Hong Kong Film Fun
Ray Yeung is fearless leader of Asia’s oldest rainbow film fest
Ray Yeung is the go-to Hong Kong filmmaker of all things gay — so gay, in fact, that we just featured him in BUTT 37. This month, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council voted down a government bill that would have granted limited legal rights such as hospital visitation and post-death arrangements, to same-sex couples registered overseas. The bill was defeated by a significant margin, revealing rampant institutionalized homophobia in the East Asian megalopolis. Still, that doesn’t stop queer audiences from flocking each year to the Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, which Ray has led for the past 25 years, pushing for sex-friendly film on the silver screen, in spite of government censors.
This year’s festival is happening from now until 27 September at multiple venues across the city, with plenty of parties in-between. We asked Ray for some highlights from the program that best capture the mood of the vertical city. He told us: ‘don’t forget to bring a box of tissues along with your popcorn — you might need them for tears, laughter…or cum!’
Cave
“Tang Kwan Yeung Owen’s short follows a man who feels alienated at home and encounters a lonely sex addict in a gay sauna.”
White Ballet Skirt
“Tsoi Yun Chark tells the story of a boy who conceals his wish for a ballet skirt, fearing his father’s reaction.”
Hong Kong Heels
“This documentary from Elias Fritz & Carlos Laux y Silió follows a quiet man who lives with his parents but finds solace in dressing up as a Pansze Diva, embracing freedom and self-expression.”
When the Petals Fall
“Tsoi Ka Hin’s entry delves into the unsettling dynamics between an old man with pedophilic tendencies and his neighbor’s young son on a lonely night.”
Three Kilometers to the End of the World
“Emanuel Parvu’s Queer Palm-winning film follows a young man who returns to his home village in Romania to visit his family. One night, he is beaten up, and as his father seeks to uncover the attackers’ identities, he discovers the latent and overt homophobia present in the small town. This one isn’t from Hong Kong, but its narrative reflects the current situation here, where those in power show a lack of compassion for minority groups and remain indifferent to the pursuit of equality.”
