‘Queerpanorama’ Sells to North America and Other Key Territories Following Berlinale Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)

Elsa Keslassy

17 March 2025 at 9:38 am·2-min read

Brussels-based company Best Friend Forever has announced a first raft of deals on Jun Li’s sexy Hong Kong-set Drama “Queerpanorama” following its world premiere at this year’s Berlin Film Festival where it bowed in the Panorama section.

The black-and-white film has been sold in North America (Dark Star Pictures), France (Dulac Distribution), Germany, Austria & Switzerland (Salzgeber) and Portugal & Spain (Filmin). Best Friend Forever are also in advanced discussions to close other key territories.

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“Queerpanorama” marks Li’s follow up to “Drifting” which premiered in competition at Rotterdam in 2021 and won best adapted screenplay at the Golden Horse Awards. The film was also nominated for best picture at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

The plot revolves around a gay man who “impersonates men he has had sex with and brings this new persona with him to his next date. Only by pretending to be someone else can he be truly himself,” reads the synopsis.

Li said he wrote the movie “at a very dark time of my life and in the face of drastic change in our world.”

“I recalled every little kindness and comfort I received from these strangers I met, and depicted the power of sex and queer solidarity we created in our fleeting encounters,” the director continued.

Li found himself at the center of a controversy following the presentation of his movie at the Berlinale during which he delivered a speech on behalf of the film’s protagonist Erfan Shekarriz. He said the actor boycotted the festival this year in protest against the perception that the event is not supportive of Palestinians.

“Queerpanorama” was produced by Li and Zenni Corbin (“Drifting”) at Good Sin Production and Huang Yue (“The Shadowless Tower”) at La Fonte. The film stars newcomers Jayden Cheung, Erfan Shekarriz, Sebastian Mahito Soukup, Arm Anatphikorn, Phillip Smith, Wang Ko Yuan and Zenni Corbin.

Best Friend Forever’s current slate also includes “Timestamp” by Ukrainian filmmaker Kateryna Gornostai, as well as the buzzy Sundance-title “The Things You Kill” by Alireza Khatami; Fantastic Fest Belgian Comedy “Heads or Fails” by Lenny and Harpo Guit; Directors’ Fortnight Audience Award winner and Oscar shortlisted “Universal Language” by Matthew Rankin; and Venice documentary “Peaches goes Bananas” by Marie Losier.

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