On August 9, 2025, Blaues Haus Stiftung will host a screening of the documentary We Are Here at the Berlin Living Room. Two of the film’s creators — director Shitou and cinematographer/editor Mingming — will join the event and participate in a post-screening discussion.
This film documents a rare yet powerful moment in history: the 1995 Fourth UN World Conference on Women, held in Beijing. As one of the largest UN conferences ever on women’s rights, it attracted global attention — including the arrival of 300 lesbians from around the world. What happened next? Two buses filled with queer women headed to an underground nightclub; a spark was lit that would ignite China’s lesbian movement later.
This film revisits this historic moment through the voices of participants and community leaders who were present there. It offers a glimpse into the first-time lesbian activists secured a tent at the NGO Forum of the UN — a space where they shared ideas, built connections, affirmed identities, and then possible changes emerged.
The film has been screened at the Seoul International Women’s Film Festival, Brussels International Women’s Film Festival, Women Make Waves Film Festival in Taiwan, Paris LGBTQ+ Culture Week, as well as in New York, Norway, and Hong Kong, etc.
Film Information
Title: We Are Here
Year: 2015
Duration: 58 minutes
Language: Chinese (with English subtitles)
Country: China
Co-directors: Shitou & Zhao Jing (Sanmu)
Producer: Wei Tingting
Genre: Documentary
Guest Profiles
The creators of ‘We Are Here’, Shitou (right) and Mingming (left), with Shitou’s artwork in the middle
Shitou – An artist working across painting, photography, film, documentary, and LGBTQ+ activism. In 1992, she began independent artistic work in the Yuanmingyuan artist village, China’s first independent artist community. She starred in Fish and Elephant (2000), the first Chinese lesbian-themed feature film, which won awards at the Venice Film Festival. That same year, she appeared with Li Yinhe and Cui Zi’en in China’s first televised discussion on homosexuality. Her works have been exhibited globally, including in Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany, Taiwan, the U.S., Norway, and Belgium.
Mingming – A filmmaker, photographer, and activist. In 2008, she co-founded the China Queer Independent Film Group with Shitou and a collective of queer filmmakers, artists, and critics. Since then, they have organized nearly 400 screenings and discussions across China. Her documentary Dream on the Wall won Best Short Film at the 2010 Chinese Documentary Film Festival in Hong Kong.
Event Details
Date: August 9, 2025 (Saturday)
Time: 15:00–17:00
Location: Blaues Haus Stiftung ‚Berlin Living Room‘ (Detailed address will be sent by email upon confirmed registration)
How to Register: Due to limited space, all participants must complete a registration form. Please scan the QR code below and fill out the form. Confirmation and event details will be sent to your email. We appreciate your understanding if we are unable to accommodate all applicants.
Registration Deadline: August 9, 2025, 12:00
Notes for Attendees
1. The event is open to adults and children aged 14+
2. If you can no longer attend, please cancel your registration in time to allow others to join
3. Please arrive no later than 5 minutes before the event begins
4. Filming during the event is prohibited — thank you for your understanding
5. Photos will be taken during the event for internal use by Blaues Haus Stiftung. If you have any concerns, please let us know in advance