program 3: Documentaries

“There’s so many different layers that created Toni that you see today.” Follow Toni William’s retelling of her life journey in this new short documentary directed by internationally-recognized photographer Chloe Aftel. Toni, a transgender woman who discovered her true self in the 1970s, narrates her individual evolution while showing off a fabulous sense of style and recounting amusing anecdotes; all details that are simultaneously juxtaposed with the U.S.’s overarching current political landscape, which is further contextualized by facts related to LGBTQ+ communities. From leaving home at age fourteen and residing in San Francisco’s famous Tenderloin neighborhood, now encompassing the world’s first legally recognized transgender district, to time spent in California’s Vacaville Prison, Toni’s experiences weave a rich tapestry of one woman’s life, struggles, and triumphs. As a young woman helping her friends turned certified Peer Specialist working in the trans community, Toni’s message rings out clear: “I am a better person because I am true to myself.”

Through the voices of a 29-year-old trans musician and a 79-year-old lesbian archivist, At Home weaves together stories of self-discovery, chosen family, and community building – from jam sessions and shared gatherings to the legacy of the Brick Hut Café and the Bay Area Lesbian Archives.

aubreypandori.com

Special thanks to Rosa Park.

Starting Whistle explores the intersection of gender, sport, and power through the story of Maren “Nightmaren.” By day, she navigates the demands of work and family; by night, she laces up her skates and takes on the track.

AUGMENTED is an experimental documentary that looks at the different terms used to describe medical augmentation, my massive spinal surgery, and Transgender alignment. Max Wolf Valerio in interview. Shot entirely on 16mm.

https://raymondrea.com/augmented-detail

(Includes Spoilers) Inspired by my viral true story. Akita the drag queen hasn’t left her apartment in days. Her inboxes overflow with messages of praise, concern, and… death threats. She lets in a film crew and recounts to a reporter about how Nazis stormed her Drag Story Hour in June 2022. Akita recounts that day. When she retreated to the library’s restroom. When the police arrived and Akita could hear them laughing… with the Nazis. After the interview, Akita breaks down. We conclude with one final flashback: After the Nazis leave, Akita returns to complete the Drag Story Hour reading for the children and families.

afterthelibraryfilm.com

An introduction video to the Louise Lawrence Transgender Archive, made for participation in a conference of transgender archivists in Italy in 2021.