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First Months of Freedom film image, director Kriss Li

First Months of Freedom

Canadian Premiere

Cat, a transgender woman in Tennessee, has completed parole. Using phone videos, Skype calls, archival material, and footage shot by a friend, a portrait emerges of the challenges posed by her newfound freedom.

 

Supported by

Community Broadcast Partner

Community Partner

Director
Credits
Country of Origin

Canada

Year

2021

Language

English

Film Contact
Content Warning

Sexual language

G
10 min

Featured in:

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VIFF Short Forum: Program 2

Fear, doubt, and loneliness give way to pleasure, empowerment, and reclamation—or, is it the other way around?

 

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Credits

Screenwriter

Kriss Li, Rider Alsop

Cinematography

Catherine Lynn Quick, Midnight Forman

Editor

Kriss Li

Director

Kriss Li headshot, First Months of Freedom director

Kriss Li

Kriss Li s a multimedia artist who creates films, installations, and conceptual projects that explore structures of power. Their work has been shown in over 80 international festivals and exhibitions, including Oberhausen, MIX NYC, and National Contemporary Art Museum (Romania). Kriss currently lives on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations and works as a union organizer in their day job.