APFE Team (Left-Right, Jes Vu, Rhian Moore, Milton Liu, Minji Chang, David Magdael, Laarni Rosca Dacanay) with Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival Supporter and award-winning actress Sandra Oh (center). Photo Credit: Tobias Wang @visualgram

By Laarni Rosca Dacanay

Last week, the 2024 Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience (APFE) @ #TIFF24 celebrated three years at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) by recognizing Asian, Asian Canadian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander filmmakers, storytellers, creatives, and community leaders at an exciting and engaging networking reception.

Co-hosted with local partner, the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, the celebration was held on Monday, September 9 at The Commons Rooftop on a cool autumn early evening. Nearly 400 creatives, industry executives, TIFF executives, filmmakers, influencers, local Canadian filmmakers, community leaders, and Asian, Asian Canadian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander allies and supporters, gathered and recognized filmmakers with projects at TIFF, including Helen Lee, Mina Shum, Ann Marie Fleming, Sook-Yin Lee, Amar Wala, Johnny Ma, who were in attendance.

Other noted guests included: Anita Lee (Founder, Reel Asian & Chief Programming Officer, TIFF); Cameron Bailey (CEO, TIFF); Andrew Phung (Actor; Reel Asian Supporter); Doua Moua (Actor & Writer); Alan Pao (Producer, APFE Supporter); Lap Chan and Ha-Kyung Helen Song (Reel Asian Fire Horse Award Patron Circle); Philip Cho (Korean Canadian Scholarship Foundation/KCAF); Keith Lock (filmmaker, inaugural Reel Asian Fire Horse Award winner); Cheuk Kwan (Filmmaker and Reel Asian supporter); Jusreign (Filmmaker); Duy Nguyễn and Fred Nguyen Khan (Actors, “The Sympathizer”); Osric Chau (Actor, “Supernatural”); Justin Wu (Director, “Kim's Convenience,” “Gangnam Project”); Jonathan Kim (Actor); Sanjay Sharma (CAPE Board Chair); and Sandra Oh (Honorary Co-Chair, TIFF Tribute Awards; Reel Asian Fire Horse Award Supporter). Oh also “doubled her donation to the Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival for prize-giving to $100,000,” per The Hollywood Reporter. “During a reception at the Toronto Film Festival, the “Killing Eve” star added another $50,000 to make her overall contribution to the festival’s Reel Asian Fire Horse Award $100,000 over five years.”

Guests were treated to Asian drinks and food courtesy of the Korean Canadian Scholarship Foundation and Mosiac International South Asian Film Festival. Special thanks to partner iQIYI and hospitality partners: Karahi Boys, Quve, Wondermak, Chum Churum, Steam Whistle and Beau's, Toronto Yatai, and Vịt Béo.

Reel Asian’s Deanna Wong (Executive Director) and Aram Siu Wai Collier (Artistic Director) welcomed the full crowd and acknowledged the long-standing partnership with TIFF. Then, APFE Leader Milton Liu (Executive Director, Asian American Media Alliance), gave shout outs to APFE partners The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), Warner Bros. Access, NBCUniversal LAUNCH, and Alan Pao of Tunnel Post and Scriptini, for whose support makes events like this possible. Alan Pao was brought up on stage to share more about Scriptini – which is now accepting ideas or scripts until December 31, 2024. Projects will be awarded up to a $1.5M production budget. Learn more here.