Great movies, documentaries and web series from the Transgender Film Festival in Kiel

Poster for The Danish Girl in Kiel.
(Photo from festival Facebook page)

Andy has sent me an overview of the awards of this year's Transgender Film Festival in Kiel.

There are a lot of interesting films here, and I have included some relevant clips for you below.

This festival is the only one of its kind in Germany, and as you will see, it takes a much needed broad approach to the term transgender.

The selection of movies, documentaries, TV/web shows and songs reflects the current surge in interest for transgender people as well as the artistic abilities of trans people themselves.


Best Film of the Year:

Her Story directed by Sydney Freeland, a web series on the dating lives of trans and queer women.



Best Trans-Performance:

Angelica Ross in Her Story
Khaleb Brooks in the web series Boxx

Khaleb Brooks

Best Actress:

Alicia Vikander in The Danish Girl. (She also won an Oscar for this role).

Alicia Vikander, scene from the movie.

Best Actor:

Christian Ochoa in Her Story

Actors Angelica Ross & Christian Ochoa on the set of Her Story. Photo Credit: Tamea A. photobytamea.com

Best Documentary:

The Pearl of Africa by Jonny von Wallström, a film about Cleopatra Kambugu, a 27 year old Ugandan trans woman.



Best Song:

"Toyland" by Mya Taylor in Tangerine, a movie about two African-American transgender women in Los Angeles.



Best Poster:

The Danish Girl

The Danish Girl, main poster.

This Hollywood movie presents a fictitious love story inspired by the lives of Danish artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener.  Eddie Redmayne, who is not a transgender person, plays the role of Lili.

Best Website:

dragmovie.com (on a movie telling the story of East London’s drag scene)
pearlofafrica.tv (presenting the Ugandian movie Pearl of Africa)
thestonewallmovie.com (The Stonewall movie was not well received in the transgender community, but I guess that does not mean that the web site is bad)

Best Short Film:

Vessels by Arkasha Stevenson, a movie that follows Diamond, a young Latina transgender woman living in Los Angeles.

Vessels - 60sec Trailer from Steph Zenee Perez on Vimeo.

Best Trans Performance (MtF) in a Short Film:

Diamond Cruz in Vessels.

Best Trans Performance (FtM) in a short Film:

Will Krisanda in Brothers Season 2/Episode 1. Brothers is a series on trans masculine love.


Best Actress in a Short Film:

Julienne Jones in Brothers season 2/episode 1

Julienne Jones (photo from her web site)

Best Short Documentary:

Elise by Evan Sterrett and Jo Bradlee, a twelve-minute documentary that follows a young, transgender and homeless woman in Washington D.C.


Best Concert Performance:

"Eines Tages" by Cassy Carrington, a German transgender woman and artist.



Best Music Video:

"Leben Spüren" by Cassy Carrington.

Cassy Carrington & ihr Herr Cosler - LEBEN SPÜREN from Silke Engler on Vimeo.