The short films in this collection tell the stories of queer people who conceal the truth about their sexualities – who face discrimination just for being themselves, so choose a life of duality. The characters are kids, teenagers and younger adults who, experiencing moments of profound transition in their lives, lurk in society’s shadows, engage in acts of deception, and experience passion behind closed doors. Depicting the pleasure and jeopardy involved in keeping secrets, these are films about role-play in its myriad forms.
Total Runtime: 102 min
Kado (A Gift)
Isfi dresses as a boy when she is amongst her male friends, but has to wear a hijab to be accepted at her best friend Nita’s house. Two days before Nita’s birthday, Isfi decides to prepare a gift for Nita in her bedroom.
Aditya Ahmad | Indonesia | 2018 | 15 min
Hidden
Since he started to explore his sexuality and identity via dating apps, thirteen-year-old Xiao-Wei has felt distanced from his straight friends. But he doesn’t realize that his best friend Pin-Rui has been carrying a secret of his own.
Kuo Hsuan-Chi | Taiwan | 2021 | 30 min
Solid
A man with an injured finger visits another man’s apartment for the first time. The pair start having sex, but get interrupted by an earthquake, which marks the beginning of a surreal and unpredictable night together.
Iwasa Hiroki | Japan | 2020 | 14 min
Return to Sender
In a fictional town in Myanmar, a young postman accidentally reads a letter that has been returned to its sender multiple times. He embarks on a mission to ensure that the letter – about queer identity and family acceptance – is read by the person for whom it was intended.
Htet Aung Lwyn | Myanmar | 2020 | 23 min
The Third Solar Term
Qizhe returns home to spend the spring break with his mother, whose constant lecturing makes him rebellious. When she catches him having a secret rendezvous with a red-haired man, the supposedly relaxing homecoming evolves into a turbulent identity crisis.
Zhanfei Song | China, United Kingdom | 2021 | 20 min
