Queer Joys: Bobik's Choice

Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2022
Programme
Shorts Alternatives

“On 12th November, 2020 the XIII Side by Side LGBT Film Festival was set to start in Saint Petersburg, Russia. However, 10 minutes before the opening ceremony was to start, the venue was descended upon by officers from the Federal Service of Consumer Rights and Welfare, bolstered by an extraordinarily large body of heavy-handed police officers who not only blocked the entrance to the venue, but cordoned off nearby streets.”

The Side by Side Film Festival was founded 10 years earlier by Manny de Guerre, and built from the ground up with team members Gulya Sultanova, Tanya Shmankevich and hundreds of volunteers. Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the festival’s aim was to establish an open cultural space in which Russian society and the LGBT community could enter into a broad discussion and generate a positive dialogue.

Since 2010, the festival has given out BOBIK awards for features and short films alike, being the only prize recognising LGBT filmmaking in Russia. Today, in light of the country’s increasing aggressions, we have invited the organisers to screen some of the Side by Side festival darlings, to continue important discussions and the fight for a more open and peaceful society.

Screenings

Hall 2 Kino Artis
Screening091602 / Kväärrõõmud: Бок о бок retrospektiiv
Screening duration

Films

Ingrid Ekman, Bergsgatan 4B

Local title
09:55-11:05, Ingrid Ekman, Bergsgatan 4B
Title in Russian
Ingrid Ekman, Bergsgatan 4B
Original title
09:55-11:05, Ingrid Ekman, Bergsgatan 4B
Director
Cristine Berglund, Sophie Vukovic
Country
Sweden
Year
2014
Programme
Shorts Alternatives

67 year old Ingrid has decided to deal with cancer on her own. She retreats from the outside world and it retreats from her - apart from sporadic visits from the home care services. But then home care employee Frida knocks on her door and awakens feelings that Ingrid can't shut out.

Director
Cristine Berglund, Sophie Vukovic
Runtime
Language
Swedish
Subtitles
English

Baltic premiere

2 Dollars

Local title
2 dollarit
Title in Russian
2 Dollars
Original title
2 Dollars
Director
Robin Cloud
Country
USA
Year
2020
Programme
Shorts Alternatives

Non-binary queer artist Syd loathes their dreary day job. Thinking they’ve won the lottery, the office gets trashed with unexpected results.

Director
Robin Cloud
Runtime
Language
English
Trailer

Baltic premiere

Tailor

Local title
Tailor
Title in Russian
Tailor
Original title
Tailor
Director
Cali Dos Anjos
Country
Brazil
Year
2017
Programme
Shorts Alternatives

Tailor is a transgender cartoonist that shares in his web page other trans people’s experiences and their challenges in society. Film about transgender, made by transgender crew.

Director
Cali Dos Anjos
Runtime
Language
Portuguese
Subtitles
English
Trailer

Little Potato

Local title
Väike kartul
Title in Russian
Little Potato
Original title
Little Potato
Director
Wes Hurley
Country
USA
Year
2017
Programme
Shorts Alternatives

Autobiographical tale of growing up gay in the Soviet Union, only to escape with his mother, a mail order bride, to Seattle to face a whole new oppression in his new Christian fundamentalist American dad.

Director
Wes Hurley
Runtime
Language
English

Baltic premiere

Night Ride

Local title
Öine sõit
Title in Russian
Night Ride
Original title
Nattrikken
Director
Eirik Tveiten
Country
Norway
Year
2020
Programme
Shorts Alternatives

A cold night in December. Ebba waits for the tram to go home after a party, but the ride takes an unexpected turn.

Director
Eirik Tveiten
Runtime
Language
Norwegian
Subtitles
English
Trailer

International premiere

Camille and I

Local title
Camille ja mina
Title in Russian
Camille and I
Original title
Camille et Moi
Director
Marie Cogne
Country
France
Year
2020
Programme
Shorts Alternatives

Camille and Marie are in love. But everyone has something to say about the relationship.

Director
Marie Cogne
Runtime
Language
French
Subtitles
English