Begana

Begana is bringing you more films from the South Asian queer diaspora! Combining hidden stories, politics with joy and queer loving, come watch films from Rohan Kanawade’s drama U for Usha, in which a single mother and a farm labourer in rural India who feels drawn to a female teacher of a local primary school, to Rohin Raveendran’s romance The Booth, where a female frisking booth inside a crowded shopping mall stands as a silent ally to a forbidden romance. We hope you’re ready for a fresh view through these Sapphic love stories.

Curated by Neha Apsara.

Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of FREE, £2, £4, £6, £8, or £10. To book, click here or call the CCA Box Office on 0141 352 4900.

U for Usha (2019, Dir. Rohan Kanawade):Usha, a single mother and a farm labourer in rural India, feels drawn to a female teacher at a local primary school. This attraction plays an integral part in firing her passion for learning how to read and write.

Devi (Goddess) (2017, Dir. Karishma Dube): A young closeted lesbian risks both family and tradition, as she embraces her attraction for her childhood maid, Devi. A young closeted lesbian risks both family and tradition, as she embraces her attraction for her childhood maid, Devi.

The Booth (2019, Dir. Rohin Raveendran): A female frisking booth inside a crowded shopping mall stands as a silent ally to a forbidden romance.

My Mother’s Girlfriend (2021, Dir. Arun Fulara): is the story of two relationships colliding. Renuka and Sadiya, two mature working-class women, in love with each other, are out celebrating Renuka’s birthday. Unknown to them, Renuka’s son, Mangesh, is around.

ACCESSIBLITY 

Content Warnings:

• Discussion of sex, sex work, abuse, violence, trauma, transphobia, racism, sex work
• Depiction of violence, homophobia.

This screening has an age recommendation of N/C 16+.

Films are in Bengali, English, Hindi, Marathi audio and screen with English language captions for access. BSL-English interpretation and live captioning provided.

Audio description available for the film. Headsets available at the cinema entrance.

We have an Audience Access Fund for travel. If you would like to take this up, please visit the access desk at the entrance of the CCA, or contact info@sqiff.org.

You can find out more information about accessibility at SQIFF 2023 here. If you have any questions about accessibility at SQIFF 2023, please get in touch with us at info@sqiff.org or by phone on 07873 331 036.

We ask that you wear a mask if possible and please don’t attend the screening if you have any symptoms of Covid-19 or have been in recent contact with a confirmed case. FFP2 masks will be available for free around the building.

Image: From My Mother’s Girlfriend (2021, Dir. Arun Fulara)