LGBTQ+ documentary feature Emergence: Out Of The Shadows to be screened at South Asian Film Festival of Montreal

Vinay Giridhar’s feature documentary debut, Emergence: Out Of The Shadows, follows three queer South Asians and their journey of acceptance within their conservative Punjabi Sikh families. The film started its international festival run in September in the USA and will be heading to Montreal for its Quebec premiere.

Emergence: Out Of The Shadows has been selected as the closing night film at the South Asian Film Festival of Montreal, which is being held in hybrid format from 19 to 28 November. The film is being screened in person. It will also be premiered at the Image+Nation Film Festival, which is Canada's first LGBTQ+ film festival and will be held from 18 to 28 November.

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The story of Kayden, Jag and Amar, the film portrays the protagonists awakening to and expressing their sexuality within their traditional South Asian communities. The disparate journeys of three people candidly converge around a shared sense of compassion and healing and the film asserts a potent and transformative voice in support of marginalized queer youth and their families.

Emergence: Out Of The Shadows has been produced by and stars Alex Sangha (My Name Was January) and features Kayden Bhangu, Jag Nagra, Jaspal Sangha, Avtar Singh Nagra, Rajwant Kaur Nagra and Harv Nagra.

The documentary began its festival run with its world premiere at the Cinema Diverse festival in Palm Springs before heading to Atlanta’s Out On Film Festival, Chicago’s South Asian Film Festival and back to Canada, with dates at festivals in Vancouver, Toronto and Winnipeg, including Reelworld, Vancouver Asian Film Festival and screenings around Metro Vancouver.

Producer Alex Sangha and director Vinay Giridhar are being considered for the Ted Rogers Best Feature Length Documentary while Vinay's name has been entered for Best Editing in Feature Length Documentary at the 2022 Canadian Screen Awards.

Correction, 6 November 2021: An earlier version of this report said the film was being screened virtually at the South Asian Film Festival of Montreal.