First art festival focuses on LGBT community

The LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people) community will be the central focus of an art festival taking place from December 14-29 in Hanoi, according to Viet Nam News.
The LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people) community willbe the central focus of an art festival taking place from December 14-29in Hanoi, according to Viet Nam News.

Co-organisedby Nha San Collective, Goethe-Institut, and Manzi Art Space, the QueerForever festival will focus on the images of gay and transgender peoplethrough films, open discussions and art works.

Tothat end, organisers expect the art festival will create dialogues andenhance abilities to argue on social and cultural aspects of the art, aswell as sexual diversity through art forms and exchanges amongresearchers, social activists and artists.

On theopening day, renowned film director Phan Dang Di will present a talkentitled "Images of gay and transgender people in Vietnamesecontemporary cinema: Rebellion within frames," at Goethe Institut Hanoi.The presentation is followed by a discussion moderated by Marcus ManhCuong Vu, director of Yxine Film Fest.

Vu will show aseries of four short documentaries competing for the Yxine Film Fest'sHeart of Rainbow awards the following day at Nha San Collective.

The first day will also host the screening of Nguyen Trinh Thi'sdocumentary "Love Man Love Woman" (2007). In this documentary, thefilmmaker follows Master Luu Ngoc Duc, one of the most prominentspiritual mediums in Hanoi, and his vibrant community through theirrituals and everyday lives. The film explores how effeminate and gay menin Vietnam have traditionally found community and expression in thecountry's popular "Dao Mau" (Mother Goddess) worshipping ritual.

Following the film, a panel discussion on topics of gay andtransgender people in Dao Mau ritual will be held with participantsincluding the film's director, guest speaker Pham Quynh Phuong fromResearch Institute of Society, Economics and Environment, and Vu DucViet, Researcher and medium of "Dao Mau".

Thetwo-week event will also feature talks by a number of speakers. TranNgoc Hieu of Hanoi National University of Education will share his studyon gay people in Vietnam's literature on December 27, while artresearcher Do Tuong Linh will present Same sex desires in contemporaryVietnamese paintings on December 29.

Also, artexchanges will include a discussion with photographer Maika Elan on therole of photography in building images of LGBT people on December 29.

From December 20-29, a range of art works by GabbyQuynh Anh Miller, Nguyen Tan Hoang, Viet Le, Nguyen Quoc Thanh and LuYang will be presented at the Nha San Collective.

Of note, Vietnamese filmmakers have been paying more attention to the topic of gay and transgender in recent years.

Feature films Choi Voi (Adrift, 2009) by director Bui Thac Chuyen, and"Bi, dung so!" (Bi, don't be afraid, 2010) by director Phan Dang Dibrought home awards from renowned international film festivals. DirectorVu Ngoc Dang's "Hot boy noi loan" (Lost in Paradise, 2011) brought thefilm to both international and domestic audiences.

Most recently, gay people, as portrayed by both foreign and Vietnamesecharacters, are featured in director Ham Tran's "Am muu giay got nhon"(How to fight on a six-inch heel, 2013). The movie has gained success asone of the latest productions in Vietnam.

Accordingly, events will be held at Nha San Collective, 3rd floor, HouseA, 9 Tran Thanh Tong, Goethe-Institut, 56-58, Nguyen Thai Hoc, andManzi Art Space, 14 Phan Huy Ich.-VNA

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