In this short film, imbued with a profound gentleness and sense of openness, filmmaker Lysandre Cosse-Tremblay opens an unprecedented access to a reality that is for all intents and purposes both invisible and impenetrable: that of queer Muslim youth inhabiting their dual identities with pride. With all the discourse built around Islam as a religion, it’s barely surprising that we never would have thought that such a life would be possible. It’s fascinating to see how four very different young people—including one who chose to remain anonymous—navigate the intense and complicated question of belonging, the fine line between needing to belong to a community and needing to assert one’s differences. While the film can only scratch the surface of a large and relatively unexplored question, it succeeds in making visible not only this dual LGBTQ+ Muslim identity, but also the queer and racialized people who claim it, allowing us to see what sexuality looks like outside of the prefab template of whiteness. SKIES ARE NOT JUST BLUE is also an opportunity to discover a highly promising young filmmaker who fearlessly takes on sensitive issues with deep humanity.

Naomie Décarie-Daigneault
Tënk’s Artistic Director