Overcoming

Overcoming tells the story of the ongoing division of Cyprus and those who dare to challenge it. The opening and closing of the checkpoints, as the sole passageways between the north and south, have fundamentally altered the lives of Cypriots. The documentary reveals their struggles against the island’s division and their efforts to achieve a more united future. Through the voices of Cypriot women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and antimilitarist men, Overcoming follows those who are challenging both deeply rooted militarism and gender norms. What barriers do they face? What forms of resistance and solidarity emerge in their fight for change?

This exclusive screening of Overcoming will be followed by a panel discussion about the ongoing division of Cyprus, the intersections of militarism and gender, and the role of activism and solidarity in challenging systemic barriers.

Stelios Irakleous (he/him) is a lecturer at the University of Cyprus, who holds a PhD from Leiden University. His research focuses on Karamanlidika, linguistic landscapes, and cultural exchanges in 20th-century Cyprus. He explores alternative narratives of the Cyprus conflict and has contributed to major projects on migration, identity, and cultural diplomacy in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Şirin Fulya Erensoy (she/her) is a Film Studies lecturer specializing in feminist filmmaking and video activism. Her research has explored LGBTI+ visual activism in Turkey, gendered migration narratives, and the intersection of film and social resistance.

Karène Sanchez-Summerer (she/her) is a historian of the Modern Middle East (Faculty of Arts at the University of Groningen). Her research includes Christian Arab communities of and in the Middle East, a relational cultural and social history of Ottoman and Mandate Palestine, and minorities in/ diaspora from the Middle East. Karène will moderate the panel discussion. 

This film screening is part of Queer Science: a series of events for anyone curious about LGBTQ+ related research and art. On three occasions, we bring together researchers, art, and the public to challenge norms and critically engage with science and culture.

Organized by Studium Generale, Usva, the Faculty of Arts, and RUG’s Centre of Expertise for the Study of LGBTQIA+ Issues