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Welcome to Chechnya

Directed by David France 2020USA/UK107 mins

Searing and urgent, the latest documentary feature from Oscar-nominated director David France (How to Survive a Plague; The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, Frameline41) highlights an undercover team of LGBTQ+ activists in Russia, desperately trying to save their vulnerable queer community from further persecution and even death as homophobic attacks surge in Chechnya. Director France’s history as an undercover journalist is on full display, as he bands together with these humble heroes to record and undermine the human rights violations being conducted under Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who brazenly (and falsely) claims there are no queer people living in his country.

A prizewinner at both the Sundance and Berlin International Film Festivals this year, Welcome to Chechnya offers a glimmer of hope — albeit with some frightening unanswered questions lingering as the film concludes — in the face of shocking violence and intolerance in the 21st century.

Watch the Q&A for this film on Frameline Distribution.

Note: Depicts scenes of homophobic violence

Until LGBTQI people can live safely in Chechnya, until those who are responsible can be stopped and held accountable, those who want to escape need your help. Please support the groups working in Russia to get them out. Click here.

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Sponsor
Director
David France
Year
2020
Country
USA, UK
Running Time
107 mins
Language
English, Russian, Chechen, & French
Premiere
West Coast
Section
Documentary
Program Note Writer
Joe Bowman
Community Partners

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