Smoqua³ Premiere: Documentary Sidney & Friends

Smoqua³ Premiere: Documentary Sidney & Friends. Saturday, May 25, 19:00, @ Art kino, Krešimirova 2. Director: Tristan Aitchison. Cast: Michael Daviot, Awuor Onyango, Charles Ouda. 

When his family tries to kill him, Sidney, who is intersex, flees to Nairobi where he meets a group of transgender friends.

Together, they fight discrimination and discover life, love and self-worth. Feature documentary Sidney & Friends is a heartfelt exploration of the hopes, dreams, and everyday reality of a group of intersex and transgender friends fighting to survive on the edge of Kenyan society. Filmed over 3 years, Sidney and his friends reveal the secrets of their struggles growing up and living as a gender minority in a region known for prejudice and discrimination against its LGBTI population. The premise is simple: it’s about gender, friendship…and love.

Film has 9 awards and 6 nominations on various film festivals all around the world.

Tristan Aitchison is a scottish filmmaker and photographer with the interest in documenting social issues. His award-winning short film Care, about elder abuse, won Best Artistic Direction at La Guarimba International Film Festival and was screened at twenty other international film festivals. He helped establish and run the BFI Film Academy Highlands and Islands, nurturing the next generation of creative talent.

* Participation in all Festival activities is free, except for the Queer-UP! Party (where donations will be collected at the entrance), and the Anna Calvi concert.

Organisers: LORI in collaboration with PaRiter, From the Citizens to Their City, Centre for Women's Studies (University of Rijeka)

Smoqua is financially supported by: Rijeka 2020 – European Capital of Culture / City of Rijeka / Primorje-Gorski Kotar County / Republic of Croatia, Ministry of Culture / European Commission / Musagetes / LUSH

Sponsored by: Adria print

Media sponsor: Novi list