Lesbisch verlangen & bejaarde krakers

In the second half of the eighties a group of homosexual and lesbian film enthusiasts founded the Gay & Lesbian Filmfestival. A unique event that was only held twice – in 1986 and 1991 – but which was a resounding success. They aimed for equal representation of ‘homo’ and ‘lesbian’ films in the programme, which was made up of a ‘men’s programme’ and a ‘lesbian programme’, each compiled by a different curator. While male homoeroticism had established platforms, lesbian desire was still under-represented.

Dutch filmmaker and DoP Anne Marie Borsboom made lesbian stories visible. Her witty short film Tempted (1991), featuring Mathilde Santing, had its première at the festival and later went on to tour the world. She brought together two women on horseback as a symbol of the difficulties women experienced with seduction techniques. Such films, dealing with lesbian romance and desire, could be seen hardly anywhere at the time.

An interest in people on the margins of society has always been a feature of Borsboom’s work – from one of her earliest films, Een leven aan de jaren (1984), right up to her most recent production BOI (2014), which is still screening on Dutch TV channel NPO3 forty years on. While studying at the Film Academy, she was already taking the initiative to break through sexist structures, and she managed to convince the broadcaster (without the involvement of the Film Academy) to broadcast her mid-length graduation film Een leven aan de jaren (1984). This feminist feelgood film, bursting with female power, was a success and repeatedly shown on TV.