TranScreen opens with film about transgender teacher in Hawaii

The final programming of the Amsterdam Transgender Film Festival TranScreen has been announced and can be found online on the website www.transcreen.org. From 3 to 7 June, dozens of films can be seen about and often made by transgender people. Tickets can now be ordered through the participating cinemas.

After a day of anticipation at Filmhuis Cavia, TranScreen officially opens on Thursday 4 June in Rialto with the impressive feature film Kumu Hina. This film is about māhū (transgender) teacher Hina, who inspires a student to become the leader of the male Hula group on the island of Hawaii. Despite her success as a teacher, Hina longs for love and a committed relationship.

During Transcreen this year, extra attention is paid to films from Turkey, the Netherlands, Sweden and the continents of Africa and Australia. Animation and the theme of 'sex work' are also given more space in the programming. In addition to feature films, it includes documentaries, music videos and experimental shorts. Filmmakers from different parts of the world will answer questions from the audience after the screenings.

What is special is that Rialto has adapted the website especially for TranScreen, so that visitors no longer have to indicate their gender when making a reservation. Part of the festival's target group does not identify as male or female and, thanks to the new system, does not have to lie about a gender.

From June 3, visitors to TranScreen can view the exhibition 'Embodiment' in 4BID Gallery on the Overtoom 301. The video loop 'My Genderation' is running on the 6th floor of the Amsterdam Public Library, in the permanent exhibition space of IHLIA. In addition, the festival is framed by numerous workshops, dinners, parties and after-parties in the Amsterdam queer scene.

TranScreen is a festival with international films on the theme of transgender and gender diversity where everyone can be themselves in a public, safe environment, regardless of gender or sexual preference. Many transgender people who do not (yet) or no longer walk around in the transgender community do come to TranScreen, which means that the festival fulfills an important social role.