These are our eight recommended films from the Queer East Film Festival, which will take place from April 17 – 28, 2024 in London, UK.

Abang Adik by Jin Ong – Malaysia | 2023 – 115 minutes

Abang and Adi are undocumented orphans living in present-day Malaysia. While the older brother, a deaf mute, has resigned himself to a life of poverty, his younger sibling burns with indignation. A brutal accident upsets the fragile balance of their relationship. (Mubi)

Trailer:

Asog by Seán Devlin – Philippines | 2023 – 90 minutes

This unique narrative incorporating documentary elements follows Rey, a 40-year-old non-binary teacher and typhoon survivor, on a roadtrip to fame. With surreal comedy and social portrait realism, filmmaker Seán‌ Devlin explores climate change, LGBTQ+ issues. (Mubi)

Trailer:

A Princess’ One-Sided Love by Choi Eun-hee – Korea | 1967 – 94 minutes

Princess Suk-kyeong goes out to the world one day with the court ladies. At the market, everything seems new to her. She helps herself to some food vendor not knowing the fact that she has to pay, and gets in trouble. (Mubi)

I am what I am by Shinya Tamada – Japan | 2022 – 104 minutes

Kasumi doesn’t know what love is and she doesn’t have any feeling of romance. Due to her sister’s marriage, her mother arranged a formal marriage arrangement without her permission. At the meeting, she met a man who is just seeking friend. (Mubi)

Trailer:

Love Bound by Shanshan Chen – UK | 2024 – 80 minutes

LGBTQ+ activist Qiuyan Chen became an unexpected celebrity due to her courageous legal battle against homophobic university textbooks in the 2010s. However, this newfound fame came at a price: she was outed by her tutor, subjected to conversion therapy by her parents, and monitored by the Chinese government. To escape these pressures, Qiuyan left for the UK, where she met her partner Bling: but her struggles were far from over. Interweaving reflections on Qiuyan’s sexuality and relationships, Shanshan Chen’s documentary examines this inspiring activist’s commitment to building a close-knit community designed to support queer East Asian people in the UK: a solo endeavour that evolves into a movement with a growing support base. Love Bound is a compelling story about love, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for a better world. (QEFF 2024)

Trailer:

SARA by Ismail Basbeth – Indonesia | 2023 – 99 minutes

A transgender woman goes back to her remote hometown to attend her father’s funeral. She finds the village has changed greatly, and that the villagers have become extremely religious. Added to that, her mother suffers from dementia and treats her like a complete stranger. (Mubi)

Trailer:

The Last Year of Darkness by Benjamin Mullinkosson – China, USA | 2023 – 95 minutes

As the city of Chengdu changes, the future of beloved club Funky Town is unclear. For a vibrant group of DJs, drag artists, ravers, and skaters, it is a sanctuary that allows them to thrive after hours. But as the sun comes up, the friends must face what brought them to the party in the first place. (Mubi)

Trailer:

The Missing by Carl Joseph Papa – Philippines, Thailand | 2023 – 90 minutes

Shy and slightly withdrawn, Eric lives a normal life working as an animator in the city. What makes Eric different is that he does not have a mouth and is unable to speak. (Mubi)

Trailer:

For more information, please visit: https://queereast.org.uk/festival-2024/