Championing creative resistance to the current anti-transgender backlash everywhere, the world’s first and longest-running transgender film festival is set to return with more than 40 films from around the world. The 26th San Francisco Transgender Film Festival (SFTFF) will take place November 13–24, with a wide range of innovative films from trans and gender non-conforming directors. Founded in 1997 by Christopher Lee and Alex Austin, the SFTFF is the world’s longest-running film festival of its kind, and is celebrated for highlighting innovative, experimental, and outside-the-box films.
SFTFF 2024 will offer seven programs both in person and online, featuring a range of films across genres from documentaries and politics to animation, dance, music, romance, horror, and experimental films.
Programs 1–7 will be held at the historic Roxie Theater November 13–16. Then later, these same seven programs will be offered online, on-demand for free November 18–24. All in-person programs will be ASL-interpreted, and all films in-person and online will be captioned for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing audiences. All tickets are sliding scale $0–50.
The cultural backdrop for this year’s festival is the rabid and escalating right-wing attacks employing extreme discrimination and violence and intense political hatred against transgender people.
“Despite 2024 being the fifth consecutive record-breaking year of anti-trans bills to be introduced across the U.S., there has also been a burst of unmatched creativity and a spirit of resilience from nonbinary and transgender people—and this is reflected in this year’s films,” says Artistic Director Shawna Virago.
Since 1997, SFTFF has been a haven for trans and gender non-conforming filmmakers to assert their artistic brilliance. It has allowed trans communities to safely gather and watch films that challenge transphobic representation in film.
SFTFF’s Managing Director Eric Garcia says, “This year’s programs are some of our most groundbreaking yet, and just beautiful. I think the films will really connect with audiences.”
In support of community safety, KN95 masks will be provided and required. The Roxie’s entrance, lobby, bathrooms, and audience seating are wheelchair accessible, and the Roxie has all-gender bathrooms. While SFTFF is not a scent-free event, SFTFF encourages in-person audiences to be mindful of avoiding perfumes and scented products.
Adds Virago, “There’s nothing like being able to bring people together in a theater to have a shared experience and enjoy community representation.”
Note: Program 7 is 18+.
Film Highlights of SFTFF 2024
Saturn Risin9
Directors: Tiare Ribeaux & Jody Stillwater
Queer performance artist and musician Saturn Risin9 returns home to the Bay Area to share their journey of perseverance centering self-discovery, healing, and creative expansion poetically told through documentary, dance, visual narrative, and performance.
TRANS ALCHEMY [ALQUIMIA TRANS]
Directed by Félix Endara States
This is a short documentary that delves into the unique experiences of trans masculine activists across Latin America. Through poignant narratives from individuals in Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Puerto Rico, the film offers a compelling testimony to the challenges and triumphs encountered by trans masculine individuals in the region.
Daisy: Prophet of the Apocalypse
Directed by Venus Patel
A film from Ireland, this work tells the story of a radical trans preacher who, upon meeting a queer goddess atop a mountain, sets on a journey to prophesy the end of the world, promising salvation only for those who denounce heterosexuality.
NEST
Directed by Willem Koller
This film, from New Zealand, features a reluctant who has a deeply shocking labor experience. When faced with her husband’s disgust, she must take drastic measures to reconcile with whom she has become. This is camp horror at its best!
all the words but the one
Directed by Nava Mau
In this rom-com, Maya has dinner with her partner’s new boss and the situation becomes precarious when she realizes she is also dining with someone from her past.
SKIN
Directed by Leo Behrens
A poetic exploration of identity and self-discovery, this film uses visual symbolism to depict a woman’s transformation into a man.
Monster Cookie
Directed by John e. Kilberg
In this anxious comedy, Frankie wants to pay their rent, go to work, and be a good roommate, but is hijacked by their love for weed.
2024 San Francisco Transgender Film Festival (SFTFF)
November 13–24, 2024
Tix: $0+ sliding scale
Info/Tix: www.SFTFF.org
Arts & Entertainment
Published on November 7, 2024
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