Documentary – Drag me to Berlin (30min)
What it is about
We agreed on a shooting plan spread over four separate days, each focused on a specific theme in her life. The heart of this documentary is to capture Kekik’s vulnerability, her connection to her Turkish roots, and the healing role that drag plays in her life. We wanted to portray both her public persona and private self, highlighting the tensions, joys, and cultural intersections she navigates daily.
Central concept
The central concept of this documentary was to explore the complexity of identity through the life of Kekik.
Our creative goal was to document both the public and private sides of Kekik: her vibrant persona and the more vulnerable aspects of her everyday life.
By capturing her at home, in conversation with friends, and during a university photoshoot where she interacted with students,
we aimed to reveal the multiple layers that shape her identity.
Drag, in this context, is not only a performance but also a space of healing, imperfection, imagination, and resistance.
This documentary was developed and produced by a small but collaborative teamconsisting of Arianna Tamassia and Nika Asgari. All creative and logisticalresponsibilities including directing, filming, scheduling, and equipment handling wereshared and adapted according to the needs of each shooting day.
The result reflects the power of trust, ethical filmmaking, and an adaptive creativeprocess. It also marks a significant learning experience for us as filmmakers one thatdeepened our understanding of visual storytelling, identity representation, and theresponsibilities that come with documenting real lives.
First encounter with Kekik
This documentary project explores the personal and performative identity of Kekik, a Turkish drag queen based in Berlin.
The concept originated during a guest lecture by Kekik in the Gender Identity module of the Narratology course taught by Prof. Lina Maria Orejuela Cañas.
Invited as both an academic and queer performer, Kekik offered valuable insights into queer identity, performance, and cultural resistance that inspired us to approach her for our project.
Originally, the plan was to document Kekik, the Turkish drag queen, in the act of applying makeup and preparing for a performance, interpreting this as a form of handmade (the project's objective).
However, as our conversations with her went deeper, it became clear that her story extended far beyond this initial frame. Her multifaceted personality, rich cultural background, and vulnerability presented a rare opportunity to explore identity, transformation, and resistance in a broader context. As a result, we restructured the project into a more comprehensive observational documentary.
Style
Aesthetically, we adopted an observational and intimate visual language to bring up emotional closeness without intrusion.
The film combines vérité-style and interview footage with minimal interference, relying on real conversations, candid moments, and ambient sound and music.
Our intention was for the camera to function as a silent witness, allowing viewers to engage with the subject on a personal and emotional level.
Thematically, the film combines narratives of migration, gender expression, memory, and community. As the project evolved, it became increasingly clear that Kekik’s story was not only deeply personal but also about questions of belonging, cultural tension, and queer joy.
