Celebrating Five Years in Toronto at TIFF’s 50th!
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By Laarni Rosca Dacanay
On Monday, September 8, 2025, the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience (APFE), in partnership with Reel Asian, and fellow co-host Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival (MISAFF), hosted the 2025 Reel Asian TIFF Reception during the 50th Toronto International Film Festival.
Held at the Commons Lobby and rooftop garden in Downtown Toronto, the standing-room-only event welcomed over 460 attendees! The evening featured a welcome address by Reel Asian Founder and TIFF’s current Chief Programming Officer Anita Lee, followed by an impassioned plea to support the arts by beloved Canadian actor Andrew Phung (“Kim’s Convenience,” “Run the Burbs”), followed by a lively networking mixer with food and drinks generously provided by hospitality partners, Karahi Boys, Tita Flips, CHOYA, Masala Spirits, Gong Cha, So&So, and Grüvi.
Founding APFE Leader and award-winning publicist David Magdael shares history of Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience at the 2025 Reel Asian TIFF Reception at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival / Photo Credit: Yujie Wang and Yi Shi
The event brought together filmmakers, storytellers, producers, artists, community and industry leaders, and allies to celebrate our Asian, Asian American, Asian Canadian communities, heritage and shared experiences.
Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival, Reel Asian and Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience at the 2025 Reel Asian TIFF Reception at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival / Photo Credit: Yujie Wang and Yi Shi
Reel Asian Executive Director Deanna Wong with award-winning Producer Nina Yang Bongiovi at the 2025 Reel Asian TIFF Reception at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival / Photo Credit: Yujie Wang and Yi Shi
Guests networking at the 2025 Reel Asian TIFF Reception at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival / Photo Credit: Yujie Wang and Yi Shi
Guests networking at the 2025 Reel Asian TIFF Reception at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival / Photo Credit: Yujie Wang and Yi Shi
Guests enjoying the beautiful September evening garden rooftop at the 2025 Reel Asian TIFF Reception at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival / Photo Credit: Yujie Wang and Yi Shi
CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS / Photo Credit: Yujie Wang and Yi Shi
Thank you to our partners, Warner Bros. Discovery Access and NBCUniversal – for without their support, none of this would be possible.
Thank you to the entire APFE team — David Magdael, Minji Chang, Laarni Rosca Dacanay, Francis Cullado, Emily Hoang, Michelle Sugihara, Milton Liu, Rhian Moore, Jes Vu, Grace Kao, Chandni Sharma Modi, and Kenny Ng — for your tireless efforts. Special thanks to our local partners at Reel Asian – for welcoming the APFE team for a fifth time to our neighbors in the North – including Deanna Wong, Kelly Lui, Aram Siu Wai Collier, Christine Vu, Chris Chin, Samir Ballou, Abby Ho, Cindy Ci, Chirag Prabhu, and the stellar Volunteer Staff for your continued support.
For those in Canada or traveling to in November, be sure to support the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival from November 5-23, 2025.
Learn more about the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience and how it all began in 2002.
Next stop, the 2026 Sundance Film Festival — the last one in Park City, Utah!
Be sure to follow APFE (@apfexp) on Instagram for more updates.
