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Cinenova
1979–Present

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Location

England

London, England

Description

Cinenova is a volunteer-run organisation preserving and distributing the work of feminist film and video makers. Cinenova was founded in 1991 following the merger of two feminist film and video distributors, Circles and Cinema of Women, each formed in 1979. Cinenova currently distributes over 300 titles that include artists’ moving image, experimental film, narrative feature films, documentary and educational videos made from the 1910’s to the early 2000’s. The thematics in these titles include oppositional histories, post and de-colonial struggles, representation of gender, race, sexuality, and other questions of difference and importantly the relations and alliances between these different struggles. Cinenova offers access to an extensive archive and advice relating to moving image work directed by makers who identify as womxn, transgender, gender non-conforming and gender non–binary. Cinenova is informed by its history as a key resource in the UK independent film distribution sector and internationally.

Cinenova. “Cinenova.” Accessed February 13, 2024. https://cinenova.org/about/.
Works in catalogue
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    A Dandelion

    film/video, 1990

    In this animation with dolls, Lulu and Lala are twin sisters. When Lala is watching a video of beautiful boys one midnight she is shocked to see her father appear naked and is suddenly transformed into a boy. She goes to Lulu's house to show off her penis only to find Lulu is also changed. They fight a fierce battle of penis size and domination.

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    In Loving Memory

    film/video, 1992

    Female-to-male transsexuality and female fetishism are explored in an entrancing performance.

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    Starring transsexual dyke, gender outlaw and playwright Kate Bornstein with Justin Bond, Pat Califia etc. Using Kate's play "Hidden: A Gender" as backdrop, the documentary celebrates gender diversity while exploring society's resistance to abandoning bipolar gender identities and realising what Justin Bond concludes, that: "Everyone has a pussy, but some people discover it and some don't."

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    Shinjuku Boys

    film/video, 1995

    Multi-award winning BBC documentary about the 'onnabe', women who decide to live as men. Hosts at the New Marilyn night club in Tokyo where the onnabe cater for heterosexual women, the Shinjuku boys negotiate in different ways relationships with their clients who usually leave them for marriage and to have children. Gaish is an elegant playboy with lots of girlfriends but a constant fear of loneliness. Tatsu who has felt a boy since early childhood, is on male hormones he gets on the black market and lives with his girlfriend Tomoe. Kazuki intends to marry Kumi who started life as a man and now works at the Pink Soda Cabaret Club as a dancer.

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    Norrie

    film/video, 1997

    Sydney-based transgender activist, writer and performer, Norrie May Wellbe argues the case for a genderless society.

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    Matt

    film/video, 1998

    Five years after making the video portrait Boys in the Back Yard, the filmmaker returns to San Francisco to see what has become of Matt.