Stand By Me: Queer Korean Documentaries: 3 x FTM

When: Saturday, February 21, 2026, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Where: BLOC Cinema, ArtsOne Building, Mile End

For more than 20 years, queer feminist collective PINKS 연분홍치마 has merged activism with filmmaking to highlight the political struggles of marginalised groups in South Korea. This LGBTQ+ History Month, we present five of PINKS’ documentaries that illuminate a rich plurality of queer stories.

Three trans men discuss their diverging experiences of being ‘FTM’ in South Korea: Ko has been taking hormones for years in the belief that he must become completely masculine to be accepted; Han undergoes top surgery and feels ambivalent about his identity; while Kim finds that legally changing his gender opens up more questions than answers. Through interviews and drunken conversations, the trio explore their desires and fears, detailing the societal barriers they face as well as questioning stereotypes around masculinity. An early example of PINKS’ commitment to ethics and questions of representation that would fully blossom in Edhi Alice (2024), 3xFTM is nonetheless a frank and empathetic look into three complex lives, grounded in their friendship with the film crew.

Presented in partnership with BLOC, Queen Mary University of London.