ICA is closed from the 30 May – 3 June inclusive.
Sara, dir.Ismail Basbeth, Indonesia 2023, 99 min.
Sara, a trans woman in her mid-thirties, is made to return to her village in rural Indonesia to attend her father’s funeral. Arriving back home, she discovers that her mother has been severely traumatized by the bereavement: not only does she fail to accept that her husband has died, she also has no memory of Sara and treats her like a complete stranger. Seeking to help her mother, Sara resolves to play-act as her late father, the person she despises the most and the reason she ran away many years ago.
Centred on a stunning performance from trans actress Asha Smara Darra, this quietly affecting family drama is about a woman desperate to break free from the past, who must nonetheless confront its enduring and wounding power.
The screening is Tuesday 23 April is followed by a recorded Q&A with the lead actress Asha Smara Darra and producer Charlie Meliala, moderated by Cici Peng, film writer and curator.
Centred on a stunning performance from trans actress Asha Smara Darra, this quietly affecting family drama is about a woman desperate to break free from the past, who must nonetheless confront its enduring and wounding power.
The screening is Tuesday 23 April is followed by a recorded Q&A with the lead actress Asha Smara Darra and producer Charlie Meliala, moderated by Cici Peng, film writer and curator.
Queer East is a cross-disciplinary festival that showcases boundary-pushing LGBTQ+ cinema, live arts, and moving image work from East and Southeast Asia and its diaspora communities. Its fifth edition runs from 17 to 28 April in venues across London, exploring notions of what it means to be queer and Asian today.
06:00 pm
Sun, 21 Apr 2024
Cinema 1
06:30 pm
Tue, 23 Apr 2024
Cinema 1
06:45 pm
Sat, 04 May 2024
Cinema 2
Ticket information
- All tickets that do not require ID (full price, disabled, income support) can be printed at home or stored in email
- For aged-based concession tickets (under 25, student and pensioner) please bring relevant ID to collect at the front desk before the event.
Access information
Cinema 1
- Both our Cinemas have step free access from The Mall and are accessible by ramp
- We have 1 wheelchair allocated space with a seat for a companion
- All seats are hard back, have a crushed velvet feel and they do not recline
- These are our seat size dimensions: W 42 x D 45 x H 52
- Arm rest either side of the seat dimensions: L 27 x W 7 x H 20
for the following requirements:
- We have unassigned seating. If you require a specific seat, please reserve this in advance
- Free for visitors where ticket prices are a barrier, please email
Cinema 2
- Both our Cinemas have step free access from The Mall and are accessible by ramp
- All seats are hard back, have a crushed velvet feel and they do not recline
- These are our seat size dimensions: W 42 x D 45 x H 52
- Arm rest either side of the seat dimensions: L 27 x W 7 x H 20
for the following requirements:
- We have a removable seat to create a wheelchair allocated space, please contact to organise this prior to the date and time of the screening
- We have unassigned seating. If you require a specific seat, please reserve this in advance
- Free for visitors where ticket prices are a barrier, please email
All films are ad-free and 18+ unless otherwise stated, and start with a 10 min. curated selection of trailers.
Members+ and all Patrons gain free entry to all cinema screenings, exhibitions, talks, and more.
Join today as a Member+ for £25/month.
no. 236848.