Rather Be Ashes Than Dust (awards winning film) at York University

Rather Be Ashes Than Dust (awards winning film) at York University

A first person documentary chronicling a journalist-filmmaker's struggle with his conscience during the 2019 movement in Hong Kong.

100 followers
By TADC 多倫多支聯會
100 followers
1.6k attendees hosted 📈

Date and time

Starts on Sunday, May 25 · 2:30pm EDT

Location

Price Family Cinema (Accolade Building East)

Ian Macdonald Boulevard Toronto, ON M7A 2C5 Canada

Refund Policy

No Refunds

About this event

Return due to popular demand:

Sunday May 25, 2025 at Price Family Cinema (in Accolade East Building on Ian MacDonald Blvd.) of York University, North York

Meet director in person Alan Lau for Q&A after screening.

Official Website: https://ratherbeashesthand.wixsite.com/movie


Synopsis:

In 2020, a year into the protest movement, China imposed the National Security Law on Hong Kong, taking away its judicial independence and the many freedoms promised by the Joint Declaration, including the freedom of expression. Many journalists had to decide: do I shut up, go to prison, or leave?

Using the Hong Kong protest movement in 2019 as a backdrop, this film will follow a video journalist's four-years journey to find the answers to these questions.


Documentary:

  • Running time: 114 minutes
  • Year released: 2023
  • Language: English and Cantonese
  • Narration and Subtitles: English

WARNING: This is a real-life documentary which contains graphic and violent content some viewers may find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.


Film Festivals and Awards:

Doc Edge International Film Festival 2024

  • Winner - The Best Film on the Democracy on the Edge

Festival del Cinema dei Diritti Umani di Napoli 2024

  • Winner - Human Rights Doc Award
  • Winner - Special Mention Arrigoni-Mehr Khamis Award

Finalist of the Lane DocFest 2024 Competition

Official selected for:

  • The Wide-Angle competition at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) 2023
  • The Festival des Libertes 2024 competition
  • The Lulea International Film Festival (LIFF) 2024 competition
  • The Brighton Rock International Film 2024 Competition


Event Sponsor:

  • York Centre for Asian Research, York University


Event Organizer:

  • Toronto Association for Democracy in China (TADC)


After the event, TADC will present wreath at the Goddess of Democracy located at York U before the anniversary of the June 4 Tiananmen Massacre. TADC invites you to have a walk after the screening to join us there. It is only 5-minute's walk between the cinema and the Goddess of Democracy.

Frequently asked questions

Is location accessible by TTC?

Yes. Price Family Cinema is inside the Accolade East Building which is just across the York University metro station and at the corner of York Blvd. and Ian McDonald Blvd.

Where can I find parking closest to the Accolade East Building?

A) Student Services Parking Garage (SPG) is a convenient option, 3 minute walk from the Accolade East Building. You can access it by entering the campus from Keele and Pond Road and turning right at James Gillies St. B) Metered parking is available on the side of the Accolade East Building.

Tags

Organized by

TADC 多倫多支聯會
100 followers
1.6k attendees hosted

Toronto Association for Democracy in China (TADC) was founded in May 1989 to support the student protest in Tiananmen Square in Beijing and the movement for democratic reform in China. TADC works with like-minded NGOs to advocate human rights and democracy in China and holds commemorative events on each anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. In December 2020, TADC announced the establishment of the TADC Hong Kong Humanitarian Fund to provide humanitarian assistance to people who fled or left Hong Kong to avoid political persecution.

《多倫多支聯會》於1989年為天安門民主運動而成立。本會每年舉辦六四悼念活動，亦連繫相同理念的組織推進民主人權。民運會於2020年12月宣佈成立《多倫多香港人道援助基金》為受迫害而逃離香港的人士提供人道援助。

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