Being gay in Russia can be a scary thing, including the threat of homophobic thugs luring LGBT people to places where they can be kidnapped, beaten and even murdered – with the vicious gangs feeling bolstered by the country’s anti-gay propaganda laws.
The short film PYOTR495 hopes to take a look at the situation, although to do so it wants to raise $30,000 through an Indiegogo crowdfuding campaign.
The film is ‘set in Russia in the year 2014. The country has invaded the Crimea region of the Ukraine, the newly instated LGBT propaganda law makes it illegal to present gay life as normal, while Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval rating is at a 6 year high. We begin in the run-down, white Soviet-era tower blocks in the Cheryomushki district of Moscow, and follow our character, Pyotr, as he leaves his friends and ventures out into the night on his scooter and under the passing lights of the city streets as he is baited into a dangerous scenario at the sprawling apartment of a member of one of Moscow’s financial elite.’
Canadian filmmaker Blake Mawson has already filmed PYOTR495, but more cash is needed to complete post-production, including the horror-sound design, music licensing, festival submission and various other costs.
The filmmakers promise that, ‘PYOTR495 speaks to anyone who has ever been victimized or discriminated against for being different and to make a statement about the dangerous trend of fear-mongering and inciting hatred in our society. We’ll mesh the classic tropes of the horror genre with the topic of repression and violence towards LGBT people, in an effort to provoke thought and discussion around social anxieties towards the state of gay rights. After all – what’s most terrifying? Some blood and gore? Or the hatred and lack of acceptance in our society in 2015? Support PYTOR495 – and you’ll find out!’
You can take a look at the trailer below, and then head over to Indiegogo to help.
https://vimeo.com/136079097
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