All too often, we’re forced to grow up without taking the time to explore who we are. Torn between fitting in and being ourselves, we’re overwhelmed with emotions and desires with no means of fulfilling them. From navigating the tumultuous terrain of adolescence, to the confusion of first love, these coming-of-age shorts portray the lives of queer youth with empathy and sensitivity, prompting a reflection on our own pasts that have led us to where we are now. 

Total Running Time: 93 min 

Beats Per Minute

Yong-Ning, a lonely college boy, gets a call from his old friend, Yi-Jie. In Taipei at night, the two of them wander, feeling out the chemistry in the dark. Can Yi-Jie catch up with the beat of his old friend’s rhythm? 

Lin Guan-Chen | Taiwan | 2023 | 19min

A Catholic Schoolgirl 

It’s the first time Kaya has experienced falling in love. One of the finest students at an all-girls Catholic school, she develops an ungodly a crush on Sister Agnes – a nun who will soon be destined for a faraway province. 

Myra Angeline Soriaso | Philippines | 2023 | 18min 

Curve 

He Zhenye, a campus bully, has long been involved in harassing his classmate Lin Sheng for being gay. However, He Zhenye carries a secret in his heart: he is also gay. In his encounters with Lin Sheng, the bully is forced to reassess his identity. 

Dan Zeng | China | 2023 | 30min 

Dog Story 

Dog Story follows quiet rebel Jo, a teenager growing up in suburban Long Island, navigating their changing body and identity. Jo learns how to assert themselves in a world not made for them, eventually demanding to be seen.  

Grace Zhang | US | 2021 | 10min 

Like Wave Like Cloud 

On a surfing trip, two women with an age difference attempt to navigate their uncertain relationship. Yet after an unexpected change in circumstances, they each begin to see themselves and their relationship in a new light. 

Yulin Yang | China | 2023 | 16min