Filmmaker Olga Gibelinda captured something unexpected in 2022, just months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine escalated the Russo-Ukrainian war. Instead of focusing on sorrow, she found joy. Her documentary Queens of Joy follows the lives of three drag queens who chose to stay in Ukraine and continue performing despite the ongoing conflict. The film will premiere as part of the Newcomers Competition at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.
Before its world premiere, Queens of Joy has already made history. It is one of three projects selected by Ukraine’s public broadcaster, Suspilne, for their first-ever film co-production initiative. The film will also be the first LGBTQ+ documentary broadcast by the public national broadcaster. Sergiy Nedzelskyy, head of co-production and outsource commissioning at Suspilne Ukraine, praised the film in a statement, saying, “Queens of Joy is evidence that Ukraine is a free and tolerant country. I can’t imagine seeing such a film in totalitarian states.”
The documentary highlights the resilience and courage of its subjects, providing a unique perspective on queer life during wartime. Gibelinda has also called for the protection of queer soldiers who are risking their lives in the war, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding their rights and safety.
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