All About My Father

Cleveland International Film Festival

On Thursday March 27th, 2003 starting at 2:15 in the afternoon a series of films of interest to the Transgendered Community of Cleveland will be presented at the Cleveland International Film Festival in Tower City. There will be a panel discussion about the last two films at 7:00 PM. While the last two films ("No Dumb Questions" and "Georgie Girl") are generally outside the scope of Alpha Omega's mission, the earlier film "All About My Father", and the presence of Alpha Omega's Director of Communications on the discussion panel suggests that this long afternoon is worth being aware of, if not attending.

Click Here to See the Film Festival Flyer for the Panel Discussions

All About My Father

(Alt Om Min Far)
Directed by Even Benestad
NORWAY 2002
75 minutes

Monday, March 24
12:30 PM I Ticket Code 24C

Thursday, March 27
2:15 PM I Ticket Code 27F

Lots of interesting questions get asked in ALL ABOUT MY FATHER, Even Benestad’s probing documentary about his father Esben Benestad, a respected doctor and liberal politician in small-town Norway. Esben, however,has a second identity as Esther Pirelli, sex therapist and sometime actress. This deeply personal account indicates how Esben’s penchant for crossdressing led to the break up of his marriage to Even’s mother.

Sometimes comic and sometimes painful, it explores how Esben’s drive for self-actualization effected, and even damaged, the lives of the filmmaker, his sister Elisabeth, their mother Liv, and Esben’s new wife Elsa.

Even notes, "It is important to show that my family is not unique—there are many families like mine, and by making this film I hope others can see their families in perspective. In order to do this, I could not compromise —confrontation was both pertinent and meaningful to make this a genuine film."

(In Norwegian with English subtitles)

Links to Reviews:

London Filml Festival 1

London Film Festival 2

Oslo film festival

Norwegian Film Institute

Brisbane Film Festival

Melbourne

Another Film Festival

Georgie Girl

Directed by Annie Goldson, Peter Wells
NEW ZEALAND 2001
70 minutes

Wednesday, March 26
9:15 PM I Ticket Code 26U

Thursday, March 27(with FilmForum)
4:30 PM I Ticket Code 27J

Cynics joked that Ronald Reagan was a good example of what happens when you vote an actor into public office. Now meet Georgina Beyer, born George Beyer, a descendant of New Zealand’s native Maori culture.

After coming out of the closet in 1978, Beyer’s resumé would grow to include stints as a Wellington "sex worker," singer, drag queen, film and TV performer. When the surgically altered Georgina ran for mayor of rural Carterton she received world media attention. Her city hall bid was only the early chapter of this Renaissance tran’s remarkable second career.

You are welcome to an audience with Georgina Beyer, MP-Labour, the first transgendered-aboriginal-all-original elected parliamentarian.

Preceded by No Dumb Questions

Directed by Melissa Regan, USA, 24 minutes

Links to Reviews