INTERVIEW: San Francisco Transgender Film Fest celebrates 25 years
Image courtesy of SFTFF / Provided by The PR Canvas with permission.
The San Francisco Transgender Film Festival, better known as SFTFF, is back with its 25th installment in 2022. The hybrid festival, featuring both in-person and virtual events, runs Nov. 10-20, with in-person programming taking place at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco.
There are 47 short films this year, all by transgender and gender-nonconforming filmmakers, according to press notes. Some of the selections from this year’s fest include The Beauty President by Whitney Skauge, which is about Terence Alan Smith’s historic presidential campaign as his drag queen persona, Joan Jett Blakk; this bid for the executive office came in 1992 during the AIDS pandemic. Another entry is Gone Postal by Megan Mead, which is about a postal worker obsessed with murder podcasts who believes a potential serial killer is on their route.
At the head of the festival is Shawna Virago, artistic director of SFTFF, who has been in that position since 2003. Virago is a celebrated transgender singer/songwriter and filmmaker, according to press notes. Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with the artistic director about this year’s festival. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What has led to the success of the festival? This 25th anniversary means a lot.
This is our silver anniversary. Twenty-five years is a big deal! We didn’t set out to be the world’s longest running transgender film festival, but somehow we survived against some tough odds. When we started the festival in 1997 — created by my friends Christopher Less and Alex Austin — who knew we’d still be here 25 years later. Also, when I became artistic director in 2003, I didn’t know if we’d last more than a couple years because funding was a real challenge then.
But for me, organizing the festival is a labor of love, succeeding despite the various challenges, from COVID-19 to the over 100 anti-trans bills that have been introduced in state houses throughout the country.
How does the selection process for each film work?
We begin with guidelines, such as prioritizing short films and prioritizing films made by trans and gender non-conforming directors. Our screening committee looks at the selections and gives their recommendations. From there, we make the programs. What has remained constant from 1997 is we continue embracing under-represented voices, DIY-aesthetics and showcasing truly brave filmmaking and films with super-queer quirkiness, and lots of innovation.
How would you describe the many cinematic offerings at this year’s SFTFF? What are you most excited for?
This year’s festival features seven different programs that illustrate our curatorial vision, which tends toward the intersectional, experimental and the non-linear. Our festival remains more politicized than most in its offerings by screening films intentionally anti-assimilationist. We center works that challenge transphobia, racism, sexism, ableism, anti-migrant hate and homophobia. Content matters a lot for us. That being said, we have films of exquisite beauty and humor that concern love.
How can the festival be enjoyed online or in person?
We’re screening as a hybrid festival for 2022. Program 1 (Nov. 10) and Program 2 (Nov. 11) will be held live and in person at the Roxie Theater (3117 16th St., San Francisco). After that, all seven festival programs will be presented online beginning Nov. 12.
How is accessibility promoted in how audiences experience the festival?
All films will be closed captioned for Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences.
Have you seen any progress over the last 25 years when considering support for transgender and gender non-conforming filmmakers?
Yes, I’ve seen increased support, which is so great! Still, I’m an analog person, and like a broken record, I keep saying the same things: We’ve come a long way with representation from when we started. I welcome even more trans representation in film and in all facets of the arts and life.
Are you ready for the next 25 years of the festival?
Yes! I’m ready! Bring it on!
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The San Francisco Transgender Film Festival will take place Nov. 10-20 in a hybrid format. Click here for more information and tickets.
