Haus of Dragons

In collaboration with MIX Copenhagen Kunsthal Charlottenborg is screening Lotte Nielsen’s short film ‘Haus of Dragons’ about young queers in Istanbul as well as Konstantinos Menelaou’s film ‘He Loves Me’ (more info below). The films are free when the entrance to Kunsthal Charlottenborg is paid.

Haus of Dragons, 2018 (23min)
Saturday 3 November at 2pm
The film is Turkish with English subtitles

The film ‘Haus of Dragons’ by the young Danish documentarist Lotte Nielsen depicts a group of young people from the LGBT club at Bogazici University in Istanbul, who live under the repressive norms of the Erdogan regime. The youth speak intimately about how the conservative policies have affected their lives and show that despite the difficulties in openly expressing their gender and sexual identities, they still fight to live true to them selve s, as shown in a spectacular drag show two of the students put on for the film. Lotte Nielsen’s dark and beautiful film creates a haven where the youths can be themselves and speak openly. And they do. A romantic refuge is conjured up in the struggle for rights and recognition from the rest of Turkish society.

He Loves Me, 2018 (68min)
Sunday 4 November at 2pm
The film is in English

’He Loves Me’ by the young talented Greek instructor Konstantinos Menelaou is an exploration of the unconventional nature of love and its ability to survive against the fear of loneliness, psychological traumas and the problematic lifestyle of a big city. The collapsing relationship between two boys finds an outlet for escape in an isolated beach. Once there, they feel free to expose their deepest thoughts and release their true emotions. Their wounded but true love might not be enough to amend all the shattered pieces of their relationship.
Further information: kostakis.co.uk/helovesme

Credits (He Loves Me):
Written and directed by KONSTANTINOS MENELAOU
With SANUYE SHOTEKA, HERMES PITTAKOS
Voice THANOS LEKKAS
Production KONSTANTINOS MENELAOU, JAMES PEARCEY, RUSSELL WOULD
Camera KONSTANTINOS MENELAOU, KOSTIS FOKAS
Director of photography KOSTIS FOKAS
Line production JONNY SEVEN
Production co-ordinator ZOIE SGOUROU
Music MICKE LINDEBERGH
Song LENA PLATONOS
Editing KONSTANTINOS MENELAOU, RUSSELL WOULD, PARIS GRIGORAKIS
Color grading BABIS PETRIDIS
Sound design & Mix NIKOS TRIANTAFYLLOU, CHRIS BEKIRIS

About MIX Copenhagen
MIX Copenhagen started in 1986 and is now Denmark’s oldest recurring and ever-active film festival, as well as one of the world’s oldest LGBTQ film festivals. We are a volunteer association run by passionate LGBTQ movie lovers who use their spare time to make MIX Copenhagen a spectacular event not only for the LGBTQ environment but also for all the Copenhageners and far beyond the city limits. Our goal is to show a palette of movies that bend gender and break sexual boundaries, affect the gender debate and reflect a diverse world.

This year the festival takes place 26 October-4 November. Further info at mixcopenhagen.dk.