Nine lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer-related films by Taiwan directors are among 17 works from nine Asian countries being screened online via Vimeo On Demand until May 17 as part of the inaugural U.K.-based Queer East Film Festival.
Headlining the Taiwan productions is 88-minute documentary “Small Talk” about the relationship between director Huang Hui-chen and her homosexual mother, spotlighted through a series of intimate conversations. The film won the Teddy Award for best documentary at the 2017 Berlin International Film Festival.
The online charity screening also features eight short films on LGBTQ issues in Taiwan, including “Encore,” which depicts the struggle of a gay teenager trying to come out to his mother while preparing for his graduation, and “The Summer of 12,” a story about how camaraderie turns to intimacy in a school swimming team.
According to Wang Yi, a Taiwan national residing in the U.K. and director of the event, the festival brings LGBTQ stories together to explore what it means to be East Asian and queer.
Despite significant improvements in LGBTQ rights across the world, Wang said progress in Asia has been mixed, with the 2019 legalization of same-sex marriage in Taiwan a landmark development in this regard.
By introducing queer storytellers from Asia to a global audience, the festival offers an opportunity to reflect on the obstacles that millions still face today while celebrating the diverse cultures, heritages and identities of communities too often excluded from mainstream discourse, Wang added.
Originally set to take place in London from April 18 to May 2 and featuring 29 films from 15 countries, the festival has been rescheduled to later this year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizer said. (SFC-E)