Queer East: Love Bound + Q&A CTBA

LGBTQ+ activist Qiuyan Chen became an unexpected celebrity due to her courageous legal battle against homophobic university textbooks in the 2010s. However, this newfound fame came at a price: she was outed by her tutor, subjected to conversion therapy by her parents, and monitored by the Chinese government.

To escape these pressures, Qiuyan left for the UK, where she met her partner Bling: but her struggles were far from over. Interweaving reflections on Qiuyan’s sexuality and relationships, Shanshan Chen’s documentary examines this inspiring activist’s commitment to building a close-knit community designed to support queer East Asian people in the UK: a solo endeavour that evolves into a movement with a growing support base.

Love Bound is a compelling story about love, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for a better world.

This screening is followed by an in-person Q&A with director Shanshan Chen, and protagonist Qiuyan Chen, moderated by Frit Tam (Adventure Doc Filmmaker and Director of Sheffield Adventure Film Festival)