A Victoria-based Chinese filmmaker wrestles with what it means to leave your family behind as an immigrant in his new film, which has earned a $20,000 grant from Telus Storyhive Pan-Asian Storyteller Edition. Ryan Duan’s film, Three Stories and a Bowl of Noodle Soup, is a hybrid documentary that follows the owner of JiangYun Noodle on Fort Street – a Chinese woman whose story both fascinated and deeply resonated with Duan. The two met years ago through friends, and Duan was deeply intrigued by her story: in her retirement age, she moved to a new city and opened a handmade noodle shop with her savings – something he described as taking “a lot of courage.” But what really touched him was that her journey was a way to reconnect with her estranged son. Their relationship was something that reminded him of his relationship with his own parents, who had lived on the other side of the globe from him for 18 years. "When they made the decision, when I was 18, to send me here to Canada, I never actually thought we'd be apart for that long, even though we make phone calls and ... meet each other once or twice a year in person. But that means, during the past 18 years, I was totally away from their life. "Part of the documentary is going to address that specific issue. I had my family, I got married, and got established in Victoria. Especially as I get older, I think, is that fair to my parents? Because I'm an only child due to the history of the policies of China. So it's a tough question; are we going to go back? Or are we going to get them here? Are they willing to come here and adopt a new culture? It stirs up all these kinds of questions." Duan thought the inner worlds and stories of immigrants are often not explored in film, and that’s what he plans to focus on as one of 35 recipients for the inaugural Telus Storyhive Pan-Asian Storyteller Edition. Keng Donguines, Storyhive program manager, said they envision the program as a foundation for long-term growth, to create pathways for emerging Pan-Asian voices across B.C. and Alberta. “It’s an important opportunity to amplify stories that reflect the diversity, depth and complexity of Pan-Asian experiences in Canada,” he said. For Duan, the $20,000 in production funding, training and professional mentorship with the National Screen Institute is a huge step forward in a dream he decided to pursue five years ago during a rough patch. Back then, Duan was a hotel manager. But when COVID-19 hit the tourism sector, he started realistically toying with his high school dream of being a filmmaker. “Obviously, parents from a Chinese family, they always push you to do something else," he said. "I mean, I had to do something that really helped me with my immigration. So basically, I just postponed the whole idea." Duan said receiving the funding – plus an additional $6,000 from Creative B.C. – has not only affirmed his own abilities as a filmmaker but it’s also given him confidence in the message he is trying to share. The film will be distributed on Telus Optik TV and Storyhive platforms in 2026. Duan is set to begin production this fall.
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