Batikh Batikh presents Ya Sapphic! at Vox Populi

Sat Feb 11 2023 at 06:00 pm to Sun Feb 12 2023 at 01:00 am

Vox Populi | Philadelphia

Cin\u00e9SPEAK
Publisher/HostCinéSPEAK
Batikh Batikh presents Ya Sapphic! at Vox Populi
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Join us for an eve of Lesbian SWANA (South West Asian North African) Cinema—Come drink, dance, feed your crush sweets, & watch some films!
About this Event

This FREE event focuses on lesbian relationships and sensuality, with hypnotic visuals and absurd scenarios. The program is available for a traditional screening from 6-8pm in the Black Box theater. The films will then be on loop during our Valentine’s Day party as well as the first Philabibi Dance Party at 10pm!

*This program is proudly produced in-partnership thanks to sponsorship support from cinéSPEAK & is hosted by Vox Populi.*

**EVENT FLOW:

DOORS @ 5:30PM

SCREENING @ 6:00PM

VALENTINE'S DAY PARTY @ 8:00PM—with PHILABIBI @ 10:00PM-1AM

**THIS EVENT IS INDOORS** Masks and personal testing before and/or after are encouraged.

**SEATING IN THE SCREENING ROOM IS INCREDIBLY LIMITED** Early arrival for best seats is highly encouraged.

**TICKETS**

GENERAL ADMISSION: FREE! Donations to support Batikh Batikh's on-going work are graciously accepted <3 (100% of proceeds will be directed to Batikh Batikh)

Advance registration is *highly* recommended.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

The theme for the night is “yearning!” —Nothing epitomizes sapphic desire like longing and melancholia.

This FREE screening focuses on lesbian relationships and sensuality, with hypnotic visuals and absurd scenarios. These films never question the queerness of their subjects but follow heroines as they navigate how to authentically be themselves in systems of imperialism, homophobia, and the ridiculousness of everyday life

The program is available for a traditional screening from 6-8pm in the Black Box theater.

The films will then be on loop during our Valentine’s Day party where audio is accessible through the theater space as well as several private headphones.

At the end of the night, we will be hosting a dance party project by Tracy Chahwan and Nebila Oguz called Philabibi, showcasing music from the SWANA region.

We will have hard and soft drinks for sale as well as traditional Arab desserts made by our local aunties! All food and drink sales help support Batikh Batikh’s future programming! Come drink, dance, feed your crush sweets, and watch some cinema. *Masks and personal testing before and/or after are encouraged.*


FEATURED FILMS:

**Program Curation by Sarah Trad, Batikh Batikh**


THE WINDOW (2022)—dir. by Sarah Kaskas @sarahkaskas @karaaj.films

A year after Beirut’s port explosion, Basma and Mariam reunite in their old bedroom. Surrounded by a view of the port’s remains, the two women attempt to resolve their shared trauma and broken relationship.

I SAY DUST (2015)—dir. by Darine Hotait @darinehotait @cinephiliaproductions

Two Arab-American women in New York City fall in love, argue home and identity, engage in a chess battle, and express themselves through the power of the spoken word.

BEŞ (2021)—dir. by Ayla Çekin Satijn @aylasatijn

Asli, a young, Turkish, lesbian woman, returns to the village where she was born to attend the henna party of her childhood friend. She fears not being accepted, but when she sees her old friends again, she comes to realize that she herself has the biggest prejudice.

RUPTURE DIVINE (2019)—dir. by Malak Mroueh @malakmroueh

Maya goes through electroshock conversion therapy and starts to hallucinate after her mother discovers her relationship with Dana.

BLIND DATE (2022)—dir. by Mona Khaouli @monakhaouli

May, 27, has a blind date with a certain June. On her way there, in a strange turn of events, May’s phone is destroyed. With no way of reaching June or knowing what she looks like, May decides to show up anyway – only to discover a café filled exclusively with women… How will May find June?

SCENES I IMAGINE (2020)—dir. by Metin Akdemir @metinakdemirfox

From the 1980s onwards and in tandem with significant feminism gains, some influential productions which are categorized and widely accepted as “Women’s Film” took their place in the history of Turkish Cinema. Scenes I Imagine examines why the "queer implications/possibilities" that these so-called "Women's Films" entail are portrayed as friendship, companionship, or sisterhood or why they are represented / cannot be represented as queer relations.


ABOUT THE CO-PRESENTING ORGANIZATIONS:

—BATIKH BATIKH:

Batikh Batikh is a pop-up cinema and gallery that centers SWANA (South West Asian North African) women and queer artists. Founded by local filmmaker and curator, Sarah Trad, BB focuses on bringing SWANA films to Philadelphia and helping local queer and women artists acquire resources and solo exhibitions at rented spaces. Based on an anti-capitalist art model, where all art is free to the public with featured artists paid, these screenings and exhibitions will provide programming that showcases SWANA and queer joy outside the Western gaze.

Learn More: BatikhCollective ()


—cinéSPEAK:

We are a Philadelphia-based cinema organization that engages diverse audiences through our independent, repertory and foreign film programming; creating space and centering the stories of individuals and communities that are often underrepresented in mainstream cinema.

We promote community togetherness and global understanding by engaging film enthusiasts while cultivating the next generation of discerning moviegoers; encouraging people to demand social justice both on-screen and throughout society.

Learn More: www.cineSPEAK.org@cineSPEAK (Instagram; Twitter; Facebook); Stay In The Loop:https://bit.ly/cinéSPEAKMail


—VOX POPULI:

Founded in 1988, Vox Populi is a contemporary art space and artist collective that works to support the challenging and experimental work of under-represented artists with monthly exhibitions, gallery talks, performances, lectures, and related programming. For three decades, Vox Populi has played a unique role in the cultural life of Philadelphia by bringing our audience a diverse range of programming and providing a supportive environment in which artists can take risks and gain valuable professional experience.

Learn More: voxpopuligallery.org

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Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Vox Populi, 319 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, United States

Tickets

USD 0.00

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