For Press Inquiries please contact the team at queerasia@gmail.com
Press Release: ‘Queer’ Asia Film Festival, Art Exhibition, and Summer Programme 2019
22nd May 2019
The fourth ‘Queer’ Asia annual activities will take place this year from 17 June to22 July, featuring our Film Festival running from 17 June-22 July, our Art Exhibition running from 13-17 July, and the first ever Summer Programme from 15-18 July. All events are free to attend including open events at The Summer Programme in the evenings of 15, 17, and 18 July at University of Westminster, King’s College London, and SOAS University of London respectively.
‘Queer’ Asia is a network and platform for collaboration and research on LGBTQI+ issues in Asia. The aim of our annual activities are to bring together activists, artists, academics and film-makers from various parts of Asia on a common platform and interrogate latest developments on LGBTQI+ rights and culture in the region.
Our third annual Film Festival this year is held in collaboration with CINEMQ. Our screenings will be held on 17 June and from 11-22 July at the British Museum, SOAS University of London, King’s College London, and the University of Warwick. Selected films this year span 24 countries, including Lebanon, Malaysia, South Korea, Iran, Taiwan, Philippines, Russian Federation, India, China, Brunei, Japan, and Azerbaijan. The schedule is available online.
Our second annual Art Exhibition titled ‘The Liminal’ will be held at SOAS University of London and the British Museum on 15-17 July with community events and artists’ and artivism talks and the main exhibition held from 15-17 July at SOAS University of London. Further details about the exhibition and a line-up of our artists can be found online.
This year showcases the first ever Summer Programme, with a line-up of workshops, capacity building seminars, and open events, at University of Westminster, King’s College London, and SOAS University of London The programme builds on prior conferences and explores the intersections of queerness and Asia. Participants have been selected from across Asia and the diaspora to attend. Open events are held on 15 July (Opening Event Panel Discussion), 17 July (Films and Panel Discussion), and 18 July (Book Launch and Reception). The schedule is available online.
In addition, ‘Queer’ Asia are excited to announce the publication of ‘Queer’ Asia: Decolonising and Reimagining Sexuality and Gender, edited by J. Daniel Luther and Jennifer Ung Loh (Zed Books, 2019). The volume features chapters by past conference participants and is a far-reaching study of queer identities and communities across Asia, re-envisioning the queer through Asian perspectives. The 2019 events close with a book launch and reception on 18 July at SOAS University of London, featuring short talks by some chapter authors.
Come celebrate the freedom to love at Pink Dot LDN. The first of its kind, organised by activists and activist groups in London, to be held on 13 July in Russell Square Park. Picnic from 1200 onwards, dot forms at 1500. The details are online.
The hashtag for this year’s events is ‘QueerAsia2019’ and we can be followed on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Please contact queerasia@gmail.com for any further information or queries.
Queer Asia in the News
Rife Magazine Review – 28 June 2018
Tim Lo reviews ‘Queer’ Asia 2018: Bodies X Borders for Rife Magazine in Bristol.
Brigton TV: Tales from the Margin – Mon 18 June 9pm UK time
Queer Asia co-founder J. Daniel Luther sits down with Rainer Schulze on Tales from the Margin Extra highlighting some films at Queer Asia 2018 Film Festival. A special programme on the Queer Asia Film Festival in London
Love Camden
Love Camden lists Queer Asia 2018 as #5 in the top 10 things to do in Camden this summer!
CUNTemporary
The Queer Asia 2018 Film Festival featured in CUNTemporary which provides a newsletter and daily listings of events related to feminist and queer art practices in the UK.
Gay Star News
An article on Asian representation at Pride in London. This is especially important given the imperial past of the UK and its effects on Asia that are still felt to this day.
BBC Impact
South Korean drag artist Heezy Yang (aka Hurricane Kimchi) was on the BBC Impact during his visit to London for the ‘Queer’ Asia Conference 2017.
BBC World News:
Queer Asia co-founder J. Daniel Luther on BBC World News discussing the court ruling on same-sex marriage in Taiwan and LGBT rights situation in Asia. Daniel emphasised the need to look beyond marriage when it comes to #LGBT issues in Asia, while recognising the importance of formal equality. #queerasia
Attitude Magazine:
Attitude Magazine covered the ‘Queer’ Asia Conference 2016 with details of our guest speakers and the importance of an inter-regional platform on Queer Asia issues in London.
http://attitude.co.uk/queer-asia-conference-hopes-to-tackle-gay-asian-issues/
BBC World News:
Queer Asia co-founder J. Daniel Luther was on the BBC World News programme ‘Impact’ with Yalda Hakim on LGBT issues in India along with Victoria Hsu, Taiwan Alliance for Civil Partnership Rights and Bryan Choong, Former Director, Oogachaga, Singapore’s first NGO providing counselling services to LGBT persons, our guests from the Queer Asia Conference 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtq5ch5beQc
Pride in London:
Queer Asia Conference featured in the Pride in London Festival
http://prideinlondon.org/events/2016/06/10/queer-asia-conference
The Guardian: Coverage of our Run Up event Feminist Activism in China
Our LGBT history month event in collaboration with Jiemei Sisters featuring chinese feminist activist Li Maizi was covered by the Guardian.