Toronto events on November 5th, 2013

FILM | Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival begins tonight, with an opening night gala at the Isabel Bader Theatre, and an afterparty following at Empire Lounge. This festival, a non-profit, annual event, is the largest of its kind in Canada, and was founded in 1997, showcasing the best of modern cinema from South Asia and its diaspora. This evening's opening gala centers on Bombay Talkies, and celebrates a century of Indian motion pictures and the great minds behind them, with four short films being shown. An after party at Empire Lounge in Yorkville closes this first evening out with a bang. Read our must-see film picks here. The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival runs until November 16th. Various Venues and prices

MUSIC | My Bloody Valentine
Iconic shoegazers, My Bloody Valentine, hit Kool Haus tonight for a much-anticipated show as part of a bonus North American leg of their tour that got added on early in the fall to the delight of many fans both here in TO and Montreal. These ephemeral noisemakers began as a band in Ireland in the early '80s, but they rose to prominence with the height of the "shoegaze" subgenre's popularity a decade later. They broke up in 1997, and ten years later began touring again and released the self-produced mbv earlier this year to great acclaim. Kool Haus (132 Queens Quay East) 7PM $45

CULTURE | The 2013 Founder's Lecture Karim Rashid Presents "Analog vs. Digital"
This evening at the George Ignatieff Theatre, the Bata Shoe Museum presents their 2013 Founder's Lecture with special guest Karim Rashid. This annual public lecture typically features an individual who is a demonstrated cultural leader and innovator. Rashid is a Canadian raised, Egyptian born designer and interior architect who has won both the George Nelson Award and the Canadian Designer of the Year award. He has designed a retail space for Giorgio Armani and many other important creations. Tonight's talk, Analog Vs. Digital will focus on where we are headed given the recent introduction and strong influence of the digital world into human culture and society. George Ignatieff Theatre, Trinity College (15 Devonshire Place) 6:30PM

MUSIC | Night Beats, Comet Control, the Pow Wows
Tonight, a rather psyched-out lineup goes down at The Silver Dollar. Night Beats, a Seattle, Washington-based band sporting a psych sound of the garage variety, are a regular act at Austin Psych Fest, and have toured with Roky Erickson, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Black Angels, and other notables. They are being supported tonight by Comet Control, a band that has formed relatively recently out of the ashes of Quest For Fire, (who were an extraordinary TO psych-rock band), and also by Pow Wows, who add a dollop of surf sound to their psych mix. Should be good. Silver Dollar (486 Spadina Avenue) 8:30PM $10

Continuing

FAIR | Royal Winter Fair
The farm is in city — the 91st annual Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, the world's largest combined indoor agricultural fair and international equestrian competition, is underway at the Exhibition grounds. Look for cute baby animals at the petting zoo, butter sculptures, chef competitions, giant vegetables (pumpkins weighing over 1000 pounds), and of course the Horse Show. At the fair you can learn more about where our food comes from and get a chance to commune with animals large and small. The full event schedule is here. Until November 10, Ricoh Coliseum and Direct Energy Centre (Exhibition Place) prices may vary

FILM | CineCuba Festival of Cuban films
CineCuba Festival of Cuban films ends tonight at Royal Cinema. Screenings include a Cuban Women in film series. All films are subtitled in English. Ends tonight, Royal Cinema (608 College) prices may vary

FILM | International Diaspora Film Festival Films
You can also still catch the International Diaspora Film Festival for films from around the world examining diversity and culture exchange, plus discussion panels and more. This year their focus is on female directors. The full schedule is here. Ends tonight, Carlton Cinemas (20 Carlton St.) and Innis Town Hall (2 Sussex Ave) prices may vary

Also Of Note

• Meditations for Bass Veena
• Jane Austen Dance
• Gladstone TV Trivia Night: Buffy Edition

Have an event you'd like to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO Toronto events calendar or contact us directly.

Photo of "Brown Globe" by Kristina Lee Podesva via Reel Asian's website