Pride Fest 2026 — Raminten Universe: Life is a Cabaret

Event description:

IQC presented the Australian premiere of Raminten Universe: Life is a Cabaret, a documentary exploring Yogyakarta’s Raminten Cabaret and the legacy of the late Hamzah Sulaiman. The screening introduced Sydney audiences to an Indonesian story where traditional Javanese aesthetics, contemporary performance and queer cultural expression intersect. The experience combined film, conversation and Indonesian food, giving audiences multiple ways to engage with Indonesian culture.

What we achieved:

The event brought an Indonesian queer cultural story to an Australian audience through film, food and discussion, creating greater visibility for perspectives rarely represented in mainstream Australian cultural programming. By presenting the film within Pride Fest, IQC created an opportunity for audiences to encounter contemporary Indonesia beyond familiar tourism narratives and explore how arts and performance can create spaces for identity, belonging and community.