Stories about and told by queer women are the focus of Queer Coalition’s (QC) film series at the Normal Theater, February 18, through March 19.

In Her Image: A Film Series Celebrating Queer Women and The Stories They Tell will feature four independent films directed by and starring queer women, with each screening featuring a scholarly introduction from Illinois State University faculty. The event, organized by Illinois State University’s LGBTQIA+ affinity group for faculty, staff, and graduate students, is free and open to the public.  

The series will feature three fictional films and a documentary examining the history of queer cinema, including Dykes, Camera, Action!, The Watermelon Woman, Lingua Franca, and Lyle. Each screening will be introduced by a short scholarly discussion led by Drs. Liv Stone, Caitlin Mercier, Li Zeng, or Eric Wesselman. 

Although the pool of queer women filmmakers is small, Brie Byers, QC co-president, was determined to center the film series around queer actors, queer storylines, and queer storytellers.  

“There’s a lot that goes into queerness,” said QC co-president Karmine Beecroft. “We didn’t want to just focus on people with the most power in the industry. We really need to include visions of people of color.”  

Byers found a sense of belonging with QC once she joined the executive board in summer 2024. Encouraged by QC’s secretary Lawrence Lair to pursue her passions, Byers combined her love of cinema with the idea of a film series. The concept took shape after she watched I Saw the TV Glow, a film that deeply resonated with her. 

“It showed me a bizzaro world of what it might look like if I never accepted my transness,” she said. “I didn’t even realize I could be transgender until I was 24—it just wasn’t a possibility in my mind. There were a lot of roadblocks in my journey of self-discovery that, if removed, might have helped me realize everything much sooner. This film made me appreciate that, even as a late bloomer, I still figured it out.”  

Beecroft reflected on the lack of representation they saw growing up, noting that while it was affirming to begin seeing relationships and lifestyles like theirs in media years ago, trans and non-binary voices are still absent from most mainstream portrayals.  

“When you have a filmmaker who is queer, that influences all the decisions they are making, from the staging, the cinematography, and the editing. All of that is through a queer sensibility—it’s something you can’t articulate, but you can feel it,” they said.  

QC received sponsorships from Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, the School of Theatre, Dance, and Film, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and the Department of Psychology, which helped cover a portion of the cost.  

“Without this support, we wouldn’t be able to showcase as many films. All of the films are worth sharing with others for the experience,” said Byers.  

She also emphasized the importance of portraying diverse experiences within queer representation in media.  

“I think it’s good to have this event, and these selections of films cover a wide range of experiences and an array of queer women––the first Black lesbian filmmaker and a Filipina trans woman––it’s good to see representation and see yourself in things you consume and see different viewpoints,” said Byers.  

Beecroft hopes the audience will gain empathy and a deeper understanding by putting themselves in someone else’s shoes. While many in the audience may not have had these specific experiences, living alongside the characters for an hour and a half will offer insight into the everyday realities of others.  

“I hope our audience is able to take away a sense of belonging and know they’re not alone in their struggles and be able to find some comfort and community in the films we’re presenting,” said Byers.  

Dykes, Camera, Action! (2018)  

Directed, produced, and edited by Caroline Berler, this is a documentary that explores the history and impact of queer women in cinema, showcasing how lesbian filmmakers have challenged stereotypes and shaped representation through underground and mainstream films, featuring interviews from directors and critics.  

The Watermelon Woman (1996) 

The story follows a young, Black, lesbian filmmaker, Cheryl Dunye, as she researches a forgotten 1930s Black actress, uncovering hidden histories while exploring her own identity and relationships. Dunye uses a blend of fiction and documentary-style storytelling to challenge the erasure of Black queer women in film.  

Lingua Franca (2019)  

Filipina filmmaker Isabel Sandoval is the writer, director, and star of this film about an undocumented Filipina trans woman who works as a caregiver in New York, navigating the threat of deportation while seeking security through a green card marriage. The film touches on identity, immigration, and belonging.  

Lyle (2014)  

The story follows a pregnant woman grieving her child’s death as she suspects sinister forces at play, offering a queer reimaging of Rosemary’s Baby that explores maternal fear, paranoia, and lesbian identity in psychological horror.