At just 16, Kim Si-a proved she is a truly talented young actress with her superb performance in Summer’s Camera, directed by Divine Sung. She beautifully portrayed the emotions of a teenager experiencing grief and self-discovery through her first love. After the world premiere at the 39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, we sat…
Tag: LGBTQ Cinema
39th BFI FLARE: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival: “After the Snowmelt” Review
Taiwanese-born director Yi-Shan Lo’s latest documentary, After the Snowmelt (2024), which premiered at the 2024 Visions du Réel festival in the Burning Lights Competition, and was also shown at this year’s BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, is an emotional and visually striking exploration of grief, survival, and identity. After the Snowmelt challenges traditional storytelling…
39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival: In Conversation with Divine Sung, Director of “Summer’s Camera” – Exclusive Interview
Divine Sung is a filmmaker based in Seoul with an MFA in Film Directing from the Korea National University of Arts. She has directed short films such as True Story (2018) and My Boyfriend and Our Yesterday (2023). Summer’s Camera is her feature film debut. Summer’s Camera had its world premiere at the 39th BFI…
39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – “Summer’ Camera” Review
Having its world premiere at this year’s BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, Summer’s Camera is the feature directorial debut of Divine Sung, a South Korean filmmaker. The film depicts a wonderful and subtle exploration of youth and love. It also captures the theme of self-discovery while painting a portrait of a high school student,…
39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival: “Manok” Review
Every metal guitar wants a powerful amplifier. Yang Mal-bok is delightfully animated in Lee Yu-jin’s Manok, a film where zest is absolutely mandatory. Shortly after the first frame’s bright rainbow flag passes us by, we meet the titular Manok, a lively and impulsive bar owner who hosts LGBTQIA+ parade parties in Seoul. In a bold…
39th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – In Conversation with Minh Quý Trương, Director of “Việt and Nam”
Minh Quý Trương, a filmmaker from Buôn Ma Thuột, Vietnam, began his artistic journey by attending film school but dropped out in 2008 to pursue independent filmmaking. His early exposure to cinema led him to participate in the Asian Film Academy and the Berlinale Talents program, which enhanced his passion for storytelling and filmmaking. Trương’s…
38th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – In Conversation with Yun Su-ik, Director of “Heavy Snow”
There are countless film narratives out there that not only entertain but also challenge societal norms, encouraging viewers to discuss the difficulties of human relationships and identity. Heavy Snow, a film that depicts the themes of love, social taboos, and personal growth, shows the true power of storytelling. We sat down with the film’s director,…
38th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – In Conversation with Han Hae-in of “Heavy Snow”
In films, where stories are displayed like flower petals in the wind, there’s a special place where characters come alive, showing us what it means to be human. And one of the shining stars is Han Hae-in. She’s known for her amazing talent in bringing characters to life on screen. Before she portrayed Su-an in…
38th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – In Conversation with Su I-Hsuan, Director of “Who’ll Stop the Rain”
Taiwan’s politics has always included a range of issues such as relations with mainland China, sovereignty, democracy, and human rights. These issues have sparked significant debate and activism within Taiwanese society, driving movements for greater autonomy, democratic reforms, and social justice. Looking at the cinematic narratives, some stories combine personal lives with politics in a…
38th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – In Conversation with Yuqing Lai, Director of “Two Suns”
In its 38th year, BFI Flare: LGBTQIA+ Film Festival in London shines with its programme yet again. Apart from big names and films on the menu, the festival also included little gems from the Asian continent, and Two Suns is one of them. Written and directed by Yuqing Lai, the short film, characterised by its…
38th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival – In Conversation with Heo Ha-yeon, Director of “Nobody Knows”
While LGBTQIA+ cinema is still not seen in a favourable light in South Korea, many filmmakers dare to venture into that territory, and rightfully so, whether they are part of the community or not. Although not all of these films can be screened in the country itself, international festivals, including BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film…
74th Berlin International Film Festival: In Conversation with Anthony Schatteman, Director of “Young Hearts”
During the 74th Berlin Film Festival, just two days before the festival’s curtain called, I had the distinct pleasure of engaging in a candid conversation with the filmmaker Anthony Schatteman. His film, Young Hearts, earned a special mention from the discerning children’s jury in the Generation Kplus Best Film category. Young Hearts is rooted in…
BFI Flare: LGBTQ+ Film Festival: “Rurangi” Review
No matter where you go in the world, rural areas are almost always more traditionally conservative than metropolitan ones. You’ve read the countless think pieces on behalf of the “forgotten America” that voted for Trump to the shock of the cities, and you’ve seen how the Conservative party has a stronghold on the British countryside,…
BFI Flare: LGBTQ+ Film Festival: “Boy Meets Boy” Review
Much like how Pulp Fiction spawned an entire genre of poor imitators, Andrew Haigh’s 2011 film Weekend has a lot to answer for. The beautiful simplicity of that whirlwind gay romance seems effortless in the hands of such an accomplished filmmaker, to the extent that countless other filmmakers have seen it and assumed they too…
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