Queer as Punk

LGBT punk band ‘Shh...Diam!’ boldly defies its name—Malay for ‘shut up!’—by shouting their truth to the world. Director Yihwen Chen chronicles the journey of this chosen family as they grow, spreading courage with wit, humor, and irresistible charm. Queer as Punk invites audiences into the lives of band members Faris, Yon, and Yoyo, capturing candid conversations during Malaysia’s shifting political landscape. The film delves into themes of self-expression, bodily transformation, love, parental expectations, anxiety, and political participation, all set against the backdrop of a country that denies queer rights. Democracy, stifled by state-endorsed monopolies on religion, desire, and identity, creates a suffocating environment. Amidst the challenges of ‘pink migration’, where many seek spaces to simply exist, collective care and camaraderie become essential lifelines. The Covid-19 pandemic adds another layer of hardship, yet the band perseveres, using their music and gigs to vent, flirt, and share laughs. With their bold sound and infectious energy, ‘Shh...Diam!’ will have you singing along in no time! (Lisabona Rahman)

Yihwen Chen is a Malaysian documentary filmmaker and journalist. Her debut feature documentary Eye on the Ball, about Malaysia's blind football team, premiered in London in 2019. In 2022, her #MeToo short documentary, The Boys Club, won the NETPAC Award during its world premiere at the Busan International Short Film Festival. 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 Fund. She is also an alumna of IDFAcademy and American Film Showcase.

Director Yihwen Chen. Cinematography Yihwen Chen. Editing Angen Sodo, Yihwen Chen. Sound Design Digital Orange. Producer Yihwen Chen. Co-Producer Mandy Marahimin. Production company Locke Films (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia).

Films: 2019: Eye one the Ball. 2021: The Boy’s Club (short film). 2025: Queer as Punk.