Ahead of its debut at the prestigious Busan International Film Festival, the first trailer for the groundbreaking documentary “10s Across the Borders” has been unveiled, offering a glimpse into the vibrant world of Southeast Asian ballroom culture. Directed by Chan Sze-Wei, this queer Southeast Asian ballroom doc is set to make waves in the Wide Angle Documentary Competition, showcasing a dynamic cultural emergence.
Exploring a Cultural Phenomenon
“10s Across the Borders” dives deep into the burgeoning ballroom scene in Southeast Asia, highlighting the personal journeys of Sun from Thailand, Teddy from Malaysia, and Xyza from the Philippines. These performers are not only fostering a lively queer community across the region, but they are also keeping the spirit of New York City’s historic ballroom culture alive.
A Personal Journey for the Director
Director Chan Sze-Wei embarked on this documentary journey through a personal connection. Invited by friend Sun to capture the growth of the regional ballroom community, Chan found a deeper connection. “As a queer person and queer parent who’s never fit in, the communities in this film gave me the courage to come out as a non-binary individual,” Chan shared. The documentary is a tribute to ballroom’s empowering roles in activism and community-building.
An Ambitious International Collaboration
This queer Southeast Asian ballroom doc, “10s Across the Borders,” is a product of a collaborative effort across the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, and Germany. The producing team includes Alemberg Ang, known for his work on “Renoir” (Cannes 2025) and “Some Nights I Feel Like Walking” (Tallinn 2024), alongside Yasmin C. Rams and Tan Si En, who have each brought their unique visions to the project.
Strong Financial and Development Support
The documentary was made possible through funding from several entities, including the Singapore Film Commission, Hessen Film, and BIFF’s Asian Cinema Fund. Additionally, it gained development support from notable industry platforms like Cannes Docs and Sheffield DocFest MeetMarket.
Watch the trailer here:
