Do It: Gender Reel

Joe Ippolito (courtesy of Gender Reel)

As Gender Reel opens tomorrow (Sept. 7), the only multimedia festival focused on gender identity in the arts on the East Coast, we wanted to share some highlights from the second annual event. Not only have we named it the “best film festival” in G Philly’s “Best of Gay Philly,” but this year’s roundup proves us right with more than 20 films in addition to photography exhibits, live performances, panels and workshops through the weekend.

“The festival has grown in a number of ways, including expanding our venue location to the William Way Community Center, adding more performance art to the mix and offering more hands on art and film workshops to our patrons,” says Joe Ippolito, the founder and chair of Gender Reel. “I am happy to report that Gender Reel does exactly what we envisioned it doing when we came up with the idea in November 2010 in that it is providing a safe, supportive and empowering place where Gnc/TG people can display their multi-media art work.”

Here’s what you don’t want to miss (all events are taking place at William Way unless otherwise noted):

Friday, Sept. 7

Look for photography by Philly's Chance DeSilvah (courtesy of DeSilvah Photography)

-6  p.m. Opening Wine & Cheese Opening Reception
-7:30 p.m. Discussion and performance by New York City’s Ignacio Rivera
-The 50 day collaboration of art between Gender Reel and the William Way Community Center’s LGBTQ Art Gallery also runs through Oct. 26

Saturday, Sept. 8
-10 a.m. A screening of Facing Mirrors
-11 a.m. “The Painted Self,” a watercolor workshop by Gender Reel’s Sam Richman.
-11:30 a.m. A screening of experimental short films, including Gold Moon, Sharp Arrow, Makes Me Want to Believe and Present Continuous

-3 p.m. “The Final Cut,” a panel exploring how mainstream portrayals of people of color in film and television impact the lives of queer people of color
-4:30 p.m. “TransHISTORY,” a workshop exploring the history of transgender people in film
-7:30 p.m. A screening of The Sisterhood.

Check out the trailer:

-9 p.m. “MixTape” is Gender Reel’s surgery fundraising party (with BLITZ) at Tabu

Sunday, Sept. 9
10 a.m. A selection of short films, including A Difference, America’s Most Wanted and Transpass
1:30 p.m. A workshop on “Filmmaking for the Grassroots Activist”
4 p.m. A panel discussion with the filmmaker of the award-winning documentary Trans
7:30 p.m. A screening of I Am the Queen.

Check out the trailer (NSFW):

Click here for a full list of film, panels and workshops.