Amnesty International “Reel Awareness Film Festival” and HotDocs Bloor Cinema Present Children 404

Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - 6:30pm

Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

506 Bloor St. West, Toronto, Ontario

TORONTO –

Amnesty International “Reel Awareness Film Festival” is proud to announce the screening of Children 404 in partnership with HotDocs Bloor Cinema.

Children 404 tells the story of teenagers growing up LGBTQ in Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

In 2013, Putin’s government passed legislation which criminalized the ‘propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations to minors’. There are an estimated 2.5 million LGBTQ youth in Russia, who already endured a high risk of abuse and bullying. Not only does this “anti-gay” legislation criminalize LGBTQ culture, it means that adults who publically support LGBTQ teens, such as parents, psychologists, and teachers, could be fined or even imprisoned for doing so.

Through anonymous interviews and video diaries, these brave teens tell the story of the humiliation, harassment, and discrimination they endure on a daily basis. Their stories are captured as part of the ‘Children 404’ project, a support group founded to provide a safe place for LGBTQ teenagers to share their tales of abuse in a country that has refused to acknowledge their existence.

A crowdfunded documentary, which recently had its global premiere at the 2014 Hot Docs Festival Toronto, Children 404 is essential viewing for anyone concerned about the state of human rights in Putin’s Russia.

Q&A after the screening focusing on the important issues raised in the film.

Where: Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor St. West (Bathurst & Bloor)

When: Tuesday September 30th, 2014 at 6:30 PM

Cost: $11.00, tickets are available at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema Box Office