World premiere

Invisibles

Local title
Nähtamatud
Title in Russian
Невидимые
Original title
Invisibles
Director
Junna Chif
Country
Canada
Year
2025
Programme
Critics' Picks Competition
Genre
Essay film, Social drama
Subject
individual vs society, LGBTQ, social status, women, erotica, activism

Elizabeth, a burlesque performer and sex worker in Montreal, is passionate about her jobs. But after years of keeping her life as an escort a secret, Elizabeth wonders if she can continue living like this. As she prepares to move on, she accepts one last client, a man with a disability. Their unexpected encounter overturns her certainties and leads her on an intimate and transformative journey.

Director and writer Junna Chif states about her highly impressive work: “With “Invisibles,” I chose to approach the film by attempting to avoid victimisation through the perspective of a woman who decides to engage in sex work. But other realities exist and are just as valid. I do not pretend to hold the truth; I try to bring a nuance, a perspective that is rarely represented.” She continues, “Whether it is sex workers or people with disabilities, all exist for who they are, independent of their condition or their profession. My characters do not need to be saved; they need to be seen.”

I highly recommend this outstanding debut with an amazing cast – especially the lead actress, Nadia Essadiqi. The film is a brilliant combination of drama and comedy and need to be seen on the big screen where it belongs.

Nikolaj Nikitin

Director
Junna Chif
Screenwriter
Junna Chif
Cast
Nadia Essadiqi, Catherine Bérubé, Stéphane Crête, Floyd Lapierre-Poupart, Victor Trelles Turgeon
Producer
Pierre Villepelet, Leslie Dabit
Cinematographer
Louka Boutin
Composer
Pierre-Philippe Côté
Sound
Sylvain Bellemare
Runtime
Language
English, French
Subtitles
English

Screenings

Hall 2 Kino Artis
Screening091721 / Nähtamatud
SubtitlesEnglish
Screening duration
9th Hall Apollo Kino Plaza
Screening100921 / Nähtamatud
SubtitlesEnglish
Screening duration
Trailer