Saturday, 22.10. • 5.30 p.m.
In 2019, a queer activist group in Tbilisi is organising Georgia’s first Pride March. Many still remember the traumatic violence at the IDAHOBIT demonstrations in 2013. Years later, not only the Pride March but also the organisers themselves are threatened by ultra-right groups, Georgian government and Orthodox Church, which do not tolerate LGBTQI+ flags in Tbilisi’s streets. With membership in the European Union, anti-Russian voices in politics and at the same time continued strong Russian influence, Georgian society finds itself at a crossroads of geopolitical turmoil. At this turning point, activists are courageously fighting for queer visibility and human rights.
UK, Georgia | 2020 | Documentary | Director: John Eames | 74 min. | Georgian, English with German subtitles
This year we are showing two films from Georgia. Besides MARCH FOR DIGNITY, this is the feature film WET SAND. Both films show a Georgian society that is conservative in large parts, strongly influenced by the Orthodox Church and very homophobic. Nevertheless, both films bring a lot of queer empowerment, strong emotions and queer characters to the screen.
Content-Warning: homophobia/queerphobia