Preceded by MEMENTO MORI (1995, dir. Jim Hubbard / USA, 16 min. In English / Format: 16MM).

August 10 & 14 | In the experimental, personal BLACKSTAR (1977, dir. Tom Joslin / USA, 85 min. In English / Format: Digital, new 4K restoration by IndieCollect and the UCLA Film & Television Archive with funding provided by The Andy Warhol Foundation of the Visual Arts and IndieCollect Donors Circle) Joslin blends moving snapshots from the natural world, filmic cultural touchstones, and cinema vérité to dissect and reassemble his gay identity despite constant warnings to stay in the closet. CHOOSING CHILDREN (1985, dirs. Debra Chasnoff, Kim Klausner & Margaret Lazarus / USA, 45 min. In English / Format: 35MM, preserved by the UCLA Film & Television Archive with funding provided by The Andrew J. Kuehn, Jr. Foundation, Outfest and Women's Film Preservation Fund) was one of the first documentaries to challenge homophobic and sexist attitudes about lesbian parenting, inspired by questions filmmakers and partners Chasnoff & Klausner were asking about the social and legal landscape for being a lesbian parent. Preceded by MEMENTO MORI (1995, dir. Jim Hubbard / USA, 16 min. In English / Format: 16MM) activist Hubbard’s moving, queer meditation that individualizes the immeasurable collective trauma left in the wake of the AIDS epidemic. 


Pioneers of Queer Cinema Series: In partnership with the UCLA Film & Television Archive, the Gene Siskel Film Center presents differing, often radical explorations of sexual orientation and gender identity. Pioneers of Queer Cinema introduces and reacquaints audiences with landmark queer works and their makers, while inspiring new conversations and renewed action surrounding the complex obstacles LGBTQ+ communities continue to face. View full series here.


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