2 Tony Wilson Place
Sun 23 Aug · 13:00
Dir Various/2012-2021/120 mins approx/Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and Marathi wEng ST Aks International Minorities Festival presents a selection of shorts from their festival’s 10-year journey, highlighting Khwaja Sira and trans lives across South Asia. This programme explores representation, progress, and the ongoing global backlash against trans communities. Screening programme: Darling (dir. Saim Saqid) - An erotic dance theatre in Lahore prepares for a new show just as a sacrificial goat goes missing, a dreamy trans girl vies for the spotlight, and a naive young boy falls in love. Happy Marriage (dir. Sana Jafri) - A strong-willed trans woman encourages her lover to get married to a woman of his family’s choosing as his masculinity is questioned by his friends and family. Vadhai (dir. Claire Pamment) - A documentary exploring the kinship, beliefs, joy, and economies that sustain the vibrant Khwaja sira performances of “Vadhai” devotional songs, dances, prayers, and comic repartee. Raja Bro (dir. Sridhar Rangayan) - A heartfelt portrait of Merlin, an Indian trans man’s journey toward self-acceptance and family acceptance. Supported by his mother and extended family, Merlin embraces his identity after a courageous transition. Four Fifty-Five ml (dir. Mahnoor Zaidi) - In response to a call for blood donations for a critically ill boy, Kausar, a middle-aged trans-woman, rushes through the busy streets of Lahore. Mujra (dir. Saadat Munir) - An experimental video exploring the unique performance tradition of Lahori Khawaja Siras, reflecting on an art form often overlooked as culture yet vital to the trans* community’s survival and livelihoods.
Not the same tradition as the lineage above — a genuinely different thread to pull, if you want one.