“Built around a superb, challenging central performance by Raphaëlle Perez, My Emptiness and I confirm Adrián Silvestre as one of Spain’s standout new directorial talents.” – Jonathan Holland, Screen

Raw, honest, and thought-provoking, MY EMPTINESS AND I is an intensely intimate journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Raphi is by far one the most charismatic and magnetic film characters we saw in the last year, and no doubt Scottish audiences will fall in love with her as we did.

SCREENINGS:

GLASGOW
Where: CCA Glasgow + Q&A with Adrian Silvestre conducted by Inma de Reyes  (350 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow, G2 3JD)
When: Saturday 4th February, 19:30 (doors open 19:00)

CLOSING FESTIVAL FILM (ALTERNATIVE VALENTINE’S)

EDINBURGH
Where: St Peter’s Episcopal Church Hall (14 Lutton Place, Edinburgh EH8 9PE)
When: Tuesday 14th February, 20:00 (doors open 19:30)

FILM INFORMATION
Original Title: Mi Vacío y Yo
Director: Adrián Silvestre
With: Raphaëlle Pérez, Alberto Díaz, Marc Ribera, Isabel Rocatti,
Country: Spain
Year: 2022
Length: 98 min
Language: Spanish, French
Subtitles: English
Age: 12
Content Warnings:
– depiction of dysphoria
– depiction of transphobic behaviour (slurs and threats in a public place)
– depiction of assessments meetings at a gender clinic
– depiction of experiences where the trans protagonist is dating cis men, some of which lack compassion/connection
– scenes of sexual nature
– nudity

Raphi, young and naive, enjoys writing love poems and dreams about falling in love. She decided to leave her native France and moved to Barcelona, where she works in a call center. Her many attempts to maintain relationships with other boys gave her anxiety. And even with an official diagnosis from her psychologist—gender dysphoria—Raphi struggles with what that means. As a trans woman, Raphi not only needs to define and defend herself to anyone who asks, but also she needs to deal with the social pressures to move forward with irreversible reassignment surgery.

The brutal dating app scene doesn’t help as she’s matched with men who see her as more of a sexual novelty than a human being in search of love and connection. Wading through serious doubts and an array of intimate encounters of varying pleasure, Raphi must learn to trust herself and her newfound opportunity of the arts as a means of healing and empowerment.

The screenplay for this social-realist drama came about in close collaboration with lead actor Raphaëlle Perez, as well as by drawing on the experiences of various queer communities.

FESTIVALS:

IFFR – Rotterdam Big Screen Competition (World Premiere)

Guadalajara Int Film Festival – Best Film

Malaga Film Festival – Special Jury Prize

Thessaloniki Film Fest – Mermaid Award

Outfest Los Angeles – Best Performance

QueerLisboa