Last weekend, I attended JAYU’s first screening of the 2019 edition of the Human Rights Screening Series of T Cooper’s Man Made. It was such a great film. The film follows the journey of transgendered men as they prepare to compete in TransFitCon. It was such a touching and eye-opening experience – the film really captured the emotions of the individuals in the film.

Here is a synopsis of the film:

MAN MADE follows the extraordinary lives of four transgender men as they prepare to compete at TransFitCon, the only all trans-bodybuilding competition in the world—held in Atlanta, GA.

What precedes this triumphant moment are a set of personal and diverse journeys taken on the path to self-identity and empowerment. Told through the intimate and authentic lens of trans filmmaker T Cooper, MAN MADE intertwines the nuances of manhood, the drive for social justice, and the competitive desire to forge our own paths and be our personal best.

For the men of MAN MADE, it’s not about winning—it’s about being seen. MAN MADE takes us into the heart of transgender male (FTM) culture, revealing unexpected truths about gender, humanity and love.

The screening also included Lisa Rideout’s short film ONE LEG IN, ONE LEG OUT. This short film was also really great. The film is an honest portrayal of a transgender a woman who is forced to become sex worker and grapples with making a career change to become a social worker.

Synopsis: After a decade as a sex worker, Iman attempts to pursue her dream of becoming a social worker to help her transgender community members. As she explores the option of going back to college, One Leg In, One Leg Out questions whether tenacity, ambition and a life long dream are enough to overcome a challenging personal situation.

After the screenings, there was a brief presentation and talk with the film’s producers/directors! It was really nice to hear their thought-process when making the films and what they envisioned as the final product.

If you’ve never been to any of JAYU’s screenings and film festivals, I highly recommend it! The films they screen are often very thought-provoking and eye-opening! To learn more about JAYU, check out their website. Will you be attending their events in the future? Let me know! Hope to see you there!

Until next time,

– M