Queer East: Interview with festival director WANG Yi

This interview with Wang Yi, director of the Queer East Festival, explores the festival's origins, challenges, and development over its five-year span. Wang shares the personal motivation behind creating a platform for showcasing East and Southeast Asian LGBTQ+ cinema, filling a significant gap in film circulation in the United Kingdom. The discussion highlights key issues faced by the festival, such as the pandemic’s impact and securing sustainable funding. Wang also talks about the programming strategies, emphasizing diversity in film selection and addressing the complexity of queer Asian identities. Wang reflects on the festival’s expansion to a multidisciplinary format, including dance, visual arts, and literature, aiming to provide a richer exploration of queer expression. The interview underscores Queer East’s mission to foster cross-cultural understanding and amplify underrepresented voices in the creative landscape.