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.

Founded in 2020, the festival was established in response to the systemic lack of Asian representation on the big screen, onstage, and behind the scenes. 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 what it means to be queer and Asian today.

The festival runs its main edition in venues across London, and has toured over 15 locations in the UK. We host screenings in cinemas, arts spaces, academic institutions, and cultural and community venues, and are committed to diverse programming: features, shorts, experimental films, and artists’ moving image works are all welcome.

The seventh edition of Queer East Festival is currently planned for April-May 2026 in venues across London, with its nationwide tour, On the Road, set to take place in autumn 2026.

The early bird deadline for submissions is 23 November 2025, and the regular deadline is 4 January 2026. To submit and read the full rules and terms, please visit our FilmFreeway page.