Queer East
Queer East is a cross-disciplinary festival that showcases boundary-pushing LGBTQ+ cinema, live arts, and moving image work from East and Southeast Asia and its diaspora communities.
Its seventh edition runs from 1 May to 6 June 2026 in venues across London, exploring what it means to be queer and Asian today.
1 May to 6 June 2026
Macho Dancer + recorded intro by Professor José B. Capino, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
A young man travels to Manila to work as a dancer, stripper and rent boy in Lino Brocka’s acclaimed gay drama.
UK Premiere: Open Endings + Q&A with director Nigel Santos (online) and producer Tin Velasco
This smart, endearing drama from the Philippines is about four queer women – exes who have become best friends.
The Spring Outside the Fence + intro by Professor Chris Berry, Film Studies at King’s College London
This evocative period drama from Taiwan traces the relationship between free-spirited Li Lin and introverted Ai Hua.
UK Premiere: Between Goodbyes + Zoom Q&A with director Jota Mun
This poignant documentary about a queer Korean adoptee questions our understanding of what a family is.
Special Presentation: Farewell to Spring + recorded intro by Chisato Inagaki, film curator at Keisuke Kinoshita Memorial Museum
Keisuke Kinoshita’s achingly beautiful film is about the intense feelings between five young men who return to their Aizu hometown.
Want more?
Running parallel to the seventh edition of Queer East, see this online BFI Player season featuring 20 boundary-pushing queer films from East and Southeast Asia and its diasporas, selected from the past six editions of the festival.
Temporary VAT-reduced rate for children: prices have been adjusted for all under 16’s tickets booked between 25 June and 1 September for screenings during the same period. BFI Riverfront will be closed until 5pm on 9 July.
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