Pageantry and Performance in Contemporary Southeast Asian Cinema: A Visual Talk

Sometimes our boldest moments of becoming happen under pressure, or when we step into the spotlight. In this visual talk, Suyin Haynes guides audiences through three decades of Southeast Asian queer cinema history, exploring spectacle, rivalry, transformation and public performance across the region. Inspired by 10s Across the Borders, a documentary exploring ballroom culture, this event highlights films depicting moments of transformation and the connections these shifts hold with queerness. From beauty queens and boxing rings to drag stages and documentary portraiture, it stages a focused introduction to performance cultures in Southeast Asian cinema. Prepare to meet colourful characters from Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, and leave inspired by their exuberance and energy.