Application deadline: 15 January 2026
Opportunity: Guest Curatorial Programme
Festival: Queer East Festival 2026
Location: London, UK (with potential UK-wide tour)
Festival dates: May–June 2026
Fee: £400 curation fee
Production budget: Up to £500 per project
Format: Film screening event with live element (up to 120 minutes)
Participation: Remote participation for non-UK based applicants
Opportunity Overview
Applications are now open for guest curatorial programmes at Queer East Festival 2026. Initiated in 2024, the open call aims to support a more open and decentralised programming model, spotlighting authentic, diverse, and dynamic voices from queer East and Southeast Asian communities and their diasporas.
The call is open to curators, programmers, and cultural creatives interested in proposing original screening events that engage with queer experiences in East and Southeast Asia, while challenging dominant narratives of gender, sexuality, Asian-ness, and queerness.
About the Project
The programme seeks original, playful, and bold ideas for film screening events that broaden audiences’ perspectives and push conventional norms. Applicants do not need prior film programming experience and may come from a wide range of creative and disciplinary backgrounds.
Each proposal must include:
- A film screening related to queer East or Southeast Asian communities or narratives
- An additional live element, such as a performance, panel discussion, Q&A, workshop, or poetry reading
The total event duration should be no longer than 120 minutes. There are no restrictions on film genre or format, and submissions may include fiction films, documentaries, archive films, or artist moving image works. Curated programmes of short-length works are particularly encouraged.
Presentation and Touring
Selected proposals will be presented at Queer East Festival 2026 in London. There is also potential for inclusion in Queer East: On The Road, a nationwide touring programme reaching venues across the UK.
Fee and Budget
Each selected project will receive:
- A one-off £400 curation fee
- A production budget of up to £500, covering costs such as film rights, speaker fees, and related expenses
Detailed guidance on eligible production costs will be provided to selected curators.
Who Can Apply
Applications are accepted from individuals, collectives, and organisations worldwide. For applicants based outside the UK, participation will be remote, as international travel and accommodation cannot be covered.
Applicants from all experience levels and disciplines are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
Proposals should be sent by email to Yi Wang, Artistic Director, at proposal@queereast.org.uk with the subject line:
“Open Call: Guest Curatorial Programme – [Your Name]”
Submissions must be either:
- A written document of no more than three pages, or
- A video submission of less than ten minutes
Proposals must address the following:
- Background of the applicant, collective, or organisation
- Relevant programming or curation experience (if applicable)
- Motivation for working with Queer East
- Description of the proposed programme, including themes, films, relevance to queerness and East/Southeast Asian contexts, potential partners or speakers, and intended audience
- An approximate budget
Assessment Process
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of Queer East team members and external professionals. Three proposals will be selected for presentation at the festival.
Assessment criteria include:
- Ambition and originality
- Feasibility
- Relevance to the festival’s focus
- Audience appeal
- Strength of contextualisation between queerness and Asian identities
Applicants will receive confirmation of receipt within 14 days of submission. All applicants will be notified of the outcome by 8 February 2026.
Support Provided
Selected curators will work closely with the Artistic Director and festival team to realise their proposals. Support includes access to current film submissions and, where appropriate, suggestions for films or guest speakers to help finalise the programme.
Key Dates
Application deadline: 15 January 2026
Notification of outcome: By 8 February 2026
For questions related to the open call, applicants may contact Yi Wang at proposal@queereast.org.uk.
