Frameline from the Beginning (shorts)

“Frameline from the Beginning: It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” (shorts program)
Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 5:00 PM, Castro Theatre

(Note: the shorts may be screened in a different order than listed here.)

😁 Altered Habits, dir. Marjorie Newman, 1981, USA, 3 min.

Altered Habits

Frameline blurb: A musical short featuring our very own Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, which originally premiered at the 5th annual Festival in 1981.

My take: Take the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, throw in a little Tom Lehrer, and you have a fun little music video. Genuflect, genuflect, genuflect! Highly recommended.

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🤩 Frameline Trailer Compilation, various directors and dates, USA, 25 min.

Frameline Trailers

Frameline blurb: Utilizing the creative queer body of San Francisco, the Frameline original Festival trailers of the past 5 decades showcased a diverse array of kitsch, camp, drag, color, cinephilia, comedy, and herstory — in a truly "only in SF" kind of way. This greatest hits collection of past Festival trailers includes works directed by David Weissman, Joshua Grannell, Jennifer M. Kroot, Aron Kantor, and Bill Weber and features memorable appearances from local icons Armistead Maupin, Heklina, Peaches Christ, Donna Persona, Juanita More, The Kinsey Sicks, Peggy L'Eggs, Beatrice Thomas, Raya Light, and a few notable Frameline figures.

My take: For quite a few years, Frameline ran all of the previous years’ festival trailers before the opening night film, but eventually there were so many that it became impossible. Indeed, this compilation is curated, because the entire catalogue would take more than an hour. It still manages to hit the most memorable entries, mostly good but also a couple of the clunkers. It’s an important homage to the history of Frameline as we mark the 50th annual festival. Definitely a must see for LGBTQ+ film festival fans.

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🤩 Greetings from Washington, D.C., dir. Lucy Winer, 1981, USA, 28 min.

Greetings from
Washington, D.C.

Frameline blurb: On June 22, 1981, Frameline began its lengthy history with The Castro Theatre. As the Opening Night film at Frameline5, Greetings from Washington, D.C. made its world premiere as Frameline’s first ever Castro Theatre screening. A collaborative effort between some of queer cinema’s juggernauts — including future Oscar® winner Rob Epstein (The Times of Harvey Milk, Frameline9), Frances Reid (Long Night's Journey Into Day), Greta Schiller (Before Stonewall, Frameline9), Lucy Winer (Rate It X), Jan Oxenberg (Home Movie, Frameline20), and the legendary Barbara Hammer — Greetings from Washington, D.C. was a 30-minute documentary on the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1979.

My take: I was still in high school in 1979, not yet out even to myself, so obviously I didn’t go to the March on Washington, but I’m glad some people with cameras did go and record the experience so that we can get a feel for that groundbreaking event. It’s a vitally important part of our history, definitely a must see.

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🤩 Zeitgeist 1977: The First Festival, dir. Lauretta Molitor, 2016, USA, 7 min.

Zeitgeist

Frameline blurb: Participants in the very first “Gay Film Festival of Super-8 Films” (what ultimately became Frameline) — including filmmakers Marc Huestis, David Weissman, Dan Nicoletta, and Rob Epstein — share their recollections.

My take: What is now Frameline began as a few local filmmakers gathering in a makeshift space, literally projecting the films onto a bedsheet hung on the wall, sharing their little Super-8 films with no hope and barely even any dream of ever releasing something commercially. We’ve come a long way in 49⅓ years, so it’s important to stay in touch with our beginnings. Definitely a must see for all LGBTQ+ film festival fans.  

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• Note: Zeitgeist 1977 is also screening in the “Homegrown Shorts” program, playing both Saturday mornings at the Roxie •

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