Queer East

What Queer East does

Queer East is a London-based non-profit festival organisation founded in 2020 that produces a cross-disciplinary annual festival showcasing LGBTQ+ cinema, live arts, and moving image work from East and Southeast Asia and its diaspora communities. It serves LGBTQ+ audiences and the East/Southeast Asian diaspora in the UK alongside academic and cultural-sector partners, delivering film screenings, live performances, panel discussions, and curated strands such as DAYTRIP, Short Films, Industry Day: Performing Arts and dedicated UK premieres of titles like Blue Boy Trial (Japan, 2025), Bunny (Australia) and Dear Tenant (Taiwan). Programming is distributed across more than 30 partner venues including Barbican Centre, BFI Southbank, Battersea Arts Centre, ICA, Rich Mix, Genesis Cinema, Rio Cinema, The Garden Cinema and The Horse Hospital, with UK-wide extension to Cambridge Film Festival, Filmhouse Edinburgh and Iris Prize (Cardiff), and a complementary online screening platform (Queer East Player) for year-round global access.

The business model is a hybrid of Pay What You Can ticketing (with a £4.99 suggested price and discount codes THIRTYOFF, FIFTYOFF, SEVENTYOFF, CINEMAFORALL), sponsorships and partnerships, individual donations, and grant funding from public-sector and cultural institutions including BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund, National Lottery Community Fund, City of London Corporation, Westminster City Council, Ministry of Culture Taiwan, Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute and National Film Archive of Japan. The organisation is operationally lean — a core team of approximately 8 led by Festival & Programme Director Yi Wang, supported by Associate Programmers, an Operations Assistant, Marketing & Events Assistant, Volunteer Coordinator, Copy Editor, interns, a Festival Trailer Editor, PR contractors, and the Up Next: Future Film Curators Lab participants. No proprietary technology platform or AI/ML capability is disclosed; the underlying stack consists of a WordPress-style website, SumUp store for merchandise, social channels (Instagram, Bluesky, Letterboxd, YouTube) and an editorial Journal.

From a PE/VC/M&A lens, Queer East is not an investable equity asset — it is a registered non-profit with no parent company, no disclosed funding rounds, no equity instrument, and revenue/ARR not publicly disclosed. The entity value sits in brand equity, a six-year programming archive, an unusually deep institutional and community partner network, and a curated pipeline of Asian LGBTQ+ film and performance content that is difficult to replicate. Sensitivity is high to public-funder cycles (UK lottery, local-authority grants, Taiwanese cultural funding) and to key-person risk concentrated in the Festival Director.

Name

Queer East

Legal name

Queer East

Website

https://queereast.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Queer East is a London-based non-profit festival organisation founded in 2020 that showcases LGBTQ+ cinema, live arts, and moving image work from East and Southeast Asia. It serves LGBTQ+ and East/Southeast Asian diaspora communities via annual and year-round programming across 30+ UK partner venues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arts & Culture Festival Programming

NAICS

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks) (MPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fringe & Experimental Performing Arts (MPAGABAI), Virtual Community Festivals & Cultural Events (Online Celebrations) (MPAGAOAK)

Keywords

• LGBTQ+ film festival
• Asian cinema curation
• Live arts programming
• Cultural film events
• Diaspora film platform

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Festival Tickets: Revenue generated from ticket sales for film screenings, live arts performances, and special events during the annual festival and year-round programming.
2. Sponsorships and Partnerships: Financial and in-kind support from sponsors, partners, and cultural organizations to sustain festival operations and programming.
3. Donations and Support: As a non-profit project, Queer East relies on sponsors and supporters including individual donors and organizational backers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Queer East operates a cross-disciplinary festival showcasing boundary-pushing LGBTQ+ cinema, live arts, and moving image work from East and Southeast Asia and its diaspora communities. The annual festival runs at multiple London venues, complemented by year-round screenings, performances, and community programming, with access to select content also offered through the online Queer East Player platform.

Product overview

Queer East is a cross-disciplinary festival organization that showcases boundary-pushing LGBTQ+ cinema, live arts, and moving image work from East and Southeast Asia and its diaspora communities. The organization operates primarily as an annual festival (with its seventh edition running May-June 2026), complemented by year-round events programming, editorial content through its Journal platform, and merchandise through its Shop. The festival's core product is its multi-venue festival programme featuring film screenings, live arts performances, and moving image works across London venues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Queer East Festival Annual cross-disciplinary festival featuring boundary-pushing LGBTQ+ cinema, live arts, and moving image work from East and Southeast Asia, screened and performed across multiple London venues for LGBTQ+ communities, Asian diaspora audiences, and arts sector attendees.
• Year Round Events Calendar-year programming of screenings, performances, and community events held at partner venues beyond the main festival period, sustaining ongoing audience engagement for LGBTQ+ and Asian diaspora communities in the UK.
• Queer East Journal Online editorial platform publishing articles, film critiques, and cultural commentary tied to LGBTQ+ cinema from East and Southeast Asia for festival audiences, filmmakers, and academics.
• Queer East Shop Online retail store offering festival-branded merchandise and related items via the SumUp e-commerce platform.
• Queer East Player (Online Streaming Platform) Online streaming platform providing global, year-round access to selected films from the festival's programme for individual audiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5+ successful festivals produced since 2020 with growing audience reach
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Barbican CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor London arts centre and key festival partner hosting screenings and events as part of the annual festival programme.
• Battersea Arts CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading London arts venue collaborating with Queer East on live arts and performance programming.
• Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon institution dedicated to independent, experimental arts and film programming.
• Rich MixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon venue focused on showcasing diverse arts and cultures from East London and beyond.
• Genesis CinemamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent cinema in East London hosting festival screenings.
• Rio CinemamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity-run cinema in East London showing diverse programming including festival content.
• National Film Archive of JapanmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese government archive providing access to and support for Japanese film heritage content.
• Taiwan Film and Audiovisual InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTaiwanese institution supporting the preservation and international distribution of Taiwanese cinema.
• Collaborative Cataloging JapanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting collaborative preservation and cataloguing of Japanese film heritage.
• Museum of the HomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon museum exploring the concept of home and domestic life, hosting related festival events.
• The PlaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLondon venue for contemporary dance and theatre, supporting live arts programming.
• Queer AsiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization focused on queer Asian representation and community building.
• UK Asian Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating UK film festival focused on South Asian cinema and culture.
• Iris Prize LGBT+ Film FestivalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCardiff-based LGBTQ+ film festival partnering on screenings and audience development.
• Spectra, Queer Non Fiction FilmsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for queer non-fiction film programming and promotion.
• Taiwan Culture in EuropeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization promoting Taiwanese culture across European cultural institutions.
• Eaton HKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHong Kong-based cultural organization with European presence supporting Asian queer programming.
• Centre 151minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLondon venue hosting festival screenings and community events.
• Chats PalaceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity arts venue in East London supporting diverse programming.
• London LGBTQ+ Community CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization providing space and support for LGBTQ+ events and programming.
• MC2minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization supporting festival programming and community engagement.
• Dao DockminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting Asian arts and cultural programming.
• The Garden CinemaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBoutique cinema in London hosting festival screenings.
• The Culture LaboratoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting experimental and innovative cultural programming.
• WMAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the arts and cultural sector.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival: Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival is one of Asia's longest-running LGBTQ+ film festivals. Highly comparable to Queer East in focus (Asian LGBTQ+ cinema) but based in Asia; represents both a source of programming content and a potential cross-promotion or content partner for Queer East.
• Fringe! Film Fest: Fringe! is an independent London-based queer film and moving image festival. Comparable to Queer East as a grassroots, non-profit LGBTQ+ film festival operating year-round in London, though with broader (non-Asian-specific) programming.
• Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival: Iris Prize is a Cardiff-based LGBTQ+ short film festival. Comparable to Queer East as a UK LGBTQ+ film festival and as a confirmed Queer East partner; differs in being short-film-only and Wales-based.
• UK Asian Film Festival: UK Asian Film Festival is a London-based festival showcasing South Asian cinema and culture. Directly comparable to Queer East as a UK festival focused on Asian cinema and as a documented Queer East programming partner. Differs in regional focus (South vs East/Southeast Asia) and less emphasis on LGBTQ+ content.
• BFI Flare (London LGBTQ+ Film Festival): BFI Flare is the UK's flagship LGBTQ+ film festival, hosted by the British Film Institute. Directly comparable to Queer East as a London-based LGBTQ+ film event, though BFI Flare is considerably larger, more generalist, and focuses on Western/global LGBTQ+ cinema rather than East/Southeast Asian content.

Emerging players

• CAAMFest (Center for Asian American Media): CAAMFest is San Francisco's flagship Asian American film festival. Comparable to Queer East as a festival focused on Asian/Asian American cinema, though US-based and broader in scope, including significant LGBTQ+ programming.
• Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival: Taipei Golden Horse is one of the most prestigious Asian film festivals, showcasing Chinese-language cinema. Comparable to Queer East as a platform featuring Taiwanese and Chinese-language cinema; potential source of queer Asian cinema content and partner relationships (Queer East already partners with Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute).
• New York Asian Film Festival: New York Asian Film Festival is a major US-based showcase of contemporary Asian cinema. Comparable to Queer East as a festival curating East and Southeast Asian cinema for a Western audience, though not LGBTQ+-focused.

Regional players

• Tokyo Rainbow Pride: Tokyo Rainbow Pride is a large annual LGBTQ+ event in Japan featuring film, performances, and a parade. Comparable to Queer East as a multidisciplinary LGBTQ+ cultural event in East Asia, providing a regional benchmark for Asian queer programming scale.
• ShanghaiPRIDE Film Festival: ShanghaiPRIDE's film festival was a major LGBTQ+ film event in mainland China (suspended in 2020). Comparable to Queer East as an Asian LGBTQ+ film curator focused on the Sinophone region, providing a regional programming reference and potential content partnership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/queereast.org.uk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCABOLxJVuANeBvKQ6pcL-Bw
• Instagraminstagram.com/queereast
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/queereast

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Queer East