SQIFF 2019 Birds of the Borderlands

Four queer Arab stories are powerfully illuminated through genderqueer Australian filmmaker Jordan Bryon’s compelling piece of guerrilla filmmaking.

Jordanian teenager Hiba is transitioning in secret, fearful of being killed by her Bedouin tribe; gay Iraqi refugee Youssef has fled Baghdad and is living in limbo in Bryon’s safe house in Amman; lesbian feminist Rasha hides her sexuality and her relationship with Bryon from her family while striving for LGBTIQ visibility; and Khalaf, a gay Imam turned activist, lives a solitary life in Beirut. There is tension alongside touching, reflective moments as Bryon becomes more entangled in their struggles, blurring the lines between lover, friend, filmmaker, and activist.

Screening with No Man (4m). Kenneth Macharia is under the threat of being deported from the UK back to his home country of Kenya, where as an openly gay man he faces the risk of persecution, mob violence, and even death.

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Accessibility information for this event

Ticket Costs
In order to make SQIFF more accessible to those on a low income, SQIFF events are priced according to a sliding scale. Find out what you should pay. You won't be asked for any proof or ID, we just ask that you are honest!

Captioning, Interpretation & Large Print
Films have a mixture of English and Arabic audio with English captions/subtitles. Hearing loop available. Films are marginally accessible to English-speaking blind and partially sighted audiences with the feature film half in English, half Arabic and with explanatory dialogue and relatively bright images. Large print versions of handouts available.

Building Access
CCA has good access for wheelchair users, gender neutral toilets, and welcomes assistance animals. See the CCA Accessibility Guide for more information. A quiet space and programme content notes will be available. Comfy seating (bean bags) are available. If you would like to reserve this, please contact access@sqiff.org

Travel Assistance
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