QueerFrames Lab Expands to Southeast Asia, Unveils New Mentors and Cohort
Entertainment

QueerFrames Lab Expands to Southeast Asia, Unveils New Mentors and Cohort

authorBy Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
DateSep 24, 2026
Read Time2 min

The QueerFrames Screenwriting Lab, a dedicated program for emerging queer, transgender, and nonbinary filmmakers, is broadening its scope with its fourth annual installment. This expansion brings together talented storytellers from India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, and the diaspora, fostering a wider community of diverse voices in cinema.

The 2026 cohort will feature eight fiction feature projects, each deeply exploring queer themes. Filmmakers selected for this prestigious program include Alec Berame and Joshua Caesar Medroso from the Philippines, Saurav Mahind and Sanju Kadu from India, Minh-Anh Vo Dinh from Vietnam and Canada, Megan Teo from Singapore, Kurnia Alexander from Indonesia, and Rachel Leyco from the U.S. Their narratives explore intricate aspects of identity, personal connections, masculinity, belonging, and individual freedom, weaving these elements into a rich tapestry of love stories, thrillers, horror, and dramedies.

The 2026 edition of QueerFrames will commence with an in-person screenwriting retreat in Hua Hin, Thailand, from September 23 to October 2. Following this, an Industry Day will be held in Bangkok on October 3, organized in collaboration with the French Embassy in Thailand, Alliance Française Bangkok, and the French Regional Audiovisual Cooperation. Virtual sessions will then continue until March 2027. This year's program is generously supported by Netflix and the French Institute in India, with additional contributions from the Purin Film Fund in Thailand and Momo Film Co in Singapore.

The QueerFrames initiative serves as a crucial platform for underrepresented filmmakers, nurturing their creative visions and connecting them with a global network of industry professionals. By providing mentorship and development opportunities, the lab empowers these artists to tell their unique stories with authenticity and impact, enriching the cinematic landscape with diverse perspectives and narratives.

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