D9. Best Directing (Nominee)
Such a Drag
From Milla Nikolova
A group of young drag kings prepare for their next performance, share what drag means to them and build community along the way.
Hello, my name is Milla Nikolova, I’m a student studying at the University of Sydney, a Sydney local, and a first-time filmmaker. My short film 'Such a Drag' came to fruition after my friend invited me to their first ever drag show, and now I can’t get enough! I’m usually backstage in theatre productions, but this film has given me a theatrical start to filmmaking
What inspired you and your work?
The first time I went to a drag show it opened my mind to possibilities I had never before considered. It wasn’t just the staging elements that drew me in; I could tell each of the performers felt confident, that they knew they looked hot as they walked through the audience expecting our cheers. That drag show was a showcase of new drag kings, queens and more, organised by a group of young drag performers called the House of Genet. Their mission to build the drag community compelled me to reach out for interviews, and I was lucky enough to be able to film candidly as they got into drag and performed, inspired by the aesthetics of drag.