Latest news with #SunnyBunny
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Ukraine's Only Queer Film Festival Survived War, Hate, and a Funding Crisis
The penultimate day of the third edition of Ukraine's first and only LGBTQ+ film festival, Sunny Bunny in Kyiv, will be remembered for a loud, sleepless night. And it wasn't because of the parties — it was due to a massive Russian missile and drone attack, one of the largest since the invasion began. The morning after, I met the film festival director Bohdan Zhuk and PR director Tasia Pugach on the bench in front of the Zhovten movie theater. More from IndieWire 'Top Gun: Maverick' Script at the Center of New Lawsuit Pamela Anderson, Dakota Fanning, and Lindsay Duncan to Lead Sally Potter's Family Drama 'Alma' 'At some point I felt a blast wave,' Zhuk said while rolling a cigarette, as Pugach recounted how she spent the night with a cat in an underground parking. Regardless, they've got work planned for the day, which includes constantly adapting to new realities. While the Sunny Bunny festival is a war baby born in 2023, this year's edition faced other obstacles. A major blow came from the cancellation of USAID funding, which the festival had relied on in past editions. 'It was a significant amount of money, but our lives didn't depend on it. I realized that we could definitely fundraise, find other partnerships and solutions. Because who can do it if not us? There must be some kind of extraordinary situation for us to cancel the festival,' said Zhuk. The festival's third edition cost about 60,000 euros, which they pieced together from scraps. 'Generally, we've never been able to raise a proper budget from one or more donors; it's rather a small support from lots of different national and international sources,' he added. As in the previous year, the Ukrainian State Film Agency provided a certain amount of funding, as did major international partners such as the Goethe Institute and the International Renaissance Foundation, among others. Nevertheless, Zhuk shared that 'today, there is a notable cut in funding for Ukrainian cultural projects. Some of them shut down completely.' But what has helped significantly is cooperation with embassies, of which the festival has as many as 10, from Canada to Argentina. The UK, for instance, provided a highly popular retrospective of British queer cinema. Considering all the challenges, the compiled program is genuinely impressive with 60 films that include a mix of ultra-fresh Sundance/Berlinale titles as 'Peter Hujar's Day' or 'Lesbian Space Princesses,' with hits from last year like 'I Am Not Everything I Want to Be' or 'Viet and Nam.' But really dark times were just ahead. As the final layout of the festival was underway, tragedy struck: Zhuk's brother died at the front defending the country. Around the same time, his irreplaceable programmer, Viktor Hlon, was mobilized. 'We managed to get through it through tremendous mutual support in our team,' said Zhuk. Air raid alerts remain a daily challenge for the festival. As soon as they start, the movie is paused and the audience is obliged to go to the bomb shelter. When the threat is over, the movie is put back on play. But if the alert lasts more than 30 minutes, the screening is postponed. This year, Pugach and Zhuk only had to postpone four screenings. Despite the already brutal external threats, the festival also suffered from internal ones, coming from its own fellow citizens. Sunny Bunny is well-acquainted with homophobic attacks, as in 2014, when the event was still only a sidebar of the Kyiv International Film Festival Molodist in Ukraine: During the screening of the film 'Summer Nights,' the main hall of the cinema was set on fire. Now at Sunny Bunny, dozens of police officers patrol the venue. This year's festival kept them busy, such as on April 19, when members of the Prava Molod ('The Right Youth' in Ukrainian) gathered to express their discontent and defend 'traditional values.' The police detained about 60 people. Although the team is used to threats, this year, the situation was inflamed by the fact that the festival's midpoint fell on Orthodox Easter, April 20. Social media users debated whether it is appropriate to hold a queer film festival on such a holiday but, 'for some reason, no one has attacked many other entertainment events on this day. It's just a convenient excuse for homophobes,' said Pugach. The paradox is that these manifestations, on the contrary, bring Ukraine closer to its common enemy, as in Russia, homophobia is flourishing with incredible force right now. 'This self-contradiction is a fertile ground for sociological research,' agreed Zhuk. Nevertheless, the negative PR brought the festival even more attention. 'We received many words of support, and some who defended us wrote that this scandal reminded them that Sunny Bunny has begun, and it's time to book tickets,' added Pugach with a smile. Beyond combating homophobia, the festival also wants to bring diversity to queer discourse through its programming and to move away from established clichés. For example, Zhuk is personally concerned that the leading themes of queer cinema are still cisgender white gay men, a dominance he wanted to move away from in his festival. He is proud that they have a film about intersex people, the documentary 'Who Am I Not,' which he called 'a great rarity in modern cinema.' For the second time, the Sunny Bunny festival hosted a short film pitching competition, offering a monetary prize and aiming to stimulate more homegrown Ukrainian films. Zhuk cited the case of one young Ukrainian director, Vadim Mochalov: 'All three years, he has been actively volunteering at the festival. Last year, he took part in the pitching and received a special mention, and this year, his film 'The Story' is already in the international competition.' The vibe of the established sense of community is palpable on location as young cinephiles binge-watch films. Joining a few of them in the smoking corner for an enthusiastic discussion of the film 'Queens of Joy,' I felt this flow of excitement, which today is rarely found on the streets of Ukraine. For them, Sunny Bunny is a way to distract from the war and get, if not a physical safe space, then at least a mental one. 'It's exhausting, to put it mildly,' Zhuk said. 'But I see the impact — satisfied people, shaped community, or even when someone tells me that the festival changed their life — it's incredibly motivating and keeps us moving, no matter what.' Yet the festival's closing night could not be celebratory. That overnight Russian attack on Kyiv killed 12 people and injured 87, with April 25 declared a day of mourning. The planned Sunny Bunny techno party was canceled, and the shortened awards ceremony began with a minute of silence. The Sundance premiere, 'Cactus Pears,' ended up winning the top prize in the main competition (the full list of winners can be seen here). Calling the whole team to the stage, Zhuk thanked the audience for their presence, the Armed Forces of Ukraine for their defense, and invited everyone to the fourth edition next year. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie The 55 Best LGBTQ Movies and TV Shows Streaming on Netflix Right Now
Russia Today
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Russia Today
Kiev gay club mocks Christian ceremony on Easter Sunday (VIDEO)
A stage act at a gay club in Ukraine's capital Kiev on Easter Sunday featured a mock Christian ritual, according to a video said to have been filmed at the event. Easter, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus, is being celebrated by both Orthodox and Western Christians this year on April 20. The clip, which was shared by Ukrainian Telegram channels on Monday, captured performers on stage at the Portum gay club making a mockery of Asperges, the rite of sprinkling the congregation with holy water. A drag queen with fake breasts was filmed sprinkling water from a large bowl on cheering party-goers with 'Judas' by US pop star Lady Gaga playing in the background. Footage of the performance upset many Ukrainians, quickly gaining thousands of angry emoji reactions. One of the commentators branded the stage events 'a sick theater,' while another called upon God to take mercy on the entertainers. 18+Украина, Киев , 20 апреля 2025Вечеринка на Пасху в киевском гей-клубе «Портум»😳 On Good Friday, April 18, an LGBTQ film festival, Sunny Bunny, opened in Kiev, outraging many local Christians and some politicians. It is running during Easter Week and is scheduled to conclude on Friday. Last weekend, the police detained multiple people after protesters from a right-wing group, Prava Molod, clashed with police outside the event at the Zhovten movie theater. Ukrainian MP Aleksey Goncharenko branded the LGBTQ film festival 'a provocation against Ukrainian traditions, faith, and the frontline soldiers who have died with a prayer on their lips.' However, the organizers of the event have defended it, arguing that 'Ukraine is a secular state where people of different faiths and beliefs live side by side. In a secular country, a variety of events, from theater to cinema, take place on any given holiday, and Sunny Bunny is just one of them.' The LGBTQ movement has been trying to raise its profile in Ukraine amid the conflict with Russia, with the activists framing it as a statement of defiance. These groups have also launched fundraisers to purchase drones for Kiev's armed forces and encouraged supporters to contribute. Russia banned 'LGBT propaganda' in 2022 and last year designated the LGBT movement as a terrorist organization.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Police clashes with far-right protesters at LGBTQ+ film festival in Kyiv
A clash broke out between police and far-right protesters outside the Zhovten cinema in Kyiv on April 19, where the Sunny Bunny LGBTQ+ film festival is taking place, Suspilne media reported. According to a Suspilne correspondent at the scene, members of the group called 'Prava Molod" ("The Right Youth" in Ukrainian) gathered outside of the venue in support of what they described as 'traditional values.' The protest escalated into a confrontation with police. Police detained all demonstrators, citing the need to verify their identities, according to Suspilne. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether charges will be pressed. While public support for LGBTQ+ rights in Ukraine has grown in recent years, the community continues to face frequent threats and violence, particularly from far-right groups. Events such as Pride marches and queer cultural festivals are often targeted by the far-right. The Sunny Bunny festival, which began on April 19, is Ukraine's first queer film festival. It was originally a program within the Kyiv International Short Film Festival. Overlapping with the Easter weekend, the festival sparked debates online on whether its timing was appropriate in the lead-up to its opening. Organizers said the dates had been scheduled well in advance and happened to coincide with Easter. 'Ukraine is a secular state where people of different faiths and beliefs live side by side,' the festival team said in a statement published on April 18. 'In a secular country, a variety of events, from theater to cinema, take place on any given holiday, and Sunny Bunny is just one of them,' they said. "We are convinced that a part of Ukrainian society simply found an excuse in Easter or Good Friday to express their disagreement with the existence of the festival (or the LGBTQIA+ community) in general, professing in fact homophobic and discriminatory beliefs and openly expressing hatred and calls for violence, which does not correspond to the Christian values that they supposedly adhere to." A 2023 poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that over 70% of Ukrainians believe LGBTQ+ people should have the same rights as others. In March 2023, lawmaker Inna Sovsun of the Holos party introduced a draft bill to legalize civil partnerships in Ukraine. The proposal has received backing from several parliamentary committees but remains stalled due to a lack of approval from the Legal Policy Committee, a necessary step before it can be considered by the full parliament. Read also: Civil partnerships in limbo as LGBTQ+ people seek equal rights amid war We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russia Today
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Russia Today
Kiev opens LGBT film festival on Good Friday
Ukraine's LGBTQ community has sparked outrage by scheduling its top film festival, Sunny Bunny, to coincide with Easter week. The event opened on Good Friday, April 18, and will run through April 25 in Kiev. In 2025 all Christian denominations are celebrating Easter on the same day, and the festival's timing and queerly seasonal name have drawn a backlash from conservative politicians and religious figures. Former Ukrainian PM Yulia Tymoshenko, who now leads the opposition Fatherland (Batkivshchyna) party, expressed outrage over the festival's opening on Good Friday. In a social media post, she criticized the decision, rhetorically asking, 'Do you know what 'nothing sacred' literally looks like?' Several other members of Ukraine's parliament have also voiced disapproval. MP Aleksey Goncharenko described the event as 'a provocation against Ukrainian traditions, faith, and the frontline soldiers who have died with a prayer on their lips.' Writing on his Telegram channel, he added, 'This is a disregard for the millions of people for whom Good Friday is a day of silence, sorrow, and prayer.' Launched in 2008 as part of another event, Sunny Bunny became a standalone festival in June 2023—one year after the conflict in Ukraine escalated. Ukrainian MP Daniil Getmantsev also condemned the timing, saying it damages the public image of the LGBTQ community. Festival organizers stated the timing was not intended to offend religious groups. They explained that the dates were selected based on the international festival calendar and logistics, emphasizing that Ukraine is a secular country. Organizers also described some of the criticism as homophobic, arguing references to Christian holidays were being used to 'mask homophobia and hatred.' The festival has previously required heightened security. In 2023, before its opening, two cinemas in Kiev received threats of attacks and arson over their involvement. The LGBTQ movement in Ukraine has sought to raise its profile amid the conflict with Russia, with supporters framing it as a defiant statement. Ukrainian LGBTQ groups have also launched fundraisers to purchase drones for Kiev's armed forces and encouraged supporters to contribute. Russia banned 'LGBT propaganda' in 2022 and designated the LGBT movement as a terrorist organization in 2024. Russian MP Sergey Mironov denounced the festival, claiming it reflects a rejection of traditional values. He said, 'Today, people with traditional beliefs are no longer needed in Ukraine,' calling LGBT culture a threat to civilization and describing the situation as 'lunacy.' He added, 'Thank God we in Russia are spared from this.'
