VIFF 2023: Orlando, My Political Biography | Vancouver International Film Festival
Orlando, ma biographie politique
This event has passed
Taking inspiration from Virginia Woolf’s Orlando, writer and theorist Paul B. Preciado uses the nearly 100 year-old novel as a framework to investigate the very real contemporary struggles of trans and non-binary people. Orlando, My Political Biography blurs the borders between fiction and documentary, addressing issues of gender dysphoria, gender affirming surgery, the political construct of gender in society, and the bureaucracy that surrounds legal gender markers. Exuberant, joyful, and deeply thoughtful, this poetic cinematic essay is visually striking, thought-provoking, rooted in diverse trans and gender non-binary voices ranging from ages 8 to 70. The powerful and lively assemblage of 26 Orlandos gives voice to a community that has battled with government, medicine, society, and perceptions to freely live their own lives. This French documentary is a playful, deeply felt, original work of art; critic B Ruby Rich went so far as to call it “the first trans masterpiece.” Winner of the Teddy Award and Encounters Jury Prize at the 2023 Berlin Film Festival.
Special Jury Award, Teddy Award for Best Documentary, Berlin 2023
Community Partner
Director
Cast
Oscar-Roza Miller, Janis Sahraoui, Liz Christin, Elios Levy, Victor Marzouk
Credits
Country of Origin
France
Year
2023
Series
Spectrum
Language
In French with English subtitles
Film Contact
18+
98 min
Award Winners Documentary LGBTQIA2S+
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Credits
Executive Producer
Annie Ohayon
Producer
Yaël Fogiel, Laetitia Gonzalez, Annie Ohayon-Dekel, Farid Rezkhallah
Screenwriter
Paul B. Preciado
Cinematography
Victor Zebo
Editor
Yotam Ben David
Original Music
Clara Deshayes
Director
Paul B. Preciado
Paul B. Preciado is a writer, philosopher, curator, and one of the leading thinkers in the study of gender and body politics. Preciado is the author of six novels, including ‘Pornotopia’ which won the Prix Sade in France. Orlando, My Political Biography (2023) is his directorial debut. The film was screened at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival in 2023, and won a special Jury prize. He was born in Spain and lives in Paris.
Filmography: Orlando, My Political Biography (2023)
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Toy Story 2
When Woody is kidnapped, it's Buzz who leads the troops to the rescue. Expertly balancing action, humour and emotion, this deepens our relationship with the first film's characters and introduces a stellar newcomer, cowgirl Jessie (Joan Cusack). Rated: G
Image: © Disney Pixar 1999
Wed Mar 19, Thu Mar 20, Sat Mar 29
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
Armand
When six-year-old Armand is accused of abusing another boy, his mother is called in for a school meeting. Bracing and bold, this is a lacerating drama from writer-director Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel (the grandson of Ingmar Bergman and Liv Ullmann).
Wed Mar 19, Thu Mar 20
VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre
Flow
In this wordless and gorgeously atmospheric animated feature, a solitary black cat survives a tsunami and must confront his fear of water whilst sailing through a flooded world with a group of misfit animals. An enchanting adventure film for all ages. Rated: G
Wed Mar 19, Sat Mar 22, Wed Mar 26, Thu Mar 27
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre
7 Beats per Minute
While attempting a world record freedive in 2018, Jessea Lu lost consciousness and stopped breathing for four minutes. Years later, Jessea returns to the site of her near-death experience, ready to dive again and become reborn.
Wed Mar 19, Sat Mar 22
VIFF Centre - Lochmaddy Studio Theatre
A Bug's Life
There's a world going on underground! Pixar's second feature shrinks Seven Samurai to ant-like proportions, with heroic Flick enlisting the services of a touring flea circus to defend the colony against the marauding grasshoppers. Rated: G
Image: © Disney Pixar 1998
Wed Mar 19
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
