Homeland

Under the increasingly oppressive social environment in China, queer film festival curator "Xiao Ma" is forced to struggle amidst censorship and fear. Before ultimately choosing to leave this land, he must confront the conflicts and dilemmas tearing him between identity, ideals, and reality.

At the end of 2022, in a provincial capital in western China, an air of unease lingers. Xiao Ma, a queer film festival curator, is secretly preparing for the annual LGBTQ film festival. However, as censorship tightens, he faces repeated interrogations and pressure from state security, making the festival increasingly difficult to carry out. Amid countless edits, bans, and compromises, anxiety and exhaustion gradually consume him, straining even his closest relationships.

The festival finally arrives as scheduled, but on the eve of the screenings, Xiao Ma receives a final ultimatum from the authorities: if he proceeds, he will face severe consequences. Confronted with this threat, he is forced into a painful decision. Ultimately, the festival flickers to life in the theater under looming shadows, yet under the immense pressure, Xiao Ma finds himself at a point of no return.

At the moment the projector dims, it seems he has made a new choice.

Producer: Matthew is a Paris-based filmmaker and LGBTQ+ activist from China whose work focuses on queer community building and storytelling.

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