A third of award-winning short film's crew were trans+

"It sounds a simple thing but it's not a given, especially for trans people, as Vi can attest. The writer, who is trans, recalls one experience on the set of a PrEP advert where it became apparent that not everyone knew what was being marketed. When told, they weren't all on board. "There was some anti-LGBT rhetoric, some anti-trans rhetoric," says Vi, who advocated for herself and others to ensure there was zero tolerance to any negativity."

"Koupepia follows Petros, played by Peter Polycarpou, who attends a party to mark son Michael's (Alexander Theo) engagement to David (Nathan Vaughan Harris). It's clear that while Petros is tolerant of his son's homosexuality, he's not entirely comfortable with it. By talking to Eleni (Vi), a British Greek Cypriot trans woman, over a plate of koupepia, a Cypriot dish of ground beef and pork, rice and sauce, wrapped in vine leaves, he's able to get closer to accepting his son's sexuality."

"Had Trans+ On Screen, a directoryfor trans+ and non-binary professionals in film and TV, been there, "I would've been able to turn up and do my job to the best of my ability," she says. "And I felt I couldn't. "Having somebody to advocate for me before I get on set is the work that needs to be done." While in this instance the producers and others did "correct themselves," there's no getting around the fact that establishing a safe environment was not Vi's job."

Koupepia is an award-winning short film that centers on trans representation both in front of and behind the camera. Sophia Vi experienced anti-LGBT and anti-trans rhetoric on a separate advert set, prompting her to advocate for zero tolerance while noting she should not have had to enforce safety herself. Trans+ On Screen is a directory for trans+ and non-binary film and TV professionals that could enable safer, more effective participation. The film follows Petros confronting his discomfort with his son's sexuality through conversations with Eleni over a traditional Cypriot dish.

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