Dear friends,

In 2010 the project ‘ComingOutCionema’ continuous its work and invites movie enthusiasts and everybody who enjoys taking part in film discussions to the “Green Lamp” press club.

Once a month at 6 p.m. at the “Green Lamp” club (Gagarinskaya street, 3; Chernyshevskaya metro station) we’ll show exciting films on different topics: LGBT, feminism, civil society, human rights and others.

Traditionally, a discussion with experts and project guests is going to take place.

You are welcome to join our warm atmosphere.

Entrance is free. We look forward to seeing you!

The coming films are:

31 January, 2010 (Sunday), 6 p.m., “Green Lamp” press club.

A 2005 drama film North Country (USA, 126 min., directed by Niki Caro).

The film tells a life story of Josey Aimes (Charlize Theron), a single mother with two children to support, who has to work at the iron mine to earn for a living. Turning out to be one of the few female miners in town, she faces with harsh reality and is met with resistance. Male workers, who can’t stand the female competition, put forward humiliating demands. If you want to work the mines you’ll have to do it on terms set by men. And then Josey, running the venture, decides to protect herself and her friends and files a lawsuit in court…

After the film we’ll have a discussion: «Female employment rights, gender inequality at Russian National Labor market» with Rima Sharifullina - feminist and the president of the NGO „Petersburg Aegis”.

Rima Sharifullina and her colleagues defend women’s labor rights and they have already won several lawsuits. Rima helps women, who were illegally fired, with getting benefits, welfare and maternity allowance. Since 1998 Rima has been working at developing trade unions movement in Saint-Petersburg and Russia, diligently defending their rights, including the right to strike.

The second discussant will be Natalya Evdokimova, member of the Human Rights Council and former Chairman of the Committee of the Legislative Assembly in Saint-Petersburg dealing with Social Affairs.

The host of the discussion is a broadcaster Olga Tonkonogova.

27 February, 2010 (Saturday), 6 p.m., “Green Lamp” press club

A documentary “Herr Schmidt und Herr Friedrich” (Germany, 2001, 70 min., directed by Ulrike Franke, Michael Loeken)

This is the incredible story of love of two Germans - from eastern and western Germany - whose relationship begins with the passion for hit records. They fall in love and even state boundaries are unable to separate them. In 1977 Kurt tries to emigrate to his beloved from GDR into West Germany, and then the Stasi (German Secret Police) begins to take interest in the relationship of these men…

It’s a remarkable tale about love, living together through bittersweets of daily life and passion for trivial things of two gays in German province.

After the film we’ll talk about safety of LGBT in Russia, aging of gays and lesbians, and problems of older LGBT persons.

“Green Lamp” club ’s address is Gagarinskaya street, 3; Chernyshevskaya metro station.( Entrance through the second door.) “Green Lamp” is situated in the building of the European University.

We’ll inform you about the next events at a later date.

Translated by Marina Egorova