28/01/2025 | Writer: Kaos GL

Pink Life QueerFest, which was organised for the 13th time this year with the theme of Aslına Rücu, screened 60 films in 5 days. 20 different screenings, 7 interviews and 2 workshops were organised.

13th Pink Life QueerFest overcame bans Kaos GL - News Portal for LGBTI+

Pink Life QueerFest, which was organised for the 13th time this year with the theme of ‘Aslına Rücu’, was banned by the Ankara Governorate on the grounds of ‘violation of public morality’. However, the festival overcame the bans and held its events and film screenings.

This year, QueerFest met with cinema lovers by screening 60 films in 5 days. QueerFest overcame the bans and organised 20 separate screenings, 7 interviews and 2 workshops. Film screenings and events were held in 9 different venues this year.

This year, the festival screened the documentary BELLEKVARİ, whose screening at the Mülkiyeliler Union was banned. Despite 2 separate bans, the festival introduced its new brand identity by saying ‘We are Disrupting the Game’.

What happened?

The 13th Pink Life Queerfest started yesterday (22 January) with an opening ceremony open only to the invited guests. Zeliş Deniz Queer Cinema Award Ceremony was also held at the opening ceremony.

Within the scope of the festival, ‘BELLEKVARİ: Oral History of QueerFest’ documentary, which was planned to be screened this evening, was notified by the police to the screening venue, Mülkiyeliler Birliği.

While the decision on the ban of the documentary ‘Bellekvari’ was not shared on the website or social media accounts of the Ankara Governorate, police officers went to the office of the Pink Life Association and notified them of the decision banning the entire festival.

In the decision notified to Pink Life, it was stated that Ankara Governorate Legal Affairs Branch Directorate banned the entire festival with the decision taken today.

The decision stated that ‘all activities related to the 13th Pink Life Queerfest were banned in order to protect public order, public health and morality, and the rights and freedoms of others’.

In the ban decision, it was also claimed that Pink Life Queerfest events ‘exhibited attitudes and behaviours against public morality, including some social sensitivities and sensitivities’.


Tags: human rights, media, arts and culture
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