Festival director James Hudson discusses the emergence of transgender filmmakers in Ireland, highlighting the importance of authentic storytelling for the trans community. Growing up without relatable narratives in film, Hudson faced challenges in finding representation. The inadequacy of traditional support, compared to vibrant community interactions, spurred his motivation to create a dedicated film festival for trans stories. Collaborating with various programmers, he aims to elevate trans cinema beyond minimal representation, fostering a platform where authentic trans experiences can be shared and celebrated.
In 2023, there was a huge leap in the kind of trans films that were being made, especially in Ireland. We were getting this new burst of trans film-makers from around the country. But because trans films are always just a category in most film festivals, it can only be a small portion of what you get to see.
You could have a fun night out with other young trans friends and you got to be yourself around other trans people, but that was where our sense of community stopped - I didn't know any books, any shows or movies that really understood that experience.
After two years of running that film club, I felt like I had the knowledge to be able to start the festival and the audience was there.
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