Daddy Dearest (1984)
About this event
Join us for a special screening of "Daddy Dearest," directed by Arthur J. Bressan Jr. This film features Edward Thompson as a gay filmmaker who is in the process of creating his latest triple-X epic about two college buddies who wish to hook up with an older man. The film blends themes of memory and fantasy, offering a lighthearted yet provocative exploration of sexuality, creativity, and relationships. This new restoration is part of the 40 Years of Queer film series, presented with an introduction and a post-screening conversation led by Jenni Olson and Dennis Harvey. Experience the charm of this unique story set against the backdrop of the 1980s gay film scene.
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Buddies (1985)
Buddies (1985) is a dramatic film co-presented by the Shanti Project, featuring an extended introduction by Jenni Olson representing both The Bressan Project and the Shanti Project. Directed by Arthur J. Bressan Jr., the film dives into the life of a young gay man named David, who volunteers to be a 'buddy' to Robert, an AIDS patient left behind by friends and lovers. The narrative, set primarily in Robert's hospital room and narrated through David's poignant diary entries, unfolds a powerful portrayal of love, loss, and the gay experience during the AIDS crisis. The film is a part of the 40 Years of Queer series, celebrating significant contributions to queer cinema.
Paris is Burning: 35th Anniversary Screening
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The Watermelon Woman (1996)
The wry, incisive debut feature by Cheryl Dunye gave cinema something bracingly new and groundbreaking: a vibrant representation of Black lesbian identity by a Black lesbian filmmaker. Dunye stars as Cheryl, a video-store clerk and aspiring director whose interest in forgotten Black actresses leads her to investigate an obscure 1930s performer known as the Watermelon Woman, whose story proves to have surprising resonances with Cheryl’s own life as she navigates a new relationship with a white girlfriend (Guinevere Turner). Balancing breezy romantic comedy with a serious inquiry into the history of Black and queer women in Hollywood, The Watermelon Woman slyly rewrites long-standing constructions of race and sexuality on-screen, introducing an important voice in American cinema.
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