xtalk is pleased to announce that we will be introducing *Transvestites Also Cry* at the 23rd London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.

This powerful debut film, shot over three years, follows the day to day lives of two unforgettable transgendered emigrants from Ecuador, living and working as prostitutes in Paris. Having escaped the prejudice and economic hardship they suffered at home, Romina and Mujerón now find themselves facing rip-off landlords, loneliness and exploitation in order to earn enough money to send back to their families. Real, raw and heartbreaking Transvestites Also Cry makes, at times, uncomfortable viewing but is always an honest account of life on the margins of society. The trust between filmmaker and the participants is clearly apparent through the access they have allowed him and the result is this tender portrayal which, above all, allows Romina and Mujerón’s humanity to shine through.

Director: Sebastiano d’Ayala Valva | France 2007 | 55 mins

The 23nd London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival takes place from 25th March to 8th April 2009 at the BFI Southbank. Nearest tube: Waterloo.

Ticket prices vary. For more information and a full listing of the films, click here.