Saint Petersburg, Russia - 2nd June, 2010

Saint Petersburg Public Discuss Lesbian and Gay Rights.

This weekend the Saint Petersburg public have the unique opportunity to discuss the issue of LGBT rights with leading German gay activist Wieland Speck. Wieland Speck will be participating in a special two day event: Cinema and Civil Activism organized by Side by Side LGBT Film Festival in cooperation with the Goethe Institute in Saint Petersburg.

Saint Petersburg, Russia - 30th April, 2010

Statement from Festival Organizers Alexey Levin and Maria Shulaeva on the Closing Down of Side by Side in Kemerovo

Events that unfolded in Kemerovo in regards to the Side by Side Film Festival showed unfortunately that the bulk of society was not ready to withstand the test of tolerance.

Saint Petersburg, Russia - 23 April 2010

First Regional Side by Side LGBT Film Festivals held in Siberia: Support and Opposition. The Fight Goes On.

Saint Petersburg LGBT Film Festival Side by Side assesses the Siberian leg of their 2010 tour of the Russian Federation.

Saint Petersburg, Russia - 15 February 2010

Side by Side LGBT International Film Festival receives prize from the Teddy Award Foundation at this years 60th Berlin International Film Festival.   

The Teddy Award Foundation has awarded Russia’s first annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) film festival Side by Side a monetary prize of 2000 Euros. The prize was awarded on the opening evening of the 24th Teddy Award by Klaus Mabel Aschenneller director of the Teddy Award Foundation in recognition of Side by Side’s valuable work fighting for LGBT rights in Russia.

Siant Petersburg, Russia - 12 January 2010

Third Side by Side LGBT International Film Festival Accepting Submissions from 11th January – 30th June, 2010

The third annual Side by Side LGBT International Film Festival, scheduled for the autumn between the 15 – 22 October, 2010, is currently accepting film and video submissions.

Saint Petersburg, Russia - 23 December 2009

Russia’s First Annual LGBT Film Festival Side by Side Sets its Sites Further and goes Nationwide in 2010.

In 2010 Side by Side LGBT International Film Festival will move beyond the confines of the Russian North West and into other regions across the Federation. Staggered throughout the year are four three-day film festivals in various locales stretching as far as Siberia.

Saint Petersburg, Russia - 10 November 2009

Side by Side LGBT International Film Festival by Professor Dr Igor S. Kon

At the end of October I had the honour to be a jury member of Side by Side LGBT film festival in St. Petersburg. It was an incredibly important cultural event. People with unconventional gender identity and sexual orientation are an organic part of our society and world culture. Artistic, including cinematographic, reflection and perception of their problems gives us a better understanding of not only them but also of ourselves.

Saint Petersburg, Russia - 2 November 2009

Second Side by Side LGBT International Film Festival Announces 2009 Winners

On 31st October Side by Side LGBT International Film Festival announced the winners for 2009. Competition categories were Best Social Film, Best Enlightening Film, Best Film Representing Human Value and Audience Award.

Saint Petersburg, Russia - 23 October 2009

The Second Side by Side LGBT International Film Festival Starts!

The 1919 film from the Weimar Republic Different from Others directed by Richard Oswald opens the second Side by Side LGBT International Film Festival on 23rd October. On the jury board this year is sociologist Igor Kon, Art Director of OPEN CINEMA film festival Tamara Larina, human rights activist Nina Tagankina, Director of AHOI Culture Mahide Lein and  Director of INOEKINO Sergey Baidak. Competition categories are Best Social Film, Best Enlightening Film, Best Film Representing Human Value and Audience Award. The jury will make their selection from over twenty films.

Saint Petersburg, Russia - 13 October 2009

Side by Side to Screen LGBT Films from the Weimar Republic

At this years second Side by Side International Film Festival a retrospective of LGBT films from the Weimar Republic will be shown. Early classics Different from Others, directed by Richard Oswald (1919), Michael (1924), directed by Karl Theodor Dryer and Girls in Uniform (1931) directed by Leontine Sagan are included on the programme.