MONTREAL, QC (NOVEMBER 2, 2021) — Sher Films announced today that director Vinay Giridhar’s feature documentary debut Emergence: Out of the Shadows, a film that started its international festival run this September in the US, will be heading to Montreal for its Quebec premiere. The film has been selected as the closing night film at the South Asian Film Festival of Montreal (November 19th-28th 2021) and debuts at Image+Nation (November 18th-28th 2021); Canada’s first LGBTQ film festival and pioneering platform of queer stories for more than 30 years. The film will also have screenings across Canada and worldwide in the coming months.
Emergence: Out of the Shadows follows three queer South Asians and their journey of acceptance within their conservative Punjabi Sikh families. For Kayden, Jag, and Amar, awakening to and expressing their sexuality within their traditional South Asian communities was a lonely and terrifying experience; denial, shame and despair haunted their youths, even threatening their lives. In this gripping social justice documentary, the disparate journeys of three people candidly converge around a shared sense of compassion and healing. Topics like tradition and taboo are confronted by the cast and their families in this important film that offers comfort, compassion, and inspiration to individuals and communities struggling with acceptance. Emergence: Out of the Shadows asserts a potent and transformative voice in support of marginalized queer youth and their families.
Emergence: Out of the Shadows was directed and edited by Vinay Giridhar (Love’s Age), produced by and stars Alex Sangha (My Name Was January) and features cast including Kayden Bhangu, Jag Nagra, Jaspal Sangha, Avtar Singh Nagra, Rajwant Kaur Nagra and Harv Nagra. Christine Michelle Lord was Director of Photography and additional cinematography was done by Bhavesh Chauhan. On top of its festival run the film will have community screenings, debut on OUTtv and is being distributed into the educational market by Moving Images Distribution.
The Vancouver-produced documentary began it’s festival tour with its world premiere at the prestigious Cinema Diverse festival in Palm Springs on September 19, 2021 before heading to Atlanta’s Out On Film festival, Chicago’s South Asian Film Festival and back to Canada, with dates at festivals in Vancouver, Toronto and Winnipeg, including Reelworld, Vancouver Asian Film Festival and sold out screenings around metro Vancouver. With more announcements to come, the film will be showcased around the world including dates set, but yet to be announced in India, the UK, Portugal, and more.
Producer Alex Sangha and director Vinay Giridhar have been entered for the Ted Rogers Best Feature Length Documentary, and Vinay is entered for Best Editing in Feature Length Documentary for the 2022 Canadian Screen Awards.
The film began production in October 2019. Major funders include Vancity, OUTtv, Creative BC, BC Arts Council, City of Surrey, City of New Westminster, City of Delta, City of Vancouver – Cultural Services, Rogers Group of Funds, Province of BC, and the Vancouver Pride Society. Marketing and promotion assistance was provided by Telefilm Canada. For a complete list of sponsors click here.
ABOUT SHER FILMS AND SHER VANCOUVER
Sher Films is a Division of the Sher Vancouver LGBTQ Friends Society. Sher Vancouver is a registered charity for LGBTQ+ South Asians, their friends, and family. Sher Vancouver aims to reduce alienation and discrimination of people dealing with sexuality, gender, and coming out issues. Sher Films was launched in 2018, to help tell stories and create content in line with Sher Vancouver’s mission and mandate. Their first documentary My Name Was January, about a transgender Fiipina woman, January Marie Lapuz, who was brutally murdered in her own home, and the reaction of her community, garnered 14 awards and 65 official selections at film festivals around the world. For more information on Sher Vancouver https://www.shervancouver.com/
