Films & Documentaries

On May 14, 2025, filmmaker Karen Remoto hosted a webinar for PSI on Queer Asian Narratives and how they shape our understanding of queer, trans Asian narratives, as well as how they can be reclaimed from exotification and model minority.

Based on that webinar, this resource was created to share the different films discussed, that offer an insight into how dominant monolithic understandings of queer and trans Asian have shifted through time.

Synopsis-After fleeing for his life, a gay refugee files for asylum in Scotland. Lacking evidence, he decides to photograph himself in the dark techno world of a queer underground scene. Based on accounts of real-life African LGBT refugees and the challenges they face during the asylum process, Crypsis is a raw depiction of a grim reality obscured by vitriolic public debate about refugees and the broken system that surrounds them.

This feature documentary follows three newly arrived people in Canada and their experiences with the Canadian Refugee process. As claims are assessed and paperwork is double checked, we begin to examine exactly who can be considered a refugee.

Note: The film is from 1998, and many components are outdated. It serves more of a n archival work for reflecting on how the Canadian asylum process has and has not changed since the late 90s.

Content Warning- This film contains scenes depicting homophobia and violence, which may be disturbing to some viewers.

Someone Like Me follows the parallel journeys of Drake, a gay asylum seeker from Uganda, and a group of strangers from Vancouver’s queer community who are tasked with supporting his resettlement in Canada. Together, they embark on a year-long quest for personal freedom, revealing how in a world where one must constantly fight for the right to exist, survival itself becomes a victory.

NOTE: This film will be available for free soon at the National Film Board.

An excellent video project that explores the nuances of reconciling identities for queer Muslims. This short video (about 7,5 minutes) includes interviews with 10 LGBTQIA+ identified Muslims about their experiences with coming into their sexuality and faith. 

This 23 minutes short documentary is a story of an immigrant from Tanzania who came to Canada as a young boy. In the process of overcoming personal challenges of identity and belonging, El-Farouk has dedicated himself to creating a world of wellness and oneness. Produced by Canadian Race Relations Foundation. 

Last Chance (Dir. Paul Émile d'Entremont, 2012) is a feature documentary that tells the stories of 5 asylum seekers who flee their native countries to escape homophobic violence. They face hurdles integrating into Canada, fear deportation and anxiously await a decision that will change their lives forever.