The Toronto Tamil International Film Festival (TTIFF) held its awards ceremony on the evening of September 27, 2026. The New Century Film team won the Best Short Film, Best Actor, and Best Actress awards for their short film “Family Reunion” and their latest feature film “Are You Waiting for Me.” Members of the Ontario Parliament and the Mayor of Markham, Frank Scarpitti, presented the awards to the winning team and actors.
This year marked the seventh edition of the film festival. The short film “Family Reunion” received the Best Short Film award, being the first award presented that evening. Members of the Ontario Parliament and representatives, Raymond Cho and Aris Babikian, jointly presented the award to the New Century Film team.
The male and female leads of the feature film “Are You Waiting for Me,” Gu Xiaobei and Tong Xinyi, respectively won the Best Actor and Best Actress awards. Mayor Frank Scarpitti personally awarded the two actors. He also presented commendation letters from the city government to the production teams of both films, thanking the directors and producers for bringing touching stories to the community audience and contributing to artistic exchange at the film festival.
During his acceptance speech, actor Gu Xiaobei of New Century Film said, “This award belongs to every member of our team. At the same time, we dedicate this film to everyone who has made mistakes, lost their way, or is still waiting for that special someone.”
At the awards ceremony, several attending officials took photos with the actors and congratulated the New Century Film team.
In addition to winning awards for their films, New Century Film was also invited to perform two dances at the awards ceremony. The performances received enthusiastic applause from the audience, allowing film professionals and viewers from diverse cultural backgrounds to experience the charm of traditional Chinese art beyond the realm of cinema.
The host introduced New Century Film by stating, “Established in 2018, New Century Film is dedicated to creating films based on traditional Chinese culture and the universal values of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance that inspire the soul.”
The awards ceremony concluded the series of events for this edition of the film festival. Prior to the ceremony, “Family Reunion” and “Are You Waiting for Me” had screenings at the theater on September 26.
Thas Thambirajah, a private entrepreneur, was deeply impressed by the lead actors in the film “Are You Waiting for Me.” He expressed his love for the film, stating, “I really like this movie. It conveys a very good and powerful message…People often don’t know what they are doing when they are young. So, the male lead made a lot of mistakes at the beginning, but he is inherently good and has learned some lessons from them.” Regarding the performance of the female lead, he added, “Her acting is also excellent. The acting is so good that while watching the movie, we are completely unaware that it is acting; it feels like real life, very natural.”
Yang Yuqing, a former middle school teacher, was deeply moved after watching the film. She expressed surprise at the film’s positive energy, contrasting it with the current trend of “violent and scary” films. She found it remarkable that the young filmmakers of New Century Film could create such a positively impactful film, calling it “very rare.” She believed the film’s message was profound, emphasizing the importance of staying on the right path, as taking the wrong path is not the end of one’s life, as it is not sustainable.
Cindy Lee, who previously worked in business management, was impressed by the actors’ performances. She remarked, “The male and female leads did a great job. Their facial expressions, smiles, and emotions were all on point.” She also admired the dedication of the young filmmakers, stating, “I am very happy and envious. They pursue their ideas and continue doing what they love, which will surely lead them to the top.”
Zhang Tianxi, a former department manager, was moved to tears by the short film “Family Reunion.” He expressed deep emotions evoked by the film’s message of kindness and selflessness, stating, “Expressing love to the utmost will undoubtedly result in good and kind outcomes.” He added, “Very touching, very real, excellent job! Thumbs up to the film!”
The Toronto Tamil International Film Festival was established in 2020 and is one of the annual film festivals held in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada, providing a platform for Tamil filmmakers and creators from diverse cultural backgrounds to showcase their work and engage in exchange.
“Family Reunion” focuses on goodwill and human warmth, while “Are You Waiting for Me” explores the themes of love, kindness, and the power of choices through the characters’ journey of confusion, growth, and new beginnings.
Both films can now be viewed online:
“Family Reunion”:
https://www.ganjingworld.com/s/gOop9WvZox
“Are You Waiting for Me”:
https://www.ganjingworld.com/s/0WNDz3Bqj8