Istanbul’s queer techno scene spotlighted in new documentary, Movement

A new documentary spotlighting Istanbul’s queer techno scene and the fight to preserve its safe spaces has been released, Movement.

Produced by Morph Group, the documentary highlights the importance of international solidarity shown by the shared mission of two collectives from different countries; Instanbul’s female-led queer collective Sirän, and Copenhagen’s Endurance collective.

The documentary explores the power of creating and preserving these safe spaces within the context of gentrification in Istanbul, coupled with the Turkish economic crisis.

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Movement explores the collaborative project and the discussions between the two collectives which highlight a number of parallels at the intersection of gender with other issues such as race and economic struggle.

The film is directed by Benjamin Muasya, who explains: “I hope this film will be a friendly reminder to all of us, about the original values and culture of techno and house music, in a time where fast-consumerism, commercialisation, gentrification and conservatism is threatening the beautiful and powerful underground dance floors.”

The documentary begins with a focus on Nene H and Y.Unan’s Sirän collective, and the work they have done to create and foster a safe space for marginalised queer communities in Istanbul.

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Despite spending a long period in Berlin, Nene H feels proud of the work she’s done in her native Turkey, saying: “I wanted to get involved in the Istanbul scene because I wanted to give back to my people and my culture. And I wanted to be part of it because I was for a very long time away from it.”

“The dancefloor is an important space in contrast to society because we get to express ourselves and be with our community and forget about what else is happening outside of that space," she added.

This sentiment is echoed by QTBIPOC artist MX SÜR, also of XSM collective, who comments: “Underground queer clubs are vital gathering zones in Istanbul, as public spaces and major clubs are largely dominated by the patriarchal system.”

The documentary was released on Wednesday, May 28. Check it out below.

Jamaal Johnson is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow him on Instagram