ride takes an unexpected turn.
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