On 13 April students and colleagues from the University of Westminster collaborated with The Arts Project to put on the second Loudest Whispers LGBTQ+ Short Film Festival at St Pancras Hospital.
Taking place at The Conference Centre the day put a spotlight on short films created by LGBTQ+ artists and allies that celebrate the voices of the LGBTQ+ communities. In total ten budding filmmakers were given a platform to showcase their stories, including Westminster’s Luke Sahagian, Guy Harries and Katie Ryan who also coordinated the exhibition.
Harries’ film Singular explores the experiences of single gay men during the COVID-19 pandemic in London. It is based on interviews with five London-based gay men, with a focus on the ages 45-65, and includes their voices as part of the film's soundscape. The film crosses between genres and art forms, highlighting themes of queer identity, activism, sex, intimacy, mental health, racism and ageism through the intimate lens of personal experiences.
Westminster’s collaboration with The Arts Project opened with the launch of the Loudest Whispers art exhibition on 9 February. The opening was attended by an estimated 300 people and featured a powerful installation in tribute to the AIDS Memorial Garden at London Lighthouse.
About the event Luke Sahagian said: “I have always been creating things, whether with art, film, music, or making up imaginary games. It was a way for me to deal with emotions, feelings and adventure. Covid hit and I started therapy and writing, both of which saved my life, leading to my passion to learn Psychology. I believe it’s time to return to making films and I can’t think of a better way than to share my previous work and learn from fellow student creators.”
Professor Catterall added: “This year saw the second Loudest Whispers LGBTQ+ Short Film Festival, part of a collaboration between the University of Westminster and The Art Project based in Camden that just goes from strength to strength. It was fantastic to highlight the work of three Westminster students in this year’s events and great to work with them on showcasing their films.”
This festival directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
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