Aaron Mikail / SMDP Intern
Get ready to travel back in time. “Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers” (1972), a film starring trans actress Holly Woodlawn, will make its Academy Film Archive preservation world premiere at the sixth annual Les Femmes Underground International Film Festival (LEFUFF) in Santa Monica this weekend.
The film screening is set for Aug. 13 at the American Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre on Montana Avenue, featuring multiple special guest appearances including the executive producer, Henry “Hank” Alpert.
In addition to the feature film, a multitude of short films will also be showcased during the festival on Saturday afternoon. Documentary, animation, horror, and noir-themed shorts will feature feminist filmmakers and subversive female leads.
“We believe it is our responsibility to empower new generations of young women to generate work which breaks away from society’s gendered roles,” according to the festival’s website.
Edda Manriquez, the founder of LEFUFF recently described her inspiration for beginning the organization.
“I realized that there weren’t too many experimental and underground film festivals geared towards showcasing exclusively feminist work … Since [our first festival], LEFUFF has traveled all throughout the Southwest, including San Diego and Arizona,” Manriquez said.
With regards to the film festival this upcoming weekend, Manriquez explained why the organization chose Santa Monica.
“The Aero is such a historic location. The space is beautiful. It was nice to have an event at a place where you feel the same energy and passion for cinema,” Manriquez said, later adding, “It felt like coming home to a place where our hearts have always been.”
In the film, Woodlawn plays Eve Harrington, a small-town girl who moves to New York in pursuit of becoming a star. Widely considered one of the most important trans actresses during the 1970s, Woodlawn is best known for her role as the muse to Lou Reed’s 1972 rock song, “Walk on the Wild Side.” She was discovered by Andy Warhol and previously starred in other hit films such as “Trash” (1970) and “Women in Revolt” (1971). Woodlawn died in 2015 at the age of 69.
LEFUFF is a women’s charity and educational-based nonprofit organization that showcases feminine art and films. With more than 30 different countries represented across a variety of genres, the organization seeks to re-establish the female presence in mainstream cinema. Priding itself on assisting at-need communities through art and education, the organization provides financial support to women artists attempting to acquire film distribution and career enhancement.
The film festival begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday with the first 50 guests receiving limited edition Madonna-themed gifts courtesy of LUSH. Find more information at www.lesfemmesinternational.org.
