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Established in 2020 to address the lack of East and Southeast Asian representation in the arts, Queer East Festival is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year. The 2024 edition, running in London in April and later across the UK, features a diverse range of LGBTQ+ cinema, including contemporary films, documentaries, shorts, and special screenings.
The film festival showcases stories from East Asia, Southeast Asia, and their diasporas, challenging stereotypes and offering fresh perspectives on the queer experience in these regions. Programme highlights include the UK premieres of films exploring themes of queer love, gender nonconformity, and asexual identity, along with notable screenings like the 20th anniversary of "Saving Face" and the 50th anniversary of "Bye Bye Love."
Additionally, the festival's 'Expanded' programme offers unique experiences, such as screenings at Community Sauna Baths in Hackney Wick, a screening followed by a guided nature walk at the Museum of the Home, and an immersive bondage endurance test. Beyond films, the festival also includes dance performances, poetry workshops, and the inaugural Queer East arts exhibition "shedding:::selves." Queer East Festival's fifth edition reinforces its commitment to diversifying UK's cultural scene and fostering dialogue about Asian and queer identities.
Queer East Festival will take place at various London venues, including the Barbican Centre, BFI Southbank, and the ICA, from 17 to 28 April. Check out the full programme and book tickets here.