Film Screenings / Programs / Series
THE CINEMA OF GENDER TRANSGRESSION: TRANS FILM
December 4 – December 22
“The Cinema of Gender Transgression: Trans Film” is an extensive, ongoing series exploring the ways in which cinema has intersected with the experiences, struggles, and ideas of transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming lives and communities. Organized with the participation of a variety of guest curators, the series showcases contemporary films and videos that explore concepts related to gender transgression as well as films that have had historical resonance within and beyond these communities.
Transgender and gender-nonconforming issues hold a more prominent place in the national conversation today than ever before, though gender transgression and the experiences of these individuals have always existed. This series aims to call attention to those films that dared to question gender norms in periods when even to broach the topic was considered controversial, and to provide a platform for the contemporary socio-political concerns of trans filmmakers and artists challenging the gender binary today.
This chapter features special appearances by Trinh T. Minh-ha, award-winning author, literary theorist, music composer, and filmmaker, who has been making films for over 30 years. We are thrilled that she will be joining us to present her films SURNAME VIET GIVEN NAME NAM (1989), SHOOT FOR THE CONTENTS (1991), THE FOURTH DIMENSION (2001), and FORGETTING VIETNAM (2015) as a part of this series, in conjunction with a retrospective of all of her films, taking place at Anthology from December 6-22. [For details of the Trinh T. Minh-ha screenings, click here.]
The series begins with Barbara Hammer’s now-iconic NITRATE KISSES, which remains a defining call to action, awareness, and unity. Jessie Jeffrey Dunn Rovinelli’s SO PRETTY turns the typical trans film “acceptance and struggle” narrative away from individual misery and self-acceptance towards a struggle against the state. Last but not least, the FRIDAY THE 13TH QUEER CATS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL – hosted by Frankie Symonds – will prepare us for the holiday-party season.
“The Cinema of Gender Transgression” is curated in collaboration with Joey Carducci and Angelo Madsen Minax. Throughout the series, guest curators contribute programs as well. For this installment, Finn Paul will be joining us again with a powerful short film program that presents an experimental and visual approach to queer lineages and representations of leaving.
Special thanks to Florrie Burke, Kristen Fitzpatrick & Colleen O’Shea (Women Make Movies), Jordan Mattos (Aspect Ratio Films), Karl McCool (Electronic Arts Intermix), Finn Paul, Oliver Sage, Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore, Frankie Symonds, Mark Toscano (Academy Film Archive), and all the filmmakers.
Special support provided by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Support has also been provided by The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation.
