A Richmond-based filmmaker is locked in a cinematic showdown with some of Canada's most talented directors and creative short films.
100 Days, written and directed by Derek Kwan, is one of nine short films participating in season 17 of CBC’s Short Film Face Off.
The season's nine films will be divided into three episodes, airing on Sept. 14, 21 and 28 on CBC TV and CBC Gem.
Kwan’s film will be featured in the third episode, airing on Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. – public voting will open for 24 hours starting from 9 p.m. on Sept. 28 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 29.
A $30,000 prize from Telefilm Canada will be given to the winning filmmaker to support their upcoming projects.
Set at a banquet-style Chinese restaurant, the film unfolds during a family celebration of a newborn’s 100-day milestone, when an unexpected visitor arrives.
The film is loosely inspired by Kwan's personal experience at a Vietnamese 100-day baby party, sparking the idea of telling a story through this unique cultural setting and celebration.
“It’s not necessarily like an immigration story or anything like that,” Kwan told Richmond News in 2023.
“I really wanted to just highlight something where it’s a mixture of generations, and there’s still intergenerational trauma, there’s still undertones of different things. But I just… hope that this can be universal.”
Since then, Kwan has kept himself busy attending various film festivals around the country and the world, such as the Cannes Film Festival, the Vancouver Asian Film Festival, the Vancouver Short Film Festival, and winning outstanding short film director at Toronto’s Reelworld Film Festival.
Looking ahead to his next project, Special K will be a feature film following lead actor Jesse Irving as a minor league baseball player billeting in a Chinese family home.
“Jesse and I bonded over playing Little League baseball as kids,” said Kwan. “I had the epiphany earlier this year, and I thought it would be really fun to present a film where we have this really quirky Chinese family, and they invite this white, classic Americana baseball player to stay in their home.”
The film will present the co-living situation and the antics inside the house with a blend of drama and comedy, presenting a different take on what an Asian family might look like on screen, he added.
For more information, visit CBC's website.
- With files from Vikki Hui
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