Kelet

The director and writer of the documentary is journalist Susani Mahadura, who has become a household name in Finnish media through her award-winning national radio programme Mahadura & Özberkan: I met Kelet a few years ago, when she was 19 years old. I had invited her for an interview on my radio show to talk about her experiences of living as a Bl... ack trans woman in Finland. I saw how this young person was suffering, because she felt isolated and unsafe in this society. Kelets story made me think about how few stories we hear of people who live as minorities within minorities. Later, Kelet invited me to see her first Vogue Ball performance. I will always remember the moment Kelet stepped on stage. I saw an entirely different side of the shy young person I had met before. Kelet radiated like a star, who was born to walk the runway. It was also touching to see how clearly ballroom culture is able to offer a safe and loving environment for Kelet, where she can fully live out her dreams. That night, I realised there had to be a film about Kelets life. Kelet and her friends voices need to be heard, so every young person knows that their own story too is precious and deserves to be told. We need role models. We need representation. We need stories that celebrate Blackness and gender diversity and that encourage young people to fearlessly follow their dreams. We need a society that is safe for people of all colours and genders. I believe in the power of this story. I believe in Kelet. And above all, I believe in the power of Kelets story to make this a safer and more equal society.Read More