HUNTED
THE WAR AGAINST GAYS IN RUSSIA
Screening Guide
PREMIERES
October 6th, 2014 at 9p/8c on HBO | HBOGO | HBO ON-DEMAND
For more information, go to HBO.com
Invite your colleagues and friends and to watch the film together,
and then have a post screening discussion.
WHAT’S THE FILM ABOUT?
In modern-day Russia, where it is estimated that just 1% of the LGBT population lives
completely openly, a recent anti-gay amendment to a “propaganda” law has been
followed by a rising number of assaults on gay men and women by vigilantes who,
more often than not, go unpunished for their crimes. The expose HUNTED: THE WAR
AGAINST GAYS IN RUSSIA looks at this climate of hostility.
HOW DO YOU HOST A SCREENING?
Invite your colleagues and friends to a gathering spot to watch the film together.
Here are some tips for hosting a great screening:
1. Gather your friends and colleagues. Use a site like Paperless Post or Punchbowl to
send out invitations and collect RSVPs. Here’s a sample of what your invitation can say:
<HOST NAME> cordially invites you and a guest to a screening and discussion of
HUNTED: THE WAR AGAINST GAYS IN RUSSIA
In modern-day Russia, where it is estimated that just 1% of the LGBT population lives
completely openly, a recent anti-gay amendment to a “propaganda” law has been
followed by a rising number of assaults on gay men and women by vigilantes who,
more often than not, go unpunished for their crimes. The expose HUNTED: THE WAR
AGAINST GAYS IN RUSSIA looks at this climate of hostility.
<TIME> WELCOME
<TIME> SCREENING (length 49m)
Please RSVP to <EMAIL address> by <DATE>.
Create a Facebook event as well. Then, promote your screening to potential guests.
Tag your tweets with #Hunted and #HBO. Share the poster (see the end of the guide).
Send the link to the trailer too - http://youtu.be/HS6lqY0tTh4.
2. Introduce the film. Take a moment to provide a warning to your group- this film shows
several graphic, disturbing scenes that may be upsetting for some. It should not be
viewed by children. Ask your group ‘what do you know about life for LGBT people in
Russia?’ Give everyone a chance to write or at least consider his/her responses before
the film.
3. Watch the film.
4. Talk about what you saw in the film. Go over your responses, and talk about what
surprised people the most. What have they learned? Have their perceptions changed?
See below for more sample discussion questions.
5. Think about what you or your group can do to get involved. Invite guests to go to
Uprisingoflove.org and HRW.org to learn more about the issues raised in the film. Urge
people to tell their personal networks about the film and the issues it raises.
6. Thank your guests. Send a thank you email the next day, and include some follow up
comments on the discussion. You can include links to the groups below.
HOW DO YOU GET THE DISCUSSION GOING?
After the credits roll, turn up the lights and give your group time for silent reflection.
Some viewers may want to leave. Once you’re ready to begin, encourage everyone to
listen respectfully to each other as the conversation gets under way. Here are some
discussion prompts to start you off.
A recent United Nations report noted- “Homophobic and transphobic violence has
been reported in all regions of the world. It ranges from aggressive, sustained
psychological bullying to physical assault, torture, kidnapping and targeted killings.”
According to the film, how are the perpetrators of this violence able to operate with
impunity?
In the summer of 2013, the Russian Parliament passed a loosely worded propaganda
law in advance of the Sochi Olympics that banned all positive and neutral references
to so-called ‘non-traditional relationships’ that anyone under the age of eighteen might
see. What message do you think this sent to LGBT people in Russia? Do you think the law
emboldened those interested in silencing the LGBT community?
Without identifying a specific individual, consider- do you know anyone who has been
the target of a hate-crime? How did it change their life? How did they move forward?
Several organizations are tracking human rights violations against LGBT people around
the globe. What can you do to make sure that the plight of LGBT people in Russia and
elsewhere remains a priority for the international community?
WHERE CAN YOU LEARN MORE AND GET INVOLVED?
Uprising of Love
www.uprisingoflove.org/
Human Rights Watch
www.hrw.org/topic/lgbt-rights/
Amnesty International
www.amnesty.org/en/sexualorientation-and-gender-identity
UN Free & Equal
www.unfe.org/en
Immigration Equality
immigrationequality.org/