Mr Gay Syria
Husein, ein Barbier in Istanbul, führt ein Doppelleben zwischen seiner konservativen Familie und seiner schwulen Identität. Mahmoud begründete die syrische LGBTI-Bewegung mit und lebt als Flüchtling in Berlin. Was die beiden eint, ist ein Traum: an einem internationalen Talentwettbewerb teilzunehmen, als Ausweg aus der Enge ihrer Existenzen ebenso wie als Antwort auf ihre Unsichtbarkeit. Denn ja, schwules Leben in Syrien existiert, aller Unterdrückung zum Trotz. Wird sich der Traum erfüllen? Oder wird er zerbrechen an der Flüchtlingskrise und den brutalen Konsequenzen eines schwulen Daseins in der muslimischen Welt?
"These guys love laughing, they love life, and love having fun even though they are surrounded by so much tragedy. Half of them are sex workers, they have family stuck in Syria, they live in a terrible time - probably as bad as it gets. But regardless, they want to laugh and have fun. And Mr. Gay Syria gave that to them. They could come back to life. You can see how much they want to live - it's beautiful, and offers an escape." (Ayşe Toprak, director)
Director's Biography
Ayşe Toprak
A filmmaker based in Istanbul, Ayşe Toprak received a BFA in Film & TV from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and an MA from the New School. Her work experience includes Channel Thirteen/PBS in New York and producing for Al Jazeera in London, Doha and Istanbul. Her film “Mr. Gay Syria” received the Human Rights Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival.
Film Selection: Mr. Gay Syria (2017, doc) — Another Spring In Iraq (2014, short) — The Cover Story (2014, short) — Schools On The Edge (2014, short) — Land Ties (2013, short)
A filmmaker based in Istanbul, Ayşe Toprak received a BFA in Film & TV from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and an MA from the New School. Her work experience includes Channel Thirteen/PBS in New York and producing for Al Jazeera in London, Doha and Istanbul. Her film “Mr. Gay Syria” received the Human Rights Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival.
Film Selection: Mr. Gay Syria (2017, doc) — Another Spring In Iraq (2014, short) — The Cover Story (2014, short) — Schools On The Edge (2014, short) — Land Ties (2013, short)
Competition Documentary 2018
Ayşe Toprak
Frankreich / Deutschland / Türkei 2017
color
87 Minuten
Arabisch / Englisch / Deutsch / Türkisch OmeU
Drehbuch Ayşe Toprak
Kamera Hajo Schomerus, Anne Misselwitz
Schnitt Nadia Ben Rachid
Ton/Sounddesign Vincent Rozenberg
Musik Zeid Hamdan
Mit Husein, Mahmoud Hassino, Omar, Nader, Wissam, Samer, Ayman Menem, Bradley Secker, Ahmed, Suma, Issam, William, Salam, Muhammed, Hussam, The Tea and Talk Group, Jad
Produzent*innen Antoine Simkine, Christine Kiauk, Ekin Çalışır, Herbert Schwering
Produktion
Les Films d’Antoine, COIN FILMS, Toprak Films
Österreichpremiere
Weltpremiere / World PremiereSheffield Doc/Fest 2017
Premierenstatus / Premiere Status
Austrian Premiere