Diasporic Creative Communities: (he)artful social change

Saturday, November 8 | 4:30PM - 6:00pm

Arts Court Theatre

Yellow Peril: Queer Destiny (2019)

Directed by Jen Sungshine, David Ng, Kendell Yan
Studios: Love Intersections
Country: Canada

Yellow Peril: Queer Destiny is an experimental short documentary that follows the story of Vancouver drag artist "Maiden China" in her explorations of queer Chinese diasporic culture.

Three individuals wearing elaborate costumes and makeup, with the central figure wearing a glittery, jeweled face mask and styled hair, under colorful lighting.

China Doll: A Many Splendored Queen (2021)

Directed by Dale Windle
Studios: Aventus Films
Country: Canada

A profile of a Chinese Canadian restaurateur with a big heart, running a successful restaurant, hosting wild karaoke parties & making people happy as the Drag Queen China Doll. A day in the life of Ed Kwan provides a background “mural” to a series of interviews documenting his background and loving and generous spirit.

A person dressed as China Doll with a colorful oversized floral headpiece, wearing large sunglasses, holding a mug with a cartoon of China Doll, against a colorful background with text reading "China Doll: A Many Splendored Queen."

Becoming Ruby (2025)

Directed by Quan Luong
Studios: Hot Docs Citizen Minutes
Country: Canada

Follow Ruby Chopstix, Canada’s first drag artist-in-residence, as they navigate the complexity of being an underrepresented drag performer while creating a special showcase to create space for other queer BIPOC performers.

A person with colorful curled hair and makeup looking at a mirror with lights, with a window and lamp in the background. Text over the image reads 'Becoming Ruby' and additional credits below.

Burcu’s Angels (2025)

Directed by Özgün Gündüz
Country: Canada

Nestled in the heart of Vancouver, Burcu’s Angels isn’t just a vintage store—it’s a haven, a stage, and a sanctuary. For thirty years, this vibrant space has welcomed outcasts, dreamers, and seekers, offering more than clothes—it offers belonging. Owned by Burcu Özdemir, a Turkish queer elder, the store has become a pillar of the community, lovingly described as a “coming out center” for generations of 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

But as the cityscape changes, Burcu must move the store for the twelfth time in 28 years, a reminder of the precariousness of queer spaces and the resilience required to hold them. Told through her witty, poetic reflections and layered with the voices of those who found safety and identity in her store, Burcu's Angels celebrates the spirit of building connections, breaking binaries, and living unapologetically. With a rich collage of archive footage, personal stories, and intimate moments, the film pays tribute to the power of queer community and the ordinary magic of one woman's enduring vision.

Film poster with two mannequins seated on a rug, one with dark hair and the other with a vintage style, in a dimly lit setting. The title 'Burcu's Angels' is at the top in bold red letters, and there is film festival recognition and production information at the bottom.

Directors

Love Intersections

Love Intersections is a media arts collective made up of queer artists of colour dedicated to using collaborative art-making and relational storytelling to address systemic racism in our communities. We produce intersectional and intergenerational stories from underrepresented communities of colour – centering the invisible, the spiritual, the metaphysical and the imaginary. We believe in deep and meaningful relationships, that intersectionality is a verb and a call to action, that we must cultivate social trust through collective care and community responsibility. Our desire is to provoke (he)artful social change through the lens of love.

A smiling man in a black blazer and colorful shirt sitting outdoors at a table with a glass of beer and using a smartphone.

Dale Windle

Dale is an accomplished professional with 30+ years' experience in business; managing companies, finances, and business development. Dale has a keen interest in film making and in 2010 started Aventus Films. He has applied his entrepreneurial vision, energetic enthusiasm and business management skills to the film industry, fulfilling a lifelong dream to be a master story teller with film. Once Dale met Ed Kwan, he was captivated by this unique, totally lovable guy who gives his heart to a quirky and lovable gal: China Doll.

A young man with dark hair and a slight smile stands outdoors in a rural area during dusk, with green fields and a water body in the background.

Quan Long

Quan Luong is a Vietnamese filmmaker and cinematographer based in Canada. His films have been screened at DOC NYC, the Reelworld Film Festival, the Vancouver Asian Film Festival, and many more. Among his recent notable works are the CBC Gem docu-series Finding Diamonds, the feature documentary Seeking FIRE, and the short documentary Tailor Made, which was nominated for Best Short Documentary Cinematography at the 67th Canadian Society of Cinematographers Awards. Looking ahead, Quan’s next short documentary, Becoming Ruby is premiered at the 2025 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, promising to be another impactful addition to his impressive portfolio.

A woman with wavy brown hair wearing clear glasses, a green top, a white cardigan, and a silver necklace with a floral design.

Özgün Gündüz

Özgün Gündüz (she/they) is a documentary filmmaker, programmer, and DOC Northwest board member based in unceded Coast Salish territories. Her work explores themes of belonging, resilience, and the everyday lives of underrepresented communities through a collaborative and personal lens. Özgün was among the 10 emerging producers selected for CMPA’s 2021 Diverse Producers Mentorship program. Her first short documentary, Weltschmerz (2021) received support from TELUS Community Stories and screened at international festivals. Her latest documentary, Burcu's Angels, has been selected for DOXA’s Kris Anderson Mentorship and TELUS STORYHIVE 2023 Documentary Programs, and had its world premiere at DOXA 2025.