The figure “5” is quite an important one. It’s the figure in the middle. It also means we are on the way to a better stability. Five years is not really a short time but we are not alone. With all the little support over the years, we are growing in a slow pace but in a constant path.

The 5th edition of Q! Film Festival marks a momentum. The Teddy Award section from the Berlin Film Festival has become a part of our big family. Our little festival is now officially the “Teddy On Tour”. Being acknowledged by one of the biggest film festivals is an honour but it also encourages us to do a better job for more years to come. A better programming can be seen already this year with an array of some award-winning films, even an Oscar nominated can be spotted this year.

Not only with Berlin Film Festival, the collaboration amongst other queer film festivals already started since two years ago where Mix Brasil Film Festival, Hamburg Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and us exchanged a short film program. Another new partner is Out in Africa Film Festival from South Africa joined us this year. Director producer Nodi Murphy and Sharon Jackson will be presenting a compilation of short films.

The partnership is not only going out but also within this country. Jogjakarta and Bali have been organising the festival annually. This year, some of the films will be held at the same time at Kudos Bar in Seminyak, Bali. It’s a new achievement and will grow and grow, hopefully.

Some of the highlights this year include Patrick Carpentier’s “Combat”, Olivier Meyrou’s “Beyond Hatred”, Auraeus Solito’s first feature “The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros”. All the three mentioned above are the winners at Berlin Film Festival this year. We found more lesbian titles that are quite interesting and worth watching: LOVING ANNABELLE, the wonderful JOURNEY TO KAFIRISTAN, and INNER CIRCLE LINE.

The heating debate on the Anti Pornography bill has become our concern too. A discussion on homosexual rights as an oppose to the law will be moderated by Irma Hutabarat. Arus Pelangi, an organization who is active in defending rights for sexual minorities, teams up with us to present this valuable discussion.

As an international festival, we try our best to show films from as many different countries as possible. From Chile to China, from Korea to Slovakia, it is to show the context of sexual issues from the countries we rarely hear.

Most of the events are free and we will try to maintain it that way, so that the audience have a luxury going to watch films without even have to worry how much they have in their pockets.

We would like to extend our gratitude to all who have been supporting us to make this festival. Without you, we will not be here today.

Happy Festival !