Finding Your Superpowers and Reclaiming Your Identity
Bakla is a short film written, directed, and starring Brandon English. Bakla had its premiere at the 2020 New Filmmakers…
Courtney Gardner
Courtney Gardner is a dedicated content writer, talented photographer, and passionate film enthusiast on a mission to transform the film industry. With a dream of becoming a director, Courtney uses their spare time to delve into film festivals, conducting interviews that highlight the extraordinary talent and diversity among filmmakers, actors, crews, and production companies. Driven by a vision of inclusivity and representation, Courtney strives to amplify underrepresented voices and ensure that diversity in film is not only celebrated but sustained. Their journey is fueled by a commitment to making a meaningful impact in the cinematic world.
One Last Joyride
Joyride is more than a short film; it is an experience. Director and writer Edwin Alexis Gomez created an incredibly…
Sustaining Joy and Creativity within a Pandemic
We find ourselves in a global pandemic, quarantined in our homes, and collectively isolated from our loved ones. Members of…
Sharpen Your Axe with Razor Tongue
The US is not shy to acknowledge its long binging habits, boasting some of the highest consumption rates of digital…
Sundance 2020: Reframing History with “Framing Agnes”
Courtney Gardner reveals how the documentary short Framing Agnes reframes LGBTQ history to contextualize trans existence and raise awareness about trans stories to make them relevant for future generations.
Slamdance 2020: The Messy Awkwardness of Adolescence in “Tahara”
Courtney Gardner provides inside insight into how Olivia Peace, Jess Zeidman, Rachel Sennott, and Madeline Grey DeFreece lent authenticity to their Jewish coming-of-age film Tahara, which played at Slamdance 2020.
Sundance 2020: A conversation about “Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen”
Courtney Gardner speaks with Sam Feder and Jen Richards about the important lessons on media literacy and representation in their groundbreaking documentary Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen, which premiered at Sundance 2020.
Keep it in the Light: “Always in Season”
Courtney Gardner reveals insights from her conversation with filmmaker Jacqueline Olive about her award-winning documentary Always in Season, which will air on PBS on February 24, 2020. During her conversation Courtney learned about who Jacqueline is and what drew her to the film’s story, about America’s persistent history of lynching, about how silence limits the ability for restoration in communities, and about the responsibility we all share to change the status quo.
Going for The Jugular: Actor/Writer/Director Camille Hollett-French
Ever doubt your sanity after selling your condo and moving halfway across the country? Meet Camille Hollett-French, writer, director, and actor of Her Story (In Three Parts): No. 3 In the Absence of Angels. Despite doubts and financial obstacles, her efforts were awarded when was selected to screen at the 2019 Slamdance Film Festival, the Park City film festival focused on emerging artists and low-budget independent films. In this piece, Courtney Gardner writes from a conversation with Hollett-French about the use of film to discuss sexuality and shame, and about what it means to go for the jugular.