By: Seraphina Quinn
The groundbreaking new British film Only Love Matters from award-winning director Dr. Kamran Qureshi is blazing a trail as the first cinema feature with intersex lead characters set in Britain. Traversing India and the UK across different time periods, Only Love Matters chronicles the uplifting journey of Sam, an intersex girl raised as a boy in an Indian village who achieves great success in Britain against all odds.
“With Only Love Matters, I wanted to bring an authentic intersex perspective to the big screen that has rarely been seen before,” said Dr. Qureshi. “There is still a huge lack of understanding about intersex people and issues in society and media. Portraying Sam’s story with care, empathy and humanity was my paramount concern.”
Highlighting the film’s burgeoning acclaim, screenings have taken place at prominent academic institutions and were featured during Southampton Film Week, with additional screenings in Universities in London.
Only Love Matters features fantastic performances from its principal cast including Sara Faraj as Sam, Josh Simpson as Sam’s husband Darren, Emma von Schreiber as their adopted daughter Stef and Matthew Wright-Kenny as Stef’s love interest. Unlike most of the previously released intersex films, with no gratuitous sex scenes or nudity, Only Love Matters aims to appeal to a broad general audience.
Filming was an ambitious undertaking, spanning over 40 stunning locations across the sweeping desert vistas of rural India and various urban and countryside sites across the UK. “Securing financing was one of our biggest challenges, since intersex stories are still seen as taboo by much of the industry,” explained producer Iram Qureshi. “But thanks to our incredible cast and crew who were passionate about sharing this rarely told story, we succeeded in bringing Sam’s journey to the screen with authenticity.”
Only Love Matters has already garnered over 30 accolades including Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Actress and Best Original Message from festivals across the US, UK, Europe and Canada. Dr. Qureshi’s extensive research into intersex issues helped inform the nuanced script and remarkable performances.
Only Love Matters is making waves for bringing intersex characters into the mainstream with humanity and complexity, not as oddities or stereotypes. With the United Nations calling for a ban on medically unnecessary and irreversible infant intersex surgeries, the film’s message championing consent, understanding and human rights resonates deeply.
Dr. Qureshi passionately believes Only Love Matters will pave the way for more big-screen intersex stories. “If we portray intersex characters as fully realized people deserving of equality, not as sensationalism, the subject can become commercially and critically successful,” he said.
With upcoming international theatrical and streaming releases, Only Love Matters is set to make a significant impact. Don’t miss this groundbreaking romantic drama that is garnering acclaim for putting authentic intersex perspectives in the spotlight where they belong. A story tackling universal human experiences of love and acceptance, Only Love Matters is resonating with audiences and critics alike for its message of hope. The movie has been widely attracting media attention.
To learn more, visit onlylovemattersmovie.com/ or watch the Only Love Matters official trailer.
Published by: Martin De Juan
