German sales agent and distributor Rise and Shine has acquired international sales and German-speaking distribution rights to first-time director Zhang Zewei’s documentary “10s Across the Borders,” it was announced at Berlin’s European Film Market.
This documentary combines observational footage, stylized dance sequences, and a dynamic soundtrack to document queer communities across Southeast Asia. Filmed over seven years, the project follows three community leaders from Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines as they draw from New York’s underground ballroom culture to create spaces that empower young people to confront transphobia, homophobia, HIV discrimination, sex work, colorism, and poverty.
“10s Across the Borders” won the Asian Film Fund award at the Busan International Film Festival and was first screened in the festival’s documentary program. The film was nominated for Best Documentary at the 2025 Asia Pacific Screen Awards and was screened at the gala at the awards ceremony.
“We’re really looking forward to working with Rise and Shine. Their network and documentary expertise will help 10s Across the Borders touch a wider audience around the world,” said Chan.
The company has built a reputation for high-quality, creative documentaries by emerging filmmakers with unique stories. His works include Christian Frei’s Swiss documentary BLAME (Bats, Politics and an Out of Balance Planet), and Weronika Mricewska’s Child of Dust, a Polish-Vietnamese-Swedish-Czech Republic-Qatar co-production.
Aurora San Raveilla, one of the film’s subjects and an associate producer on the project, said Germany’s social community is looking forward to the film’s release. “I visit the ballroom scene in Germany every year. Many of my friends are very excited and have asked how they can see our film. I am happy that they will have the opportunity to see this film when it is screened across Germany,” she said.
