Seu Nome Era Gisberta
Her Name Was Gisberta (2023)
Immersive / 360° Video | 2D
30 min - Documentary
LGBTQIA+ / Social Activism
Portuguese with English Subtitles
Her Name Was Gisberta
“Seu Nome Era Gisberta / Her Name Was Gisberta”
is a VR documentary that portrays the life and death of Gisberta Salce, a Brazilian Trans woman murdered by 14 young men (12 - 16 years old) in the city of Porto (Portugal) in 2006. Uniting the knowledge provided by Virtual Reality Perspective-Taking Tasks, this project was created as a tool of education, social intervention and activism against transphobia.
Project Description
Gisberta Salce, also known as Gis, was a Trans Woman who immigrated to Portugal in search of a place where she could express her true identity without fear. This powerful 360° Video reenacts her remarkable journey, tragically culminating in one of the most publicized Transphobic attacks in Portuguese history.
Crafted with the intention of shedding light on the dangers of Transphobia, this project employs techniques from social psychology, such as Virtual Reality Perspective Taking-Tasks (Van Loon et al., 2018) and Empathy studies.
By harnessing the potential of VR for social education and intervention against Transphobia, it serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need to combat prejudice.
Focused on the Brazilian society, which shares Gisberta’s nationality and stands as the unfortunate epicenter of Trans assassinations globally for the 14th year running (ANTRA, 2023), this art activism initiative seeks to unveil Gisberta’s untold story and raise awareness about the imperative to protect Trans individuals worldwide.
“A story without a middle”
This 360° Video challenges the narrative propagated by Portuguese media. Drawing from meticulous research encompassing 68 news articles, it weaves Gisberta’s life story that was largely omitted from mainstream discourse. The narrative is curated from interviews with close friends, LGBTQ+ activists, queer institutions, and fellow artists.
Presented in five acts, viewers embark on an immersive journey through Gisberta’s 45-year life. The experience is enriched by a symbolic narration by Trans Brazilian Woman, Alexia Vitória. Her voice guides viewers not to emulate Gisberta’s voice but to amplify the collective voice of Transphobia’s victims.
Created by a dedicated trio of queer artists – Sérgio Galvão Roxo (Director, Writer, Animator, Editor), Pedro Velho (Illustrator, Writer, Director Assistant), and Alexia Vitória (Narrator) – this project stands as a grassroots endeavor without external funding.
Our aim is to foster education and consciousness, illuminating not only the life tragically lost to Transphobia but also the imperative to safeguard Trans lives across the globe.
Screenings (VR)
10-15 October 2023
24-29 October 2023
09-12 March 2024
5-14 April 2024
KABOOM Animation Festival
VR Projects
Utrecht & Amsterdam, Netherlands
VR Projects
Utrecht & Amsterdam, Netherlands
24 June - 01 July 2024
FEST - New Directors | New Films Festival
NATIONAL GRAND PRIX COMPETITION
Espinho, Portugal
NATIONAL GRAND PRIX COMPETITION
Espinho, Portugal
Credits
Special Thanks to
Jó Bernardo, Rute Bianca, Sérgio Vitorino, João Paulo,
Jo Schedlbauer, Thiago Carvalhaes, Paulo Patricio,
Centro de Documentação Gonçalo Diniz (ILGA Portugal),
Grupo de Reflexão e Intervenção Trans (GRIT),
TransUnifesp and Polytechnic University of Leiria.
Credits
Director: Sérgio Galvão Roxo
Assistant Director: Pedro Velho
Screenplay: Pedro Velho & Sérgio Galvão Roxo
Narrator/Voice: Alexia Vitória
Illustrator: Pedro Velho
Animator: Sérgio Galvão Roxo
Editor: Sérgio Galvão Roxo
Sound: Pedro Velho & Sérgio Galvão Roxo