The Japan Times - San Francisco Transgender Film Festival Returns with Shorts, Documentaries and Streaming Options

The San Francisco Transgender Film Festival is returning to its longtime principal venue, the Roxie Theater, for in-person screenings this week. The event runs from Thursday, November 12, through Saturday, November 14, before shifting to a streaming format available from November 15 to 22.

The festival’s return comes amid a political landscape where conservative efforts to target transgender individuals have failed to overshadow voter concerns regarding economic pressures and ongoing conflicts. The timing offers a platform for the trans community, which has frequently served as a political scapegoat, to showcase its work without the immediate pressure of political backlash.

Founded in 1997, this year’s festival does not feature feature-length films. Instead, it presents approximately 30 short films grouped into six thematic programs. The majority of the selections originate from the United States, though the lineup also includes titles from Germany, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, and Costa Rica.

Program 1 focuses on comedy. It opens with "Cockroach," a film in which John Cameron Mitchell, known for his role in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," plays a male client to a reluctant sex worker portrayed by writer-director Justice Singleton. The program also highlights Autumn Boxley’s "Flash Sale," a comedic look at two trans men considering OnlyFans as a means to raise money for top surgery.

Program 2 is dedicated to documentary work. It includes "3 Hearts of Iron," which follows Costa Rican trans athletes participating in an Iron Man triathlon, and "Hustleween," an annual celebration of trans Black euphoria in Puerto Rico. Other documentaries feature "Reef," focusing on an 89-year-old Spanish grandmother supportive of her trans grandchild, and "One of the Girls," about a Japanese-American electrologist who exclusively serves male-to-female clients.

The "Horror" bill offers a mix of humor and tension. Canadian film "Mascott" explores furry culture, while the U.S. production "Vamped" and South African film "Dread" offer supernatural thrills. Kylie Aoibheann’s "The Dysphoria" is noted for its serious tone, depicting an occult ritual that goes awry. The "Grab Bag" program includes music videos, animation, dance, and the thriller "Peter." Standouts in this category include Mariales Diaz’s "Today & Tmrw," a nuanced drama about a down-low relationship, and Sarah Hill’s "The Door Is Open," an experimental piece combining stop-motion with other techniques.

Program 5 covers speculative fiction, featuring themes of mermaids, pregnancy, science fiction, and time travel. Tilly & Susan Bridges’ "Long Away" uses time travel to provide a trans woman with familial closure. Program 6 is designated as adult content, with no one under 18 admitted, and features playful and raunchy material.

In addition to the Trans Film Festival, two other mini-festivals are taking place in San Francisco this weekend. The SFJFF46 Encore Series reprises favorites from the summer’s Jewish Film Festival at the Jewish Community Center on Saturday, November 14, and Sunday, November 15. The series includes two short programs: one for narrative works and another for Bay Area makers. Highlights include Netlie Braun’s "Oxygen," an intense drama about a mother’s anxiety during the Third Lebanon War, and "The Baddest Speechwriter of All," a documentary paired with a live performance by the LewNer Family Singers.

Also this weekend is "Nirvanna the Band the Show the Fest," a celebration of the cult phenomenon created by Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol. The event screens the feature film, which was released in February after being derailed from its network run, along with both seasons of the television series and the original "Back to the Future." The feature film has not achieved significant box office success in the U.S. but is considered one of the better mainstream comedies in recent years.

Several new films are also arriving on streaming platforms this week. Maya Annik Bedward’s documentary "Black Zombie" examines the history of the zombie trope, tracing its roots to Haitian culture and the exploitation of Black identity rather than the post-Night of the Living Dead cannibal spin. The film uses vintage clips to explore how slavery and voodoo practices were reduced to spooky exotica.

Finn Taylor’s "The Optimist," originally titled "Avenue of the Giants," is a drama based on the life of Herbert Heller, a Czech Jew who survived concentration camps. After retiring from his San Rafael children’s store, Heller lectured youth groups about his experiences. The film stars Stephen Lang as Heller and Elsie Fisher as a troubled teen he mentors. Kino Lorber releases "Black Zombie" on home formats on Tuesday, November 10, while Well Go USA releases "The Optimist" on Tuesday, November 17.

Two other dramas are also receiving wider attention. "Mouse," the first feature by actress Kelly O’Sullivan and co-director Alex Thompson, follows Callie, a high school senior played by Chloe Coleman, and her shy best friend Minnie, played by Katherine Mallen Kupferer. After a tragedy strikes their community, Minnie grows close to Callie’s mother, Helen, played by Sophie Okonedo. The film explores the different stages of grief as the characters navigate their loss. "Mouse" opens at AMC Metreon and other Bay Area theaters on Friday, November 13.

Liz Sargent’s "Take Me Home," expanded from her 2023 short film, depicts a retired Florida couple struggling to care for their adult special needs child, Anna, played by Anna Sargent. As the parents age, their daughter Emily, played by Ali Ahn, is forced to intervene. The film highlights the inadequacies of the healthcare and social services systems in supporting families like this one. "Take Me Home" releases on On Demand platforms on Sunday, November 15.

T.Kobayashi--JT