HIGHLIGHTED

New Documentary Explores Complexities of Being LGBT in Inuit Communities
June 3rd, 2016 – CBC Arts
“You can’t have Pride in Nunavut without really retracing the history of colonization, residential schools and Inuit being taken off land and put into settled communities.” (full article: cbc.ca)

The Quiet Pride of Queer and Trans Inuit in Canada’s Far North
July 9th, 2016 – Vice
“You have to be careful about not going in there as a ‘white saviour’ and saying ‘I’m going to help everybody’ without actually listening” Woods said. “You’re just re-colonizing if you’re going in and saying ‘you should think of LGBT in this way.'”(full article: vice.com)

Documentary Shines Spotlight on Experience of LGBT Inuit
May 28th, 2016 – Toronto Star
“The film makes clear that many believe one legacy of colonialism in the territory has been homophobia…many say that polygamous marriages and same-sex relationships were accepted in Inuit culture.” (full article: thestar.com)

Queer Inuit Identity and the Legacy of Colonization Collide in this New Documentary
June 1st, 2016 – Fusion
“Even the word ‘pride’ is complicated in Inuit culture. It has connotations of being arrogant or boastful” (full article: fusion.com)

Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things and Lessons On Allyship (Ou comment devenir un allié)
February, 2017 – Never Apart Magazine
“I cannot write this and tell you that we succeeded or that we got it mostly right because being an ally is a continuous process of unlearning and re-evaluating that continues with each screening we have.” (full article: neverapart.com)

MORE

Talking Policy: The Inuit LGBTQ2 Movement
November 10th, 2017 – World Policy
“For those of us who aren’t in the community, and especially other Canadians, when dealing with indigenous rights in general, it’s really just about shutting up and listening. It seems so simple but we don’t do it often”. (full article: worldpolicy.org)

TT Film Festival Celebrates Canadian Diversity with Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things
September 5th, 2017 – St. Lucia Star
“Under systematic indoctrination, national pride was soon replaced by shame”. (full article: stluciastar.com)

Love Conquers in “Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things”
June 8th, 2017 – VUE Weekly
“Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things reaches beyond mere facts with heart-wrenching and warming moments, anecdotes of ignorance and the efforts to dispel it, and personal stories of trials and triumph”. (full article: vueweekly.com)

White Culture and Christianity Have Been Bulldozers: Mona Belleau
May 28th, 2017 – Daily News and Analysis
“The film seemed to be talking about my own life and experiences”. (full article: dnaindia.com)

10 Must-Watch Film on the Colourful Aspects of LGBTQIH Life
May 20th, 2017 – The Hindu
“The Canadian documentary explores the rights of the LGBT community and the Inuit people”. (full article: thehindu.com)

5 Films to Look Out For at Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival 2017
May 16th, 2017 – Daily Xtra
“A must-see for every Canadian”. (full article: dailyxtra.com)

Review: Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things
Spring, 2017 – Herizons
“Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things celebrates powerful survivors in the process of transformation, self-determination, care and celebration. It’s a beautiful and inspiring film”. (full article:  herizons.ca)

9 of the Best Films We Saw at BFI Flare
March 27th, 2017 – The Independent
“Perhaps one of the most informative and enlightening documentaries that Flare had on offer this year”. (full article: independent.co.uk)

Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things – BFI Flare Review
March 22nd, 2017 – One Room With A View
“Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things is the product of thorough historical and sociological research, made with restraint and sensitivity”. (full article: oneroomwithaview.com)

Overcoming the Trauma and Hate: Documentary Sheds Light on Inuit LGBT Communities
March 13th, 2017 – The Link Newspaper
“Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things puts people and stories that are often ignored in Canadian media and filmmaking at the forefront, highlighting the complexity that comes with belonging to two minority groups”. (full article: thelinknewspaper.ca)

“Much Larger Story “Gets Told
January 24th, 2017 – The Kingston Whig-Standard
“We really thought initially the project would be a celebration of covering the Pride event…we soon discovered it was such a small portion of a much larger story that needed to be told”. (full article: thewhig.com)

Buenos Aires’ International LGBT Film Festival ‘Asterisco’ Is Back
November 1st, 2016 – The Bubble
“Sunday Highlight: ‘Two Soft Things Rubbing Together’ and ‘Two Hard Things Rubbing Together’ are the literal English translations of the words ‘lesbian’ and ‘gay’ in Inukitut”. (full article: thebubble.com)

Reel Love: Winnipeg LGBT Film Fest Promotes Inclusivity…
October 11th, 2016 – Winnipeg Metro
“The reason we decided that we were the right people to tell the story was simply that it wouldn’t have happened otherwise”. (full article: metronews.ca)

Unique Documentary Explores Being Gay in Inuit Culture
September 21st, 2016 – High North News
“The Directors…emphasized that they ‘saw this as a perfect opportunity for learning, growth and documenting one of the most unique pride celebrations on earth’. (full article: highnorthnews.com)

4 Documentaries We Loved at aGLIFF
September 13th, 2016 – Austin Monthly
“Directors Mark Kenneth Woods and Michael Yerxa bring an outsider’s lens into this tight knit community in Nunavut, Canada, where even the traditional words for “gay” and “lesbian” have been lost.” (full article: austinmonthly.com)

Review: Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things
August 28th, 2016 – SAD Mag
“Woods and Yerxa have done a wonderful thing; instead of avoiding complexity, they’ve captured it. Their documentary asks: Where did these problems come from? How do we fix them? And how do we create the inclusive, socially tolerant spaces the Inuit want?” (full article: sadmag.ca)

“Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things” Begins A Conversation
August 18th, 2016 – Windspeaker
“The best part of having this film screen is it’s starting a discussion. It gives people, not only the chance to ask us questions, but to ask themselves questions.” (full article: windspeaker.com)

Gay in Nunavut: New Film To Be Screened at Capital Pride Event
August 12th, 2016 – Nunatsiaq News
“It’s amazing to see people take their pain and sadness and turn it into activism and change.” (full article: nunatsiaqonline.ca)

Real-life Stories Featured At The Vancouver Queer Film Festival
August 10th, 2016 – The Globe and Mail
“Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things traces efforts to launch pride celebrations in Iqaluit amid homophobia brought to the north by colonization.” (full article: theglobeandmail.com)

Queer Film Festival Brings To Screen Wide Range of Experiences
August 4th, 2016 – Vancouver Sun
“The Two-Spirit Reelness spotlight, curated by scholar and activist Harlan Pruden, offers glimpses of determination within this country’s indigenous communities to reclaim a tradition of same-sex relationships that predates colonization.” (full article: vancouversun.com)

The Vancouver Queer Film Festival Shines Its Spotlight August 11-21
August 4th, 2016 – Inside Vancouver
“The film provides historical context on the effects of colonization, religion, forced migration, and cultural assimilation on gender/sexual identity in Inuit culture.” (full article: insidevancouver.ca)

Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things – Documentary Review
June 24th, 2016 – Movie Quotes and More
“Inuit who were against LGBT rights, or inclusion in the Human Rights Act, they were looking at that with a colonial lens. They were looking at that through Christianity, and not through their traditional core values.” (full article: moviequotesandmore.com)

Frameline40: Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things
June 24th, 2016 – We Are Moving Stories
“As members of the LGBTQ community, we are always looking for the untold stories and the under-represented members of our community.” (full article: wearemovingstories.com)

Review: Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things
June 19th, 2016 – Edge Media Network
“The film’s hopeful message: The struggle for the kind of equality and acceptance that once was normal for the Inuit is far from over, but it’s well and truly begun.” (full article: edgemedianetwork.com)

Le Premier Festival du Film Queer à Sudbury Dévoile Sa Programmation
June 6th, 2016 – Radio-Canada
“C’est un fait que je n’ai jamais rencontré dans mes études et j’étudie la sexualité. Il y a des manques, des pertes dans l’histoire de nos communautés.” (full article: radio-canada.ca)

“Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things” Shares Queer Stories From Nunavut
June 1st, 2016 – dobbernationLOVES
“There is a lot of healing that needs to occur in this part of the world. There is a significant amount of cultural shame, which directly affects sexual and gender identity.” (full article: dobbernationLOVES.com)

Inside Out Filmmakers: Mark Kenneth Woods and Michael Yerxa on Pride in Nunavut
May 31st, 2016 – She Does The City
“Just like the many diverse sexual identities and practices that have been erased from history, so too have many of the practices of the Inuit. I learned that I only know half-truths about my own country.” (full article: shedoesthecity.com)

Gay Debate Subject of Documentary Making Rounds Internationally
May 27th, 2016 – APTN National News
“When Nunavut was founded, one of the first debates in the legislative assembly was over same sex [inclusion]. Now a documentary looking into that history is hitting the international film festivals.” (full video: aptn.ca)

Top 5 Films Not to Miss at Inside Out 2016
May 27th, 2016 – Daily Xtra
“Two Soft Things provides a surprising portrait of our country’s northern-most queer population; a small but resolutely optimistic group committed to making change, one small step at a time.” (full article: dailyxtra.com)

Inside Out Reviews – Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things
May 25th, 2016 – Shameless
“The camera takes us right into the hearts and homes of those who courageously grapple with the complexity of their identity on a daily basis. These people tell their stories with a vulnerability that can only stem from incredible strength.” (full article: shamelessmag.com)

What To See and Do At The 2016 Inside Out Film Festival
May 23rd, 2016 – blogTO
“A world premiere and fascinating look at the preparations for Nunavut’s LGBTQ Pride celebration.” (full article: blogto.com)

Docs About LGBT Women in Asia, Uganda and Rural Canada…
May 20th, 2016 – After Ellen
“About 32,000 people live in Nunavut, Canada, and you best believe some of them are queer. Yes, that means Inuit as well. Not that anyone really talks about it though. New documentary Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things is looking to change that.” (full article: afterellen.com)

Siete películas LGTBQ para 2016
May 15th, 2016 – Entendido Contrario (Spain)
“4) Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things explora como un pequeño grupo en Nunavut, Canada prepara la celebración del Orgullo LGTB…”   (full article: ensentidocontrario.com)

10 LGBT Indie Films to Get Excited About This Year
May 12th, 2016 – PRIDE
“5) Two Soft Things, Two Hard Things explores how a small group in Nunavut, Canada prepare for an LGBT Pride celebration…” (full article: pride.com)

A New Documentary Explores The Hidden History of Gay Inuit
March 15th, 2016 – Logo TV / NewNowNext.
“It is commonly believed that homosexuality does not exist in Inuit society, or is a choice, but documentary filmmakers Mark Kenneth Woods and Michael Yerxa aim to prove this untrue.” (full article: newnownext.com)