w/ Flawless Sabrina, star of The Queen in person!
The drag queens of the Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant in NYC burst off the screen in this quintessential 1967 documentary. The spark that would lead to Paris Is Burning, The Queen is a tragically underseen, rare, and vital piece of the story of drag in America. Beyond documenting the pageant, the film transports us backstage, where the contestants dive into conversations on sexual identity, draft boards, sex change operations, and more–...
w/ Flawless Sabrina, star of The Queen in person!
The drag queens of the Miss All-American Camp Beauty Pageant in NYC burst off the screen in this quintessential 1967 documentary. The spark that would lead to Paris Is Burning, The Queen is a tragically underseen, rare, and vital piece of the story of drag in America. Beyond documenting the pageant, the film transports us backstage, where the contestants dive into conversations on sexual identity, draft boards, sex change operations, and more–culminating with one contestant’s outburst in response to the racism within the drag scene. With judges including Andy Warhol and Edie Sedgwick, and guests like Terry Southern and Larry Rivers, we dare you to resist this film, these queens, and a delectable slice of late 60s drag panoply–on a rare 35mm print!
Dir. Frank Simon, 1968, 35mm, 68 min.
A rare archival short, Queens at Heart follows four shockingly courageous pre-Stonewall trans women, Misty, Vicky, Sonja, and Simone. They go out as women at night, but live as men during the day, take hormones, and dream of “going for a change.” Subjected to a six-month psychological project, and cross-examined by dubious “experts” all four women are incredibly captivating subjects–whether being interrogated or partying at the ball. (Jenni Olson)
Released in 1967, 35mm, 22 min.
Queens at Heart 35mm restored print courtesy of the UCLA Film & Television Archive. Restoration funding provided by the Outfest UCLA Legacy Project.
VIP ticket includes first entry, reserved couch seating, and access to VIP patio and reception