Must-See Asian Films at TIFF 2024: Top Picks and Highlights
Curated by FÊTE CHINOISE EDITORIAL TEAM
Images Courtesy: TIFF and Respective Films
The FestiVal Returns September 5-15, 2024 For Its 49th Edition
Asian cinema continues to make its mark at TIFF, and we’re excited to see its evolving presence and representation. In 2022, Michelle Yeoh was honoured with the TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award, and in 2023, we had the pleasure of covering Andy Lau’s Special Tribute Award red carpet moment.
TIFF’s 49th edition is taking place next week, featuring 11 days of celebrating the best in international and Canadian cinema. This year’s festival will offer a vibrant array of screenings, live post-screening Q&As, the In Conversation With… series, a five-day industry conference, and the lively Festival Street. Get ready for a thrilling cinematic experience at TIFF with this year’s festival programming!
Check out the hand-picked film list below. Tickets are going fast, but you might still catch a screening by trying your luck at the rush line!
Image Courtesy of TIFF
Daniela Forever
Directed by Nacho Vigalondo
World Premiere
Crazy Rich Asians star Henry Golding plays Nicolas, who joins a clinical trial that offers control over dreams in hopes of healing from the tragic loss of his girlfriend, Daniela (Beatrice Grannò). As Nicolas’s lucid dreams begin to resurrect Daniela, he becomes increasingly consumed by the fantasy world he has created. However, he soon discovers that his dream reality is not as perfect as it seems.
Image Courtesy of TIFF
Daughter's Daughter 女兒的女兒
Directed by Huang Xi 黄熙
World Premiere
When Jin’s daughter Zuer dies in an accident, Jin travels to New York and learns she’s responsible for Zuer’s embryo. Confronting her first daughter, Emma, whom she gave up after a teenage pregnancy, Jin faces a collision of past regrets and future responsibilities. Daughter’s Daughter stars the iconic Sylvia Chang 張艾嘉, Karena Lam 林嘉欣, and Eugenie Liu 劉奕兒.
Image Courtesy of TIFF
Caught by the Tides 風流一代
Directed by Jia Zhang-Ke 賈樟柯
North American Premiere
Caught by the Tides tells the enduring yet fragile love story of Qiaoqiao (Zhao Tao) and Bin (Li Zhubin), set against the backdrop of China from the early 2000s to the present day. Their vibrant life in the city, filled with singing and dancing, takes a turn when Bin leaves unexpectedly to seek new opportunities elsewhere. Determined to find him, Qiaoqiao embarks on a journey. Renowned director Jia Zhang-Ke explores their romantic fate over 21 years of profound national transformation, offering a fresh perspective on contemporary China and the personal experiences shaped by its emotional and social upheavals.
Sponsored by Cadillac Canada
Image Courtesy of TIFF
Escape from the 21st Century 從21世紀安全撤離
Directed by Yang Li 李陽
International Premiere
In the year 1999, three alien teenagers, after accidentally bathing in industrial pollution, discover they can travel 20 years into the future with a sneeze. However, they find the future even worse than their present, and they must now take on the daunting task of saving their planet. Escape from the 21st Century stars Ruoyun Zhang, Elaine Zhong, Yang Song, Xiaoliang Wu, Yanmanzi Zhu, and others.
Image Courtesy of TIFF
Dead Talents Society 鬼才之道
Directed by John Hsu 徐漢強
North American Premiere
Being human is tough, but being a ghost has its own set of challenges! Rookie discovers she has just 28 days left before disappearing forever. Ghost agent Makoto recruits her to team up with the washed-up ghost champion Catherine. Their mission: to revive their haunting legend at The Lucky Hotel. In the afterlife, ghosts must be truly frightening to survive. Determined not to be forgotten, they strive to become the scariest legends ever. They believe, "If you have the talent to scare, you'll be seen!" Starring Chen Bo-Lin 陳柏霖, Sandrine Pinna 張榕容, and Gingle Wang 王淨.
Image Courtesy of TIFF
Mistress Dispeller
Directed by Elizabeth Lo
North American Premiere
Mistress Dispeller offers a revealing look into China's emerging profession of "mistress dispellers," who are hired to resolve infidelities and save marriages. Following the case of Wang Zhenxi, a professional tasked with ending an affair, the film provides intimate insight into the complex dynamics of a love triangle, exploring the emotional and cultural forces shaping relationships in contemporary China.
Image Courtesy of TIFF
Paying For It
Directed by Sook-Yin Lee
World Premiere
Starring Emily Lê and Daniel Beirne, this film adapts Chester Brown’s 2011 graphic novel, exploring the complexities of relationships through a cinematic lens. With Brown's confessional storytelling and Sook-Yin Lee’s auto-fictional approach, the movie captures the essence of navigating love and self-discovery. Beirne plays Chester, who embraces the freedom of emotional detachment, while Lê portrays Sonny, Lee's alter ego, who explores the evolving dynamics of their relationship. The result is a nuanced and introspective look at love and personal growth.
Image Courtesy of TIFF
Image Courtesy of TIFF
Youth (Spring), Youth (Hard Times), Youth (Homecoming)
青春
Directed by Wang Bing 王兵
North American Premiere
Wang Bing, a leading figure in Chinese documentary filmmaking, follows young textile workers in Zhili, China, across his trilogy. Capturing their lives in dormitories as they dream of better futures amidst financial instability and family pressures, the three chapters—Spring, Hard Times, and Homecoming—document the lives of the young labor force behind the global economy.
Film Info: Youth (Hard Times)
Film Info: Youth (Homecoming)
Stay tuned to the Fête Chinoise website and social media for exclusive highlights throughout the festival!
In her debut feature, screenwriter Ho Miu Ki masterfully explores the complexities of human connection in Love Lies—a poignant blend of drama and comedy. The film follows the intertwined lives of two very different people, brought together by an online scam, and speaks to anyone who has faced the challenges of love and relationships in the modern world. It also delves into the loneliness that often comes with navigating life in a digital age.