A three-day event brought together art, activism, and mutual support. The festival became a meeting space for over 200 people — artists, activists, political exiles, and allies. The program featured more than 120 works: photography, video art, painting, installations, performances, and live music by artists from Russia and other post-Soviet countries.
A three-day event brought together art, activism, and mutual support. The festival was organized by Russie-Libertés in collaboration with Espace Libertés / Reforum Space Paris and Center T.
The festival became a meeting space for over 200 people — artists, activists, political exiles, and allies. The program featured more than 120 works: photography, video art, painting, installations, performances, and live music by artists from Russia and other post-Soviet countries.
Drag artist Lola Camomilla opened the festival with a powerful performance in front of the town hall of Paris’s 11th district. Through political protest and personal vulnerability, she gave voice to the trauma of queer identity shaped by life in Russia.
Four panel discussions took place during the festival: – Resistance in and beyond Russia — exploring forms of queer struggle under authoritarian regimes in Russia, Turkey, Iran, and Uyghur communities; – Life in exile — on the realities and challenges faced by LGBTQ+ migrants in Poland, Lithuania, and France; – Supporting queer refugees — covering evacuation, temporary shelter, and accompaniment programs; – Transnational voices — an international conversation with Inter-LGBT on solidarity and joint action across repressed communities.
Speakers included: Sasha Kazantseva, Pasha Andreev (Quarteera), Yan Dvorkin (Center T), Evi Chayka (Equal PostOst), Vika Privalova (FAS), Maria Latsinskaya (Lesbian Lobby), and others representing queer-led initiatives. The conversations touched on digital security, burnout, vulnerability, survival tactics, and solidarity.
The final highlight of the program was the premiere of Queendom, a film about artist Gena Marvin. She unexpectedly appeared at the screening and was met with a standing ovation — one of the most emotional moments of the festival.
The first Russian Queer Fest in Exile became living proof that art, resistance, and community can build spaces of visibility and care. The organizers aren’t saying goodbye — they’re already looking forward to the next edition in 2026.
