OBSERVER: Sperm Donors Wanted
Tilde, the trans-led international film festival celebrates turning 11 with this year’s festival of trans-authored cinema being presented from October 31-November 2
This year’s theme ‘Bites Back’ centres trans and gender-expansive authored filmmaking—amplifying voices that confront, resist, and reimagine the narratives imposed on us.
In a time of heightened visibility and backlash, Bites Back is a celebration of creative defiance, self-determination, and the power of storytelling to challenge dominant norms and reclaim space on their own terms.
Filmmaker Lilly Wachowski will be the Festival’s Aunty (Patron).
As a writer, director, mentor, and Executive Director, Lilly is spearheading a wave of trans-authored storytelling.
She has reshaped pop culture through films that reflect trans experiences and use world-building to spark public dialogue.
With a connection to Australia through The Matrix, Tilde is thrilled to honour her and celebrate her lasting impact on film, culture, and the broader community.
The festival will host six sessions across three days to celebrate the work of established and emerging trans and gender diverse (TGD) artists.
Tilde is proud to highlight the community that has emerged for audiences and TGD artists alike.
Opening night will feature a collaboration with Sapphic Flicks at Footscray Community Arts Centre. From conversation to connection, Tilde invites artists, filmmakers, creatives, and First Nations voices of Tilde to be the conversation. To take space from within.
Saturday will feature the second edition of Our Future. Featuring trans-authored shorts from close to home and across the ditch. The 2025 selection continues to expand trans narratives.
Young filmmakers will take their audience on journeys through the stories they want to tell, with no prescriptions and no ticked boxes. The visionary cohort includes the world premiere of Linus Tolliday’s Journey’s End, a new short by Luka Gracie, Mish Keating and more.
On Saturday evening Gay24 Film Club and Tilde will present the Australian debut of Antonio D’Agostino’s 1980 trans softcore triumph Eva-Man: The Love Machine.
A journey of the perils of technology as they fight off a gang of spiteful heterosexual gangsters to live to love another day. Co-starring Eva Robbins and Ajita Wilson.
Finally, Sunday’s closing night will change location in collaboration with Snuff Puppets and Tilde will take over the Footscray Drill Hall.
The intention is to create their very own cinema hideaway. The session will feature a screening of We Are Pat by filmmaker Ro Haber, which revisits the ’90s film It’s Pat through a 2025 lens — exploring trans visibility and Haber’s own conflicted memories of the controversial SNL character.
Festival Dates: October 31 – November 2
For the full program, visit www.tilde
melbourne.com/program/
Cheryl Threadgold
Pictured: Sperm Donors Wanted! directed by Logan Rea.