Belfast filmmaker, Sam Jones, met American citizen Gabe while travelling and working in Russia. At first, he seemed like many other young travellers working as English teachers while abroad, but soon it became clear Gabe’s story was quite unusual, and his reasons for being in Russia were very personal. Having been adopted from Russia as a child, he had returned to try and find his birth mother.

From this fascinating starting point, the film takes us on this young man’s journey as he determinedly rejects the warmth of Florida and embraces a rural Russian winter. As he reacts to what he finds, the film asks questions about assumptions and judgements from the protagonists but also from the viewers. A challenging and revealing story about belonging, secrets, lies and expectations.

The filmmaker will be in attendance and take part in a Q&A led by Docs Ireland programmer Stuart Sloan.

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For information on the full BFF23 programme visit: www.belfastfilmfestival.org