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Finch & Midland film image; depressed looking man standing in front of a mirror

Finch & Midland

今天應該很高興

Northern Lights

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World Premiere

Timothy Yeung’s film is a story of big losses, small triumphs, and moments of grace amid the grind of capitalism — in other words, life itself. Four Hong Kong immigrants are living lives of desperation in Scarborough, Ontario: Dan (Patrick Tam) was a pop singer on the rise before his move to Canada, now he’s barely scraping by; Eva (Harriet Yeung) is a lonely woman whose commitment to her aging mother has held her back in life; Fan (Theresa Lee) is a part-time sex worker struggling to break into real estate; Tony (Anthony Wong) is an aging widower whose factory job is at risk.

Through these characters, Yeung explores diasporic alienation, economic hardship, and social isolation. His film is rich in cultural specificity, but that never obstructs his wider view. Building outwards from private hopes and personal pain, he creates a rich social document that cradles within it four precious human portraits. Tam, Yeung, Lee, and Wong are superb — their performances ring with commitment and authenticity.

 

Oct 5 & 6: Q&A

 

Presented by

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Media Partner

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Community Partner

           

Director
Cast

Anthony Wong, Theresa Lee, Patrick Tam, Nina Paw, Harriet Yeung, Dmitry Chepovetsky

Credits
Country of Origin

Canada/Hong Kong

Year

2025

Language

In Cantonese, Mandarin and English with English subtitles

Film Contact
Content Warning

Sexually suggestive scenes

14A

Open to youth at International Village

19+

At Fifth Avenue

110 min
Cinemas of Asia Comedy Drama Family Relations
Righteous Alliance Entertainment Inc.

Book Tickets

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Credits & Director

Executive Producer

Ridley Tsui, Annie Lee, Michael Mosca, Candy Tsui, Tracy Shum, Walter Yee, Phoebe Ho

Producer

Kim Yu

Screenwriter

Timothy Yeung

Cinematography

Jeff Wong

Editor

Victor C.H. Fan, Timothy Yeung

Production Design

Helen Kotsonis

Original Music

Matthew O’Halloran

Timothy Yeung headshot

Timothy Yeung 楊永光

Timothy Yeung is a Canadian-born Chinese filmmaker and NYU Tisch graduate whose work explores identity, diaspora, and emotional inheritance. His short film 90 Days (2013) premiered at VIFF and received Honourable Mention for Most Promising Director of a Canadian Short Film. The short screened at numerous festivals and was later acquired by Sundance Selects. A TIFF Filmmaker Lab alumnus, Yeung’s debut feature Finch & Midland is a co-production between Hong Kong and Canada.

Filmography: 90 Days (2013)

 

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