Queer Qlassics

Nashville’s queer film story hides in plain sight — creators, stories, and cinemas that, while long overlooked, reveal a rich legacy of expression, resistance and culture. NOTE: Your seminar ticket includes a film ticket to DINAH EAST immediately following at 8:00pm.

When movie star Dinah East unexpectedly dies, the coroner publicly outs her, triggering a media frenzy that complicates her legacy. Through a series of flashbacks, we discover Dinah’s full story and gain deeper insight into her remarkable and complex life — with a generous dose of classic beefcake on the side.

Blending black box theatre, vaudeville, minimal sets and intricate costumes, the late great Derek Jarman brings to life the many facets of philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein in a playful and provocative film that makes complex ideas feel eminently accessible. Arch, daffy and defiantly moving, this is a singular and captivating experience.

An aspiring clown grappling with her gender identity combats a fascistic caped crusader in Vera Drew’s revolutionary DIY DC Comics parody. Followed by a post-screening discussion with director Vera Drew

Tenderly adapted from an Annie Proulx short story, this tale of sexual awakening amongst midwestern shepherds and the unyielding cage of social repression won three Oscars and changed the discourse for the better going on 20 years now.

In this lesbionage romantic comedy, the ringleader of a crime-fighting quartet finds herself enchanted by the seductress supervillain she’s hunting. Receiving a total of seven awards on the film festival circuit in the early aughts, D.E.B.S. has accrued a cult following and maintains its reputation as a certified crowd pleaser.