Fala Chen, Colin Farrell, and Edward Berger Attend Canadian Premiere of Ballad of a Small Player 《小人物之歌》 at TIFF 2025

Colin Farrell, Fala Chen, and director Edward Berger attended the Canadian premiere of Ballad of a Small Player 《小人物之歌》 at TIFF 2025. Set in the neon-lit world of Macau’s casinos, the film follows Lord Doyle (Farrell), a washed-up gambler offered a second chance by the enigmatic Dao Ming (Chen), while pursued by a relentless investigator (Tilda Swinton). Directed by Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front), the film also stars Deanie Ip and Alex Jennings.

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Shu Qi Makes North American Directorial Debut with Girl at TIFF《女孩》

Shu Qi 舒淇 made her North American directorial debut with the world premiere of Girl at the Toronto International Film Festival on the afternoon of September 9, warmly welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd of loyal fans. Set in Taiwan in 1988, Girl follows the story of Hsiao-lee, a quiet and withdrawn teenager living under the weight of silent sorrow. Her world begins to shift after meeting Li-li, a vibrant, carefree classmate whose friendship rekindles long-suppressed dreams.

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Rooted in Memory: Four Intimate Visions of Asian Cinema at TIFF 2025

In its continuing showcase of bold and nuanced storytelling, TIFF 2025 highlights a diverse range of Asian cinema that grounds the personal in the political, and the poetic in the everyday. This latest selection of films brings together a quartet of distinct directorial voices from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Hungary, and China, each examining the quiet revolutions within private lives.

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Bachelor Man: A Reflection on Chinese Canadian History and Gender

Produced by Renaissance Canadian Theatre in association with Tarragon Theatre, Bachelor Man unfolds an important historical era that resonates with the Chinese Canadian experience. As Artistic Director Andrew Moodie noted in his opening remarks, the company’s commitment to reviving overlooked works is meaningful, not only as preservation but also as a way to highlight narratives often absent from mainstream theatre. First premiered in 1987 at Theatre Passe Muraille, the play now returns to Tarragon, offering today’s audiences a rare opportunity to explore a chapter of history that many may not know.

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Unfolding Stories: A First Look at Asian Cinema at TIFF 2025

In this first roundup, we look at five standout films: The Sun Rises on Us All, Palimpsest: The Story of a Name, Lucky Lu, Amoeba, and Girl, each distinct in tone and style, yet deeply connected by emotional resonance and cultural reflection. These stories span geographies and genres: from Guangzhou’s aching past to the immigrant realities of New York, from the haunting intimacy of family trauma to the rebellion of young women pushing against systemic constraint. Some films confront generational wounds or buried identities; others capture moments of quiet survival or poetic self-reinvention.

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A Gift Across Generations: Hiro Kanagawa on Forgiveness

Hiro Kanagawa has spent his life navigating the spaces in between cultures, continents, and roles. From Star Trek: Discovery to the Stratford stage, the Japanese-Canadian actor and playwright has built a career on complex characters and untold histories. Now, in his Stratford debut, Kanagawa brings Forgiveness to life—not just as a writer, but as a performer reckoning with identity, legacy, and the quiet power of grace. It’s a cultural conversation and a gift across generations.

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Stand at the Feet of History: Meet Me at the King Tree 與千年香樟樹王結緣:穿越時空的上海養雲安縵酒店體驗

I held my daughter’s hands as she steadily walked a wooden spoon of water to the foot of the King Camphor Tree. “King Tree,” she delightfully whispered as she poured the well water as an offering, with reverence and childlike wonder. The camphor tree stood in the heart of the central courtyard, the largest and most majestic of the ten thousand trees at Amanyangyun, with a weight of 80 tonnes and a trunk so thick, its circumference would take at least a dozen people to join hands in a circle to offer a full embrace. The King Tree has borne witness to time well before ours; estimated to be at least 1000 years old, it was alive when the Ming and Qing emperors ruled, and lived through regimes and changes that we can only read about in history books.

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A Scholar’s World in Objects: The Ai Lian Tang Collection at Christie’s Hong Kong

Discover the Ai Lian Tang Collection, featuring 26 exquisite Chinese art pieces including a rare Qianlong celadon-glazed archaistic vase inspired by Western Zhou bronzes. Showcasing imperial scholar objects like enamel ink stone warmers and jadeite censers, this Christie’s auction during Hong Kong Asian Art Week offers a unique glimpse into Qing dynasty artistry and philosophy. Preview in Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, and Hong Kong before the live auction on October 30, 2025.

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Making Waves Montreal Announces 2025 Lineup

Making Waves Montreal 2025 returns from September 18–20 at Cinéma Cineplex Forum, showcasing six new Hong Kong films, including The Last Dance: Extended Version starring Dayo Wong and Michael Hui, Papa by Philip Yung with Sean Lau, and My First of May starring Aaron Kwok and Gigi Leung. Meet filmmakers and talent in exclusive post-screening Q&As.

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Stratford Festival’s Forgiveness Explores War, Identity, and Family

From the moment the audience steps into the Tom Patterson Theatre, they are immersed in an atmosphere thick with memory and history. The two leading actors move solemnly along a runway-like stage, drawing the audience’s gaze to a few simple yet carefully chosen props. Even before the performance begins, the stage design has already captured everyone’s attention.

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Your TIFF 2025 Film Guide: Spotlight on Chinese and Asian Creators

TIFF 2025 is almost here, and this year’s lineup is packed with boundary-pushing stories from across Asia and the diaspora. To help you navigate the lineup, we’ve rounded up some of the most exciting films from Chinese and Asian filmmakers premiering at the festival, spanning historical epics, haunting dramas, offbeat comedies, and supernatural tales.

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