FILM FUND

program STRUCTURE

downloads

about

Vancouver Asian Film Festival Film Fund (VAFF²)

Diversity Empowered.

VAFF Film Fund (VAFF²) founded by VAFF Lifetime Benefactor Mr. Richard K. Wong aims to support talented Asian Canadian filmmakers and TV producers, to develop, produce, and finish creative projects that raises the profile of Asians in Canada.

overview

VAFF Film Fund (VAFF²) founded by VAFF Lifetime Benefactor Mr. Richard K. Wong  to assist talented Asian Canadian filmmakers and TV producers produce creative projects that raise the profile of Asians in Canada. 

The 2024-25 Film Fund (VAFF²) was established to address the challenges faced by Asian Canadians in the film industry and was made possible by Richard K. Wong’s generous contribution of $12,500 in 2021. VAFF aims to secure further donors and sponsors to increase the amount available under the Fund.

To provide Asian Canadian filmmakers the opportunity to complete their works, the VAFF may finance original, high-quality projects (collectively or individually, the “Project”) that satisfy the criteria of the Fund, including those set out below, as may be amended or otherwise determined by VAFF at its sole discretion.  VAFF’s hope is that the Project will further establish Asian Canadians as talented and notable filmmakers and actors.

Project applications submitted by Oct.20, 2024 (11:59 PM) PST will be evaluated by VAFF, and the owner of the selected Project(s) will receive up to $10,000 according to an agreed timeline.

Submission fee: $50 (CAD)

important dates

2024-25 schedule

DATE
day
time
info
Saturday
September 28, 2024
12:00AM PST
Submission Open
Wednesday
October 9, 2024
(TBA)
Info Session – Save the date
Sunday
October 20, 2024
11:59PM PST
Submissions Closed
Friday
November 1, 2024
(TBA)
Selected Finalists announced
Friday
November 8, 2024
(TBA)
Selected Finalists in person live pitch competition
Sunday
November 2024
(TBA)
Recipient(s) announce at the 28th Vancouver Asian Film Festival
Wednesday
January 1 – September 15, 2025
Recipient(s) project production

how to apply

Applicants should submit their applications as follows:

Step 1: Fill out the Film Fund VAFF²  2024 – 2025 Application Form.

Step 2: Email the following required documents to filmfund@vaff.org:

  1. Applicant information: Resumes and background information on producer(s) and key creative team members, including screenwriter(s) and director(s).
  2. Project information (no more than 10 pages total):
    • Proposed industry-standard production budget and top sheet. (1 page)
    • Proposed shooting and production schedules. (1 page)
    • A detailed one-page project synopsis, including names and ethnic backgrounds of leading characters. (1 page)
    • A detailed outline or treatment, including a description of the subject matter as well as the filmmaker’s editorial and cinematic approach.
    • Resumes and background information on producer(s) and key creative, including screenwriter and director.
    • Total number of pages? (no more than 10 page total)
    • The files should be named in the following format: projectname_applicantlastname-BIO

Please only submit pdf or Word files [pdf, doc, docx].

Step 3: Pay for the Non-refundable Submission fee: $50 (CAD)

All applicants will receive a pair of spectator’s tickets to the Nov 8, 2024 – in person VAFF FIlm Fund Pitch Competition event.

Note: Once submitted, applicants cannot change anything in their applications. Submit cautiously.

Step 4: Top 5 selected finalists will be announced on November 1, 2024.  

  • Top selected 5 finalists will have 5 minutes to pitch their story to an adjudication panel and an audience of filmmakers and storytellers at the in-person VAFF FIlm Fund Pitch Competition event on November 8, 2024 during the Vancouver Asian Film Festival.
  • Top selected 5 finalists will receive a complimentary VAFF industry pass at the 28th Annual Vancouver Asian Film Festival. 

 

Please refer to the OFFICIAL 2024-25 VAFF FILM FUND GUIDELINES for more details.

Evaluation Criteria

The following criteria will be used to determine the potential success of a project:

  • Track record of Producer and Creative team
  • Appeal to Canadian audience
  • Film festival potential
  • International pre-sale/financing
  • Appeal to international audience
  • Potential for distribution
Note:
  • VAFF is under no obligation to award the fund if no projects are deemed suitable; the fund will be rolled over to next year.
  • VAFF is under no obligation to provide feedback on projects not selected for funding.

eligibility

Applications and all required documents must be received by 11:59pm PST on October 20, 2024

Applicants
  • Applications must fulfill the following Asian representation requirements:
    – at least one member of the creative team member (producer/production company, director or writer) self-identifies as being of Asian or part-Asian heritage
    – at least one of the lead characters self-identifies as being of Asian or part-Asian heritage and
  • Applications may be submitted by Canadian independent producers who are individuals or co-ventures or by corporations or other entities controlled by the applicant.
  • Any resident of Canada (Canadian Citizen or Permanent Residence status) can apply from anywhere in the country.
  • The ideal applicant is an intermediate-level filmmaker, but there are no requirements or limitations on the size of the project.
  • One entry only per each above-the-line applicant.
  • Previous film fund recipient(s) may apply as different roles of the creative team member.
Project Production
  • Projects must not have been produced in whole or in part before selection by the VAFF.
  • Projects should completed, script to delivery, approximately 6 – 8 months after its selection by VAFF, though longer delivery dates may be considered.
  • Projects must not require substantial time in preparation, production and post-production.
Project Format & Content

For the purposes of the Film Fund, the Project can take form as a Short-film, web series or TV pilot or a Short-documentary and must satisfies the following criteria:

  • Showcases a story where the protagonist is Asian or Part Asian Canadian.
  • Have leading characters that are 50% or more Asian Canadians or Part-Asian Canadian (not including supporting)
  • Have above-the-line personnel that are 50% or more Asian Canadian or Part-Asian Canadian
  • Runs at least 20 – 30 minutes at maximum
  • Has an original narrative and visual construction.
  • Has enduring appeal, and therefore a durable “shelf-life”

Projects with any hate, political or religious propaganda will not be funded.  Likewise, Projects with only one lead Asian character under circumstances where that character is the antagonist will not be funded.

Project Funding
  • There is no budgetary limit in order to qualify for funding.
  • VAFF reserves the right to split the fund between multiple Projects.
  • The fund can be used for production and post-production.
  • The fund can be used to top-up an existing budget, under specific circumstances.
  • VAFF is under no obligation to award the fund if no projects are deemed suitable; the fund will be rolled over to next year.
  • VAFF reserves the right to end the program in future years if the funds are not replenished.

Please refer to the OFFICIAL 2024-25 VAFF FILM FUND GUIDELINES for more details.

faq

film fund frequent asked questions

  • Fund submissions can be made through this online form, beginning September 28, 2024
  • $10,000 – VAFF reserves the right to split the fund between multiple projects. 
  • Applications may be submitted by Canadian independent producers who are individuals or co-ventures or by corporations or other entities controlled by the applicant.
  • The ideal applicant is a beginner to intermediate-level filmmaker, but there are no limitations on the size of the portfolio.
  • One entry only per each above-the-line applicant.
  • Current Vancouver Asian Film Festival Board, Executive, Committee members are not eligible to enter this competition as above-the-line personnel.

Projects may take the form as a Short-film, webseries or TV pilot , or a documentary and must:

    • Showcase a story where the protagonist is Asian Canadian
    • Have leading characters that are 50% or more Asian Canadians
    • Have above-the-line personnel that are 50% or more Asian Canadian
    • Runs at least 20 – 30 minutes at maximum
    • Have an original narrative and visual construction
    • Have enduring appeal, and therefore a durable “shelf-life”

Projects with any hate, political or religious propaganda will not be considered. Likewise, projects with only one lead Asian character under circumstances where that character is the antagonist will not be considered.

In terms of production:

  • Projects must not have been produced in whole or in part before selection by the VAFF.
  • Projects should completed, script to delivery, approximately 6 – 8 months after its selection by VAFF, though longer delivery dates may be considered.
  • Projects must not require substantial time in preparation, production and post-production.
  • There is no budgetary limit in order to qualify for funding.
  • VAFF reserves the right to split the fund between multiple Projects.
  • The fund can be used for production, and/or post-production.
  • The fund can be used to top-up an existing budget, under specific circumstances.
  • VAFF is under no obligation to award the fund if no projects are deemed suitable; the fund will be rolled over to next year.
  • VAFF is under no obligation to provide feedback on projects not selected for funding.
  • VAFF reserves the right to end the program in future years if the funds are not replenished.
  • Min 1920x1080p 24fps
  • 192kps audio
  • Subtitles required for any in language, other than English is required
  • Within broadcast colours

Please refer to the OFFICIAL FILM FUND  VAFF² GUIDELINES and official Rules for more details.

rules

 The OFFICIAL 2024-25 VAFF FILM FUND GUIDELINES with complete details is available to download.

Note: VAFF reserves the right to make minor adjustments to the rules and regulations without informing applicants.

jury

filmfund jury 2024 - coming soon

Kevin Li

PRODUCER

Kevin K. Li is a Vancouver based unscripted producer who focuses on stories of Asian Canadians. His passion is producing content that highlights contemporary Asian Canadian culture and fighting the model minority stereotype.

Kevin’s work includes Agent Unbreakable, Canadianize Me, Ultra Rich Asian Girls, Brotherhood’s Clans and Secret Societies of Vancouver’s Chinatown and other related productions. His work has been reported by the New Yorker, Dateline, Al Jazeera, The National Post and many other news organizations.

Kevin is the creator of Mission: Red Pocket, a collaboration with Chinese Canadian artists to make red pockets more accessible to the next generation of Chinese Canadians like his daughter.

Lalita Krishna

Filmmaker

Lalita Krishna is a multiple award winning filmmaker whose work has been broadcast in Canada on all major networks, and featured at film festivals around the world.

An early adopter of new platforms for storytelling, Lalita produces games, apps and websites which complement and enhance the documentary viewing experience. She brings community involvement and user engagement strategies to the projects she develops and produces. Her projects have been acclaimed for their unique approach to building audiences.
Lalita is the winner of the 2013 Crystal award for Mentorship. She is the recipient of the 2012 Trailblazer award given by Reel World Film Festival and was honoured to receive the Dreamcatcher award given by the Hopes and Dreams festival, New Jersey for using her craft to better humanity.

Lalita is Co Chair of the Board of North America’s premier documentary festival Hot Docs and is the Co Chair of Ontario Chapter of the Documentary Organization of Canada.

Brian Cheung

Cinematographer, Filmmaker

Brian Cheung is Vancouver based Asian Canadian Cinematographer / Director with over ten years experience in commercial, corporate, and documentary work. He has been lucky enough to work with some of the best creative agencies and production houses to deliver outstanding visual results for their clients and such brands as A&W, BC Hydro, Cactus Club, Coast Capital Savings, Telus, and Shaw etc…
Brian is a RED Dragon-X DSMC2 6K Cinema Camera owner/operator and also a fully licensed Transport Canada Certified Advanced Drone Operator. His passion for filmmaking and cinematography stems from his desire to craft beautiful and emotive images with cutting-edge technology.
Brian began his humble filmmaking roots by picking up a DSLR camera and asking his friends to help him in several Vancouver Asian Film Festival’s MAMM competitions. He directed Papergirl (2011) for VAFF 17 which placed 3rd place, and Stasis (2012) starring Ludi Lin (Power Rangers, Aquaman, Black Mirror, and Mortal Kombat) for VAFF – MAMM 8 which won 1st place. Brian also directed the “Red Pockets” Music Video which won 1st place at the VAFF Red Packet Challenge Micro Challenge in 2015.
One of the previous RWFF recipients in 2021: TRAILBLAZN by Brian Cheung and Gerry Sung aka Scope G.

resources

Resources

Interested filmmakers who would like to learn more about how to put together their application can refer to these resources:

past event

2023 VAFF Film Fund

Congratulations! 2023 VAFF Film Fund recipient project: Good Boy / “乖仔”

Co-Directors/Writers: Nikita Zhangare and Yvette Sin both graduates of TMU’s RTA Media Production program. Their thesis film “The Time You Left” is an official selection for VAFF’s 2022 program.

Nikita Zhang – Writer / Director
Nikita Zhang is an aspiring writer and filmmaker in pursuit of translating her daydreams and curiosities into screenplays and films. A 2022-2023 participant of the BIPOC Episodic TV Writers Lab, she aspires to bring honest immigrant stories to screen. Nikita is always looking for stories that can authentically express experience and capture the imagination— and striving to bring those stories to life however she can.

Yvette Sin – Writer / Director
Yvette Sin is a Toronto-based writer, filmmaker, and journalist. Born from the intersections of race, gender, sexuality and belief, she’s always been drawn to stories exploring the messy human experience. She is currently an Associate Producer at the CBC. Through her work, Yvette hopes to continue to collaborate with her community, to uplift honest stories, and to make as many new friends as possible.

VAFF Lifetime Benefactor

Who is Richard K. Wong, VAFF Lifetime Benefactor?

Richard K. Wong was inspired to partner with VAFF to create this challenge when he learned the story of little known Canadian Chinese war hero Frederick Lee. Mr. Wong chaired the National Committee of the Canada Day Drumming Celebration. The Celebration features simultaneous drumming across 13 Canadian cities to promote diversity, multicultural harmony, peace and love for a better world. It also established the Guinness World Record for the most nationalities in a drumming circle. Mr. Wong is the founding president of the Chinese Entrepreneurs Society of Canada and won the international competition to bring the fourth World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC) to Vancouver in 1997. The WCEC provides opportunities for networking, sharing of information, traditions and cultures, allowing friendships and prosperous relationships to be developed that can benefit the greater community and the world. Mr. Wong was awarded with the Medal of Merit, the International Lions Club’s highest honor to a non-Lion. We are so grateful for Mr. Wong’s support of this project.

Donate Now

Stay in the loop. Follow us.

Stay in the loop.
Follow us.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest news from VAFF.

Sign up

We are grateful to live and work on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We thank the First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities that have cared for Turtle Island since time immemorial. With this acknowledgment, we remind ourselves of discriminatory, racist and colonial practices that have and continue to create barriers for Indigenous peoples and communities across Turtle Island.

Vancouver Asian Film Festival 2024. All Rights Reserved.

Vancouver Asian Film Festival 2024. All Rights Reserved.