Venus

Sid has been under pressure from his family for a long time to finally marry a nice Indian girl and have children. When he finally comes out to his family as a woman, 14-year-old Ralph appears out of nowhere and claims to be Sid's son. In her feature film debut VENUS, Canadian director Eisha Marjara tells the story of Sid, a trans woman of Indian descent who, in the midst of her transition, suddenly finds herself confronted with the role of parent. Ralph, a bright teenager, accepts Sid's new identity with astonishing openness and brings a breath of fresh air into her life. But it's not just her relationship with Ralph that presents challenges for Sid; her conservative mother and a reserved boyfriend also make the path to a harmonious family life difficult. VENUS premiered at the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma in Montreal in 2017 and was subsequently screened at numerous international festivals, including the Cinequest Film Festival in California, the Reelout Queer Film + Video Festival in Canada, and the Transgender Film Festival in Kiel. The film has won several awards, including the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the Reelout Festival and the Best Actor Award for Jamie Mayers in Kiel. With plenty of humor and empathy, VENUS explores themes such as gender identity, cultural expectations, and the importance of family. Marjara succeeds in telling a story that is both touching and thought-provoking, while focusing on the diversity of human relationships.