PAFF 2026 Lineup: Pride Asian Film Festival Returns to Toronto with Asian Cinema and Canadian Shorts
Images Provided by Pride Asian Film Festival.
Written by Fête chinoise Editorial Team (Kayla Lo)
Pride Asian Film Festival (PAFF) is returning for its second edition from May 28 to May 31, 2026, at Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk. Building on the momentum of its successful debut last year, the festival continues its mission of celebrating Asian voices through films that explore identity, inclusion, and human connection.
This year’s lineup includes six feature films from Hong Kong and Taiwan, along with seven Canadian short films, showcasing stories centered on diversity, LGBTQ2S+ perspectives, women’s empowerment, and disability representation. Opening the festival is the North American premiere of We Are Nothing At All by acclaimed filmmaker Herman Yau. Festival highlights include the Canadian premieres of the highly anticipated Another World, Sons of the Neon Night by Juno Mak, and Someone Like Me, featuring Fish Liew’s award-winning performance that earned her Best Actress honours. The festival will also present a special 4K restoration screening of Millennium Mambo by acclaimed Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien, starring Shu Qi, alongside Girl, her directorial debut feature.
Image Credits Pride Asian Film Festival
Through its thoughtfully curated selection, PAFF continues to offer audiences an opportunity to discover bold and emotionally resonant stories while celebrating the depth and diversity of Asian cinema.
The VIP All-Film Pass is now available and includes access to all screenings. Individual tickets will go on sale on May 9, 2026, at 12:00 PM (EST).
For festival updates and ticket information, visit Pride Asian Film Festival.
2026 Festival LIneup:
We Are Nothing At All《我們不是什麼》
Opening Night, May 28, 7:00 PM | North American Premiere
Directed by Herman Yau, We’re Nothing at All is a socially conscious drama starring Patrick Tam, Keung To, and Ansonbean. Following a tragic bombing, the film explores the emotional aftermath and the intense societal struggles faced by marginalized youth. Recognized with the Audience Choice Award at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, Yau’s latest work is a powerful critique of contemporary social pressures and the human toll of systemic neglect.
Image Credits Pride Asian Film Festival
ANother World《世外》
May 29, 7:15 PM | Canadian Premiere
Directed by Tommy Ng Kai Chung, Another World is a visually stunning dark fantasy that marked a historic breakthrough as the first animated feature to be nominated for Best Film at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Adapted from the novel Thousand Year Ghost, the story follows Gudo, a spirit guide in a liminal afterlife who helps souls release trauma to achieve reincarnation. When he encounters Yuri, a young girl whose unresolved rage threatens to consume both the human and spiritual realms, their journey evolves into a cross-century exploration of forgiveness, self-love, and healing. The film won Best Animated Feature at the Golden Horse Awards and became the highest-grossing Hong Kong animated film of all time.
Image Credits Pride Asian Film Festival
Millenium Mambo (4k restored) 《千禧萬波》
May 30, 4:15 PM
Directed by legendary filmmaker Hou Hsiao-hsien, Millennium Mambo remains one of the defining portraits of urban youth and loneliness in contemporary Asian cinema. The new 4K restoration revitalizes the film’s signature visual and sonic textures, bringing renewed international attention to the modern classic. Starring Shu Qi, the film has also been cited by the actress as a major influence on her artistic journey. Her directorial debut feature, Girl, will screen at the festival on the same day, creating a meaningful dialogue between the two works.
Image Credits Pride Asian Film Festival
Girl《女孩》
May 30, 7:00 PM
Drawing from her own childhood memories, Shu Qi crafts an intimate and emotionally resonant narrative in her directorial debut, Girl. Echoing the cinematic language of Hou Hsiao-hsien and Millennium Mambo, the film reflects her distinct artistic vision through a female perspective.
Since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, the film has gained significant international acclaim and was featured at the Toronto International Film Festival last September. Her transition to directing has been met with prestigious honours, most notably winning Best Director at the Busan International Film Festival and Best New Director at the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards.
Image Credits Pride Asian Film Festival
Sons of Neon Light《風林火山》
May 31, 4:15 PM | Canadian Premiere
Directed by Juno Mak, Sons of the Neon Night is a visually striking neo-noir thriller featuring an powerhouse ensemble of Hong Kong legends including Takeshi Kaneshiro, Lau Ching-wan, Tony Leung Ka-fai, and Louis Koo. The film exemplifies Mak’s bold auteur vision, exploring themes of power and identity within a neon-lit dystopian cityscape. A major triumph at the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards, it secured eight wins from 12 nominations, including Best Supporting Actor for Alex To and a poignant Best Original Film Score for the late Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Image Credits Pride Asian Film Festival
Someone like me《像我這樣的愛情》
May 31, 7:00 PM | Canadian Premiere
Directed by Tam Wai-ching and produced by Stanley Kwan, Someone Like Me is a poignant drama centered on Mui, a young artist with cerebral palsy who fights for bodily autonomy and the right to experience intimacy. Fish Liew delivers an award-winning performance as Mui, capturing the character’s internal struggle as she resists her mother’s pressure to undergo a hysterectomy and instead explores her own desires through a specialized volunteer service.
Image Credits Pride Asian Film Festival
Short Film Lineup
May I directed by Henri Cheung
The Girl Who Cried Pearl directed by Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski (Winner of Best Animated Short Film at the 98th Academy Awards)
I Want To Go Home by Mégan Dupont
Springrise by Mitchell Keys
Hairy Legs by Andrea Dorfman
Get A Grip by Abbey Collings
My Friend the Green Horse by Alanis Obomsawin
More From Fête Chinoise
PAFF (Pride Asian Film Festival) returns to Toronto for its 2026 edition at Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, showcasing a bold lineup of Asian cinema and Canadian short films. Opening the festival is Herman Yau’s We’re Nothing At All, alongside major highlights including Juno Mak’s highly anticipated Sons of the Neon Night, the animated feature Another World, Fish Liew’s award-winning Someone Like Me, Shu Qi’s directorial debut Girl, and a special 4K restoration of Millennium Mambo starring Shu Qi, celebrating a powerful range of contemporary and classic Asian storytelling.