Queendom

With LGBTQ+ rights under attack in Florida, this documentary about a transgender Russian artist takes on added relevance. It’s a portrait of Gena, a 21-year-old street performer and activist who fled the dismal, frozen countryside of her youth for the cosmopolis of Moscow to flaunt extravagant costumes and makeup that push the fashion envelope to the outer limits—and inevitably draw the attention of the government.

Filmmaker Agniia Galdanova tracks Gena’s journey for five years, amid struggles, triumphs and dangerous risks, leading up to the beginnings of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. QUEENDOM is a testimony to beauty, rebellion and resilience.