Side By Side (film Festival)

Side By Side (film Festival)

«Side by Side» Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival («Bok o Bok», Russian: Международный ЛГБТ-Кинофестиваль «Бок о Бок») is an international film festival that seeks to explore the issues of homosexuality, bisexuality and transgender (LGBT) through art cinema. Since 2008 it has taken place every autumn in St. Petersburg. Furthermore, various special events are held almost every month, and since 2009 screenings have been conducted also in other regions in Russia.

The film festival aims to establish an open cultural space in which Russian society and the LGBT community can enter into a broad discussion, and generate a positive dialogue, thus contributing to the struggle against discrimination based on sex, gender identity and sexual orientation. In addition, the festival offers a space where homosexual and transgendered persons can feel comfortable with themselves and affirm, question and extend their identities. The slogan of the film forum is “Different love, equal rights”.

The film festival was founded by Manny de Guerre. Gulya Sultanova works is the festival director and Tanya Shmankevich is the project manager of the festival.