Low-budget Mexican film ‘Tijuana, Todavía’ tackles Russian gay refugee at Venice Queer Lion
Mexican director Gabriel Gutiérrez Morales’ film “Tijuana, Todavía,” made on a €200,000 grant, is competing for the Queer Lion at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, spotlighting a Russian gay refugee’s story.
Gabriel Gutiérrez Morales’ “Tijuana, Todavía,” produced with a €200,000 grant and ten months of development, has earned a slot in competition for the Queer Lion at Venice’s 83rd edition. The film, produced by Humberto Busto and supported by Biennale College - Cinema, portrays Maksim, a Russian queer fleeing the war draft, and Chava, a seasoned gay man navigating Tijuana’s machismo culture. Constraints of the micro-budget were described as a joyful creative challenge.
Lead actor Petr Filimonov, himself a refugee arrested for anti-war activism, brings authentic experience to the role. The narrative also incorporates the Casa de Luz refugee shelter, whose founder’s recent reunion with a Russian lover echoes the storyline. The project highlights the broader issues of queer migration and border life, while noting the Italian Ministry of Culture’s decision to withdraw support for the Queer Lion award.
Why it matters
The film uses a tight budget to give visibility to queer refugees and border realities, raising awareness through a high-profile festival platform.
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