Queer East is an impressive film festival with a remarkable selection of films and some unique events. The film festival was founded in response to the lack of East and Southeast Asian representation on stage, screen and behind the scenes. Despite its launch during the pandemic, it has made a significant impact on the UK cinema scene by presenting a bold program of LGBTQ+ cinema and visual arts.
The festival has grown in size because of its popularity, year after year, thanks to the support of the BFI. Queer East is held across major film institutions in London, including BFI Southbank, Barbican Centre, ICA, Prince Charles Cinema, Genesis Cinema, Rio Cinema, Garden Cinema, Rich Mix, Ugly Duck, The Place, Hackney Wick Community Sauna and Museum of the Home.
Queer East Festival’s ground-breaking film programme challenges conventions and stereotypes giving audiences an opportunity to explore the contemporary queer landscape across East and Southeast Asia.
Queer East 2024 has an expanded program this year, featuring several unique events:
- Steamy Intimacies: A Queer East Sauna Experience – Screening at a sauna where audiences can take a dip in the pool, with congee, sweet soup, and fried dough sticks served!
- High Hands Small Hands – Part screening event, part immersive bondage endurance test where audience members can participate!
- Re-encountering Sunsets, Waves, Birds, and Bees – Screening followed by a guided nature walk through the Museum of the Home garden.
Highlights from Queer East 2024’s film programme include:
- A Song Sung Blue (China, 2023) Opening Gala UK Premiere, nominated for the Queer Palm and Golden Camera at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, the feature debut from acclaimed short film director Geng Zihan.
- Love Bound (UK, 2024) is the World Premiere documentary on Qiuyan Chen, who moved to the UK after becoming an unexpected celebrity when she sued the Chinese Government over homophobic textbooks.
- Asog is a screwball tragicomedy starring a cast of real-life survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda from executive producers Adam McKay (Succession, The Big Short) and Alan Cumming (The Good Wife, Goldeneye)
- I Am What I Am (Japan, 2022) is the UK Premiere of an asexual drama starring Drive My Car‘s Toko Miura.
- Plus retrospective screenings, including the 20th Anniversary screening of the Chinese-American romantic comedy Saving Face (USA, 2004) produced by Will Smith
Queer East Festival 2024 takes place from 17 – 28 April across venues in London.
For further information and to book tickets: https://queereast.org.uk/festival-2024/
Facebook/X/Instagram: @queereast
