In an era of political repression and growing social conservatism in Turkey, the Istanbul drag scene thrives. This absorbing and illuminating half-hour documentary goes backstage to speak with those at its heart. Cake Mosq, Pepi IV, Ahsen Gönülce, Anna Tholia and Gia Androgeny are some of the most popular and admired drag queens in the country, from very diverse backgrounds. From the elements that go into creating a glamorous persona to the hard work needed to be successful, from the ever-present threat of public harassment, or worse, to the new opportunities opening up in the online world, the five speak candidly about the challenges and illusion of staging drag in a country like Turkey, and their roles as flag bearers in a sometimes-hostile world.

Director(s): Ceren Özkanlı Samlı and Erinç Durlanık
2024 | 21 minutes
Turkey
Language(s): Turkish
Subtitles: English