What to Watch: 9 Films by Trans Filmmakers to Celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility

By Lucy Spicer

This week we are uplifting the voices of trans artists within our community in honor of Trans Day of Visibility on Friday, March 31. In conjunction with Sundance's Trans Possibilities Intensive, the conversation: Trapped In Transit: Transgender Storytelling with Visionary Filmmakers Aitch Alberto and Sydney Freeland, takes place on March 29. The exclusive discussion interrogates the limits, liberties, comforts, and confines of trans cultural representation and is open to the general public. More information on how to attend is available here.

Transgender Day of Visibility is a day to celebrate the lives and contributions of those in our trans community - from artists to colleagues to friends and family - while also acknowledging the continued discrimination and disproportionate violence faced by trans people. The best way to celebrate and support the trans community is to hear from trans people themselves, and that includes trans storytellers. Trans stories and characters are underrepresented in mainstream media and television, and when they do appear, they are often directed, acted, or written by cisgender artists who cannot fundamentally understand the trans lived experience.

The most authentic trans stories are told by trans filmmakers, by artists and storytellers who have a true connection to the unique and multifaceted identities that exist within the trans community. It is also important to remember that trans storytellers create art that transcends their identities as trans individuals - not every story by a trans filmmaker has to be about transition. Trans artists are creators who draw inspiration from myriad sources, just as cisgender artists do, and trans representation in film and television shouldn't be limited to trans characters contemplating one aspect of their identity.

The following list of Sundance-supported films provides some examples of the diverse and multidimensional voices that exist among trans creators. Read on to discover nine films helmed by trans filmmakers.

LINK:	https://www.sundance.org/blogs/what-to-watch-9-films-by-trans-filmmake...
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