First Transforming Cinema film festival proves a great success + Fox Fisher’s exclusive E.D.E.N Shorts video online now!
Last weekend filmmakers, speakers and artists from across Europe and the UK came to Sheffield to celebrate Transforming Cinema, Sheffield’s first film festival focused on transgender and non-binary films and storytelling.
On Saturday 19 November, Transforming Cinema kicked off with the sold-out premiere of four films made during E.D.E.N Film Productions’ own filmmaking project “E.D.E.N Shorts”. Made by the local LGBT community and mentored by E.D.E.N, these films have since gone on to be screened at various events across the country and the brilliant behind the scenes video, telling the story of our participants’ journey with E.D.E.N, is available online now.
Transforming Cinema saw a spectacular lineup of prominent speakers take to Sheffield City Hall to share their views and expertise on filmmaking and media representation. YouTuber and BBC Social personality Kate Adair opened the Saturday sessions with her best tips for social media and YouTube (including misspelling your tags!), Trans Media Watch talked about the progress trans representation has made in the media whilst films such as Tomboy and Major! screened at the Void Cinema and The Test Shot showcased their exhibition on trans masculinities at the ODEON Cinema.
For the afternoon session E.D.E.N was thrilled to welcome BBC2’s Boy Meet Girls star Rebecca Root who, in conversation with YouTube personality and chat show host Sarah O’Connell, shared her tips and experiences on success and getting started as an actor.
The final session included a well-received panel on the Future of Trans Representation On Screen. Chaired by Kate Adair, it featured The Guardian’s Freddy McConnell, award-winning director and activist CampbellX, entrepreneur and filmmaker Romario Wanliss and Sarah O’Connell.
“We could have continued discussing all evening,” said Kate Adair.
Saturday was rounded off with an after party at the Viper Rooms with plenty of celebration and networking. A Transforming Cinema cocktail went down very well too!
The events on Sunday started with a very well attended screening of Best Film-winner Real Boy at the Showroom Cinema and the day continued with films screening at The Void cinema at Sheffield Hallam University. Here we were also treated to a hugely insightful talk from YouTuber and comedian Amanda Parnell.
The workshops and talks concluded with a session featuring award winning filmmaker Jake Graf in conversation with Sarah O’Connell, who asked him about his successful filmmaking career and the time spent working on The Danish Girl.
As a final point on the Transforming Cinema programme, the awards ceremony took place at the Curzon Cinema.
Rounding off the festival E.D.E.N co-organised a Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil at Hallam Square. Here we heard many a touching speech, several of whom referenced the importance of Transforming Cinema film festival and it was evident that everyone at E.D.E.N felt very moved.
“It was such a rewarding feeling seeing the months of planning unfold over the weekend,” said Claire Watkinson, Managing Director of E.D.E.N. “People travelled from across Europe and the UK to take part and we were thrilled to see important conversations taking place and powerful stories being shared; there were tears filled with emotion and there were laughs of joy. All in all we were so very pleased to be able to bring Transforming Cinema to life here in Sheffield. Thank you to everyone who made this happen. Here’s to Transforming Cinema 2017!”
LAST BUT NOT LEAST: Award-winning filmmaker, activist and Transforming Cinema judge Fox Fisher’s created a film during their E.D.E.N Shorts workshop and it premiered at Transforming Cinema – you can watch it here!
A selection of reactions from social media:
“Fantastic work by E.D.E.N Film Productions this weekend for organising and running Transforming Cinema Film Festival! We’re already looking forward to Transforming Cinema 2017!” – Pride Sheffield
“Incredible work by @EDEN_F_P on the TransformingCin festival. In such a good mood after that screening. Congrats to everyone involved.” – @brettinthecity
“We’re checking out Transformations Fest in Berlin + @TransformingCin in Sheffield this weekend. Spotted some gems to bring to Leeds already” – @LeedsQueerFilmFest
“Great day so far at @TransformingCin, really interesting discussions with @uhh_kate and @TransMediaWatch about trans coverage in the #media” – @daniellejournal
“Just seen @realboymovie at @TransformingCin and it was one of the most moving things I’ve ever seen. Utterly amazing. Speechless.” – @shortchlo
“Huge thanks for putting on an amazing (and important) festival. See you next year! 😉 xxx” – @SarahO_Connell
“Had such a good weekend with everything going on with @TransformingCin – hopefully it can run again! #FeelingALotOfLoveToAllInvolved” – @EliahIsOnFire
We were pleased to have leading UK LGBT rights campaigner Stonewall’s support as well as to see a lot press coverage around the event – links below:
