We continue the celebration of VAFF’s landmark 25th anniversary with our second retrospective special
The winning movie will be streamed as part of a double feature special that will kick off the online portion of VAFF25 on Monday, November 8, 2021.
This September, we’re inviting you to choose one classic movie that was screened at VAFF between 2009 and 2020. And once again, all participants will be entered in a draw for a chance to win a free ticket to this year’s festival in November. The movie with the most votes will be streamed on Monday, November 8, 2021, as part of the opening of the online portion of the upcoming VAFF25. The 25th Vancouver Asian Film Festival takes place from November 4 to 14, 2021.
Here’s an overview of the classic films you can vote for:
Almost Perfect, 2011, US
Directed by Bertha Bay-Sa Pan
A 30-something career woman tries to find the balance between her demanding family and her perfect new boyfriend.
White Frog, 2012, US
Directed by Quentin Lee
Twilight’s Booboo Stewart plays a neglected teen trying to make it through each day after tragedy strikes.
Linsanity, 2013, US
Directed by Evan Jackson Leong
The life story of basketball sensation, Jeremy Lin.
John Apple Jack, 2013, Canada
Directed by Monika Mitchell
When John discovers his sister’s fiance is Jack, his childhood crush, passions ignite and his life spirals out of control… losing his job, his playboy reputation and his underwear, all while rushing to the altar to finally confess his love!
Tele, 2014, Canada
Directed by Gabriel Adelman; Lead: Manny Jacinto
A young man spontaneously teleports and disappears at a young age. As he struggles to deal with his unique disorder, he finds himself alone and disoriented as he continues to try and find his way back home.
“Tele” was the winner of Best Canadian Short Award
The Search For General Tso, 2014, US, Taiwan, China
Directed by Ian Cheney
This feature documentary explores the origins and ubiquity of Chinese-American food through the story of an iconic sweet and spicy chicken dish.
Seoul Searching, 2015, South Korea, China, US
Directed by Benson Lee
In 1986, a group of foreign born Korean teenagers attend a summer camp in South Korea.
Beyond Redemption, 2015, Canada
Directed by Bruce Fontaine
A weary undercover cop must maintain his cover while trying to save the daughter of a notorious Triad Boss from becoming collateral damage in a sting operation gone wrong.
“Beyond Redemption” was the winner of the “People’s Choice Award” at VAFF19.
All Our Father’s Relations, 2016, Canada
Directed by Alejandro Yoshizawa
The story of the Grant siblings – Howard E. Grant, Helen Callbreath, Larry Grant and Gordon J. Grant – now in the twilight of their lives, and their connection to their mother’s First Nations (Musqueam) heritage and reconnecting to their father’s southern Chinese heritage.
“All Our Father’s Relations” was the winner of Best Canadian Feature Award at VAFF20.
Under Fire: Inside A Chinese Roasted Meats Shop In Vancouver, 2016, Canada
Directed by Christy Fong and Denise Fong
This documentary short brings you into the kitchen of an East Vancouver grocery with an unexpected menu item: roasted pig. Discover the secretive cooking methods and Chinatown’s historical struggles with this iconic dish against municipal, provincial, and federal legislation.
“Under Fire: Inside A Chinese Roasted Meats Shop In Vancouver” was the winner of Best Canadian Short Award.
Gook, 2017, US
Directed by Justin Chon
Two Korean-American brothers run a shoe store in L.A. county. Their friend, black eleven-year-old Kamilla, drops in and helps. On this day, the Rodney King verdict ignites the 1992 L.A. riots.
For Izzy, 2018, Canada
Directed by Alex Chu
“For Izzy” is a story about a queer photojournalist recovering from opioid addiction who befriends an autistic woman seeking to break out of her insular life, while their respective single parents find renewed hope in an unexpected romance.
“For Izzy” was the winner of Best Canadian Feature Film Award at VAFF22.
The World is Bright, 2019, Canada
Directed by Ying Wang
Following the 10-year journey of a Chinese couple searching for the truth behind their son’s death in Canada, the film is a rare revelation of immigration, mental health and a Kafkaesque state bureaucracy at the heart of global migration.
White Elephant, 2020, Canada
Directed by Andrew Chung
Set in 1996, in a majority-minority neighborhood, 16-year-old Pooja finds herself torn between her crush on a white boy, and her Brown and Black friends. Her pursuit takes a violent turn, making her quest for love, a question of self-love.
“White Elephant” was the winner of Best Canadian Feature Film Award at VAFF24.
The last day to take part in our retrospective film poll is September 20, so make sure you vote for your favourite VAFF classic movie by clicking here.
And don’t forget to check back after September 20 as we reveal the title of the most popular movie.