Kazakh-Russian immigrant, Kostya, races against the clock to find the money for his final college tuition payment; a contemporary-queer take on the pursuit of the American Dream.

Director’s Vision for ‘Mint’

“Mint” was born from my desire to add dimension to queer stories in film. It was also born from my own complicated relationship with being an American who has no real ancestral ties to America. As a first-generation adopted son of immigrants, my ancestors did not build this country. Yet, somehow, they all shared the dream of being here. Such is the case for our protagonist, Kostya.

“Mint” is an entirely fictitious, yet deeply personal tale of class, privilege, desperation, and longing. It pays homage to the complexities of immigration and, in the end, is a contemporary-queer take on the pursuit of the American Dream.

While completing the film in New York City during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, “Mint” has served as my own personal reminder that devastation and hope are two sides of the same coin.