Empty Closets

On Queer Liberation

To be queer is to live in defiance of closets imposed by fear and prejudice. This forum gathers narratives of love, survival, and resistance, reminding us that queer stories are not margins, but essential threads of our collective fight for human rights.

Schedule

Short Films

Heels To Heal

By Justice Khor

Documentary | 2024 | 20 mins | Malaysia

LOGLINE

A musical documentary celebrating Malaysian queer resilience as three local drag queens heal deep wounds through what they do best—heels, makeup, music, and dance.

If I Were A Voice

By Denbert Tiamson

Fiction | 2024 | 20 mins | Philippines

LOGLINE

After discovering the dismissal of abuse and violation occurring inside school premises, a queer student leader who finds himself barred from a speech choir performance, sought to an ensemble to uncover the truth behind the academe, liberating survivors of abuse and addressing corruption in the institution.

Attached

By Byakta BaBam

Docu, Fiction| 2024 | 27 mins | Indonesia

LOGLINE

Attached is a story that flows gently in the pulse of Babam, a figure forging his path through the vibrant world of Kabaret Raminten in Yogyakarta. Behind the quiet door of his room, Babam brushes a wig, prepares a costume, and summons Luna—an alter ego that only appears under the stage light. In a gentle conversation with Luna, they reminisce about the shadows of the past, the threats from those who misunderstand them, the stigma clinging to their bodies, and the tireless struggle to bring art to life on a vibrant stage.

A Catholic Schoolgirl

By Myra Angeline Soriaso

Fiction | 2023 | 17 mins | Philippines

LOGLINE

A 15-year-old A-student defies the views of her all-girls Catholic school as she confronts her feelings for a school nun.

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Other films we are screening

Not on Our Watch | On Freedom of Expression

When art, media, and dissent are suppressed, democracy itself is under siege. This forum spotlights stories of courage from those who dare to speak truth to power, affirming that the freedom to create and express cannot, and must not, be silenced.

Magellan

by Lav Diaz | The Philippines’ official entry to the 98th Academy Awards

A portrayal of Ferdinand Magellan and Beatriz Barbosa's 1517 marriage in Seville, focusing on their brief time together before his departure on the Spanish crown's expedition.

Ghosts of Future Past | On Martial Law

Southeast Asian Short Films Exhibition and Discussion

This year’s Active Vista Human Rights Festival: TRESE calls you to gather, remember, and resist, through powerful films that confront the haunting legacies of Martial Law.

Climate Story Lab

After a year of development and creation, the four grantees of the Climate Story Lab are finally ready for their first screening!