A PLACE OF OUR OWN

Winner of the 2023 Hivos FREE TO BE ME award.

(ek jagah apni)

Finding a new home isn’t easy for most people. It most certainly is a challenge for Laila and Roshni, two trans women from Bhopal, India. Their identity proves to be a disqualifying barrier for many potential landlords, but they don’t give up that easily. Where mainstream Bollywood often paints a caricature of trans individuals, this movie is lovingly and carefully produced by a trans and queer collective, with trans actors who bring authenticity to the story.

Hivos Free to be Me Award

Every year during Roze Filmdagen, Hivos presents the Free to be Me Award. A prize for a film that contributes to acceptance and visibility in a country where there is little room for diversity. With the award, Roze Filmdagen and Hivos give the makers of their film a stage to express themselves as well as their deep appreciation for their craft. A Place of our Own is a production of Ektara Collective, an independent collective of filmmakers making films about marginalized communities. Several individuals from the collective (including the two main characters) will be present to receive the award in person during the special award screening on Saturday, April 1, at 7 p.m. at Het Ketelhuis in Amsterdam. A Place of our Own can also be watched during the final festival day on Sunday, April 2.

Trailer: