Saturday 08 February: 3pm-6pm
Filmed in Cambodia over the course of five years, Lotus Sports Club (72 mins) is an inspiring coming-of-age documentary about Leak, a teenage trans man who plays football in the under-21s women’s team of Kampong Chhnang, and Pa Vann, the coach and father-figure to Leak and other LGBTQ+ players on the team. Pa Vann established the football team in 2009 to encourage solidarity among straight, lesbian and gender-diverse players.
He also opened his home to more vulnerable, often homeless teenagers including Leak, providing these players with a sanctuary in which to be themselves. However Leak, under pressure to make more money for his family and forced off the football team because of his age, must take the heart-breaking decision to move to Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, leaving behind the one person he loves the most.
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.
The festival was established in response to the systemic lack of Asian representation on the big screen, onstage, and behind the scenes. Global events over the past few years have once again reminded us that fair and authentic racial and sexual representation is crucial for our society.
The richness of Asian and queer heritage forms a vital part of this country’s identity. Through a diverse and forward-thinking programme, the festival aims to amplify the voices of Asian communities and challenge the conventional norms, labels, and stereotypes associated with queer Asian portrayals.
Working collaboratively with allies across the film, arts, and cultural sectors, we hope to join the forces bringing about change in screen culture and to enable an open space for everyone to explore the contemporary queer landscape across East and Southeast Asia.