Louiza Vradi: Dust to Dawn

The film “Dust to Dawn” is a documentary that chronicles the life of Cuban performer Anna Ivankova since 2018 in Athens. From a small gay bar to a famous drag show nightclub and the main stage of the Athens Pride, Anna seems to be getting closer and closer to what she dreams of. In June 2023, she was found murdered. The aftermath of her loss impacted her community, society, and the filmmaker herself.

In a space where the present intertwines with the past, the juxtaposition of fantasy with reality is a key aspect of the film’s narrative. The nature of identity and the challenges faced by a trans woman are main themes explored in the work, with Anna guiding us into her own perspective; her vitality omnipresent throughout the film. Taking a collaborative approach, the film also explores the dynamics of the relationship between a filmmaker and the person she films.

An attempt to find clues to certain enigmas leaves more questions than answers. In many of the events that Anna wanted documented, she lives “dreamy moments”. But these weren’t the only ones she was living.