Framing Agnes

(Virtual Screening noon May 26th)

Framing Agnes is a documentary discussing and investigating the lives and experiences of trans people. The name’s sake and re-enactments emerge from a case study of interviews with transitioning people in the late 1950s by Dr. Harold Garfinkel of UCLA. Agnes is the first sociological case study of a transitioning person. However, after Garfinkel died in 2011, two grad students categorizing his archives found not only Agnes’s original file but eight other interviewees as well.

Framing Agnes re-enacts these patients’ interviews while intermittently showing us the BTS of those shoots, the interpretation and experience of the actors, and scholar Julien Gill-Paterson’s takes on the historical context. Paterson’s interpretations of the history, transcripts and today’s culture provide the novice viewer with the information to properly comprehend the significance of these archives, of these people, of this history.

Chase Joynt is one of the grad students to find the forgotten archives of Dr Harold Garfinkel; he is also the director, co-writer, and interviewer in the documentary. The re-enactment of the transcripts is presented as a talk show with Joynt as the host – a play on the prevalent meaning talk shows have for the trans community and their progressive visibility in mainstream culture. Chase Joynt’s presence is prominent throughout the feature. His openness to the experiences of the trans actors portraying the archive interviewees creates a warm environment for them to be vulnerable.

The standout performances are from Zachary Drucker (Agnes) and Angelica Ross (Georgia). Zachary Drucker’s Agnes is the misunderstood trans icon; she is confident and sly – she only answers the questions she wants. Angelica Ross’s Georgia is similar, but she’s black whereas Agnes is white. Ross provides that confidence while also showing vulnerability in her movement and fidgeting – Georgia encompasses the intersectional history Garfinkel’s original publication lacked. Her existence and her archive contribute to a much larger context of the growing history of trans people.

Framing Agnes does a beautiful job bringing life to people we should have met long ago and teaches us a history often forgotten or ignored.

Pat Rocco Dared

(Virtual & In-Person Screenings June 4th)

Pat Rocco Dared is a documentary about the late queer activist photographer and filmmaker Pat Rocco of the late 1960s and 70s. Filmmaker Charlie David guides us through our growing understanding of this influential man and takes us through the various influential films that helped push boundaries and change laws for LGBTQ+ people.

The documentary features interviews with Pat Rocco, his original footage and photographs, people he knew and worked with, Toronto’s own trans activist Syrus Marcus Ware, and historian Whitney Strub.

Despite all of Pat Rocco’s accomplishments and recognitions, pop culture often overlooks his influence as a gay nude erotica filmmaker, the first to put gay erotica in cinemas across the United States. He’s known for his romanticism, sentimentalism, and long, lingering passionate kisses.

Pat Rocco was the first President of Pride. He filmed the first Pride parade; he was instrumental in the sculpting of how we understand the Pride Parade today. His activism was raw and unyielding – he filmed the truth and showed the beauty in it. Pat Rocco worked closely with Harvey Milk; the first only gay man elected to public office.

Pat Rocco’s body of nude films prevalently showed the joy and happiness of gay love, not Hollywood’s preferred tragic gay narrative. Pat Rocco’s work was provocative and pushed the boundaries so much so that he kept a lawyer on site.

Pat Rocco Dared shares the stories of Pat Rocco’s successes and intentions, his life and his work. Directors Bob Christie and Morris Chapdelaine carve an intricate picture of who Pat Rocco was with love and admiration for a man who inspired so many and brought joy to a community constantly fighting for their right to be happy and simply themselves.

The post 2022 Inside Out LGBTQ+ Film Festival | Documentaries appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Describe your charity/non-profit in a few sentences.

Pink Triangle Press has been at the forefront of the LGBTQ2+ rights movement for nearly five decades, primarily through our journalism activities, beginning with our seminal publication, The Body Politic which began in 1971. The Body Politic was included in Masthead Magazine’s list of 25 most important Canadian publications and Toronto Life’s list of top-ten moments in LGBT History. The Body Politic was superseded by our Xtra chain of community newspapers in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa and now lives on in our website.

What problem does it aim to solve?

LGBTAQ2+ rights and equality

When did you start it?

Pink Triangle Press was founded in 1971 as a volunteer collective and remains a not-for-profit governed organization.

What was the situation like when you started?

The LGBTQ2+ community faced rampant societal discrimination and even police brutality.

How has it changed since?

In Canada, much progress with Charter recognition human rights legislation, etc, but there is still much to do, particularly in supporting LGBTQ2+ youth and other marginalized communities, and of course, in the rest of the world there still exists extreme repression and brutality and even regression in “advanced” societies, e.g. Poland, Russia, etc.

What more needs to be done?

First world citizens need to elect fair and just governments and keep pressure on them to advance global human rights.

How can our readers help?

Support LGBTQ2+ organizations that fight for social justice in any way they can – financially, politically, through social media, etc.

Where can we follow you?

Our community chain of magazines can be found at xtramagazine.com

PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?

Rainbow Railroad 

The post Charitable Choices: Promoting LGBTQ2+ Rights with Pink Triangle Press appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Previous to joining the team at Inside Out, Andrew spent 12 years as Programming Manager for the Atlantic Film Festival (AFF) in Halifax, one of Canada’s premiere film festivals. At the AFF, Andrew established strong programming for ViewFinders: International Film Festival for Youth and built the Atlantic Film Festival’s LGBT and Midnight sidebar programs – That’s So Gay and The Late Shift, in addition to programming Galas and Special Presentations.

When he’s not locked in a dark room immersed in queer film, you’re likely to find Andrew turning the world on with his smile, commanding the microphone at a neighbourhood karaoke bar with his rendition of Elton John’s ‘I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues’, or pontificating on the cultural impact of popular music and his many muses, including Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt and Debbie Gibson.

Written by Scott Ferguson, former Executive Director of Inside Out LGBT Film Festival (aka my old boss)

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Much of my life revolves around working at festival, or travelling to work/attend other people’s festivals. I’m very fortunate to do what I do, so here is a triptych of how I spent the last 12 months:

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What ‘hood are you in?

West End: Little Portugal

What do you do?

Director of Programming for Inside Out LGBT Film Festival (Toronto & Ottawa)

What are you currently working on?

Being my best self and finding that person who loves the me that I love. Just kidding…I’ll probably die alone…haha sigh…

Currently working on working on Inside Out Toronto edition – it starts this week and runs through June 3! We have 11 days of film screenings – 132 films total between feature and short film programs – as well as parties and our 2nd annual and world’s only industry LGBTQ-focused Producers Finance Forum. This is the culmination of a year’s worth of hard work with an amazing team and we can’t wait to release it to the world via TIFF Bell Lightbox.

Where can we find your work?

In my mother’s memory book, or as I like to call it, “The Family Press Kit”. You’ll find all sorts of treasures like my ‘to scale’ dream home floor plans inspired by my favourite childhood board game Mystery Mansion, as well as any number of unimaginative drawings and handy crafts from various Hallmark holidays. Good times.

Or if you meant the film curation, here is the line up for this year’s festival! I’m very proud of it 🙂

https://www.insideout.ca/torontofestival/

The post “A Day in the Life” with Andrew Murphy of Inside Out LGBT Film Festival appeared first on Toronto Guardian.