The Silk Roads were a system of caravan routes crossing the Eurasian continent from the Mediterranean Sea to China. It influenced the emergence and development of trade and cultural ties between people and statehoods located along the way and beyond. The routes carried goods, ideas, people across the continent and the sea from China, India, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Syria, Turkey among others to the Mediterranean and the West. Just like on the Asian continent, we see different Asian communities living across Canada today. These cultures have developed their distinct identities, arts and histories through interaction and communication with each other in Canada. Stories from the Silk Roads highlight diversity and harmony through arts and culture.
Stories from the Silk Roads Launch event May 8th
at Caffe Fantastico at Quadra Village
7-9pm (Doors open 6:30pm)
Tickets at the door | Sliding scale $5-$15
Experience the fusion of sounds, as artists experiment with diverse musical traditions, and listen to stories that bridge cultures. The journey begins at Café Fantastico in Quadra Village.
Storytellers
Zhanming “Shawn” Xiao
Zhanming has spent his life being confused in two languages. Growing up between Chinese classrooms and Canadian campuses, he collected enough cultural misunderstandings to fill a textbook — so he became an educator instead. As co-founder of Lumen Education Group and a math instructor, he has made a career out of building bridges between East and West, one awkward conversation at a time. He believes in the power of communication, as well as the power of jokes.
Sheila Alonzo
Sheila is a multidisciplinary artist and writer who follows curiosity across disciplines, from editing to visual arts and small publishing. Her practice is deeply rooted in somatic memory, merging experiences in theatre, pottery, and dance into something visceral. Sheila creates intimate yet public work striving to capture the energy of a moment, whether on clay, on paper, or in motion.
Mayank Meena
Mayank is a storyteller and Global Leadership graduate from Royal Roads University with seven years of experience working alongside diverse communities. From managing educational projects in urban slums to conducting social impact assessments in rural areas, his journey has been a collection of stories. Now volunteering with five non-profits in Victoria, Mayank believes the “human factor” is the common thread in all his work, allowing him to collaborate, learn, and honor the voices of the communities he loves.
Musicians
Habbous and Jordi – oud/vocals
Habbous and Jordi (oud and vocals) This duo began a new chapter of their lives when they moved to Canada in 2016. Originally from Syria, they brought with them not only their professional skills but also a deep sense of family, creativity, and determination.Back in Syria, Jordi worked as a dentist, dedicated to caring for his community and improving people’s health and confidence. Habbous, on the other hand, was an engineer, They are proud parents of three children, and family has always been at the heart of everything they do. Despite the challenges of starting over in a new country, they remained committed to building a stable and fulfilling life for their kidsBeyond their professional lives, both Habbous and Jordi have a passion for music. Habbous enjoys singing, expressing emotion and joy through voice, while Jordi has a talent for working with sound, often playing and experimenting with audio.Their journey reflects courage, adaptability, and the power of holding onto both family and passion while embracing a new beginning.
Ali Haydar – darbuka/balaban
I’m Ali Haydar, born in Iğdır, in the far east of Turkey, near the borders of Armenia, Iran, and Azerbaijan. Growing up in this culturally rich region sparked my interest in ethnic music. I taught literature in Turkey for 12 years, and for the past four years I’ve been living in Canada, chasing my dreams while raising two children. I’m an amateur musician, especially drawn to percussion and wind instruments as a way to express myself.
Films at the Vic Theatre between May 9-10, 2026
May 9th at 1pm
Made in Bangladesh
By Rubaiyat Hossain (Bangladesh) | 95 minutes | 2019
with English subtitles
Not rated, 19+
Shimu, 23, works in a clothing factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Faced with difficult conditions at work, she decides to start a union with her co-workers. Despite threats from the management and disapproval of her husband, Shimu is determined to go on. Together the women must fight and find a way.
May 10th at 3:15pm
Children of the Mist
By HÀ Lệ Diễm (Vietnam) | 92 minutes | 2021
with English subtitles
Not rated, 19+
In the misty mountains of North Vietnam, a teenage Hmong girl walks the thin line between childhood and becoming an adult. Over a period of three years, girls in her minority are forced to lose their innocence, discover the traps of seduction and fight for their independence.
May 9th at 5:30pm
Caught by the Tides
By Jia Zhang-Ke (China) | 111 minutes | 2024
with English subtitles
PG
An enduring but fragile love story shared by Qiao Qiao and Guao Bin, set in China, from the early 2000s to the present day. One day, a restless Guao Bin leaves without any notice to try his luck in another province. Qiao Qiao decides to go looking for him. In chronicling the romantic destiny of Qiao Qiao, his perennial heroine, Jia Zhangke delivers an unprecedented cinematic epic. A story that traverses all of his past films and spans 25 years of a country experiencing profound transformation.
May 10th at 1pm (Mothers’ Day Special)
Bye Bye Tiberias
By Lina Soualem (Palestine, France) | 82 mins | 2023
With English subtitles
Not rated, 19+
In her early twenties, Hiam Abbass (Emmy-nominated for Succession) left her native Palestinian village to follow her dream of becoming an actress in Europe, leaving behind her mother, grandmother, and seven sisters. Thirty years later, her filmmaker daughter Lina returns with her to the village and questions for the first time her mother’s bold choices, her chosen exile and the way the women in their family influenced both their lives. Set between past and present, BYE BYE TIBERIAS pieces together images of today, family footage from the nineties and historical archives to portray four generations of daring Palestinian women who keep their story and legacy alive through the strength of their bonds, despite exile, dispossession, and heartbreak.
Burcu’s Angels
By Özgün Gündüz | 20 mins | 2025
For over 30 years, Burcu’s Angels was more than a store—it was a radical space of care. As the shop nears closure, this documentary blends archival fragments, poetic reflection, and community memory to honour a Turkish queer elder’s defiant presence—and the disappearing spaces that held generations of queer lives.
Obscura
By Arnold Lim | 20 mins | 2024
When Sang-Ook, a 19-year-old hikikomori (shut in) clashes with his grandfather and sister he creates a camera obscura to reconnect with his family and the outside world.
Our Supporters
We thank to all of our supporters for making this event possible!
