American Born Chinese: Dark Exploration of Asian-American Adolescence

In recent years, Hollywood movies such as Crazy Rich Asians and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings have prominently featured Asian actors, a milestone in an industry that has long overlooked Asian talent. A number of box-office successes starring Asian actors have raised awareness of a long history of ethnically-Asian actors in Hollywood, which extends back further than the general American psyche. The global success of these films also speaks to the demand for relatable performers on screen for numerous diaspora communities around the world.

Film & Books, FilmFête ChinoiseNovember 25, 2022American Born Chinese, Graphic Novel, Gene Luen YangComment

Hugh Tran: Paige Darcy and the Case of the Stoned Cat

Introducing Canadian actor Hugh Tran, for those who may not already know him. He's appeared in movies and television shows such as Pacific Rim (2013), XIII: The Series (2011) and The Romeo Section (2015). A passionate performer, he’s been growing his career and portfolio locally and overseas in Asia.

Film, Film & BooksFête ChinoiseNovember 18, 2022Paige Darcy and the Case of the Stoned Cat, Movie, Film, Canadian Film, Hugh Tran, Andrew PhungComment

Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 2022

Canada's largest Asian film festival will take place from November 9th to 20th, 2022, both virtually and in-person. The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival will feature contemporary Asian cinema and work from the Asian diaspora. The festival provides a public forum for media artists of Asian heritage and fuels the growing appreciation for Asian cinema in Canada.

Film, Community & PeopleFête ChinoiseNovember 4, 2022Film Festival, Reel Asian Film Festival, MoviesComment

Justine Yeung: Still Perspectives 楊應琪: 電影定格

For a long time, many members of the Hong Kong film industry, both on and off screen, have moved to North America or constantly traveled between the two places for work, education, or simply in search of a better life. You can find them on film sets and post-production studios all over Hong Kong and Asia, while simultaneously making their mark in many North American film studios or international film festivals.

Personal Stories, Film, Film & BooksFête ChinoiseAugust 12, 2022Asian Representation, Personal Stories, photography, FilmComment

38 at the Garden: a new film about how Jeremy Lin shattered stereotypes and inspired a generation

I’ve loved basketball my whole life. Growing up in Scarborough, a court and pickup game was never far away, and I’d often carry a ball with me just in case. In my teenage years, I’d go to school early, put on my Sony walkman (youths, starting googling) and shoot for 2-3 hours by myself - every morning, without fail. Looking back, it was my meditation, my happy place.

I was a pretty good player - quick first step, could finish at the rim, lefty advantage, great cardio, and a decent mid range shot. I also developed enough confidence that I would rarely see a game being played where I felt I couldn’t at least be a decent role player. My friend Darnel and I would go challenge people on random public courts and we won our fair share.

Mark Your Calendar, FilmGuest UserApril 28, 2022Asian Representation, SportsComment

Everything Everywhere All At Once is A Must Watch!

This long preamble is my way to wrap my brain around my stunned reaction after seeing EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE. In my perfect world, all I’d write is “Trust me. It’s brilliant. SEE IT”. But I can’t, so please bare with me as I discombobulate my addled brain cells and convince you to be first in line to see the most original and bombastic movie in decades without any spoilers!

Mark Your Calendar, Current Affairs, Film, Film & BooksFête ChinoiseApril 1, 2022Asian Representation, FilmComment

Justin Wu 吳一縉 : Representation in Image Making, Media and Film 圖像媒體中尋真我

My name is Justin Wu. My mother is a fine-art painter and my late father was a doctor. Both grew up in Hong Kong before emigrating to Canada to seek a better life. Typical of many first generation Chinese-Canadians, I felt obligated to attend university and enroll in sciences and business to satisfy my parents’ desire for me to follow in my father’s footsteps. However, much to their disappointment, I tore up my medical school application at the eleventh hour and chose to pursue my passion for the arts instead.

Long Reads, Personal Stories, Film, Film & BooksFête ChinoiseMarch 30, 2022Asian Representation, Art, artists, FilmComment

Turning Red: A Disney Pixar Chinese-Canadian Fairytale

After the Canadian Premiere of Turning Red, Disney and Pixar’s newest masterpiece, we stepped out of the TIFF Lightbox onto King Street, where the historic two-storey brick buildings sat as a backdrop to a passing streetcar, CN Tower lit up in red and purple to the left. It felt like the scenes from the movie continued into the sidewalk. This is the first Disney film to be situated in (and featuring) Toronto in the early 2000’s, a coming of age story about a 13 year old Chinese-Canadian girl whose emotions turn her into a giant red panda… as the poster suggests, “growing up is a beast!”

Current Affairs, Mark Your Calendar, FilmDeborah Lau-YuMarch 11, 2022Asian Representation, Film, animationComment

Documentary Filmmaker Ruby Yang 楊紫燁: On Working With Time

Academy Award-Winning Director, Ruby Yang, talks about her journey, the idea of time and pace in her work, and COVID-19. Yang is currently the Project Director of the Hong Kong Documentary Initiative (HKDI) and was the recipient of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council’s Artist of the Year for Film in 2018. Our Fête Chinoise editors first met Ruby in December 2019 at the film screening of The Last Stitch (2019) directed by Alfred Sung, which Yang served as the Executive Producer. Later, Yang shared that she saw the wonderful events featuring Chinese Canadian culture that Fête Chinoise had designed. It is truly our pleasure to share her thoughts.

Long Reads, Personal Stories, Film, Film & BooksFête ChinoiseFebruary 11, 2022Asian Representation, Art, artists, FilmComment

Samantha Wan: From the Director’s Chair

Fête Chinoise contributor Jasmine Chen shares an up-close and personal interview with Samantha Wan, whom you may know from the award-winning series Second Jen. She worked with Andrew Phung in this new and intriguing series and has so much warmth and heart to share. “Being an actor, a writer, a producer, all of those things make the directing way easier.”

Long Reads, Personal Stories, Film & Books, FilmFête ChinoiseDecember 29, 2021Asian Representation, artists, FilmComment

Snakehead: A Riveting Film Based on Real Life in New York City's Chinatown

A Chinese immigrant is caught up in an international crime ring of human smuggling while attempting to make a better life for her family in New York City. Based on the real life story of notorious criminal Sister Peng, from Chinatown, NYC. Directed by Evan Jackson Leong.

Current Affairs, Community & People, Film, Film & BooksDeborah Lau-YuOctober 29, 2021chinese canadian, film review, Asian representatonComment

Eternals: Asian Representation in Film Makes Strides in 2021

After a year of delay due to the pandemic, Marvel Studios’ Eternals was finally unveiled at the world premiere this Monday, at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles. Guests and critics who got a sneak peek of the film before its official release on November 5th, came back with generally glowing reviews, such as describing the work as evocative, emotional, and extraordinary, especially as a superhero film.