Step into a realm where desires transcend the ordinary, and myths come alive. From the intertwining of magic and fate, to the conflict between love and religious faith; from the blessings of the ancient Eastern gods, to the remote shackles of superstition: here, belief is both the light that guides and the shadow that haunts. As these queer characters navigate worlds shaped by both devotion and doubt, we learn what charts their journeys. The films in this programme quietly ask: What do you believe?
Followed by a Q&A with filmmakers.
This programme is curated by Lubing Chen, Yudan Chen, and Xiaotian Chen, presented by Queer East in partnership with the Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities at the University of Sussex.
Fortune Favours the Fantabulous
An eccentric, non-binary fortune teller begins to lose their grip on reality.
Dir. Emmanuel Li | UK | 2023 | 25min
Invocation
Following her mother to a remote village, Gurong experiences unexpected changes in her body and mind.
Dir. LU LU | China | 2024 | 25min
Kiss of the Rabbit God
A restaurant worker falls in love with a Qing dynasty god, who leads him on a journey of sexual awakening.
Dir. Andrew Thomas Huang | USA | 2019 | 15min
The Serpent‘s Song
At a monastery in rural Thailand, a music teacher tries to help a young nun speak again.
Dir. Nuntanat Duangtisam | Thailand | 2017 | 25min
