Yihwen Chen · Malaysia, Indonesia · 2025 · 87 min
FEATURES COMPETITION
Faris is the transman lead singer of Shh..Diam!, an openly queer punk band in Malaysia. Together with his bandmates Yon and Yoyo, they use their music to fight for LGBTQ+ rights in a country where human rights and freedom of expression is severely curtailed by a conservative Muslim society. Faced with increasing discrimination, Yoyo decides to leave Malaysia. Despite the challenges, Faris chooses to stay, determined to continue using their music as a platform for advocating for freedom and equality, refusing to let the pressures of society silence their voice.
Documentary · Drama, Music · All ages
Language: English, Malay
Themes: Queer, culture, LGBTQ+
Screenplay: Yihwen Chen
Producers: Yihwen Chen, Mandy Marahimin
Cinematographer: Yihwen Chen
Editors: Angen Sodo, Yihwen Chen
Production: Locke Films, Talamedia
This project began in 2017 when I met Shh...Diam!, Malaysia’s first publicly queer punk band. Led by Faris, a trans Muslim man, their music boldly critiques state power and societal norms. As I gained unprecedented access to their world, I witnessed not just performances, but a deeper story of resilience, humour, and chosen family under threat. Malaysia is one of the most hostile countries in the world for transgender people, with laws that criminalise gender expression and same-sex relationships. As a Malaysian filmmaker who also understands what it means to be seen as less-than, I tell this story not just as an observer, but as an ally. Queer As Punk is a defiant act of documentation - an offering of solidarity, and a call to shift how Southeast Asia sees those who’ve long been pushed to the margins. — Yihwen Chen
