Filmed from 2020 to 2024, THE BORDER traces the emotional and often absurd choreography of life in this temporary "free zone". Through fragments of longing, humor, and intimacy, the film reveals the strange contradictions of a place that was both open and closed, public and personal, symbolic and deeply real. More than a document of a park or a pandemic, THE BORDER is a critical reflection on the fragility of freedom and the enduring tension between our desires to draw close and impulses to pull away.
This year, we are excited to expand the 13th edition of this festival with a special in-person event at The Cinematheque in Vancouver, where we will host the world premiere of THE BORDER.
The film’s exploration of borders and liminal spaces mirrors the spirit that drives interplay_: a commitment to questioning boundaries, reimagining what exists between them and reflecting on the divisions that shape, separate, and connect us.
THE BORDER is the newest feature film by Ying Wang, a multi-award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Cinevolution Media Arts Society. Her practice continues to influence contemporary conversations on migration, connection, and the shifting nature of global borders. We look forward to welcoming audiences to this special screening of THE BORDER and to wrap this year’s festival through shared reflection and dialogue.
An award-winning filmmaker, Ying Wang has traveled widely with her camera, creating films across Asia, North America, Europe, and South America. As a migrant navigating between cultures, Ying is drawn to stories that probe the complexities of humanity and question accepted narratives.
Her critically acclaimed feature documentary The World is Bright, which examines immigration and mental health, has received multiple awards internationally, including the Sea to Sky Award at the Vancouver International Film Festival in 2019 and the Emerging Canadian Filmmaker Award at Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in 2020. It was also nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards in 2021.
Her other notable works include Sisters (2005), a docu-drama interrogating gender politics and the notion of individual liberty; and Tricks on the Dead: The Story of Chinese Labour Corps in WWI, on which she served as co-producer and assistant director. This Canada-China-France co-production won two 2016 Canadian Screen Awards and the 2015 Vancouver International Film Festival Audience Must See Award.
Alongside her work as a filmmaker, Ying is an active advocate for the arts. In 2007, she co-founded Cinevolution Media Arts Society, a grassroots, migrant-led organization presenting innovative works from Asian diaspora and artists across the Pan-Asian region. She also serves as a founding member and board director of Racial Equity Screen Office (RESO), advancing cross-territory collaboration in film production and distribution within today’s interconnected digital landscape.
The filmmaker wishes to express deep gratitude to everyone who contributed to this work by sharing their stories, offering their presence, or allowing moments of their lives to be captured. Your trust made this film possible.
Filmed, Written and Edited by Ying Wang
Original Music by Daniel J. K. Ross
Produced by Ying Wang
Co-Producer Yun-Jou Chang
Additional Camera and Production Assistance Brenda Xiong
Sound Recordist and Production Assistant Sheng O
Sound Design and Mix Kevin Hamilton
Colorist Devan Scott
Fonts and Graphic Design Mary Castellanes
Title Design and Artistic Advisor Steven Dragonn
Editing Consultants Milena Salazar, O. Corbin Saleken, Jordan Paterson
The film was supported by the BC Arts Council.