Based on the remarkable true story of one aspirational LGBTQ+ parent’s groundbreaking journey through the adoption process in the U.K.
Selected in competition for the 79th Venice International Film Festival, KINDRED is an animated virtual reality story of family and belonging.
Highlighting the unique challenges faced by non-binary parents in the UK’s outdated adoption process, KINDRED tells the incredible true story of the brave non-binary parent who helped redefine the meaning of family in this country.
Created by Electric Skies, the award-winning immersive content production company, KINDRED was written and directed by Bambou Kenneth, marking her directorial debut, and produced by Tessa Ratuszynska. The piece was animated by multi-award-winning animation studio Salamandra.uk and features original music by ILĀ, co-founder of the UK's first ever professional trans+ choir, Trans Voices.
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![Bamboo Kenneth]()
Bambou Kenneth (She/ Her)
DIRECTOR
Bambou is an artist, director and illustrator. Previously lead Art Director on Electric Skies production Glimpse, KINDRED is her directorial debut. Graduate of Integrated Design at world renowned Parsons School of Art and Design, New York.
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![Ki Griffin]()
Ki Griffin (He/ They)
VOICE OF ‘SYD’
Ki Griffin is a creative artist, DJ and activist from East London. His intersectional identity as a non-binary, queer, intersex person of colour is at the forefront of his creative practice and activism, and they regularly perform in queer nightlife events and are a member of Intersex Equality Rights UK. They currently play Ripley Lennox in Hollyoaks, the first non-binary character to appear in a British soap.
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![Tessa Ratuszynska]()
Tessa Ratuszynska (She/ They)
PRODUCER
Tessa is an XR producer, documentary maker and selected StoryTrails Creative Practitioner. They have worked as creative producer for internationally acclaimed VR and immersive experiences project In My Shoes, including Intimacy (Dir. Jane Gauntlett) which premiered at Sheffield Doc Fest 2017. Tessa also worked with Limina Immersive and has curated VR programmes for British Council & Limina VR cinema.
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![ILA]()
ILĀ (She/ They)
COMPOSER
A multifaceted artist and producer, who has collaborated with over 20 Grammy- winning artists including Alt-J, Imogen Heap and U2. They are also the Co-Founder, Conductor and Director of Trans Voices - the UK's first ever professional trans+ choir.
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![Dr Amy Tooth Murphy]()
Dr Amy Tooth Murphy (She/ Her)
ACADEMIC PARTNER
Amy Tooth Murphy is Lecturer in Oral History at Royal Holloway, University of London. Her research interests include queer history, particularly post-war lesbian histories; oral history theory and method; butch/femme cultures and identities; and lesbian literature. Her current research project is an exploration of butch lived experience and identity from 1950-Present. Amy is a Trustee of the Oral History Society and Editor of the peer-reviewed blog, Notches: (re)marks on the history of sexuality.
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![Dana Holdampf]()
Dana Holdampf (She/ They)
LEAD DEVELOPER
Dana is a technical artist and game designer from Metro Detroit. She is a self-taught creative and technical generalist, and a lifelong fan of experimental media. Dana’s work in indie games and interactive fiction has been broadly recognized for innovative gameplay and design. As a creator, they are particularly interested in simulation and play; how it can be used to explore new ideas, create potent experiences, and otherwise reach people on a personal level.
KINDRED was screened at the Venice International Film Festival as part of the official Venice Immersive selection. In competition for a Golden Lion, KINDRED was shown alongside some of the best VR and XR projects from around the world, with work on display from nineteen countries. The experience has also been nominated for 2 awards at Raindance Immersive, part of the Raindance Film Festival 2022.
Electric Skies was commissioned to create KINDRED by StoryFutures as one of 7 projects forming part of StoryTrails, a unique immersive storytelling experience for audiences in 15 towns and cities across the UK in the summer of 2022.
“Kindred is a remarkable achievement in immersive storytelling. It is an important and urgent story that breathes new life into the past and asks questions about our future. Told with tenderness and warmth, Electric Skies have created one of the finest VR pieces I’ve ever experienced.”
— Prof. James Bennett - Director of StoryFutures
For further advice or support with any of the issues raised in KINDRED please contact the following:
FFLAG
Dedicated to supporting parents and families and their LGBT+ members
LGBT Foundation
Advice and info service for LGBT+ people
