Groundbreaking Black Lesbian Director to Accompany Her Latest Film,
The OWLS (Older Wiser Lesbians)

When: Saturday, September 11, 2010, at 11:30 am

Where: AGLIFF at the Alamo Drafthouse South (1120 S. Lamar Blvd)

What: Cheryl Dunye, one of the pioneers of the New Queer Cinema movement, will speak at the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival (AGLIFF).  Dunye is best known for her 1996 film, The Watermelon Woman, a quirky comedy that mixed narrative and documentary modes to highlight the omission of black lesbians in cinema history.

Dunye will speak on lesbians in contemporary film and media before the screening of her latest film, The Owls, which was produced collectively with a star-studded list of lesbian writers and actors, including Sarah Schulman (After Delores), Guinevere Turner (Go Fish, The L Word), and V.S. Brodie (Go Fish).

Sponsors: AGLIFF, allgo, LGBTQ Sexualities Research Cluster (UT), Gender and Sexuality Center (UT Austin), Dr. Julia Johnson and Jackson Jantzen, Dr. Matt Richardson.

The OWLs is a generational anthem for Older Wiser Lesbians. Raised in the shadow of “the pathological lesbian” films like The Fox, The Children’s Hour, and The Killing of Sister George, these women embraced the utopian vision of Lesbian Nation and came out with great optimism in their relationships, work, and daily lives. Now, approaching middle age, the revolution has eluded their dreams. Caught between a culture that still has no place for them, and a younger generation of lesbians and queers who are indifferent to their contributions, OWLs are facing a unique set of circumstances that have yet to be compassionately or truthfully addressed.

For more information: www.agliff.org

Join us at allgo for a movie screening and discussion.

Synopsis: Growing up in the Mission district of San Francisco, Che Rivera (Benjamin Bratt) has always had to be tough to survive. He’s a powerful man respected throughout the Mission barrio for his masculinity and his strength, as well as for his hobby building beautiful lowrider cars. A reformed inmate and recovering alcoholic, Che has worked hard to redeem his life and do right by his pride and joy: his only son, Jes, whom he has raised on his own after the death of his wife. Che’s path to redemption is tested, however, when he discovers Jes is gay. To survive his neighborhood, Che has always lived with his fists. To survive as a complete man, he’ll have to embrace a side of himself he’s never shown.

Tuesday September 14, 2010
6:30 PM
allgo offices,
701 Tillery St. Suite A1, Austin, TX 78702
Free. Donations accepted.
Snacks provided

Thanks to Austin Free-Net for providing equipment for this event.