Virtually unseen for the past 20 years, this heartwarming documentary follows legendary Jewish butch lesbian folk singer Phranc as she embarks on a surprising new career: Tupperware salesperson.
Programmed by Jenni Olson and Caden Mark Gardner. This series was originally curated for the Criterion Channel.
Spotlighting the rich stories and courageous lives of trans men, butch lesbians, and gender-nonconforming heroes, this collection—curated by writer-archivist-filmmaker Jenni Olson and critic Caden Mark Gardner—journeys through nearly four decades of cinema history in search of authentic, complex representations of masculine identity as it exists outside the realm of cisgender men. From nuanced explorations of gender-nonconforming youth to powerfully moving documentary portraits to innovative narratives that deconstruct both gender and genre, these films celebrate the courageous queer visionaries who have blazed these trails and who continue to show the way forward and inspire us all.
Leadership support for
BAM Access Programs provided by
the Jerome L. Greene Foundation
Leadership support for
BAM Film provided by
the Ford Foundation and
The Thompson Family Foundation
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FilmLifetime Guarantee: Phranc’s Adventures in Plastic
Fri, Nov 17, 2023
Lifetime Guarantee: Phranc’s Adventures in Plastic
Fri, Nov 17, 2023Join us for a post-screening Q&A -
FilmVera
Sat, Nov 18, 2023
Vera
Sat, Nov 18, 2023One of the earliest cinematic portrayals of a transmasculine character, this intense drama is based on the life of Brazilian poet Anderson Bigode Herzer.
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FilmLeslie, Max & Storme
Sat, Nov 18, 2023
Leslie, Max & Storme
Sat, Nov 18, 2023Portraits of author/activist Leslie Feinberg, poet Max Wolf Valerio, and queer civil rights hero Stormé DeLarverie.
Join us for a post-screening Q&A -
FilmNo Ordinary Man
Sat, Nov 18, 2023
No Ordinary Man
Sat, Nov 18, 2023This poetic account of social upheaval and political corruption is a pillar of the Brazilian Cinema Novo movement.
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FilmSouthern Comfort
Sat, Nov 18, 2023
Southern Comfort
Sat, Nov 18, 2023This acclaimed documentary follows a trans man dying of ovarian cancer in the 90s, charting his struggles with systemic transphobia as well as his vital role in a life-affirming community.
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FilmMaggots and Men
Sun, Nov 19, 2023
Maggots and Men
Sun, Nov 19, 2023This spirited revisionist period film places trans masculine bodies at the radical heart of the 1921 Kronstadt Rebellion against the Bolshevik government.
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FilmThe Aggressives
Sun, Nov 19, 2023
The Aggressives
Sun, Nov 19, 2023This vibrant documentary follows an array of butches, studs, and masc folks of color from the New York City ballroom and nightlife scene in the late 90s and early 2000s.
Join us for a post-screening Q&A -
FilmMasc shorts program
Sun, Nov 19, 2023
Masc shorts program
Sun, Nov 19, 2023This celebration of gender non-conforming heroes includes an uplifting children’s film, a star-studded drama, a quirky comedy, and a powerful batch of cinematic rarities.
Join us for a post-screening Q&A with filmmakers. -
FilmChavela
Mon, Nov 20, 2023
Chavela
Mon, Nov 20, 2023A tremendous, joyful portrait of legendary Mexican lesbian singer Chavela Vargas, told through amazing archival material and interviews with friends, colleagues, and ex-lovers.
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FilmShinjuku Boys
Tue, Nov 21, 2023
Shinjuku Boys
Tue, Nov 21, 2023An amazing mid-1990s snapshot of AFAB gender identity in Japan, spotlighting three onabe who pass as men and work as hosts at a Tokyo club.
