Book Dongne 2026
"Fermenting Time, Memory, and Story"
Celebrating Intercultural Narratives and Asian-Canadian Voices
March 6, 2026 from 11:00AM to 8:30 PM
Goethe-Institut Montreal (1626 Boul. Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC) 

Arts East-West presents our in-person BOOK DONGNE event, a cultural gathering that celebrates Asian-Canadian voices and media arts on March 6, 2026. In partnership with Goethe-Institut Montreal and with funding from the Department of Canadian Heritage, Book Dongne will be led by over 25 multidisciplinary Asian-Canadian artists and community leaders. Our event will connect artists, writers, filmmakers, and community members across Montreal. We will amplify Montreal's rich and diverse intercultural discourse through the lenses of film and literature via panel discussions, workshops, screenings, and networking opportunities, bringing together established community leaders and the new generation.

Whether you are a film or literature enthusiast, artist, author, student, or someone who is curious about diaspora stories and films created by independent artists, this event offers a meaningful and inclusive space to connect with the Asian-Canadian community in Montreal.

PRESS RELEASE (ENG)
PRESS RELEASE (FR)

Program Outline & Schedule

PART 1: Celebrations & Networking

11h00 - 12h00: opening ceremony

  • 11h00: Musical Prelude by Ziya Tabassian
  • 11h05: Opening Remarks from Guy Rodgers, Helen Lee, Nadja Furth, and more
  • 11h25: Musical Interlude by Abdul-Wahab Kayyali
  • 11h30: Awards Ceremony honouring outstanding Asian community builders in Montreal
  • 11h50: Duo Musical Performance by Ziya Tabassian and Abdul-Wahab Kayyali

12h00 - 13h30: NETWORKING LUNCH

  • • Complimentary lunch for all guests with RSVP.
  • • Featuring an exhibition on Asian food, titled Fermenting Time Through Asian Spices.
  • • Information tables and networking with representatives from various arts organisations: Canada Council for the Arts (Kakim Goh), English Language Arts Network (Antonia Neatby), and Montreal Asian Film Festival (Arismita Ghosh).

13h30 - 14h40: Panel discussion
Asian-Canadian Artists in Montreal’s Cross-Cultural Landscape: Series I

  • • Moderator: Guy Rodgers (filmmaker, writer, founder of ELAN Quebec)
  • • Janet Lumb (Musician and Co-Founder of Festival Accès Asie)
    • Cheryl Sim (Artist and Director of PHI Centre)
    • Abdul-Wahab Kayyali (Composer, musician, and educator)
    • Jinwoo Park (Author of Oxford Soju Club and Director of Book Dongne)
    • Kakim Goh (Artist and Program Officer at Canada Council for the Arts)

PART 2: Fermenting Time, Memory, and Stories

  • 14h40 – 16h40: ZINE WORKSHOP
  • • Led by Le Lin (Multidisciplinary artist and printmaker)
    • Hands-on zine workshop. Participants will make a zine based on a personal recipe.
  • 16h40 – 17h00: NETWORKING BREAK (with refreshments provided)
  • 17h00 – 18h40: WRITING WORKSHOP
  • • Led by Jinwoo Park (Director of Book Dongne and author of Oxford Soju Club)
    • Interactive workshop that explores diaspora storytelling through creative frameworks.
  • 18h40 – 20h10: FILM SCREENINGS
  • • Short films by Asian-Canadian filmmakers, with Helen Lee and Elmira Laki attending
    • Sally’s Beauty Spot (1990 / 12 mins / B&W) by Helen Lee, Toronto-based director
    • BAM (2015 / 5 mins / animation) by Howie Shia, award-winning animator
    • Between: Living in the Hyphen (2005 / 43 mins / documentary) by Anne-Marie Nakagawa, media artist
    • Can You See Me? (2023 / 1.5 mins / experimental) by Elmira Laki, interdisciplinary artist & filmmaker
    • Followed by artist talks, discussions, and Q&A with the filmmakers
  • 20h10 – 20h30: NETWORKING & WRAP-UP

Supported By

Partners

Arts East-West is a Montréal-based, non-profit artist-driven organization specializing in thematic festivals since 1995, with no limitation on national boundaries in Asia and the diaspora. Our core initiatives include Montreal Asian Film Festival (MAFF) and the Asian Art Publication Lab (AAPLab).

As a minority language organisation, Arts East-West will upload all content in Korean and other Asian languages on our social media platforms. Our website content will be updated in English and French.
Montreal, Quebec,
H2T 2N4, Canada
coordination@artseastwest.ca
Contact usLand acknowledgement