Fridae

Chinese filmmaker Fan Popo's latest documentary features six mothers from all over China who share their experiences of coming to accept their gay children as an increasing number of Chinese parents are stepping up and advocating acceptance by family members and society.

The HKLGFF will screen a total 54 films from around the world – exceeding any previous year's record – including five feature films and one short under the new bisexual category, one feature and four shorts under the lesbian porn category, and two French films to close: Stranger by the Lake, and Winner of this year's Palme d'Or at the Cannes film festival, Blue Is the Warmest Colour.

The festival marked the close of the 5-day, 28-film run last month at a small crowded cafe near Andingmen, Beijing with more cheer as usual as organisers report that this year marks the first time in its 13-year history that none of their events were disrupted nor did they have to engage in a cat and mouse game with the police as they did in previous years.

Call Me Kuchu, a powerful documentary about the struggle against Uganda’s "Kill the Gays bill" and which follows several LGBT activists including David Kato before he was murdered in 2011, will be screened at the Freedom Film Festival that runs this weekend in Petaling Jaya (Selangor), Penang on Oct 6 and Singapore on Oct 28.

Thailand's first lesbian movie Yes or No, which was a surprise hit in China and Taiwan, returns to the screen with a sequel this month. Doug Sanders, who reviewed the first on Fridae, reports on the new two hour-long film.

First started as Q!Screenings in 2002 in Jakarta, the festival now known as Q! Film Festival, is having its 10th run in the Indonesian capital and holds screenings in five other cities including Surabaya, Malang, Makassar, Bali and Yogyakarta.

The Asian Queer Film Festival, which features 13 Asian shorts and feature films, will run for two weekends from Jul 8-10 and 15-17.

The 5th Beijing Queer Film Festival was held from June 15-19 at different locations after the festival, which was scheduled to take place at an undisclosed location in the capital's Xicheng District, was forced to be cancelled.

India's largest queer Film Festival is underway in Mumbai with a line-up of 124 films from almost two dozen countries.

Thailand, which has the world's only 'Tom' (butch lesbian) magazine, has a new 'Tom' movie. Doug Sanders reports.