Support the Vibrant Story of "The Night of Purple Horrors" and Preserve LGBTQ+ History!
Join us in bringing the explosive short film, "The Night of Purple Horrors," — an exploration of the queer nightlife in 1930s Estonia through the lens of today's LGBTQ+ community — to life.
About the Film
The film's protagonist, Ann, discovers an old newspaper article that transports her to the captivating queer nightlife of 1930s Estonia. Amidst a lively dance party, Ann befriends prominent figures of the era, who invite her on a transformative journey. Witness Ann's firsthand account of a queer wedding, disrupted by anachronistic homophobes wearing fedoras - a poignant symbol in modern-day Estonia.
"The Night of Purple Horrors" is an energy-filled tale woven with music, dance, and humour. It opens the door to a world of bold, beautiful, and kind individuals and ideas, where everyone is welcome!
Inspired by History
This film draws inspiration from the serialised story "Purple Horror" published in the Rahvaleht newspaper in 1933. It shed light on the subculture, symbols, and well-known queer personalities of Tallinn.
One of the film's central characters is the renowned sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld, who, in the late 19th century, advocated for the decriminalisation of homosexuality and equal rights. Hirschfeld delivered influential lectures in Tallinn and Tartu in 1929.
Extensive research preceding the film also revealed the lesser-known fact that interwar Estonian media covered topics related to homosexuality, places where same-sex relationships were sought, and the queer subculture of Tallinn and Tartu.
These stories, while their accuracy may vary, provide evidence that LGBTQ+ individuals lived, loved, celebrated weddings and enjoyed festivities just like today.
Our Goal
In 2024, "The Night of Purple Horrors" will be a featured exhibit at the Estonian National Museum (ERM) showcasing nightlife. The film will be displayed at the year-long permanent exhibition, expected to attract an audience of over a hundred thousand.
Our goal is to document and involve renowned drag performers and musicians from today's LGBTQ+ subculture in Estonia's nightlife. Together, we'll embark on a journey back in time, envisioning what the queer subculture was like a century ago.
For ERM, this film marks an extraordinary event as the museum, for the first time in its long history, supports a project that highlights the LGBTQ+ community's cultural significance within Estonia's national history.
Visual Style
"The Night of Purple Horrors" is a dance and music-centric film with minimal dialogue, reflecting the contemporary drag scene through a hundred-year-old lens. The camera language draws inspiration from the vibrant visual aesthetics of modern-day American queer musicals and music videos. The dance choreography is heavily influenced by vogue and ballroom runway—integral elements of the global nighttime drag scene.
How You Can Help
While film production can be costly, as a community, we have been working within a limited budget. Therefore, we need your support to cover the film's production costs. The major expenses include camera and lighting equipment rentals, location fees, makeup and costume rentals, props, and transportation costs.
Our Project Team
Our project involves numerous LGBTQ+ artists and community members. Notable participants include comedian Ann Vaida, Eastern European body horror Helgi Saldo, activist and DJ Anette Mäletjärv, blues singer Kaisa Ling Thing and her band, artist Elina Masing, choreographer Sveta Grigorjeva, fashion designer Kalle Aasamäe, art director Minna Hint, filmmaker Eva Kübar and several prominent drag performers like Major Danger, Maxx Toxic, Ms. Elsa, Eeben Früülep, Rene Köster, Nasty Nikita, Neutraalsoon, Laura Barbo, Torm Loomägi and Britt Ingeborg Loomägi.
Film director Kadri Nikopensius is a feminist filmmaker with over a decade of experience.
Co-screenwriter Rebeka Põldsam is the editor and co-author of the Estonian LGBT history book "Out of the Closet: Stories of LGBT+ People from 19th and 20th Century Estonia" (2022). The book delves into the lives of several characters featured in the film. Rebeka is also a junior researcher at the Department of Ethnology at the University of Tartu, focusing her research on Estonia's sexual and gender minorities.
Every contribution matters!
Please lend your support to our film! With your help, we will bring the story of LGBTQ+ experiences to the exhibition opening in 2024 at the Estonian National Museum. Together we can preserve the art and culture of the modern-day LGBTQ+ community as part of Estonia's rich heritage.
We deeply appreciate every form of support - big or small. If you're unable to contribute financially, please help us by sharing our campaign among your friends and acquaintances.
Thank you so much!
* the handover of the reward will take place on an agreement-basis, in case of shipment, the backer has to cover the expenses.
Photography credits Alana Proosa.
