Media Release

Community-led international film festival TILDE celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, presenting a program with the theme of Trans Collectivism – breaking the stigma around ‘being the only trans and gender expansive person in the room’ and championing individuality and connection with one another in a safe and supportive environment. 

Tilde will host seven sessions across three days, to honour the work of established and emerging trans and gender diverse (TGD) artists. Tilde is proud to highlight the community that has emerged for audiences and TGD artists alike. 

Audiences can expect an eclectic program of films spanning genres of comedy, romance and drama. The Festival will also showcase the beauty of dance, music and performance through film and conversation panels. 

Tilde CEO Ro Bright says, “Listen carefully and you’ll hear filmmakers say getting a film made is a miracle. Tilde is a multi-faceted festival filled with these miracles, showcasing our ever-expanding community, and sharing our humanity through our stories.” 

Through a collaboration with Sapphic Flicks, opening night will feature a selection of films from First Nations practitioners, panels, industry conversations, and food. Screening highlights of opening night include: 

• Aribada from Simone Jaikiriuma Paetau and Natalia Escobar will make its Ausralian premiere. The short has left its mark on the festival circuit, including Cannes. It follows the Indigenous trans women of the Emberá tribes as they fashion their own futures. 
• The Alexander Ball (2022) is an observational documentary extravaganza celebrating Samoan-Maori-Australian trans woman of colour, Ella Ganza, and the Meanjin (Brisbane) ballroom scene, as the community prepares for one of biggest ballroom events of the year, The Alexander Ball. 

Opening night will also unveil two new micro-commissions by First Nation Filmmakers. 

Other program highlights include the world premiere of the delicately beautiful Black Trans Miracle (2023) by Tinaye Nyathi on Saturday March 4. Lindani is a neurotic young trans man who embarks on a journey to collect a cake for his partner’s birthday after an encounter with a stranger forces him to wrestle with his own identity, putting him at odds with his own desire for connection. 

Directed by Cushla Dillion and Kristy Cameron, Behind Me is Black will make its exciting Australian Premiere. The film follows the intimate portrait of the transgender community in Aotearoa/NZ through the lens of artist Paul Johns. 

Also screening is the first episode of TV series drama More than this (2022) by Olivia Deeble and Luka Gracie, which explores the real lives of five 17-year-old teenage students and their teacher when their worlds join in a classroom. 

Part of a special film festival exchange with Seattle crew TRANSlations, Tilde will present the world premiere of Green Castles, which represents a deepening of friendship through exploration of shared synchronicities in directors Anton Astudillo and Kelley Van Dillalived’s lived experiences as trans and queer filmmakers. In honour of the partnership, Tilde’s First Nations filmmakers will be exchanged in TRANSlations next festival. 

Tilde will host a conversation with Australia’s leading intimacy coordinater Bayley Turner (Neighbours), who will lead a frank discussion in how the film community can support trans women to thrive in the industry. Tilde in Conversation: Women on set will feature panelists Ramon Te Wake (The Boy, the Queen and Everything in Between), and more guests to be announced. 

Tilde will present Full Scale/UNERASED, an exhibition and documentary curated by Sapphic Flicks at the Footscray Community Arts Centre that will run throughout the Festival. Full Scale speaks to the wide-ranging diversity, visibility and musical talent of trans and gender expansive artists from Indigenous and diaspora communities through a collection of music videos, documentaries and online art. Works include queer opulence from Kee’ahn, Goddess Naavikaran, Govind Pillai and Raina Peterson. Showing as part of Full Scale, Unerased, directed by AP Pobjoy is a coming-of-age documentary series that follows nine students from around Australia as they tell their own stories in a year that could shape their lives forever. 

SEEN/SCENE is also showing as part of Tilde at the Victoria Pride Centre, photographer BHO VÉ goes behind the scenes to spotlight trans and gender diverse creatives, crew and game changers working in Naarm. From multiple sets such as Neighbours, SEEN/SCENE exposes the often unseen artistry of cinematographers, intimacy coordinators, grips and producers working to bring Australia’s stories to the screen. 

Closing night will finish with a big night of performances, films and community panels – these performances will reveal topics of sexual health and the transmasc history with Naarm’s bath houses. The panels will be facilitated by acclaimed author Sam Elkin (Detachable Penis: A Queer Legal Saga). 

Closing night will also feature the Australian premiere of Desire Lines, directed by leading academic and scholar Jules Rosskam and winner of the Next Special Jury Award at Sundance, this very special documentary draws from first-person accounts, as well as fictionalised segments, exploring the lines of desire as they intersect with identity for many transmen. 

For the full program www.tildemelbourne.com 

Tickets: $10-15 

50% of ticket sales will go to Pay The Rent – an initiative that gives back to Indigenous people and pays respect to the land that Australians call home. 

Image credits: 
1. The Alexander Ball, courtesy of the artist
2. Aribada by Simone Jaikiriuma Paetau and Natalia Escobar 
3. Black Trans Miracle, courtesy of the artist

For media enquiries, please contact Zilla & Brook Emma@zillaandbrook.com.au / 0432 567 112
Fiona@zillaandbrook.com.au / 0407 900 840