Queerguru previews CINEMA SYSTERS the only LESBIAN FILM FEST in the USA

If you are a regular reader of QUEERGURU you will know we are passionate about all forms of queer cinema, and throughout the year we bring you our top picks from some of the biggest (and smallest) queer Film Festivals around the globe.  This, however, is a first for us as we preview the US’s only lesbian film fest.

For the past seven years CINEMA SYSTERS in the charming river city of Paducah, Kentucky, has focused on uplifting the visions and voices of queer women filmmakers and provide a public outlet for their art. Its mission is to strengthen and connect this diverse community of women and build bridges among audiences, filmmakers, and the community at large through the exhibition of lesbian produced films and other events planned throughout the weekend. The festival showcases a diverse range of films from around the world. From thought-provoking documentaries to side-splitting comedies, the Organizers claim there’s something for all women at Cinema Systers Film Festival.

This year’s festival happens this Memorial Day weekend, but if you are unable to drop your plans and go, ensure you sign up for the mailing list for next year, as the Fest does sell out.  Here then are Queerguru’s Top Picks of Must-See Movies at Cinema Systers

 

 

Outliers and Outlaws is a full-length documentary that uncovers the history of the large and vibrant lesbian community of Eugene, Oregon.

Women who migrated to the small town of Eugene, in the 1960s-80s candidly share stories that reveal the power of courageous and creative living.  They all agreed on one thing: everything was going to be different. Branded as outsiders, they forged an alternative community that ultimately transformed mainstream culture and politics

Outliers and Outlaws  has Intimate portraits–both then and now–model living in hard times with hope, humor, and commitment to social change

 

We chose this dark and suspenseful journey that offers a glimpse into  a unique storytelling style for our cat-obsessed editor.  This debut short from Edie Eberhardt and Jeri Hernandez  highlights thrir queer film company’s  commitment to diverse narratives within the horror genre. This chilling tale of ‘The Cat Sitter,‘ a suspense-filled masterpiece,   promises to captivate and terrify audiences in equal measure.

 

“Old Lesbians “ directed by Megan McDonough in 2023, is a mere 29 minutes long but packs a great deal of herstory into each minute. The film documents the Old Lesbians Oral Herstory Project (OLOHP), which was started in Houston in 1998 by Arden Eversmeyer. After losing her partner of thirty years, she bought a small audio recorder and began collecting life stories of older lesbians, most of whom had lived their lives in secrecy before it was “safe” to come out.  Queerguru’s Janet Prolman added a personal note to her review.  Just as I would later attend the 3 national marches, and those in New York City, Brooklyn, Boston, Worcester, Durham N.C., and even the “outlaw” Dyke March in NYC. We’ve come a long way baby, but we can’t afford to lose our herstory/history.

SALLY : Emmy and GLAAD award winning filmmaker Cristina Costantini does great justice to lesbian icon, SALLY RIDE the first Amercan female astronaut  although there is a sad side to her story as she and her life partner Tam O’Shaughnessy felt obliged to hide their 27 year old relationshp in the closet.  Ride was as brave as any other astronuat in space but on earth she was terrified about being outed as a lesbian O’Shaughnessy followed her partner’s lead and hid her queerness out of love, and the pain and frustration of that strain is still evident in her voice during interviews. Makes for very compelling viewing

 

 

 

 

For Further info and the entire program 

 

for full reviews of over 1800 queer films check out www.queerguru.com
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Other Lesbian Film Fests inc  https://someprefercakefestival.com/en/ Bologna Italy 

https://www.llff.ca/  London., Canada