here - Birkbeck, University of London

t
.&
10
s*
n
a
.M
17
4
01
2
ay
Tr
c
i
t
as
A Mini Filmfestival
@ Birkbeck Cinema
Trans*tastic: A Mini Filmfestival
What?
Trans*tastic is a two-days film festival with over 20 movies from trans* filmmakers and on trans*
issues. It includes shorts, features, documentaries and music videos on activism, community, love,
trauma, dis_ability, friendships, family, coming-out, immigration and much more.
To support this project you can make a donation at the door or when you reserve tickets via
Eventbrite. All the money raised will go towards trans* health care.
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/transtastica-mini-filmfestival-tickets-11219175857
Where?
Birkbeck Cinema 43 Gordon Square,
London WC1H 0PD
Number 13 on the map.
The cinema is wheelchair
accessible and there are
wheelchair accessible toilets.
Program overview
Saturday, May 10th
Saturday, May 17th
3pm
U-people
A rockumentary exploring issues of
ethnicity, gender identification, family,
arts and activism in contemporary
Black queer women’s and trans
communities.
Trauma, Resistance+Healing
Nine short films talking about past and
present Trans*discrimination, resistance
and films as one way of coping and
healing.
5pm
Questions of Home
Five short films around community,
family, solidarity and identity.
Fiction, Arts+Animation
Nine short films by and about Trans*
filmmakers, musicians and spoken word
poets.
7pm
When Hainan meets Teochew
A romantic comedy from Singapore
centering a Butch lesbian and a
Trans*woman.
Austin Unbound
A programme in American and British Sign
Language around the topics of coming out,
deafness, self-discovery and much more.
(with engl. subtitles)
10. May: 3pm U-people
Make a Move
Hanifah Walidah, USA, 2006, 5min, English
“Once upon a time at a house in Brooklyn...
Sistas came to kick it... and we still kick it... “ a
music video by and with Hanifah Walidah.
U-People
Hanifah Walidah & Olive Demetrius, USA, 2006, 76min, English
U People is an incidental documentary exploring issues of ethnicity, gender identification, family, arts
and activism in contemporary Black queer women’s and trans communities. The first ‘rockumentary’
of its kind, U People brings viewers behind the scenes of a not-so-typical music video shoot for out
Black lesbian artist Hanifah Walidah’s single “Make A Move,”.
Directed by Hanifah
Walidah and Olive
Demetrius, the film was
made from the 20 hours
of downtime footage
consisting of an
unprecedented cast and
crew of thirty queer
women, straight women
and transpeople of Color
between the ages of 25
and 40 living in New York
City. What the camera
caught introduces
hilarious, heartbreaking,
candid and very human
voices of young queer
women and transpeople
of Color into discussions
of gender, race and
humanity.
10. May: 5pm Questions of Home
The Homecoming
Felicia
Carine Parola, France, 2011, 9min, French with English Subtitles
Tim O’Hara
USA, 2008, 8min, English
Just as in a “Homecoming”, the three trans* protagonists of this film
find their true identity, which was always theirs in spite of the
conditions and the glances of the others. A reflection on the
relation to oneself and the relation to others.
This short film shows one
of San Francisco’s most
loved transwomen: Felicia
Elizondo and her life as a
single senior.
Changing House
Mind If I Call You Sir?
Zavé Martohardjono, USA, 2009, 18min, English
Mary Guzman
USA, 2004, 34min, English
After fifteen years of sharing their Brooklyn home with transgender
women, transgender lesbian activist couple Rusty and Chelsea
struggle to transform what became an informal shelter space into a
private residence, and reflect on the unique history of a place that
was home to legendary activist Sylvia Rivera until her death.
Mind If I Call You Sir? looks
into lives of Latina butches
and FTM Latinos, with a
discussion that seeks to find
the places to come together.
Pashke and Sofia
Karin Michalski
Germany, 2003, 30min,
Albanian with English Subtitles
Pashke (62) lives as a
“sworn virgin” since s_he
was thirty what means that
s_he lives the social role of
men. This is part of the
Albanian tradition where
women take over the rights
and duties of men when the
family situation needs it or
when they don’t want to
marry.
Pashke and Sofia
10. May: 7pm Hainan and Teochew
When Hainan Meets Teochew
Han Yew Kwang
Singapore, 2010, 81min, Mandarin, English, Hainanese, Teochew & Tamil with English & Mandarin Subtitles
A queer romantic comedy about the unlikely relationship between a butch lesbian and a
transgender woman. This Singaporean film illustrates the developing relationship between “Hainanboy”, whose search for a bra thief leads them to Ms. Teochew’s house. After Ms. Teochew is kicked
out of her own house, Hainan-boy invites Ms. Teochew to move in.
In the unlikeliest of circumstances, they begin to develop a unique and unexpected love.
17. May: 3pm Trauma,Resistance+Healing
Phoenix is a Cunning Cunt
Roisin Mongey
Canada, 1998, 6min, English
Five little stories around school and
genderfucking.
Asylum
Lisa G., Canada, 2008, 7min, English
A nurse’s recollection of psychiatric
care circa 1949 in Riverview a 600
acre mental health care facility.
Passing
Psychic Capital
Jess MacCormac & Rae Spoon
USA, 2009, 15min, English
An experimental animation exploring how
identity development is informed (and
sometimes controlled) by psychiatry’s
relationship with capitalism and its broader
political objectives.
Passing
Kai Egener, Canada, 2010, 5min, English
Not every act of resistance is loud and strident. In
this almost silent short, a quiet person
demonstrates a surprising ability to stay true to
herself.
En Mis Tacones
Fernando Reyes
Honduras, 2010, 30min,
Castellano with English Subtitles
Psychic Capital
This documentary shows the
situation of trans*women in
Honduras, the everyday
between discrimination, ones
quest for identity, sexwork and
the trans*murders since the
putsch. Trans*women are object
to the hatred of police and
military, who use their power
for a “social cleansing” of all
those who do not fit into the
conservative-christian belief.
There Will Come a Day
KOKUMO, USA, 2013, 7min, English
The music video of KOKUMO, a transgender singer who was raised on Chicago’s South Side and
has a beautiful new song out called “There Will Come A Day” about one woman’s fear of coming
out to a new lover.
Checkpoint
Alex Mah
Canada, 2007, 15min, English
Seven interviews are woven
together to tell the stories of
trans*, gender- variant and TwoSpirit men of color living in
Southern British Columbia,
Canada.
Checkpoint
Transworld
Bradley Fayki
France, 2009, 15min, French/English
Transworld
In this documentary Bradley Fayki
talks with trans*men about laws,
oberations, differences between
countries and personal stories.
Trans Guys Are
Tom O’Tottenham & Serge Nicholson, GB, 2012, 4:00, written English Text
This film came out of a project of GALOP working with transmen around sexual assault. Knowing
that feeling good about yourself, your body and your relationships is really important. It’s a film to
promote a message that’s sex and body positive and that celebrates our queer community.
17. May: 5pm Fiction, Arts+Animation
Love is a Hunter
Jess MacCormack
Canada, 2010, 3min, English
This animation set to the song
‘Love is a Hunter’ by Rae Spoon
reminds us that love can be
transformative, but sometimes the
intensity of this transformation can
be threatening. The surreal imagery
reflects a childhood where love is
very much defined by one’s ability
to hide from violence and pain.
In formation
Zavé Martohardjono
USA,2008, 4min, English
Where We Were Not - Part I:
Feeling reserved, Alexus’ story
Love is a Hunter
A poetic exploration of the body’s Jess MacCormack & Alexus Young, Canada, 2011, 6:00, English
history, of how it confronts the
culture and language which limits it This is the first part of a four part experimental animated
documentary about criminalization in Canada. In „Feeling
in modern life.
Reserved“ Alexus shares her story of a „starlight tour“ (a
Do You Mind?
practice of police brutality against First Nations peoples in
Canada). This is about the strength and courage you need to
Hanifah Walidah & M. Asli Dukan
survive the oppressive conditions by finding creative ways.
USA, 2008, 4min, English
“you know how it feels like not to
have your rights, so why do you
want to tell somebody else: ‘wait
for yours’? We’re all waiting, so
let’s... let’s move together!” A music
video.
Joan
Jess MacCormack
Canada, 2010, 4min, English
Joan is a music video that confronts
the viewer with the violence trans
people face in their daily lives. This
video offers recognition for the
difficulty in surviving oppressive
conditions.
I’m Not Your Inspiration 1
Sandra Alland, Scotland, 2013, 8min, English with English Subtitles
The first in a series of short documentaries by Sandra Alland
about queer and trans* Deaf and disabled artists in Scotland.
Writer and photographer Nathan Gale discusses the
intersection of their queer, trans* and crip identities.
I ‘m Not Your Inspiration III
Sandra Alland, Scotland, 2014, 8min, English with English Subtitles
The third of Sandra Alland's short films about queer & trans*
Deaf & disabled artists in Scotland. Musician and visual artist
Maki Yamazaki discusses visible and invisible disabilities, barriers
to access for disabled and trans* artists, and the intersection of
race, gender and ability. Featuring Maki's performances,
recordings and visual art.
Jan’s Body
Jasco Viefhues
Germany, 2012, 30min, German with English Subtitles
Thomas comes to Berlin to collect the ashes of his son Jan, who died in an accident. He dissolves
Jan’s flat - the flat of a person whom he didn’t know anymore for a long time. During Jan’s lifetime
they weren’t close anymore and in the beginning everything seems new and alien. He is following
the steps of Jan and slips more and more into Jan’s skin, meets his friends and starts to understand
him and discover new sides of himself.
Rabbit Holing
James Rosalind
Germany , 2014, 25min, English
“I thought about how unpleasant it is to be locked out; and I thought how it is worse, perhaps, to be locked
in.”
Four friends enjoy an escape to the edge of the city. The cottage is an open secret among friends, and they
find their way there post-party in a dream-like state: The cottage is a refuge for exploring safe fun and games,
and living out temporal queer dreams. But what happens when you try to keep out the outside world in a
world which will not be excluded? A next-door neighbor and his well intentioned gift, catalyses ....
17. May: 7pm Austin Unbound
Kettle’s Boiling
I’m Not Your Inspiration II
Alison Smith
Scotland, 2013, 4min, BSL, English Subtitles
Sandra Alland
Scotland, 2013, 8min, English, BSL, English Subtitles
Alison narrates her life in British Sign
Language poetry, exploring sexual identity,
deafness, fairground traveller community
and her sense of belonging.
The second of Sandra Alland’s short documentaries
about queer & trans* Deaf & disabled artists in
Scotland. Deaf sign poet, Alison Smith, talks about her
BSL poetry, growing up as a traveller, and some issues
facing queer disabled artists.
Luke’s Sketchbook
A girl named Kai
Luke Murphy
Scotland, 2013, 4min, written English Text
Kai Ling Xue, Canada, 2004,
8min, English Subtitles
Luke relates his personal story through artwork in a silent movie An autobiographical montage
set to a punk soundtrack from Glasgow's Scragfight. 'The project of relationships, dreams, selfhas really helped to look at everything that has happened and see discoveries and secrets.
the positive side to life as a trans man.'
Austin Unbound
Eliza Greenwood & Sel Staley
USA, 2011, 43min,
ASL, English, English Subtitles
Austin, who is trans* and deaf,
and his best friend are on a trip
to meet Austin’s surgeon, so that
he can finally undergo a doublemastectomy. Meanwhile the
viewer is given intimate glimpses
of Austin’s loved ones as well as
charming and open Austin’s own
perspective. The use of specific
cinematography, subtitles, and
sound design reflect Austin’s
Deaf experience.
Austin Unbound
Filmmakers Information
Sandra Alland
I’m Not Your Inspiration I, II & III
www.blissfultimes.ca
Zavé Martohardjono
Changing House, In formation
www.zavemartohardjono.com
Bradley Fayki
Transworld
[email protected]
www.bradleyfayki.com
Karin Michalski
Pashke und Sofia
www.karinmichalski.de
Eliza Greenwood & Sel Staley
Austin Unbound
http://austinunbound.org
Lisa G.
Asylum
www.lisagertrud.com/
KOKUMO
There Will Come A Day
http://kokumomedia.com
Mary Guzmàn & Karla Rosales
Mind If I Call You Sir?
film is available through National Film Network
Alison Smith
Kettle’s Boiling
www.peskypeople.co.uk/
Tom O’Tottenham & Serge Nicholson
Trans Guys Are
Supported by Galop - Making life safe, just and
fair for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans
people http://www.galop.org.uk/
Jess MacCormack
Psychic Capital, Joan, Love is a Hunter, Where
We Were Not-Part I
www.jessicamaccormack.com
Hanifah Walidah & Olive Demetrius
U-people, Make a Move, Do You Mind?
http://suckaforlife.wix.com/
Why support Trans*Health Care?
As the programmer of “Trans*tastic: A Mini Filmfestival” I do love empowering, shaking,
informative, funny, quirky, unraveling, mysterious, poetic films and I do belief in solidarity and
community support. And so do the 27 filmmakers who generously donated their films to this
programme in support of trans*health care.
Health care in general and even more trans*health care is an exclusive concept. In many countries,
such as Britain, trans*health care is not fully covered by public health care services, which means
that many trans*people have to pay trans*health care expenses themselves. As a result the
accessibility of trans*health care is often based on the personal income, wealth and ability to work.
In other countries, like Germany, trans*health care is officially covered by health insurance, which is
compulsory. However not everyone has access to health insurance as it is primarily bound to a
steady health insured employment. This excludes those people, who are not able to work,
unemployed, or with insecure uninsured work. Other ways of getting health insurance are mostly
very expensive.
The process to obtain trans*health care is often harmful and pathologising, asking for multiple
diagnoses on the basis of diagnostic manuals, coming with physical and psychological examinations.
Especially when monitored and covered by health care insurance or public health care services this
process demands a very normative gender expression and treatment programme, which might not
be in the interest of the individual. This shows that the way to trans*health care comes with many
obstacles defined by income, wealth, gender expression, citizenship, dis_ability and many other
factors.
Long story short: The accessibility of trans*health care is not neutral or equal, it is defined by social
inequalities which makes it easier for some of us and harder for others to gain access to necessary
health care. Supporting trans*health care of individuals is a way to work against these inequalities,
to share access to privileges and to show solidarity within the community.
If you enjoy the program and share our belief in solidarity, please make a donation at the door or
when you reserve tickets via Eventbrite.
Yours,
Eliah Lüthi
programmer
This programme and event has been realised with the support of: entzaubert, queer d.i.y.
filmfestival Berlin | CinemAsia, Amsterdam | Col from the Transgender Filmfestival London 2008 |
Birkbeck Gender & Sexuality Group (BiGS) | Gendered Intelligence | All the filmmakers, volunteers and other helpers and supporters.