Queens Of The Revolution + Q&A Rebecca Heidenberg

Since 1985, El Mejunje has offered refuge for people marginalised under Castro and a stage for their drag shows, punk rock and spoken word performances. From the beginning, El Mejunje’s performers risked persecution and violence from both the Cuban state and society at large. The subjects of Queens of The Revolution offer oral histories of violent oppression alongside riveting, jubilant performances.

The film highlights the bravery of people who have fought for their lives and identities for decades. Meandering through the streets of Santa Clara, into the homes of drag performers and onto the stage, the film tells the story of Mejunje through a chorus of voices. This community was violently persecuted but instead of fleeing, they chose to stay and fight for change in the country they love. The film follows them as they look towards the future, bringing the ethos of inclusion and diversity fostered by Mejunje to the country at large with touring performances in Cuba’s rural hinterlands. This is a story about resilience, resistance, and survival.

Granted exclusive access through years-long relationships with El Mejunje’s community, Queens of The Revolution also offers a template for activism through grassroots organizing and performance. In a time of increasing government legitimized hostility towards LGBTQ+ citizens in the United States and in many places around the world, the film proposes a remarkably successful model for the preservation of diversity in the face of intolerance, brutality and hate.

Screening followed by a live-streamed Q&A with the Director.

Español

Queens of the Revolution es un retrato del Mejunje, un centro cultural en Santa Clara que abrió el camino a los derechos LGBTQ+ en Cuba.

Desde 1985, El Mejunje ha ofrecido refugio para la gente más marginada bajo el mandato de Castro, y un escenario para espectáculos de drag, punk rock, y actuaciones de palabra hablada. Desde el comienzo, los artistas del Mejunje corrían el riesgo de ser perseguidos y violentados tanto por el Estado cbano como por la sociedad en general. Las protagonistas de Queens of The Revolution ofrecen historias orales sobre la opresión violenta junto con actuaciones fascinantes y jubilosas.

La película destaca la valentía de todos aquellos que han luchado por sus vidas y sus identidades durante décadas. La película, que serpentea por las calles de Santa Clara, se adentra en las casas de los artistas drag y sube al escenario, contando la historia de Mejunje a través de un coro de voces. Esta comunidad fue perseguida violentamente, pero en lugar de huir, decidió quedarse y luchar por el cambio en el país que aman. La película les sigue mientras miran hacia el futuro, llevando el espíritu de inclusión y diversidad fomentado por Mejunje a todo el país con actuaciones itinerantes en las zonas rurales del interior de Cuba. Esta es una historia de resiliencia, resistencia, y supervivencia.

Con un acceso exclusivo gracias a las relaciones mantenidas durante años con la comunidad del Mejunje, Queens of the Revolution también ofrece un modelo de activismo a través de la organización de las masas y la actuación. En una época de creciente hostilidad hacia los ciudadanos LGBTQ+ legitimada por el gobierno en los Estados Unidos y en muchos lugares del mundo, esta película propone un modelo notablemente exitoso para la preservación de la diversidad frente a la intolerancia, la brutalidad y el odio.

Siguido por una charla online con la directora.

Rebecca Heidenberg I USA - Cuba 2018 I 1h20m I Doc I N/C PG

Havana Glasgow Film Festival

Celebrating Cuban film and culture in Havana’s twin city of Glasgow


Our seventh edition focuses on the resourcefulness and extraordinariness of Cuba during one of the toughest points in its history in a hybrid Festival of online and live screenings.

Highlights include a Friday evening programme of films and discussion relating to Cuba’s unique approach to sustainability. Rebecca Heidenberg, Director of Queens of the Revolution will join us for a live streamed Q&A on Sunday night to discuss her portrait of a cultural centre that paved the road for LGBTQ+ rights in Cuba. Our featured director this year is acclaimed filmmaker Arturo Sotto and we will screen four of his films including the film noir Nido de Mantes / Mantis Nest.

Online Festival Passes, costing £15 / £7.50 allow access to all our online films, with an additional cost of £0/£2/£4/£6/£8 for live events at CCA on a pay-what-you-can basis.

For full programme details, visit our website www.hgfilmfest.com

Venue Guidance

CCA is currently operating with increased requirements due to Coronavirus. Masks and hand-sanitising are required throughout the building, and queueing for events will take place outside, so please dress for the weather. We ask that people attending events take a lateral flow test before visiting CCA. For more information, please see Venue Guidance.