Queer East has unveiled the opening and closing night films for the upcoming sixth edition of the festival, taking place from 23 April to 18 May 2025. The festival will open with the UK premiere of Takeshi Kitano’s historical epic Kubi, and close with the South Korean transgender documentary, Edhi Alice by Ilrhan Kim.

Thirty years in the making, Kubi, by legendary Japanese director Takeshi Kitano (Hana-Bi, Sonatine) is a mesmerising historical epic in which rival warlords battle to reign supreme over feudal Japan. Offering a darkly comic perspective on the relationship between political intrigue and homoerotic desire, this strikingly violent film comprehensively debunks the myths of masculinity, ethics, and honour that have defined the samurai genre onscreen. Kubi is based on Kitano’s novel of the same name, and stars Hidetoshi Nishijima (Drive My Car), Shido Nakamura (Be with You), and Ryo Kase (Outrage). It will open the festival on Wednesday 23 April at BFI Southbank.

The closing night screening at the ICA on Sunday 18 May is the UK premiere of Edhi Alice, by queer activist and director Ilrhan Kim (Two Doors) from South Korea. This powerful and thought-provoking documentary follows the lives of two transwomen: Edhi, a young LGBTQ+ activist, and Alice, a film lighting director, at different stages of their transition. Offering a bold and frank portrayal of the trans experience, Kim sheds light on how trans identity can be represented on screen, as she follows the bittersweet personal journeys of the two women.

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. Featuring its most extensive programme ever, the festival spans four weeks and takes place in over 13 venues across London. The full lineup will be announced in late March.