Queer Gaze Film Night - But I'm A Cheerleader

The Queer Gaze is an exploration of the Queer Worlds of Powell and Pressburger, how their coded queer characters can now ‘come out’ in 21st century films, curated and presented by Bexhill Film Programmers with support from Peccadillo Pictures and Hastings and Rother Rainbow Alliance.

The evening will be an exploration and celebration of the queer gaze in classic and contemporary cinema and include a surprise full length screening of a queer cinema classic: But I’m A Cheerleader.

Megan (Natasha Lyonne) considers herself a typical American girl. She excels in school and cheerleading, and she has a handsome football-playing boyfriend, even though she isn’t that crazy about him. So she’s stunned when her parents decide she’s gay and send her to True Directions, a boot camp meant to alter her sexual orientation. While there, Megan
meets a rebellious and unashamed teen lesbian, Graham (Clea DuVall). Though Megan still feels confused, she starts to have feelings for Graham.

This is the third of our Student Saturdays, devised and curated by people under 25 – to explore the influence of Powell and Pressburger on contemporary filmmakers today.

Local students in the Bexhill Filmspotters group have also been involved in planning, writing and recording a selection
of podcasts.

Here’s one of the episodes, focused on the influence of Powell and Pressburger on Queer Cinema – check out the rest of the podcasts in the series!

Screening as part of Cinema Unbound: The Creative Worlds of Powell Pressburger, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.

bfi.org.uk/powell-and-pressburger