Arts Notes: Cal. Academy Talks; Frameline's Colin Higgins Foundation Grants
A new series of panel discussions at the California Academy of Sciences reclaims scholarly research to underserved voices, and Frameline announced new young filmmaker grant recipients.
The California Academy of Sciences will launch an all-new, three-part NightLife sub-series: Says Who? Taking place over three evenings throughout May and June, the series examines the power and privilege of the storyteller in the world of science and beyond, and aims to uplift voices that have been systematically excluded from shaping the truths and narratives we often hold as fact.
"NightLife can be fun and flashy, and it can be real and raw," says NightLife event program manager Lin Kung. "There are so many voices and stories out there far beyond what the dominant or collective narrative might be. There are communities and perspectives to listen and learn from, reflect on, and respect."
The series will take place across three individual events: Volume 1: Culture (May 18), Volume 2: Experience (June 1), and Volume 3: Gender (June 29), with each event featuring a thoughtfully selected cadre of community partners who will lend their perspectives and stories. Featured talks at all events will be held in both English and ASL, and one talk will additionally feature Spanish language speakers.
The Nightlife events include access to the Academy's exhibits and other nightlife events.
Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grant
Frameline, the arts nonprofit that hosts San Francisco's International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, announced a new partnership with the Colin Higgins Foundation entitled the Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grant, a new initiative centered on providing young LGBTQ+ filmmakers with financial support to continue their work.
Three young American filmmakers, Daisy Freedman, Karina Dandashi and Emilio Subia, have been selected as the recipients of the Colin Higgins Youth Filmmaker Grant, and will each receive $15,000 to support their future film projects, for a total of $45,000 awarded to these filmmakers.
In addition, the winners' short films will be showcased at the Frameline: San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival June 14-24, 2023. Each filmmaker will be in attendance for their screening.
The grant is named after the late Colin Higgins, an acclaimed screenwriter and director responsible for such classic films as "Harold and Maude," "9 to 5," and "The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas."
"We are thrilled to engage and empower the incoming generation of LGBTQ+ young filmmakers," said James Woolley, Executive Director of Frameline. "Colin Higgins is an icon, and it is a dream for our organization to provide life-changing financial support to filmmakers in Colin's name. These young artists are telling the deeply authentic stories of the LGBTQ+ community, and we couldn't be more excited."
Frameline will also co-present a tribute to Higgins at a double-feature screening of "9 to 5" and "The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas" at The Castro Theatre on May 27 at 6:00pm, presented by Movies for Maniacs and Another Planet Entertainment, with host Jesse Hawthorne Ficks.
www.frameline.org
www.colinhiggins.org
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