The 2nd Asian Queer Film Festival will be held on
September 19-23, 2009 in Harajuku, Tokyo.

Red Doors [Opening Film]

Dir. Georgia Lee/USA/2005/92min/Fiction/Japan Premiere A double winner at Outfest, the biggest and oldest LGBT film festival in California, with the Jury Award for Outstanding Screenwriting and the Audience Award for Outstanding First Narrative Feature! Although the Wongs appear to be an ideal Chinese-American family, each one of them is caught up in a problem! Eldest daughter Samantha is just weeks away from her "dream" wedding, but she rekindles a relationship with her ex-boyfriend. The middle sister, Julie, is a shy and sheltered medical student whose life is turned upside down when she falls for Mia Scarlett, a movie star who is researching a role at the hospital. The youngest daughter, Katie, is a precocious, disaffected high school senior engaged in an increasingly dangerous prank war against her classmate, Simon. Then their suicidal father Ed decides to leave them and enter a Buddhist monastery... Red Doors tells a contemporary story about the primal and universal bonds that connect parent and child. [Stills are here]

Love for Share

Dir. Nia Dinata/Indonesia/2005/120min/Fiction The latest from director Nia Dinata, whose Arisan! opened the 2005 Tokyo International L&G Film Festival. In affluent Jakarta, gynecologist Salma has just found out that her husband has a second wife and daughter, but decides to just accept the fact. Elsewhere, Sita has come to the city with her uncle and found herself his third wife; the cramped and depressing conditions are eased only by the existence of Dui, the second wife. And then there is Ming, a young waitress who aspires to be an actress. She’s ready to be the mistress of the restaurant owner in exchange for financial security. The lives of these three different women in Indonesia confront the issue of polygamy as each attempts to find a new way to live. This is a serious topic but still the film is full of humor and the women’s energy leaves audiences feeling inspired and refreshed. [Stills are here]

No Regret

Dir. LEESONG Hee-il/South Korea/2006/114min/Fiction/Japan Premiere A new record in movie-goer numbers for South Korean independent film! The nation’s first out director LEESONG Hee-il’s full-length feature! Raised in an orphanage, Sumin travels to the capital of Seoul to study art design. Working afternoon and night to get by, he one day comes across Jaemin, a rich boy tired of this life. They’re later reunited as CEO’s son and unfairly dismissed laborer... The strong bonds and profound love that come to bind these protagonists from different social strata, two playthings of fate, are delicately depicted and strike forcefully at the heart of the viewer. In its home country of Korea appeared passionate supporters from its audiences: its indy film attendance record was only the first of many that it set. See the talked-about work that caused such an uproar in South Korean cinematic circles! [Stills are here]

Go!Go!G-Boys!

Dir. Chung Chung Yu/Taiwan/2006/80min/Fiction/Japan Premiere Just out! A brand new film from Taipei: Formula 17 meets Miss Congeniality in this crazy comedy! Hung is in debt and desperately needs some money. He decides to pretend to be gay and enter a gay beauty pageant and try to win the 10000000HKD prize. His best friend Sing helps Hung get ready to catch the attention of the contest judges, but he has more than friendship on his mind. On the other hand, Jay, a homophobic cop, is assigned to go undercover after a threatening letter is received from an anti-gay group, announcing their intentions to ruin the pageant. By coming in contact with contest participants, Jay gradually changes his long-held prejudices against gays. And as the contest reaches its climax, unidentified packages sent by mail show up – one of them a deadly bomb. The fun of a gay beauty pageant, the threat of a terrorist bombing, and the relationship between Hung and Sing... How is the story going to end? [Stills are here]

Tang Tang

Dir. Zhang Hanzi/China/2004/92min/Fiction+Documentary/Japan Premiere A cool experimental blend of fact and fiction paints a mesmerizing portrait ! Beijing “gender role reversal” artist Tang Tang fascinates audiences with his drag shows. One day he also catches the attention of lesbian couple Xun and Lili, who initially mistake him for a woman. At the same time, Tang Tang is falling in love with a young man, Xiaohui, a young man. However, both couples break up -- and then Tang Tang and Xun become close and their relationship extends beyond sexuality and gender... Music video director Zhang Hanzi captures the overwhelming immediacy of the performances of this Beijing artist. A must see! [Stills are here]

The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros [Closing Film]

Dir. Auraeus Solito/Philippines/2005/100min/Fiction A cool experimental blend of fact and fiction paints a mesmerizing portrait ! A boy who looks like a girl: Maximo’s coming-of-age story is full of humor. A masterpiece! Living in the slums of Manila with his father and two brothers is Maximo, a boy who looks just like a girl. One day, when Maxi is being hassled by some street toughs, he is saved by Victor, a policeman. From then on, Maxi’s affection for Victor blooms! His father, however, who fences stolen goods for a living, is suspicious of Maxi’s alliance with the cop. Award winning screenwriter Michiko Yamamoto has written a brilliant, bittersweet story about hard and vital lives in the Manila slums. The film swept the film awards in the Philippines and won numerous prizes overseas, including the prestigious Teddy Award for Best Feature Film at the 2006 Berlin Film Festival. It was also submitted to represent the Philippines at the 79th Academy Award in the category of Best Foreign Language Film. [Stills are here]

Rusty Empty Can [AQFF Selection]

Dir. Yoshihiko Matsui/Japan/1979/59min/Fiction A cool experimental blend of fact and fiction paints a mesmerizing portrait! The legendary film collection that has even Shuji Terayama howling! That ‘love’ and ‘destruction’. Nothing remains but disgrace and decadence... This unique work from 1979 depicts a homosexual love triangle sometimes intense, sometimes humorous. This is the debut work of Yoshihiko Matsui, who made PIG-CHICKEN SUICIDE with ‘full-frontal novelist’ Hara Kazuo, and NOISY REQUIEM, the impact-piece which caused unprecedented shock waves in the film world of Japan. Director of photography is CRAZY FAMILY(Gyakufunsha Kazoku)’s Ishii Sogo, but differ from Ishii’s speedy rock-and-roll movies of the same era with its heavy, heartrending quality. Lauded at the Pia magazine-sponsored Off-Theater Film Festival (now PFF) and with a wildly enthusiastic fan-base, this work can truly be called a cult movie pioneer. [Stills are here]

Gay Shorts Collection: Part 1

Game Boy/Dir. Kevin Choi/USA/2003/14min/Fiction/Japan Premiere Dancing Boy/Dir. Bae Ji-young/South Korea/2005/20min/Fiction Summer/Dir. Hong Khaou/UK/2006/9min/Fiction/Japan Premiere The Milkman/Dir. Ken Takahashi/Canada/2001/8min/Experimental/Japan Premiere Daylight Ghost/Dir. Taryart Datsathean, Phisan Sangjan/Thailand/2003/10min/Fiction/Japan Premiere After Raining/Dir. Yang Andrew/Taiwan/2001/32min/Fiction+Documentary/Japan Premiere An opening selection of a Powerful collection of gay short films, each with its own intense individuality. Don’t miss these! In Game Boy the hero plays with a super-handsome boy who lives in the same building. In Dancing Boy the attractive hero fearlessly reveals his feelings and his charms to his classmate. In Summer, a young boy longs to kiss his friend, but is afraid, confused, excited and inexperienced about how to approach. The Milkman shows a very special encounter between a very fat man selling bottles of milk and one young guy who stops to have a drink. Daylight Ghost is a laugh-out-loud comedy about a young guy who becomes a ghost by mistake and then enjoys his invisibility by following a good looking man around. After Raining mixes documentary and drama to tell a moving love story about two classmates, one an honours student and the other a sports star. [Stills are here]

Gay Shorts Collection: Part 2

My Uncle Mario/Dir. Na'ama Zalzman/Israel/2003/18min/Fiction/Asian Premier Hey Jimmy/Dir.Ming-Chieh Sung/Taiwan , UK/2004/16min/Documentary/Japan Premier Still/Dir. Lucky Kuswandi/Indonesia/2005/15min/Experimental/Japan Premiere Innocent/Dir. Cliff Kafai Mok/Canada/2004/6min/Animation/Japan Premier Do you remember me?/Dir. ThunskaPansittivorakul/Thailand/2005/14 min/Experimental/Japan Premier Down The River/Dir. Anucha Boonyawatana/Thailand/2004/30 min/Fiction/Japan Premier The second half of a dazzling array of refreshing gay short films! My Uncle Mario is about a boy who starts to become interested in the world of adults when his heart flutters during a reunion with his uncle. Hey Jimmy is a documentary about a young African-Taiwanese drag queen who talks about both the social complexities of his mixed parentage and his love for his mother. A runaway boy faces his father in Still, an experimental work that traces both physical and emotional landscapes. Innocent tells the story of a boy going to a Christian missionary-run school who makes an animation to rehearse his love for his classmate. In Do you remember me?, a “robot boy” finds real love. Down the River is a tale of love and enlightenment as a young man follows the style of ancient Thai poetry in his quest for the truth of love. [Stills are here]

Lesbian Shorts Collection: Part 1

Top of the World/Dir. Maya Kenig/Israel/2005/15min/Fiction/Japan Premier Travel/Dir. Allen Chang , Chen Da-Yu/Taiwan/2000/20min/Fiction/Japan Premiere Babae/Dir. Sigrid Andrea Bernardo/Philippines/2004/20min/Fiction+Documentary/Japan Premiere Devil Like Me/Dir. Ktour Ng/Hong Kong/2005/5min/Music video/Japan Premiere Just Love/Dir. Fung King Long/Hong Kong/2005/30min/Fiction+Documentary/Japan Premiere The first part of a brilliant collection of short films featuring cute Asian lesbians! In Top of The World, two girls have been sharing an apartment and now one of them is leaving. What is the one left behind going to do to cheer up? Based on a true story, Travel is a beautiful film about a lesbian couple that sets off in search of a new world. Babae is a coming of age story about two young girls who grow up together by the tracks in an urban slum. A Devil Like Me is a snarky music video that shows lesbian love deconstructing traditional family values with its ironic take on homophobic groups. Part-documentary, part fiction, Just Love reveals the reality of lesbian life in Hong Kong. [Stills are here]

Lesbian Shorts Collection: Part 2

Tampon Manual/Dir. Saeron Seong/South Korea/2001/14min/Experimental/Tokyo Premier Suet-Sin's Sisters/Dir. Yau Ching/Hong Kong/2000/8min/Documentary/Japan Premier Ground Walk/Dir. Gilitte Leung/Hong Kong/2005/51min/Fiction/Japan Premiere More short film gems about Asian Lesbians from dazzling directors! You’ll definitely applaud these stylish shorts! Tampon Manual will have you roaring with laughter as it gives CM-style instruction in how to use a tampon. Suet-Sin's Sisters is a wonderful short documentary from Yau Ching, the first Hong Kong director to come out; it was made before her first feature film “Ho Yuk” drew critical raves around the world. Ground Walk is a very cute girl-meets-girl story about a day trip in which the heroine finds love and rediscovers the streets of Hong Kong. [Stills are here]

Indies Programme

No Time No Place/Dir. Kazuyo Oishi/Japan/2004/40min/Fiction Until the Moon Waxes/Dir. iri/Japan/2007/70min/Fiction/World Premier A selection of sympatico indies films about same sex love in Japan! When we think about Asia, let’s not forget Japan! Set in Tokyo, these two selected indies takes a close look at urban lesbian lives. In Until the Moon Waxes, a university student from Nagano goes to Tokyo on her spring vacation and grows up just a little through a series of encounters in Shinjuku ni-chome. In No Time No Place a totally negative girl one day has a fantastic experience when she encounters a cat and a beautiful girl with the same name. Under the rough production of these indies lies deep passionate thought. Both are must-sees! [Stills are here]