There are lots of LGBT film festivals all around the world, but the fact is that most of the time the ‘T’ in that acronym gets short shrift. While a few films of transgender interest will be shown, it often feels the festival is just paying lip service to trans* stories.
As a result – and with transgender people becoming more visible than ever before such as Conchita Wurst is winning the Eurovision Song Contest and Laverne Cox (Orange is the new Black) on the cover of Time Magazine – festivals devoted purely to trans* topics are starting to spring up. That includes the Transgender Filmfestival London, which is being put together for those who’s like to know more about Drag Queens, Drag Kings and Transsexuals.
The fest has now announced its line-up, which you can find out more about below. One of the great things about it is that until recently any trans* festival or screening series was challenged by a lack of new content, but now events can be put on that don’t have to rely on older films and movies that only tangentially touch on trans* topics. Filmmakers are increasingly tackling different gender identities on screens and the issues surrounding that, are the results are great to see.
The Transgender Filmfestival London is set to take place at London’s Cinema Museum on Saturday October 11th from 6.00 p.m. till midnight, offering a selection of short films that give an insight into trans-life
The Cinema Museum contributed a lot to the visibility of modern trans-movie-classics with monthly transculture-screenings and is therefore a great place for the new Transgender-Filmfestival in the heart of London.
You can find out more about the festival on its Facebook page.
Take a look below for the line-up of films that are due to be screened:
DARKNESS
Directed by Simon Savory (UK)
Starring Ronx, Symara Templeman, Matilda McNair, Arna Walts, Tomisin Adepeju and Steve Toussaint
7 minutes, English
A daughter who chooses to dress, and express, as a boy. Going out into the night, she sets off on a journey to find love, and eventually herself, in the colourful underground nightspots of East London
http://simonsavory.wordpress.com
I’M IN (L)
Directed by Gsus Lopez (UK)
2 minutes, english text
Your female side and your male side. They want to meet
Transgender Film Festival Germany Award: Best Shortfilm
http://www.gsuslopez.com
BRIGHT SPARKS & DARKNESS
Directed by Tom Stock (UK)
7 minutes, no language
Short film with a vintage look.
Winner best trans-performance at Transgender Film Festival Kiel/Germany
https://www.facebook.com/tom.stock.86
TRANSITION
Directed by Tim Brunsden and Andy McCann (UK)
English language, 7 minutes
Documentary about Vikki-Marie Gaynor
http://www.light-factory.co.uk
http://www.vikkimariegaynor.com
WHAT’S THE T?
Directed by Cecilio Asuncion (USA)
60 minutes, English language
Documentary about MtF-Transgender Persons
in the San Francisco Area.
These women represent normality and abnormality, seamlessly, in their daily efforts to achieve a balance of yin and yang, as the day may require.
http://www.whatsthetfilm.com
https://www.facebook.com/whatsthetfilm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPgoLY7KmCE
FREAK
Directed by Eric Casaccio (USA)
18 minutes, English language
Sad Randall dresses up as Sophia
http://www.freakthefilm.com
MISS D
Directed by Stefan Blomquist (USA)
18 minutes, English language
New Year’s Eve for a Crossdresser in New York who gets a phone-call from the past
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2319945
http://www.idafilms.ne
VICTOR
Directed by Buck Angel (USA)
7 minutes, English language
Interview with a transman
Transgender Film Festival Germany Award: Best short documentary
http://buckangel.com/blog
THE JOURNEY
Directed by Kerri Cecil (USA)
10 minutes, English language
A film about love conquering hate.
Two Awards in Germany:
Best short film of the Year,
Best Trans-Performance Emily Lucid
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Journey/234606820039422
FETISH
Directed by Gaetano Guido (USA)
4 minutes, English language
SM-Music video starring Faith Michaels
http://www.faithmichaels.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7GWh7ShoxE
HOUSE FOR SALE
Directed by Eisha Marjara (Canada)
18 minutes, English language
A transperson in the suburbs: a story about love and lies
http://www.houseforsalefilm.com
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1922619
http://www.facebook.com/House4SaleFilm
SAINT AND WHORE
Directed by Anne Zohra Berrached (Germany)
28 minutes, German language with English subtitles
Documentary about a couple. The man likes crossdressing and has affairs. This woman loves him but can’t understand what he does.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/HH-SW/534201223366253
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2736604
REMEMBER GAY LOVESTORY
Directed by Ann Antidote (Germany)
with Kay Garnellen
7 minutes, no talk
Subcultural film about a trans-man
https://www.facebook.com/RememberGayLoveStory
POSH
Directed by Simon J. Paetau (Germany)
23 minutes, English language
Posh is a film about RONIQUE XXX a Berlin based artist and scientist experimenting with life as an extraterrestrial in human form. She writes, composes and performs her own invention of sound called Hard Sci Fucking’ Funk
http://simonpaetau.blogspot.de
DRESSED AS A GIRL
Directed by Thomas C. Tröger (Austria)
20 minutes, German language with English subtitles
A man dreams to dress as a woman and become a singer.
Transgender Film Festival Germany Award: Best trans-performance, Best song
http://www.mysherpas.com/de/projekt/Dressed-As-A-Girl
http://www.facebook.com/DressedAsAGirl
ID PLEASE
Directed by Bruce LaWayne (France)
30 minutes, French with English subtitles
Documentary about changes in life and the represenation on official documents. Raising important questions of identity and appearance.
Why are drag kings and drag queens in the same topic as transgender? Being drag king/queen is a job or is for sexual kicks. transgender is a treatable condition.