Queer characters find themselves at the transition point of land and sea in this short film programme. On an Indonesian beach, a myth of reincarnation heralds the arrival of a soulmate. Visiting a coastal town in South Korea, a gay high school couple celebrate their anniversary. A bereaved mother grieves for her drowned son on a Taiwanese shoreline. In a fishing community in the Philippines, a boy dreams of becoming a mermaid. While surfing, two Chinese women navigate their uncertain relationship. Rolling waves, secluded beaches, and stormy seas narrate tales of LGBTQ+ awakening, as the filmmakers affirm the fluid, transformative power of the sea.

This programme is presented by Queer East in partnership with the Faculty of Media, Arts and Humanities at the University of Sussex.
Journey to the Shore
Two gay teenagers reassess their relationship when they take a trip to a seaside town.
Dir. Uhm Ha-Neul | South Korea | 2020 | 30min

Like Wave Like Cloud
On a surfing trip, two women with an age difference attempt to navigate their uncertain relationship.
Dir. Yulin Yang | China | 2023 | 16min

Rising Sun
Discovering her son's portrait on an exam paper, a grieving mother hopes for one last chance to get closer to her child.
Dir. Cheng Ya-chih | Taiwan | 2018 | 15min

Dear To Me
On a remote island, a local superstition leads a man to dream of his soulmate.
Dir. Monica Vanesa Tedja | Indonesia, Germany | 2020 | 19min

In His Island
A young boy in a fishing community dreams of becoming a mermaid.
Dir. Christian Candelaria | Philippines | 2017 | 20min