Not Just Another Pageant, a documentary short directed and produced by Larry Tung, assistant professor in Marketing Communications, had its international premiere at the Seoul International Pride Film Festival on November 8.
The film documents the inaugural Mr. Bear International competition, an unconventional pageant for gay men who self-identify as plus-size. The event was held in Bangkok, Thailand, in April 2024 during the Songkran Festival, the Thai New Year national holiday. Dozens of contestants from Europe and Asia competed over four days.
The Seoul International Pride Film Festival is the largest LGBTQ+ film festival in Korea. This was its 14th year. It screens more than 100 films from 30 countries. In addition, the festival offers various educational programs that promote engagement with the public, striving for improved awareness of universal human rights and social change.
Tung attended the festival in person and was awarded a grant from FIT’s Office of Faculty Development. The film had its domestic premiere at the Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festival in September.