Asian Queer Film & Panel Discussion: Madame X (Director Lucky Kuswandi, Indonesia)

BUY TICKETS HERE: https://studio-k.nu/film/madame-x-2010-queer-amsterdam/

Synopsis: When a land in the middle of nowhere is threatened by a militant and homophobic political party, the safety of the country depends on Adam, a hairdresser. Armed wi h make-up and extraordinary dance moves, they must defeat the bad guys before they are able to win an election. But Adam must first learn Lenggok, a mix of traditional Indonesian and modern dance, and transform into the legendary transgender superheroine Madame X. Blending action-packed superheroes with trashy queer parody and martial arts, director Lucky Kuswandi’s debut film offers a riotously entertaining perspective on LGBTQ+ issues in Indonesia.

Watch the Trailer here.

Panelists

Saskia E. Wieringa 

Saskia E. Wieringa is Emerita Professor at the University of Amsterdam. She wrote and (co-) edited more than 30 books and over 200 articles. Her latest books include Heteronormativity in Asia (2015 Sussex Academic Press); Propaganda and the Indonesian Genocide, Imagined Evil (2018, with Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, Routledge). She is the chair of the Foundation IPT 1965which organized a people's tribunal on the Indonesia genocide in 1965/6. For over 40 years she has done research on same-sex relations globally, particularly in Indonesia. Forthcoming in 2024 is her book on the history of the LBT movement in Indonesia.

Loetje 

Activist for Transgender community in Indonesia. The founder of Sanggar Waria Remaja which actively empowers young transgender in Indonesia through various training and advocacy activities. Latest duty was as LGBT and Human Righs Officer at UNDP Indonesia and did successfully the LGBT National Dialog and Being LGBT in Asia program

Arnaud Kokosky Deforchaux

Arnaud Kokosky Deforchaux is an event-organizer, dancer, dance teacher, choreographer and theater maker. Arnaud specialized in Indonesian, and specifically Balinese, dance. After his professional education in classical ballet at the Dansacademie in Arnhem (Artez) Arnaud danced in many experimental dance/theater productions, operas and musicals. He specialized in Balinese culture and dance at private institutions as well as the Balinese Arts Academy (STSI) in Denpasar. Since 2002 Arnaud programs dance, theater, music and film for Tong Tong Fair, the biggest and oldest Indo event in the Netherlands. Additionally, he is responsible for their international relations. Arnaud started working for CinemAsia Film Festival in 2022 as press officer.

eLmar (Moderator)

eLmar was born in Cimahi, West Java, Indonesia, and has spent her whole 25 years of life in Indonesia as a middle-lower-class and a part of non-majority religion. Since 2021, she has been living in Groningen, Netherlands. As she grew up in an extremely traditional and religious family, she has always been keen on being a rebellious girl in terms of constantly challenging the status quo. This is especially in terms of LGBTQIA+ and minority issues in Indonesia and developing (or ex-colonized) societies. As a person, she has an extensive and elaborated background, including, but not limited to healthcare, public health awareness, theater and musical, performing arts, behavioral economics, business, filmmaking, and many more. These are shown in her membership in Mondiblanc Film Workshop Jakarta, Hypatia Indonesia, International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF), Kalyanamitra Indonesia, SSV Blue Toes Groningen, and many more. In life, she desires to constantly practice humility by constantly acknowledging that she knows nothing.