| Poshida: Hidden LGBT Pakistan | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Faizan Fiaz |
Release date |
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Running time | 25 |
| Countries | Pakistan, UK |
| Language | English |
Poshida: Hidden LGBT Pakistan is a 2015 Pakistani and British documentary about the LGBT community in Pakistan. Created by Faizan Fiaz and others,[1][2] the 25-minute documentary explores the lives of a group of LGBT Pakistanis. It was described by the Daily Pakistan as the first ever movie on the topic.[3][4][5] The film screened at film festivals in Spain[6] and the United States.[7][8][9]
According to one of the directors, Poshida means "hidden" or "veiled", and refers to the role of respect or personal reputation in Pakistani society.[5] The film explores Pakistani LGBT history and culture, media representations of trans women, and addresses a Lahore serial killer targeting gay men.[7] One of its ongoing themes is the role of British colonialism and United States foreign policy on the LGBT Community.[1][10] In interviews, filmmakers pointed to the role of British colonial rule in the development of Pakistan's sodomy laws.[5]
The team interviewed dozens more people than finally appeared in the film.[10] The final list of subjects included Pakistani-Canadian-American actress Fawzia Mirza, who brought her one-woman show Me, My Mom & Sharmila to Pakistan, with mixed reviews because of lesbian themes.[11]