Backed by the BFI Screen Heritage Fund, the collection explores gender, race, community and more, from 1915 to 2005. The updated Cinenova website features newly commissioned texts connecting these historic works to the present-day.
Starting With a Gesture Made Towards One Another is a public presentation of the Cinenova collection, shared here for the first time through a newly commissioned online catalogue — designed by Brussels-based studio those.tools. Launched with commissioned texts, archival scans and access to over 300 films, opening this vital feminist film collection to wider public encounter.
Founded in 1991 following the merger of two feminist film and video distributors, Circles and Cinema of Women, each established in 1979, Cinenova has spent over three decades preserving and championing radical moving image practice. Its catalogue of over 300 titles spans experimental film, narrative feature films, documentary and educational videos, made between 1915 and 2005, and engages critically with gender, race, sexuality, health, work and community. These range from experimental shorts to documentaries and feature-length stories.
Cinenova is making their important work easier to access with the support of the BFI Screen Heritage Fund, awarding funds from the National Lottery. After over 30 years of championing feminist films, the distributor reflects upon its continued significance through commissioning four new texts by Remi Graves, Khairani Barokka, Samira Makki and Isabel Segui. The written responses connect these historic films to present-day conversations.
With the potential to speak to personal memories and experiences, the films reflect and respond to real-world topics. Everyone is invited to pop in for a cuppa and share ideas and stories, or delve into the Library’s themes through events and workshops.
Image credit: Kore (1994) dir. Tran T Kim Trang
