Caribbean Films Dominate Spectrum 10 Next Week: Films from Guyana and Jamaica to Screen

Painting the Spectrum 10: SASOD's 10th annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) film festival continues next week with films focusing on homophobic and transphobic violence and discrimination, and resilience and resistance of LGBT people in the Caribbean.

On Tuesday, June 24, two films will be shown. “Sade’s Story,” a SASOD-produced documentary short, chronicles the experiences of transgender Guyanese fashion designer, Sade Richardson, in her own words. She shares her story about her daily struggles with transphobic violence and discrimination in Guyana. She was denied many jobs because of who she is, a proud transgender woman. She was verbally and physically abused for expressing herself. Sade’s Story is one about rising above oppression and authentically living your dreams to the fullest. 

Painting the Spectrum 10 then takes you from Guyana to Jamaica with the “Abominable Crime.” The Abominable Crime is a documentary that explores the culture of homophobia in Jamaica through the eyes of gay Jamaicans who are forced to choose between their homeland and their lives after their sexual orientations are exposed. This is a story about a mother's love for her child and an activist's love for his country - and the stakes are life and death.

The festival continues on Thursday, June 26, which is Spectrum Night. The Night opens with another documentary short produced by SASOD, Jessica’s Journey.  The film highlights experiences of discrimination, violence and the struggle for acceptance by a Guyanese trans-woman who

eventually left for the United Kingdom because she did not feel safe in Guyana.

Spectrum 10 then screens its feature film and hosts its world premiere. “Antiman” tells the story of a young boy must prove his masculinity to his father while he pines for a young man in the homophobic Guyanese countryside. Antiman is a film about self-discovery and masculinity. Anil, an introverted young boy is pressured by his abusive father, Max; to become a skillful cricket player the way he himself was years before.  Although skilled in the game, Anil refuses to play and takes refuge is his love for Dano, an older boy in the village.  In order to attend the local masquerade and see the boy he pines for, Anil must win the Cricket tournament.

The Spectrum Night opens its stage for singing, dancing, music and poetry. Everyone is encouraged to come out and showcase their talents to celebrate sexual and gender diversity.

The film festival continues every Tuesday and Thursday in June and closes Sunday, June 29, at the Dutch Bottle Café, 10 North Road (between Light and Cummings Streets), Bourda, in Georgetown. Show time is 6 pm each night.

There is no charge for admission to attend the film festival. All firms are intended for mature audiences. Person must be 18 years and over to attend.