On the 19-20 November 2016, 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. It was such a rewarding feeling seeing the months of planning unfold over the weekend.
The film festival took place at the Curzon Cinema, Showroom Cinema, ODEON Cinema, Sheffield Town Hall and Sheffield Hallam University.
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 LGBTQ+ community and mentored by E.D.E.N., these films have since gone on to be screened at various events across the country.
Transforming Cinema saw a spectacular line-up 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.
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.
