Encounters 2021: I Am Samuel

Every year since our founding in 2010, The Bioscope has proudly hosted screenings of The Encounters Documentary Film Festival. Always a highlight in our calendar, the festival returns this year with limited physical screenings at The Bioscope from 11-20 June. Tickets are R70. For more information on the festival as a whole, please visit encounters.co.za

I AM SAMUEL

Directed by: Pete Murimi. (Kenya | United Kingdom | USA | Germany | Netherlands | Canada | South Africa). Dur: 1h 20 mins.

In this tender but powerful film, Samuel, a gay Kenyan man, has to balance his duty to his family with his love for his partner, Alex, in a country where their relationship is criminalised. Samuel, who grew up on a farm in the Kenyan countryside where tradition is valued above all else, moves to Nairobi in search of a new life. There, he finds belonging in a community of fellow queer men and falls in love with Alex. Their love thrives even though Kenyan laws criminalize anyone who identifies as LGBTQ, and together they face threats of violence and rejection. Samuel’s father, a preacher at the local church, can’t understand why his son is not yet married, and Samuel must navigate the very real risk that telling the truth about who he is may cost him his family’s acceptance. This is a lovely and searingly honest film about love in the face of oppression.

COVID POLICY AND PROCEDURE.

The new Bioscope location is set to be a 47 seater cinema. We are however selling far less in order for there to be space to sit apart from other members of the public. We ask you to please keep your mask on the entire time within the cinema premises. Drinks and snacks will be on sale and can be consumed during the film, but please consider those around you when your mask is off for this. 44 Stanley is largely an open air shopping centre, and The Bioscope has a great outside space directly outside the cinema that public can make use of. Within the cinema, we will also make use of temperature reading, air filtering, and constant cleaning to make sure that The Bioscope remains a safe and hygienic experience.

After purchasing tickets, if you experience any COVID related symptoms, or come into contact with anyone who has tested positive, we ask you to please not attend the screening. Please understand that The Bioscope will not be able to refund you this ticket. We are happy however for you to give your ticket to someone else that can attend. If this is not possible, we would be happy to exchange your ticket for a future screening/event. This can all be coordinated via email at [email protected]