Female Bodybuilders & Guerrilla Filmmakers
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| Scene from "Pumping Iron II: The Women" from 1985 |
Organised by the Radiant Circus as part of the Leytonstone Loves Film festival, supported by Barbican, the Wunder Kammer Live talk created a fantastic opportunity to discuss London's alternative screen culture. Speakers from Tape Collective, Zodiac Film Club, Twelve30 Collective and Club De Femmes gathered together in Filly Brook Pub to discuss independent films.
I was unaware of how many initiatives in London supported alternative cinema and was very impressed to learn about their work and achievements. It was a unique opportunity to meet like-minded people and find out about their input in the cinema culture.
Zodiac Film Club and Twelve30 Collective are independent initiatives gathering funds to screen underappreciated masterpieces lost in the mainstream culture due to the lack of promotion.
Club De Femmes aims at rediscovering archetypes in film, looking for women in influential roles. Thanks to their efforts, the 1985 iconic production "Pumping Iron II" about female bodybuilders has been reintroduced to the broader audience.
Tape Collective supports DIY filmmakers, raising funds to support collaborative projects and independent screenings. Giving the voice to the directors from mixed-heritage backgrounds, they organised an open call for scripts "Where are you from?" and funded the production of the winning short. Going beyond the facade of stereotypes and clichés, they created a platform for personal stories from culturally diverse environments.
John Waters' "Cecil B. Demented" surprise projection about radical guerrilla filmmakers was a satisfying ending to this nurturing evening. I am looking forward to another event like that!
Scene from the movie "Cecil B. Demented"
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| "Wunder Kammer: Crisis?" zine about the revival of the alternative screen culture during the lockdown |