This special screening at New Narative Film Festival seeks to place a spotlight on identity issues faced by young people in Bangkok, Thailand, and by extension, young people all over the world.

#BKKY, a 2016 film directed by Nontawat Numbenchapol, delves into the world of Bangkok teens discovering and grappling with their gender identities. Their experiences and feelings can speak to us all: in a time of extreme polarization, marked by a conflict between progressive values and stubbornly social taboos, young people find themselves mired in a confusing landscape when it comes to ethnicity, politics and gender.

Here in Taiwan, the screening of #BKKY offers an opportunity for reflection. Although Taiwan is Asia’s first country to legalize gay marriage, the question of whether “true freedom” exists for the LGBTQIA community remains just that: a question that still needs to be explored with depth and sensitivity.

After the screening, all are encouraged to stay and enjoy the afterparty. DJ David Geer from Germany will provide improvised electronica music to accompany a screening of another short film by Numbenchapol, “Skateboarding.”