Queens of Joy / Королеви радості
Golden Kingfisher – Documentary Films Competition
2025 Czech Republic, France, Ukraine 90 min. Language: Ukrainian Subtitle: Czech, English
SCREENINGS
Queens of Joy documents the lives of three drag queens (Monroe, Marlene, Aura) who decided to stay in the shelled city of Kyiv during the Russian invasion. They become symbols of resistance and defiance, not only supporting their own community but also the Ukrainian people. Their forms of struggle differ - one provides up-to-date information from the war-torn country through social media, the second is active in the army, and the third organizes performances that provide people with moments of relief in difficult times… The documentary by Olga Gibelinda was co-produced by the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and France and had its world premiere at Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival. It will have its Czech premiere at the Finále Plzeň festival.
DIRECTED BY Olga Gibelinda
CINEMATOGRAPHY Kyrylo Nikrashevych, Olga Gibelinda
SOUND Dmytro Moroz
PRODUCERS Ivanna Khitsinska (Malanka Studios)
SCREENPLAY Olga Gibelinda
EDITING Zuzana Walter
MUSIC Artem Baburin
CO-PRODUCER Louis Beaudemont (Les Steppes Productions), Hana Blaha Šilarová (Films & Chips)