The call for programme proposals from curators, programmers and cultural creatives to be part of Queer East Festival 2026 has now opened. Initiated in 2024, Queer East’s open call for guest curatorial programmes aims to facilitate a more open and decentralised programming model at the festival, reaffirming our mission by spotlighting authentic, diverse, and dynamic voices from our communities.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

We are looking for original, playful and bold ideas for screening events that touch on queer experiences in East and Southeast Asia or its diaspora communities, pushing conventional norms of gender and sexuality and broadening audiences’ perspectives on Asian-ness and queerness. We welcome applicants of all experience levels and from across different disciplines, whether you have direct experience of film programming or not.

Through this initiative, we aim to foster a new way of thinking about how the audience can experience screening content and extend the relationship beyond the frame. Proposed projects should include a film screening event with an additional live element, for example a: performance, panel discussion, Q&A, workshop, or poetry reading. The total event duration should be up to 120 minutes. Screening content must relate to East and Southeast Asian queer communities and narratives. There’s no limitation on film genre or type: fiction films, documentaries, archive films, or artist moving image works are all welcome. But ideally your programme will be a curated collection of short-length works.

Selected proposals will be presented at the Queer East Festival in London (May – June 2026) and with the potential to be included in our nationwide tour, Queer East: On The Road, in venues across the UK.

FEE

Each project will receive a one-off £400 curation fee and be given a budget (up to £500) to cover production cost including film rights, speaker fees, etc. A detailed guide on using the production budget will be provided to the selected projects.

WHO CAN APPLY

We accept applications from individuals, collectives, and organisations from around the world. Please note that we cannot cover international travel and accommodation for selected submitters based outside the UK; therefore, your participation will be remote.

HOW TO APPLY

Please email your proposal to our Artistic Director, Yi Wang at proposal@queereast.org.uk, with the subject “Open Call: Guest Curatorial Programme – [Your Name]”

You should send us a document of no more than three pages in length, or a video of less than ten minutes, to explain your proposal. You must address the following questions in your proposal to help us understand your artistic vision.

01. Tell us about you or your collective/organisation.
02. Tell us about your programming or curation experience, if you have related experience before.
03. Why are you or your collective/organisation interested in working with Queer East?
04. Tell us about your programme proposal. You might want to think about the following: What is it about? What films do you want to show? Why is your proposal related to queerness and East and Southeast Asian cultural contexts? Are there any potential partners or speakers you have in mind? Who is the intended audience for the event?
05. Provide an approximate budget.

HOW THE APPLICATIONS ARE ASSESSED

The applications will be assessed by a panel of Queer East team members and external professionals. Three proposals will be selected to be presented at the festival. The applications will be assessed on ambition, originality, feasibility, relevance, audience appeal, and how they contextualise the relationship between queerness and Asian identities.

You will receive an email confirmation of receipt within 14 days of your submission.

WHAT SUPPORT YOU WILL RECEIVE

If your proposal is offered a spot at Queer East Festival 2026, you will work with the Artistic Director and the rest of the team, who will assist you in realising your proposal. You will have a chance to access this year’s film submissions and we might provide film or guest suggestions to help you finalise your programme.

Please email Yi Wang at proposal@queereast.org.uk if you have any questions related to this programme open call.

KEY DATES

Application deadline: 15 January 2026
All applicants will receive an email with the outcome by 8 February 2026