Cinema is a magical medium for telling the stories of people across time and cultures. To capture that magic the CCFSO is launching a multi-year film festival to share the stories of China and Chinese Canadians with Ottawa audiences.
Our commitment is to find and screen fascinating well made films that explore the many sides of China’s life, culture and history. This year’s films tell deeply moving stories that span life and events over the last 150 years.
The Festival opens with Soul Mate by Chinese-Canadian Director Derek Tsang. Set in the current time period it explores the relationship between two young girls as they mature and discover the meaning of adulthood. The two stars both won Best Actress Awards for their roles. Soul Mate was the opening film at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival and Toronto’s Reel Asian Film Festival.
In recognition of Canada’s 150th anniversary, Saturday’s first film is the docu-drama From C to C: Chinese Canadian Stories of Migration by Canadian Director Jordan Paterson. The film spans the period from the late 1800’s to the recent past. It addressing the imposition & consequences of Canada’s Head Tax and Chinese Exclusion Act, and the struggle for equality and redress. Professor Tim Stanley and Yew Lee will lead a discussion.
The closing film is Coming Home by Yimou Zhang, one of China’s leading Directors. It stars Gong Li, one of China’s most acclaimed actresses. Its Canadian premiere was at TIFF. Coming Home is set in the Cultural Revolution (early 1970s) and follows a family, through this tumultuous period including the betrayal of the father by his daughter, his exile and eventual return and reconciliation.
We hope you enjoy the festival. We look forward to bring you more extraordinary films at next year’s expanded version.