But I'm still here, stronger every day, thanks to you: whether you're first, second or third generation, you're all part of Cineffable's herstory. 7,200 tickets sold last year, over 1,000 tickets sold at the Mixed Festival in June. Only the Cannes Festival has a better record, and they're 40 years older. Cineffable. With over 4,000 members, you could call me the First Lady of France.
But have you ever heard my name mentioned anywhere else besides in my newsletter. I'm not talking about making the headlines in Le Monde. I mean, have we ever even made three lines in Les Cahiers du Cinéma, in among the articles on the Rural Llama Festival or the Medical Films Festival of Lille? I don't think so. Those so-called film buffs must be paranoid about using the word that makes me so pride: LESBIAN. It's not that I haven't tried all over the place. Only a few very Parisian radios have ever talked about me. (I've got the cassettes if you ever feel like a break from the football).
So, I've had my tantrum. My mothers tell me that if they could get any after sales service on insemination, they'd send me back to Belgium.
- But, darling, you've been doing so well.
- Look at all the help you give those other festivals for their programming or sub-titling. You've got a few little sisters now.
- And with the prize money for your Scenario Competition, you help promote lesbian filmmakers in their first films.
- Darling, you're being too negative. After all, you've got Jennifer Miller coming this year for an amazing performance.
- And Maria Beatty, and the singer from MA, and filmmakers and artists from all around the world.
- Let's not forget all the discussions and debates that are held during the Festival, and will be held this year at the Divan du Monde.
- And all those delicacies you serve to the hungry hordes of spectators during the Festival.
I go up to my room, reassured by my moms and I hear them whispering:
- It's a difficult age. Thank the goddess there are all those volunteers to help her out during the Festival and all those spectators to give her some encouragement.
For its 14th festival, Cineffable will once again be Paris' leading festival of lesbian film. After a number of wonderful years at Kremlin Bicêtre, Cineffable is returning its festival to Paris in a mythical and flamboyant 100 years old cinema: the Trianon, right next to the Divan du Monde, where we will hold a series of debates, performances and other events. As usual, there'll be an array of delicious dishes and snacks to see you through the films.
This year, you'll want to come to the Festival at the Trianon for at least 1+4=5 good reasons.
1 - Satisfy your delusions of grandeur
With three feature length fiction films, you'll be able to see the best lesbian cinema on show today. These are the films that all the festivals are dying to screen, and for good reasons. Inspired by , Helen Lesnick delights us with the emotional pitfalls of Rachel in A Family Affair, while Lauren Himmel's Treading Water is a moving story of Casey and Alex in their struggle against family taboos. By Hook or by Crook by Silas Howard and Harry Dodge is an unconventional tale of friendship between two young butches from an ordinary town.
2 - Be amazed by what some of your contemporaries are doing
Stefanie Jordan's documentary, Some Real Heat, explores the daily lives of women fire fighters in San Francisco. Our Bodies, Our Minds by Rebecca Alvin takes us into the in-your-face world of women who work in the sex industry. Marchons, avançons, résistons by Carole Roussopoulos (prize winner in the 12th festival with Debout !) reminds us of just how active those Swiss feminists can be.
3 - Take the example of a few of today's rebels, such as
Jennifer Miller is a New York performer who heads a socially minded circus that adds colour and light to New York's most underprivileged neighbourhoods. She's really someone out of the ordinary. After the screening of the documentaries, A Circus in New York by Frédérique Pressmann and Juggling Gender by Tami Gold (screened at the Festival in 1992 and 1997), you can come and see Jennifer's talents live in her surprise-filled show.
Maria Beatty, the high priestess of very physical games, gives life to all sorts of fantasies that most of us struggle to keep hidden. Come and partake of her Seven Deadly Sins in the screening of Prologue and Lust, and then see a live S&M performance, Envy, starring the bewitching Mistress Sonia.
Joan Nestle is active in the US lesbian movement, founder of the Lesbian History Archives, militant writer, and professor for the recognition of female sexualities. We owe her the preservation of our lesbian cultural heritage. Meet her in two documentaries, Hand on the Pulse by Joyce Warshow and Cherries in the Snow by Melissa Levin.
4 - Have a laugh with women who definitely don't have the blues
Stuck is a moving short by Jamie Babitt (director of But I'm a Cheerleader) about two old ladies living in the middle of nowhere. Cassandra Nicolaou's Interviews with my Next Girlfriend lets you choose among a hilarious succession of potential girlfriends.
In Bargain Lingerie, Teresa Marcos beguiles us with a story of lingerie. You can also find out everything you ever wanted to know about a certain object in Turn Me On by Catherine Chauchat. In The Green Hour by Nicole Kassel, Joan, a young mother, is faced with the dilemma's of a woman's love. Rebel Rebel by Betsy Burke tells the story of an unexpected meeting between a niece in crisis and a depressed aunt. Learn how to take your first steps as a rebel in Better or Worse by Jocelyn Cammack.
And once you've seen all these wonderful films, you can meet up at the Divan du Monde for a number of inspiring debates, on topics including:
# Prostitution, preceded by the screening of Our Bodies, Our Minds, which explores the relationship between feminism and prostitution.
# Grants and subsidies for lesbian associations and groups, which looks at the place given to lesbian culture in France.
# With reference to the novel, Izta (The Crossroads) by Jules Falquet, our special guest Ochy Curiel will discuss the film Les filles de Zapata (the struggle of Mexican women) by Jo Béranger and Doris Buttignol.
# Being a single lesbian.
