Barbara Forever

From Queertactics

What would queer-feminist cinema be without Barbara Hammer? In the late 1960s, the pioneer of lesbian experimental film first fell in love with the camera, then with women. From then on, she filmed herself, her family, friends and partners in ways never seen before: while travelling, at home, during sex, and throughout the course of her illness. Yet Hammer was never interested in mere documentation. She wanted to create images cinema had scarcely known until then: female bodies, women joyfully embracing their sexuality, all seen through a lesbian gaze.

Through Hammer’s films, previously unreleased archival material and audio recordings, Byrdie O’Connor lets the charismatic and witty filmmaker tell her own story. The documentary centres on classics such as DYKETACTICS (1974), which inspired QUEERTACTICS’ name, and NITRATE KISSES (1992). Hammer’s long-term partner, Florrie Burke, plays a pivotal role as the tireless and passionate guardian of her extensive archive. O’Connor’s Teddy Award-winning documentary immediately sparks the desire to discover—or revisit—Hammer’s radical and sensual films.

That’s one of the many very beautiful reasons why we’re presenting a 16mm program featuring a selection of Hammer’s works from the 1970s and 1980s at our film matinee on Sunday, November 15, 2026.