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 9th
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
Muyang (Mike) Zhong
Mike is an educator, facilitator, and speaker with a rich background in international education and cultural exchange. Having lived, studied, and worked across China, Canada, Finland, and Vietnam, he offers a unique perspective on global interconnectedness. From supporting international students in Canada to teaching global issues in Finland and leading gender equality workshops in Vietnam, Mike is dedicated to creating inclusive spaces where diverse voices are heard and valued. He firmly believes in the power of storytelling to bridge cultures, foster understanding, and inspire meaningful connections.
Neha Sharma Ganachari
Neha is deeply engaged in supporting newcomers and individuals seeking representation, demonstrating a profound commitment to community advocacy. Actively involved in various initiatives, she generously volunteers her time to give back to society. Presently, Neha held the esteemed position of Chair for the Newcomer Advisory Committee – Health Project, where she orchestrated vital endeavors to enhance the well-being of newcomers. Her extensive service record includes past involvement with the Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee of Victoria, showcasing her dedication to democratic processes and community empowerment. Currently, she remains steadfast in her three-year tenure with the Renters’ Advisory Committee – City of Victoria, leveraging her expertise to address housing challenges and champion tenant rights. Neha’s journey to Canada as an International Student has instilled in her a profound belief in the transformative power of diversity and inclusion, recognizing them as essential pillars for fostering an equitable and forward-thinking society.
Habbous Deeb
My name is Habbous Deeb. I am a very passionate woman about her family and work. I moved to Canada 2016 with my husband and 3 kids from Syria. We had a very difficult time when we first arrived, starting a new life and learning a new language with trying to find a good job. But we were supported by many nice people. I started working for FYI doctors of optometrists in September 2017 and I have been working there since then. I tried to apply myself to work and learn a lot about eyes and diseases, symptoms and treatment then I learned contacts lenses and glasses. My title now is optometrist assistant. We came to Canada seeking a better future and safer place for my kids. I had a lot of worries about my kids, but after my oldest son got into the engineering program at UVic and his other siblings, trying to copy what he did, I feel so proud and so thankful for being in Canada.
Musicians
Guillaume Richards – Guitar
Blending the elegance of classical and fingerstyle guitar with the soulful depths of jazz and blues, Guillaume’s guitar work is a global tapestry of sound. A seasoned traveler and collaborator, his performance reflects a lifelong quest for musical connection and exploration, weaving diverse inspirations into a truly mesmerizing experience.
Idris Sincar – Bağlama/Saz
Idris is a bağlama player and multi-instrumentalist from Nusaybin, Turkey. Influenced by the deep musical traditions of Anatolia and his experiences abroad, his music reflects a balance of tradition and innovation. His soulful melodies and rhythmic depth create a unique sound that resonates with both history and modernity.
Sabbir Rahman – Guitar/Percussion
Sabbir is a Bangladeshi drummer, percussionist, and guitarist known for blending Bengali folk and classical music with contemporary rhythms. Drawing from his homeland’s rich musical heritage, he creates a unique fusion of slow grooves and folk elements. Solo and as a member of multiple bands, Sabbir captivates audiences with soulful rhythms and melodic guitar work, honoring Bengal’s timeless sounds while pushing creative boundaries.
Films at the Vic Theatre between May 10-11, 2025
May 10th at 1pm
A First Farewell
by Lina Wang (China/Canada) | 88 minutes | 2018
with English subtitles
Not rated, 19+
Wang Lina’s experimental debut explores the sensitivity shared by narrative filmmaking and documenting reality, unveiling poetry from the minutiae of Uighurs’ life in Xinjiang like none other. Tailing an endearing boy named Isa in Shaya, her heavenly home village surrounded by textured sand dunes and millennia-old trees, she tugs viewers’ heartstrings with a story about treasures in his carefree child-hood and how they gradually fade away, as love, home, and personal advancement get weighed against another for this generation of mi-nority children, who must bid many farewells to assimilate into the more widely acknowledged best life.
May 10th at 3:15pm
Yellow Cat
by Adilkhan Yerzhanov (Kazakhstan/France) | 89 minutes | 2022
with English subtitles
Not rated, 19+
Ex-con Kermek and his beloved Eva want to leave their crime-infested lives on the Kazakh steppes behind. He has a dream: building a movie theater in the mountains. Will Kermek’s love of Alain Delon be strong enough to keep them out of the violent clutches of the mafia?
May 10th at 5:30pm
All We Imagine as Light
by Payal Kapadia (France/India) | 118 minutes | 2024
with English subtitles
PG
In Mumbai, Nurse Prabha’s routine is troubled when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Her younger roommate, Anu, tries in vain to find a spot in the city to be intimate with her boyfriend. A trip to a beach town allows them to find a space for their desires to manifest.
May 11th at 1:00pm
Dead Pigs
by Cathy Yan (China/USA) | 122 mins | 2018
With English subtitles
Not rated, 19+
The fates of an unlucky pig farmer, a feisty home-owner defending her property, a lovestruck busboy, a disenchanted rich girl, and an American expat pursuing the Chinese Dream converge and collide as thousands of dead pigs are found floating down the Huangpu River, towards a modernizing Shanghai in Cathy Yan’s debut feature.
May 11th at 3:15pm
Hit the Road
by Panah Panahi (Iran) | 94 mins | 2021
with English subtitles
PG
A chaotic, tender family is on a road trip across a rugged landscape, but to where? In the back seat, Dad has a broken leg, but is it really broken? Mom tries to laugh when she’s not holding back tears. The kid keeps exploding into choreographed car karaoke. All of them are fussing over the sick dog and getting on each others’ nerves. Only the mysterious older brother is quiet.
In the shadow of the pines
by Anne Koizumi | 7 minutes | 2020
In the Shadow of the Pines is an animated short documentary about a difficult father-daughter relationship. Drawing on childhood memories, Anne Koizumi, the filmmaker, explores her upbringing with her Japanese immigrant dad, who was also the janitor at the elementary school she attended. The film explores the idea of shame and how it can shape and define us while also concealing who we can truly become.”
Crutch
by Gayatri Everitt Bajpai | 20 minutes | 2024
A young woman in crisis and her supportive boyfriend seek the guidance of an urban shaman for a psychedelic journey, but his methods take a toll on their relationship.
The Steak
by Kiarash Dadgar Mohebi | 8 minutes | 2023
As the mother prepares a cake for her daughter’s birthday, the enemy’s Army suddenly launches a surprise attack on their town. There is no time to escape, but to protect her daughter, the mother hides the kid in a closet. The Soldiers invade the house and kill the mother with no mercy. The medic soldier discovers he can’t help the mother but finds the girl and tries to bring joy by celebrating her birthday. But the birthday changed to a funeral.
In Our Grandparents’ Kitchens
by Djuna Nagasaki | 14 minutes | 2024
What does it mean to be Japanese Canadian? This film addresses this question by highlighting the voices of young Japanese Canadians as they work to reconnect with cultural knowledge and build a sense of community, considering the continued impacts of the Japanese Internment camps. It seeks to build an understanding of what it means to be Japanese Canadian and the diverse ways in which this identity manifests. Working with a primarily ‘mixed’ cast, this film explores the complexities of identity for young Japanese Canadians as they embark on their journeys of reconnection and reclamation, using food as an avenue for coming together and connecting with our pasts. For many of us young Nikkei (i.e. Japanese diaspora), our lives have been burdened by the conflicting identities we carry. So, in this film, I hope to take you back to my grandfather’s kitchen, where I have always been able to exist as a whole.
Child
by Ryan Anthony Kwok | 1 minute | 2024
A Cantonese and English dramatic 1 minute short that peeks into the inner emotional life of Remy, in both his past child self and present adult self, as discussions of having children with his partner reach a breaking point.
Fugitive Faith
by Amir Arab | 14 minutes | 2024
Fugitive Faith is a powerful drama that intertwines the intense personal journey of an Iranian refugee hiding from deportation with the universal themes of faith, survival, and humanity. Set against the backdrop of political persecution, the film explores the emotional scars of solitary confinement, the hope of sanctuary, and the psychological battles within the mind of the
protagonist, Navid. Combining rich, suspenseful storytelling with deeply symbolic flashbacks and dream sequences, Fugitive Faith sheds light on the moral complexities of seeking refuge and finding solace in unexpected places. With its captivating fusion of personal and political stakes, the film is both a poignant character study and a gripping exploration of the struggles of
displaced individuals.
Symptom
by Kamee Abrahamian | 23 minutes | 2024
Embodying the dreams and ideologies of Yerevan’s post-Soviet generation, two young Armenian women form an experimental electronica band called Symptom Error. Their underground shows are often disrupted by sexist and homophobic police intervention and stakes get higher during the Velvet Revolution, when thousands take to the streets demanding social and political change.
Our Supporters
We thank to all of our supporters for making this event possible!
