Announcing Chapel of Love: A Historic In-Person Collaboration
In honour of our dear friend and founding member, Wacyl Kha, we reflect on the profound impact of their artistry and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community. Wacyl, a self-taught multidisciplinary artist, poured their passion into theatre, evolving their craft into a powerful act of resistance against injustice. Their dedication to amplifying marginalized voices continues to inspire and guide 75 SHOTS Pocket Cinema. Wacyl's legacy reminds us of the importance of love, friendship, unity, and the relentless pursuit of equality—values that fuel our ongoing work.
In Spring 2025, Chapel of Love, a collaborative anthology film by 75 SHOTS, will come to life as part of the Purple Mountain Artist Residency in Porterville, South Africa, nestled at the foot of the Olifants River Mountains. This residency is dedicated to social justice, providing a safe space for LGBTQIA+ artists and activists to collaborate.
For 75 SHOTS, this marks a historic moment—after nearly a decade of virtual collaboration, we’ll meet in person for the first time! Through Chapel of Love, we’ll explore queer spirituality through intimate vignettes that celebrate love, identity, and authenticity. We aim to raise $24,000 to cover travel and production costs for eight of our members to join us in South Africa. Your support will help amplify stories of resilience, unity, and creativity, as we bring these visionary films to life.
Map Your Love: A Global Premiere
This March, we had an avant-premiere of Map Your Love at the McCord Stewart Museum during Semaine d'actions contre le racisme. The film was also featured at the Brûlances Queer Radical Festival and shown at McGill University in Montreal. Our World premieres took place in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Eswatini, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Ghana—all countries where homosexuality is criminalized. These screenings occurred in intimate and safe spaces, including underground youth festivals, Pride gatherings, feminist community centres, and the residence of the British High Commissioner. Activists and audiences shared food, coffee, and conversations in solidarity. We aim to screen Map Your Love in the other 24 other African countries that criminalize homosexuality before showing it to the rest of the World. If you know anyone who would like to organize a watch party, please get in touch here
The Writing Circle:
For over five years, our Writing Circle has been crafting original stories inspired by the surrealists. This summer, these stories were transformed into short scripts, ready to evolve further through our Pocket Cinema methodology. As we gather in South Africa, these scripts will come to life, infused with the collective spirit of creativity and the timeless energy of shared vision.
Sweet Accolades:
We are thrilled to announce that we were featured in Beyond the Margins. Our team of fearless queer filmmakers who use mobile filmmaking as a tool for advocacy in regions where queerness is criminalised. This feature celebrates our art, resilience, and commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices despite challenging environments. Karin Hazé, founder of 75 SHOTS Pocket Cinema, was honoured with the Iris Unger Award in recognition of her exceptional contributions to the arts and her unwavering commitment to making a difference in the community, acknowledging her dedication to amplifying marginalized voices and empowering LGBTQ+ filmmakers globally. We are deeply grateful for this recognition, which further fuels our mission to create space for under-represented stories in cinema.
Join us at our Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will combine a fundraising event, screening, and Q&A on Sunday December 14th , 2025 @ noon. Meet the members, support local queer and trans artists and artisans, and learn more about how you can be a part of this important movement. Location TBA
Get Involved: Donate Devices & Support Our Mission
Got an old cracked phone, laptop, or camera you no longer use? Bring it along to help us give the radical voice of cinema to artists living in perilous conditions. Your donated devices will be put to good use by queer filmmakers who are fighting for the right to tell their stories.
Thank you for your ongoing support! Together, we are uplifting the voices of queer filmmakers around the world and creating space for under-represented stories to be told. Stay tuned for more updates, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you want to get involved or have any questions.
With love and gratitude,
The 75 SHOTS Pocket Cinema Team
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