This year's Queer Focus intersects both festivals: an extended program about “Queer Resistance” in borders, conflict zones, countries under attack, divided or occupied territories, or states governed by the extreme right, in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, focusing on the reality of LGBTQI+ populations and communities in countries such as Kosovo, Palestine, Cyprus, Ukraine or Hungary. With some of the films showcased in both cities, but also with unique screenings in each festival, the program will take place at Cinema São Jorge and at Casa Comum. “Queer Resistance” is an alert and a tribute; an urgent cinema, with a particularly activist call, in the face of the rise of extreme right politics, social and cultural disturbances and the military invasions that these specific countries’ societies are suffering, where lives and rights are put at stake.

 

To be screened in both cities, “Foggy: Palestine Solidarity, Cinema & The Archive” is an initiative of the Cinema Politica and Queer Cinema for Palestine platforms, curated by BH Yael, Marc Siegel, Lior Shamriz, and John Greyson. The program consists of a set of short films that stage hybrid acts on montage, juxtaposition, re-enactment and dialogue, exploring the theme of solidarity with Palestine. Films by Mike Hoolboom, Annie Sakkab, Hadi Moussally and Amy Gottlieb -recently deceased activist to whom the program is dedicated- are part of a screening that questions how family memories can inform solidarity, how private archives can queer public histories, or how yesterday’s photographs can become tomorrow’s portraits.

 

In addition to the collaboration with Cinema Politica, a special program of short films dedicated to queer realities in today's Ukraine will be shown in Lisbon, as well as screenings of feature films coming from Cyprus and Hungary; in Porto, the festival will screen “As I Was Looking Above, I Could See Myself Underneath”, a feature from Kosovo that conquered the audience at Queer Lisboa’s past edition. In both cities, this program will be complemented by debates, with the participation of activists, filmmakers and cultural and social agents from the countries in focus.

 

 

QUEER FOCUS: "Queer Resistance" (Lisbon)

 

A’lam, Saleh Saadi (Palestine, 2022, 25’)

Buffer Zone, Savvas Stavrou (Cyprus, UK, 2023, 17’)

Even a Dog in Babylon Is Free, Lior Shamriz (USA, 2024, 18’)

Fairy Garden, Gergő Somogyvári (Hungary, Romania, Croatia, 2023, 83’)

Four Pills at Night, Leart Rama (Kosovo, Switzerland, 2021, 25’)

Homecoming Queenz, Elias Wakeem (Palestine, 2023, 11’)

It’s a Date, Nadia Parfan (Ukraine, 2023, 5’)

Khobs & Chai, Noor Gatih (Canada, 2021, 4’)

Lines, Hanna Trofimova (Ukraine, 2023, 42’)

My Whole Heart Is with You, Essa Grayeb (Palestine, 2022, 9’)

Nazareth, Mike Hoolboom (Canada, 2021, 7’)

Overcoming, Besire Paralik (Cyprus, 2023, 58’)

The Poem We Sang, Annie Sakkab (Canada, Palestine, Jordan, 2024, 20’)

Queer Fighters of Ukraine, Angelika Ustymenko, Alex King (UK, Ukraine, 2024, 30’)

Simeiz, Anton Shebetko (Ukraine, 2022, 18’)

Sultana’s Reign, Hadi Moussally (Lebanon, 2023, 10’)

Tempest in a Teapot, Amy Gottlieb (Canada, 1987, 4’)
 

 

QUEER FOCUS: "Queer Resistance" (Porto)

 

A’lam, Saleh Saadi (Palestine, 2022, 25’)

As I Was Looking Above, I Could See Myself Underneath, Ilir Hasanaj (Kosovo, 2022, 62’)

Buffer Zone, Savvas Stavrou (Cyprus, UK, 2023, 17’)

Even a Dog in Babylon Is Free, Lior Shamriz (USA, 2024, 18’)

Homecoming Queenz, Elias Wakeem (Palestine, 2023, 11’)

Khobs & Chai, Noor Gatih (Canada, 2021, 4’)

Monument, Maksim Avdeev (Germany, 2024, 15’)

My Whole Heart Is with You, Essa Grayeb (Palestine, 2022, 9’)

Nazareth, Mike Hoolboom (Canada, 2021, 7’)

The Poem We Sang, Annie Sakkab (Canada, Palestine, Jordan, 2024, 20’)

Simeiz, Anton Shebetko (Ukraine, 2022, 18’)

Sultana's Reign, Hadi Moussally (Lebanon, 2023, 10’)

Tempest in a Teapot, Amy Gottlieb (Canada, 1987, 4’)