We Exist: Trans Out & About
Films that explore the everyday lives of trans people out in and around the world, navigating spaces such as work, prison, memory, or the late night commute home.
Runtime: 82 mins
Program:
First Months of Freedom (dir. Kriss Li, 2024, Canada), 10 mins
A woman’s first months off parole into the pandemic.
Valery Alexanderplatz (dir. Silvia Maggi, 2023, Germany), 25 mins
“Valery Alexanderplatz” is an documentary short movie filmed around Berlin Mitte and the famous Alexanderplatz about the life of Italian trans-activist Valérie Taccarelli. This story starts with Milva, the popular Italian diva and her most known song “Alexanderplatz”. Just a few know though that this song is in reality an adaptation of Alfredo Cohen’s song “Valery”, released in 1978. “Valery” was a 15 years old trans teenager, now known as Valérie Taccarelli.
I Want To Be Alone (dir. Piper D Charron, 2024, USA), 4 mins
I Want to be Alone follows Lisa as she struggles to complete a late-night commute after her headphones run out of battery. Each area of the city brings new and increasingly chaotic stimuli that she must cope with to reach her rooftop garden sanctuary. These stimuli manifest increasingly abstractly, building in visual and sonic texture and intensity as she traverses the city.
Personal Mythologies (dir. Susan O’Brien, 2024, USA), 4 mins
Painter Dominique Castelano reflects on her trans identity through folklore from her native Philippines in this visually rich portrait.
Home Within (dir. Mehriban Karimova, 2024, Azerbaijan), 7 mins
Home Within explores the challenges faced by trans people in politically restricted and queerphobic societies. The film follows Carmen, a young trans woman from Baku, as she struggles to find a safe space while staying true to her identity. It delves into the difficulties the queer community encounters regarding access to housing. Ultimately, the film portrays the universal quest for acceptance and belonging.
From Nothing To Everything (dir. Kai Barakat, 2024, Lebanon), 10 mins
“From Nothing to Everything” is a short documentary about my own journey through depression, anxiety, and the fear of being true to myself, including my exploration of gender identity. It’s a personal story about overcoming tough times and finding the courage to embrace who I really am.
Hey Man (dir. Kai Tillman, 2022, USA), 22 mins
Eli is a queer transmasculine person who starts driving for a rideshare company to pay for top surgery. He quickly learns that he has to pass as a cisgender male for emotional and physical safety. The problem is that he wasn’t socialized as a male and lacks the nuance of being a ‘man’. His nightly route starts by driving his best friend Niki, a professional dancer, to the strip club where she works. With each new passenger, Eli’s performance of gender shifts and unfolds. The film explores the ways in which queer and trans people survive in the gig economy and navigate gender socialization.