Aud Mason-Hyde - “Jimpa,” Family Filmmaking, and Authentic Queer Storytelling

Alex Farah - "One Day This Kid" and the Search for Queer Afghan Visibility

Join us for an intimate conversation with Alex, director of the short film "One Day This Kid," which screened at the Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Inspired by Polish American artist David Wojnarowicz's powerful photo-text collage from the AIDS crisis era, the film explores the coming-of-age journey of a young boy in an Afghan Canadian family in Vancouver. In this episode, we discuss the nuances of depicting queer childhood curiosity on screen, the complicated relationship between masculinity and intimacy in Afghan culture, and the painful beauty of family relationships that drift apart without clear resolution. Alex shares candid insights about working with child actors, the challenges of being a queer Afghan filmmaker seeking visibility in a community with limited representation, and the reality of campaigning for Oscar recognition as an independent filmmaker. From wrestling as homoerotic awakening to the limitations of expressing deep emotions in a second language, this conversation touches on the universal experiences that connect queer people across cultures while honouring the specific complexities of the Afghan diaspora experience.

Mathias Broe & William Lippert - Sauna: Bridging Gaps in the Queer Community

In this special bonus episode with the Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, we sit down with director Mathias Broe to discuss "Sauna" - a groundbreaking film that tackles the uncomfortable truth that even within the LGBTQ+ community, we don't always understand each other. Set in Copenhagen's vibrant queer scene, the film follows Johan, a gay man searching for genuine connection in a world of hookups, and William, a trans man fighting for access to basic gender-affirming care. Through their story, Mathias explores gay loneliness, the hollowing effects of dating apps, and why someone can be both trans AND gay (a concept that still confuses many). We discuss the importance of separatist spaces, authentic trans representation on screen, why different letters of LGBTQ+ need to support each other's fights, and how showing our struggles to each other - rather than just pointing fingers at the majority - can bridge understanding. Raw, educational, and deeply human - this conversation will challenge how you think about identity, community, and connection.

Tom Phillips - Making a Galaxy-Sized Comedy, Lesbian Space Princess

Chester and Scotty sit down with producer Tom Phillips to dive deep into “Lesbian Space Princess,” the animated comedy that’s been making audiences laugh from Berlin to Hong Kong. Tom shares the wild origin story of how directors Emma Hough Hobbs and Lila Varghese pitched the film with just a few pictures and a title, the genius “Legally Blonde but lesbian space princess” concept, and how they managed to create an entire galaxy with only two full-time animators in just 12 months. From casting Richard Roxburgh as a problematic spaceship to designing the hilariously villainous Straight White Maliens, Tom reveals the smart creative choices and heartfelt storytelling that makes this film work for both LGBTQ+ audiences seeking representation. Perfect listening for film lovers, animation enthusiasts, and anyone curious about how bold, joyful queer cinema gets made. Part of our Hong Kong LGBTQ+ Film Festival interview series.

David Ledger - Breaking the Silence Around Elderly Sexuality in Rejoyce!

British filmmaker David Ledger joins us fresh off the plane to discuss his deeply personal debut short film Rejoyce!, screening at the Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. What began as grief for his grandmother Joyce transformed into a radical story about an 85-year-old woman discovering her sexual agency - challenging everything we assume about older people’s desires and identities. In this candid conversation, David reveals how he imagined an alternate timeline for his enigmatic grandmother, why women of her generation lacked the words to conceptualise their own sexuality, and the surprising responses he’s received from older queer audiences worldwide. We explore the intersection of faith and desire, the complexities of directing intimate scenes with older actors, and why churches proved more welcoming than expected. David also shares practical insights from transforming grief into art, the importance of asking our grandparents uncomfortable questions before it’s too late, and his plans to expand Winifred’s story into a feature film. A thoughtful discussion about representation, intergenerational communication, and the hidden stories that exist in every family.

Aud Mason-Hyde - “Jimpa,” Family Filmmaking, and Authentic Queer Storytelling

In our first bonus episode from the Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, we sit down with Aud Mason-Hyde, the young filmmaker and activist behind the deeply personal film “Jimpa.” Starring alongside John Lithgow and Olivia Colman, Aud discusses making a family drama with their actual family, the power of authentic representation, and how their viral TED talk at age 12 shaped their approach to storytelling. A beautiful conversation about identity, vulnerability, and the courage to tell your own story.