Lilian Chan

Born in Toronto, Lilian Chan studied classic animation at Sheridan College. Her film Obert Egan Invents the Smile brought her a Nelvana prize for « Best Film » that is awarded to students in their final year. Lilian worked as a workshop coordinator in animation at NFB's Mediatechque in Toronto. In Montreal, she has produced her first professional animation with NFB, Jaime Lo, small and shy. Lillian Chan is hopelessly addicted to television. Animation seems an apt career choice for such an obsession.

Jaime Lo, small and shy tells the story of a little girl Jaime Lo, a shy Chinese-Canadian girl, who observes the world around her through her drawings. When Jaime's father is sent to Hong Kong for a year-long work assignment, Jaime must use her creativity to cope with his absence. This story offers us a lighthearted glimpse into a common dilemma that many immigrant families face, where one parent must work overseas in order to provide for the rest of the family back home. Jaime Lo, small and shy is part of the NFB's Talespinners 2.

I wanted to tell a story addressing a common problem that many in her suburban chinese community face today. I hope the film will bring awareness and encourage dialogue about the issue. 

Lilian Chan

Photos