Following in the tradition of Hong Kong's fabled soft melodramas is Simon Chung's (STANLEY BELOVED, SFIAAFF '99) feature debut, a flowing and satisfying exploration of the love and pains between a determined college student and his reluctant and very white English literature professor. While Mark is a curious and needy homebody, Professor Graham is an unstable writer-blocked playwright bent on self-destruction. Through the interludes of office hours and classroom readings of Maurice and Lolita, their insecurities peel away, revealing a companionship stronger than the social-sexual norms it defies.

Long-time gay rights activist Mickey Chen begins his Flaming Kids in Floating Cities documentary series on queer youth culture in Asia with this profile of three Taiwanese teenagers who are coming of age and self-awareness. Hsiao Yu is an LA-bound film student caught up in his broken heart and accepting, but still uneasy family. Morgan is a self-assured spirit, comfortable in either his boys-school uniform or mascara, performing classroom presentations on homosexuality. Most compelling is L'il Bing, the star drag queen of Taipei's biggest queer night club, who is propelled almost entirely by the incredible support of his family. The first documentary to achieve theatrical release in Taiwan, BOYS FOR BEAUTY is a warm, personal and positive look at the often harsh realities of growing up queer in Asia.