Love Is a Book
爱是一本书
LAI Yuqing
22 minutes | 2024 | Fiction | English, Mandarin, Khmer | English Subtitles
Toronto Premiere
Content Advisory: This film contains scenes of sexual content
5:15 PM, SUN, AUG 17
Innis Town Hall
Screening
Love is a book, and while the men and the women are in different chapters of their emotional journeys, their stories share similar, ambiguous, and pure expressions of love.
Director
LAI Yuqing has studied abroad in New York, Los Angeles, and Toronto. As a director, actor and musician, Yuqing has contributed to multiple short and feature films, with their works being shortlisted for prestigious festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival, BFI Flare, and Sundance Ignite finalists. Their debut film, Whisperings of the Moon, is currently in post-production. This lesbian love story explores themes of love and separation.
Credits
- Director: LAI Yuqing
- Principal Cast: Colin REN, Andrew LEE, Sopheanith THONG, Deka NINE
- Producer: Lily YANG, HUANG Kaihan
- Screenplay: LAI Yuqing
- Cinematographer: LAI Yuqing, Hugh HU
The Night
海风替我亲吻你的脸颊
ZHANG Lin
35 minutes | 2023 | Fiction | Mandarin, Cantonese | English and Chinese Subtitles
North American Premiere
5:15 PM, SUN, AUG 17
Innis Town Hall
Screening
Obedient and reserved, Si Zhen finds herself drawn to Zhang Qing, a free-spirited girl on the school track team. As their bond deepens, a secret relationship begins to blossom between them, until it is discovered by Si Zhen’s mother…
Director
ZHANG Lin (Jenny) is a young director who graduated from the London Film School. Her film focuses on female narratives and gender identity. Her short film The Night has been selected and screened at various international film festivals, including but not limited to the Beijing Queer Film Festival and LGBT History Month.
Credits
- Director: ZHANG Lin
- Principal Cast: LI Jingxuan, DU Tianyue, LI Qingxin
- Producer: ZHANG Lin
- Screenplay: ZHANG Lin
- Cinematographer: ZHANG Chenhao
- Production Designer: LIN Tingxuan
- Editor: ZHANG Lin, TIAN Zhenxiang
- Music: PAN Shuhuang
Three
三
Amie SONG
15 minutes | 2024 | Fiction | Mandarin, English | English Subtitles
Toronto Premiere
Vancouver Asian Film Festival 2024 –– Sher Vancouver Award for Best 2SLGBTQ+ Short Film
Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2024 –– Audience Award for the Best Short Film
5:15 PM, SUN, AUG 17
Innis Town Hall
Screening
At her birthday party, a Chinese woman who has recently moved to the United States to live with her daughter tries to keep her daughter’s secrets from her new friends.
Director
Amie Song is a New York-based filmmaker. Splitting her time between the US and China, she explores how people reconcile living between cultures, traditions, genders, sexualities, etc. Her passion lies in pushing the boundaries of narrative, reimagining how films can question our perception of reality.
Credits
- Director: Amie SONG
- Principal Cast: Eleven LEE, Sam XU, Maritza CAYO
- Producer: FANG Jingwen
- Screenplay: Amie SONG
- Cinematographer: Alex XIAO
- Production Designer: ZHOU Yichen
- Editor: Amie Song
- Sound: Jesse FELDBERG, Hae Seoung KIM
Water Under the Bridge
相聚一刻
ZHANG Yichuan
16 minutes | 2023 | Fiction | Mandarin | English and Chinese Subtitles
North American Premiere
5:15 PM, SUN, AUG 17
Innis Town Hall
Screening
Two young women return to their hometown of Yibin for different reasons and match on Tinder. As they stand at a crossroads in life, one quiet question begins to surface: Will the world change us, or will we change ourselves?
Director
ZHANG Yichuan is a director working across short films, documentaries, and music videos. She is currently a Video Producer at VOGUE magazine and previously worked as a Producer at VICE China. Her work often explores themes of humanity, nature, and interpersonal relationships, with a particular sensitivity to emotion and atmosphere.
Credits
- Director: ZHANG Yichuan
- Principal Cast: ZHANG Yichuan, Janaé HU
- Producer: Stella LI
- Screenplay: ZHANG Yichuan
- Cinematographer: HUANG Yichuan
- Editor: JIN Dayang