Queendom - English subtitled
Born and raised in Magadan, a city notorious for its gulag past in Russia’s far east, 21-year-old non-binary Gena pairs radical performance art with activism. At the risk of her own life.
Gena uses duct tape, trash and make-up to make outrageous creations for her performances and social media accounts. In incredibly high heels, she moves like an alien through the streets and metro stations of Moscow, protesting the imminent war in Ukraine and violence against the LGBTQI+ community. In a country where being openly different is quickly regarded as clandestine ‘gay propaganda’, this is life-threatening.
In QUEENDOM we follow Gena from her hometown of Magadan to Moscow and witness the difficulties she faces every day. We see her in drag, or as a student at a beauty academy, and listen in as she calls her grandparents, who raised her. These poignant conversations speak of both incomprehension and unconditional love. Images from Gena’s dark and evocative performances permeate the story, providing an extra emotional layer. Sometimes they almost literally take your breath away. QUEENDOM was among IDFA 2023’s audience favourites, ranking third in the audience award ranking.