Photo by Jesse Sarkis
About
Amanda Ann-Min Wong (they/she) is a Toronto-based film director. Originally from Southeast Asia, their work often explores memory, nostalgia, and community from a tenderly-crafted diasporic perspective.
Beginning their career in documentary, Amanda has since branched into directing narrative fiction, music videos, unscripted television, and commercial content. They are currently writing a narrative feature entitled Scum, and developing a feature documentary She’s Magic.
From 2018 to 2023, Amanda was also a key member of Toronto-based band, cutsleeve. Performing on guitar, keys, and vocals, Amanda co-wrote the alt-rock debut album whose singles were featured on platforms such as the official Apple Music playlist “Negative Space”, and Exclaim! magazine’s “The Eh! List”.
Amanda is most inspired when around water, especially by the ocean’s waves. In their free time, they enjoy music, medieval history, and scuba diving.
Presentations
2021 “Material Memories and Dispossession: Exploring Representations of the Migrant Woman’s Archive”, 23rd Annual Film Studies Association of Canada Graduate Colloquium
Speaking/Panel Engagements
2022 Silver Screenings, Toronto International Film Festival
2022 ShopTalk, CineFAM
2022 “Independence Built On Community”, TAIWANfest Toronto
2021 Fireside Chat with Brian Chang, Asian Resilience Collective Canada
2021 “Asian Heritage Month Film Screening of Under the Willow Tree: Pioneer Chinese Women in Canada", Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office (ARCDO), Human Resources and Equity, University of Toronto
2021 “Unsettling the Feminist/Queer Archive: A Roundtable Discussion”, Laboratory of Feminist Memory, Ryerson University’s Studio for Media Activism & Critical Thought
2021 “Creativity, Community & Care”, Creative Communities in Collaboration Research Lab
Festival/Arts Jury Engagements
2024 Jury Member, International Documentary Association (IDA) Documentary Awards
2024 Jury Member, Queer Asian Performance Network Showcase
2022 Jury Member, Charles Street Video Media Creation Grant
2021 Jury Member, Get Reel Scholarship for Emerging Filmmakers, Stella’s Place
2021 Canadian Jury Member, Inside Out Film Festival
2020 Jury Member, FKN Just Make Film Fest
Grants/Awards/Residencies
2023 Artist, Sari-Sari Xchange
2022 Best of Showcase Award, 2022 Women in Film and Television (WIFT) Showcase
2022 Explore and Create: Research and Creation Grant, Canada Council for the Arts
2021 Media Artists Program, Toronto Arts Council
2021 DGC Ontario & WIFT-Toronto Award, Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
2021 Explore and Create: Concept to Realization Grant, Canada Council for the Arts
2021 Media Artists Creation Projects, Ontario Arts Council
2021 Top 10 Shortlist, “So You Think You Can Pitch?” Competition, Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
2021 Winner, All-Inclusive Studio and Lighting Package, Generations In Film & AstroLab Studios
2021 First Place, Imaging the Asia-Pacific Photo and Video Competition, Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto
2021 Grant Award, LibraryLab
2021 Full Circle Program, PIX Film Collective & Charles Street Video
2020 Digital Originals Grant, Canada Council for the Arts
2020 Queer Emergencies, Toronto Queer Film Festival
2019 Invisible Footprints Initiative
2019 Toronto Artscape Launchpad Bursary
2019 Music Recording Projects, Ontario Arts Council
2019 VS Arts Grant (with cutsleeve)
2017 Semi-Finalist, Canada 150/China Scriptwriting Competition, Vancouver Asian Film Festival
2017 Finalist, “So You Think You Can Pitch?” Competition, Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
2016 Screen-based Media Production Program, Canadian Media Producers Association
2016 Award of Recognition, Sound, Cinema WorldFest Awards
2015 Nick Holeris Memorial Award, Ryerson University
2014 Graeme Bird Memorial Film Award, Ryerson University
2012 Eddies Award for Best Original Score, Halton Student Film Festival
2012 Eddies Award for Best Trailer, Halton Student Film Festival
Education
2020-2021 MA, Cinema Studies, University of Toronto
2012-2016 BFA, Major in Image Arts: Film Studies, Minor in Business Essentials, Ryerson University