Searching 4 Sandeep

A film by Poppy Stockell

Australia | 2007 | 56 minutes | Color | DVD | English | Subtitled (Punjabi Dialect) | Order No. 0953

SYNOPSIS

Single, frustrated, and lonely in the middle of Sydney’s thriving gay community, director Poppy Stockell decides to “research” a light-hearted look at the lesbian Internet-dating scene. To her surprise and delight, she forges a deep online connection with an English woman, Sandeep Virdi. When their innocent flirtation turns into true attachment, Poppy sends Sandeep a camcorder and viewers watch as Poppy and Sandeep’s virtual relationship blooms into a poignant love complicated by the reality that Sandeep is Sikh, lives at home with her conservative family, and has kept her sexuality a secret.

Humorous and thoughtful, Searching 4 Sandeep explores the collision of love and ethnic, religious, and sexual identity. Filmmaker Stockell raises serious questions about a new kind of global romance at odds with the cultural, social, and geographical distances between people. Will Sandeep’s family overcome their homophobia? Will the star-crossed lovers surmount the obstacles separating them? Through raw, incredibly frank footage, Searching 4 Sandeep follows the couple’s tumultuous relationship across two years, and three continents, in a touching examination of sexuality, religion, globalization, and culture seen through the lens of this uniquely modern love story.

PRESS

“A raw, captivating journey between two women of divergent backgrounds… [portraying] the joys, fears, and struggles of human connection and love in the digital age…. The viewer has no choice but to cheer them on.”

Dr. Lori Horvitz, Ph.D. Assoc. Professor of Literature & Language, UNC-Asheville

“Truly timeless story. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight ally audiences alike will be able to relate to this universal documentary about two people whose love for each other can cross both cultures and oceans.”

Jody M. Huckaby National Executive Dir., Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG)

SCREENING HIGHLIGHTS AND AWARDS

  • Sydney Film Festival, World Movies Channel Award
  • WOW (World of Women), Best Documentary and Audience Award
  • Reel Affirmations
  • Seattle Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
  • Melbourne Queer Film Festival
  • Hot Docs Int'l Documentary Film Festival
  • Outfest
  • Newfest: The NY LBGT Film Festival
  • BFI London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival Melbourne Queer Film Festival Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
  • Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
  • EROS Film Festival, CT
  • Conneticut Gay & Lesbian FF
  • Melbourne Int'l Film Festival
  • Brisbane Int'l Film Festival
  • Portland's Queer Film Festival
  • Engendered Transnational Arts & Human Rights Film Festival
  • 3rd I San Francisco International South Asian Film Festival

ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)

Poppy Stockell

Born in London in 1977, Poppy began her career at Sydney's 2SER FM whilst completing a degree in zoology at the University of New South Wales. She has since had extensive experience in radio as a freelance producer and program-maker, particularly for the ABC’s national youth station, triple j.

Poppy made the leap to film and television in 2004, studying cinematography at North Sydney TAFE. Her camera credits since have included Walk Like a Man, Suburban Mayhem and The Silence. Her film credits as writer/director include the short Alight Touch and music video Foolscap, and she is regularly commissioned to create travel vodcasts, such as Skiing in Morocco, for Lonely Planet. Most recently, Poppy worked as segment producer on ABC 2’s Good Game.

Poppy’s love for the Gulf of Carpentaria area of Australia has led to a wealth of experience with indigenous content. Credits include Ghost Nets, Road to Gove, Freedom Ride 2005 and Kubin Community, Moa Island Torres Strait.

She is currently living at Bondi Beach in Sydney. (7/08)

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