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QUEER AS PUNK

In Muslim-majority Malaysia, a queer punk band led by a trans man are outliers of the system —carving out spaces to exist through their music while challenging conservative traditions and religious extremism. Brash, defiant and wickedly funny, punk rockers Shh…Diam! are an underground sensation in Kuala Lumpur. An all-queer band led by charismatic trans man Farris Saad, they’ve won devoted fans. Malaysia’s harsh laws are no laughing matter, however, and they put Farris and his band mates at real risk of state persecution. They tour, perform, and protest, showcasing resilience, camaraderie, and the rebellious punk ethos amid societal constraints.

THE FILMMAKER

Yihwen Chen Wen is a Malaysian documentary filmmaker and journalist. Her body of work primarily focuses on human rights, social issues and gender equality, politics and environmental justice. Her documentary on female circumcision, The Hidden Cut, won the Society Of Publishers in Asia 2019 Awards for Excellence in Reporting Women’s Issues. In 2019, her debut feature documentary, Eye on the Ball, about Malaysia’s blind football team premiered in London. Most recently, Wen’s #MeToo short documentary, The Boys Club, won the NETPAC Award during its world premiere at the Busan International Short Film Festival 2022. Wen's second feature documentary, Queer As Punk, spotlighting marginalized communities in Malaysia, was supported by the Hot Docs CrossCurrents Fund and IDA Pare Lorentz Documentary Fund and premiered at Berlinale 2025. She is also an alumna of IDFAcademy and American Film Showcase.

AWARDS AND FESTIVALS

Best Documentary — Image+Nation Festival cinéma LGBT2SQ+, Canada
Honorable Mention — Wicked Queer Documentary Festival (WQ:Docs), US
Special Mention / Peace Film Prize — Berlin International Film Festival, Germany
TEDDY Award Program— Berlin International Film Festival, Germany
(Nominated) Berlinale Documentary Film Award — Berlin International Film Festival, Germany
International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), Netherlands
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Canada
Singapore International Film Festival, Singapore
NewFest: The New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival, US
One World International Human Rights Film Festival, Czech Republic
IN-EDIT Barcelona International Music Documentary Film Festival, Spain
ReFrame Film Festival, Canada

QUEER AS PUNK

Catalog # EPF16126 ● ISBN: 978-1-963201-66-6 ● UPC: 6-82086-16126-6 ● NTSC

91 Minutes ● Copyright 2025 ● English, Malay, English Subtitles

For purchase orders, to book screenings and for other inquiries, please contact:
Larry Rattner - larry@epfmedia.com

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