Queens of Joy

Directed by Olga Gibelinda

Amidst the maelstrom of war in Ukraine, three drag queens—Diva Monroe, Marlene, and Aura— refuse to abandon their homeland. Instead of fleeing, they choose to fight: for freedom, the LGBTQ+ community, and their very existence. From the glamour of the show to the brutality of war, the film follows their lives— filled with loss, fear, as well as indomitable courage. Marlene grapples with old wounds, Diva Monroe finds herself once more, and Aura fights for a place both in the army and on the stage. A charity drag show they organize to support Ukraine turns into a symbol of unity and resilience. The film is a story of self-discovery, love, hope, and the power to find joy even in the darkest of times.