Queering Sydney
In Sydney, young queer women of colour navigate how the night sheds the internalised gaze of their immigrant parents’ values, and social expectations, awakening a celebration of youth, self-expression and community.
Synopsis
‘Queering Sydney’ is a 10-minute poetic documentary, exploring young queer people of colour’s experiences of the nights in Sydney. Queer people of colour navigate a newfound sense of freedom in separate nights as they embark into adolescence. Whether it is under the neon lights of the city or the suburban quietude, it is the nighttime that arouses this transformation or expansion in identity for these individuals beyond external pressures. As they walk the streets of the city with friends, dance at the club, and chat for hours at a sleep over or local park, their complex experiences through intersections of identity, familial expectations and community are delved into to understand that their celebration of youth and memories are pivotal in these moments that was only possible by the sanctuary of the night.
Director’s Statement
Lynn Lee is a photographer and creative director based in Sydney, Australia.
Her work spotlights marginalised identity.
Production Stills
HODs
Producer - Stella Coppola
Cinematographer - Nia Chen
Production Designer - Carla Cohen
Editors - Lynn Lee, Andreas Karadjis
Composer - Pico Dos Santos-Lee
Sound Designer - Koby Caraballo
Camera Operator - Kat Scriven
1st Camera Assistant - Jay Truong
Gaffer - Fu Liu
Sound Recordist - Fu Liu, Lucy Brandwood
Colourist - Antonio Centonze
BTS Photographer - Ayla Dursun
Cast
Catia Selimane
Antra
Jay Chen
Misiwaini Vuetibau
Joanne Law
Narin
Nish
Behind the Scenes
Int. photography by Alya Dursun
Ext. photography by Lynn Lee
BTS video by Ayla Dursun
Impact Strategies
It is best that as many people, especially in Sydney, watch the documentary for local representation, so as a final fundraising initiative and community screening, we are collaborating with Lesfilmclub Sydney on Kellys on King, with an intended audience of 60-70 people.
Identity-based festivals for entrance are investigated in FilmFreeway currently, such as Queer Screen and Antenna.
Runtime
10 minutes
Cultural Significance
Though queer stories submerge into media, they are predominantly white and male narratives. Being a young queer woman of colour myself, and one who is within the culture of others like myself, I have realised the lack of exposure to the nuance of hardships that these individuals encounter with dissonance between immigrant parents and societal expectations.
However, unlike a lot of media that conclude this queer storytelling with a tone of despondency, it is integral that this documentary raises hope and tenderness that is necessary in this pessimistic climate for marginalised folks. This kind of storytelling is also absent in Sydney, Australia and will hopefully bind a sense of community in a scattered city.
