Drag & Performance Through Censorship
October 11 @ 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Free – £12
Drag & Performance through Censorship is a captivating short film screening programme that delves into the stories of Arab, Turkish, and displaced drag queens and performers. The programme highlights the ways these artists navigate and resist the censorship and social conservatism in their home countries, offering a powerful insight into their struggles, resilience, and artistry. These selection of short films paint a vivid and emotional portrait of the drag/performance community’s defiance, creativity, and spirit, offering audiences a deeper understanding of their fight for visibility and freedom.
Following the screening, Huss is hosting a panel discussion with drag queens Kiki Rivera and Caramella aka 3MR.
Curated by Huss.
Tickets are on a pay what you can sliding scale of FREE, £2, £4, £6, £8, £10, or £12. To book, click here or call the CCA Box Office on 0141 352 4900.
Accessibility:
This programme has:
- Arabic, English, French, Russian, Turkish audio with English language descriptive subtitles.
- English-BSL interpretation for the introduction and panel discussion.
- Live Captioning for the introduction and panel discussion.
This screening is 58 minutes long and has an age recommendation of N/C 15+.
You can find out more information about accessibility at SQIFF 2024 here. If you have any questions about accessibility at SQIFF 2024, please get in touch with us at [email protected] or by phone on 07873 331 036.
Films in this programme include:
Sultana’s Reign, Dir. Hadi Moussally, 2023, France, 10 min
‘Sultana of New York’ is a Palestinian drag queen and artist. ‘Sultana’s Reign’ begins with her being painted by Jordanian artist RIDIKKULUZ. She reflects on her journey from the Middle East to New York, discussing the challenges of drag in conservative societies, her nostalgia for Egyptian cinema, and her commitment to self-expression and authenticity.
Content notes: Discussion of displacement, war, family discord, death, suicide.
Queen’s Illusion, Dirs. Ceren Özkanlı Samlı, Erinç Durlanık, 2024, Turkey, 21 min
In an era of political repression and growing conservatism in Turkey, Istanbul’s drag scene thrives. This documentary goes backstage with popular queens like Cake Mosq, Pepi IV, Ahsen Gönülce, Anna Tholia, and Gia Androgeny. They discuss the effort behind their personas, the threat of harassment, and new opportunities online, sharing the challenges of performing drag in a sometimes-hostile world.
Content notes: Discussion of drug use, homophobia. Depiction of alcohol use, cigarette use.
Show Up, Dir. Maria Zakhodiaichenko, 2024, United States, 11min
Friday evening. Coney Island, New York. Russian-American drag artist Maxim and his mom Ilona separately tell us the history of their family back in Russia and during their immigration to the US while getting ready for the Maxim’s performance. Soon they will reunite, just it should be.
Content notes: Discussion of homophobia, death.
ANYA KNEEZ: A Queen in Beirut, Dir. Mohamad Abdouni, 2017, Turkey, Lebanon, 11 min
Anya Kneez, an Arab Drag Queen, left Brooklyn in 2012 after 23 years in America and returned to live with her parents in Beirut. At 28, she still grapples with the values of a Middle Eastern society that struggles to accept her lifestyle. This short documentary glimpses the journey of the drag performer who brought Brooklyn’s drag scene to Beirut’s clubs.
Content notes: Discussion of homophobia, family discord.
Access notes: Flashing lights.
Bellydance Vogue, Dir. Hadi Moussally, 2020, Lebanon, 5 min
“My birthday was on the 3rd of April 2020 during lockdown, and for the first time, I celebrated it all by myself. But even if I was alone, I decided to celebrate it as if it’s the last one”
The film was made during quarantine.
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Image Credit: Sultana’s Reign, Dir. Hadi Moussally, 2023