Frameline Film Festival Collection
Finding aid created by James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center staff using RecordEXPRESS
San Francisco Public Library. James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center
2021
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, California 94102
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
http://sfpl.org/sfhistory
Title: Frameline Film Festival Collection
Dates: 1919-2006 (bulk 1985-2005)
Collection Number: GLC 112
Creator/Collector:
Frameline (Firm).
Extent: approximately 3,940 films (in 94 cartons)
Online items available
Repository:
San Francisco Public Library. James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center
San Francisco, California 94102
Abstract: Frameline is a San Francisco Bay Area cultural organization founded in 1977. It hosts an annual LGBT film festival which is
the longest-running, largest and most widely recognized LGBT film exhibition event in the world. Since 1977 Frameline has
acquired thousands of videotapes from filmmakers reflecting the history and diversity of the international LGBT community.
PDF and Excel lists of the films are available at: www.sfpl.org/frameline.
Language of Material: English
The collection is non-circulating and is stored offsite. 48 hours advance notice is required to access materials. The collection
is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. The viewing room has playback equipment for VHS and DVD formats.
Special arrangements will need to be made for 3/4-inch videotapes. For more information, please contact Hormel LGBTQIA Center
archivist.
Copyright for all films is retained by individual filmmakers. Frameline holds no legal rights to the materials except for
use as a non-circulating collection used for research.
Frameline Film Festival Collection. San Francisco Public Library. James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center
Donated by Frameline, 2007.
Biography/Administrative History
Frameline is a San Francisco Bay Area cultural organization founded in 1977. It hosts the annual San Francisco International
LGBTQ film festival which is the longest-running, largest and most widely recognized LGBTQ film exhibition event in the world.
Since 1977 Frameline has acquired thousands of videotapes from filmmakers reflecting the history and diversity of the international
LGBT community.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection of nearly 5,000 videos includes not only the movies shown in past festivals, but films submitted to the Frameline
Festival which were never screened. The films are in various formats (VHS videotapes, DVDs, and 3/4-inch videotapes) and various
lengths. The subjects are also varied and include all aspects of LGBTQIA life.
Some of the notable titles in the collection are: the censored 1986 BBC TV production "Two of Us;" the 1988 Thai gay feature,
"I Am a Man" (described as the Thai remake of "The Boys in the Band"); and the obscure 1980 Japanese lesbian feature, "Afternoon
Breezes." The collection includes hundreds of shorts, documentaries and features that explore the impact of HIV/AIDS on the
gay community. The scope of titles is expansive and includes the first ever American feature film about AIDS, Arthur Bressan's
"Buddies." Rare examples of documentary and educational work from the mid-1980s include the 1985 Minnesota AIDS Project production,
"On The Safe Side" and the celebratory 1986 portrait of PWA David Summers, "Hero of My Own Life." The collection is arranged
according to format. PDF and Excel lists of the films are available at: www.sfpl.org/frameline.
Gay and lesbian film festivals--California--San Francisco.
Gay men in motion pictures.
Film festivals--California--San Francisco.
Homosexuality in motion pictures.
Lesbianism in motion pictures.
San Francisco International Gay Film Festival.
San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival.
Frameline (Firm).