Femme

With his performances as Aphrodite Banks, Jules has a place among London’s celebrated drag artists. One night after a show, he steps out to get some cigarettes and is brutally attacked by a guy out with a gang of blokes. Although Jules is able to recover physically, he withdraws from the outside world, traumatised. Months later, he recognises his attacker by chance in a gay sauna. Without make-up and wrapped only in a towel, Jules is able to approach the other man incognito and find out who he is. He begins an affair with the closeted homosexual Preston in order to take his revenge.
Directors Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping deploy a direct style and tightly woven scenes to depict a London of stark contrasts in terms of gender ideology. Carried by their cast’s physically and psychologically subtle performances, their revenge drama is gripping, but more importantly it is also the study of a milieu that avoids social determinism. A compelling psychological portrait of internalised homophobia and a powerful and brave pro-LGBTIQ+ kick against a society that, at its core, is totalitarian, anti-gay and anti-trans.
by Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping
with George MacKay, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett
United Kingdom 2023 English 99’ Colour

With

  • George MacKay (Preston)
  • Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Jules)

Crew

Directors Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping
Screenplay Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping
Cinematography James Rhodes
Editing Selina Macarthur
Music Adam Janota Bzowski
Sound Design Josh Campbell
Sound Ludovic Lasserre
Production Design Christopher Melgram
Costumes Buki Ebiesuwa
Make-Up Marie Deehan
Assistant Director Jeroen Bogaert
Casting Julie Harkin, Nathan Toth
Production Manager Esmé Hicks
Producers Sam Ritzenberg, Myles Payne
Executive Producers Marnie Podos, Eva Yates, Sebastien Raybaud, Kate Maxwell, David Staniland, Harriet Harper-Jones
Co-Producers Hayley Williams, Dimitris Birbilis

Sam H. Freeman

The director has worked extensively as a screenwriter for television. His first original series, Unmasked, was acquired by Disney. Femme is his debut feature film as a director.

Filmography

2021 Femme; short film, co-director: Ng Choon Ping 2023 Femme; co-director: Ng Choon Ping

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2023

Ng Choon Ping

The director has already won a number of prestigious awards for his theatre work which includes plays at the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Young Vic in the UK. He most recently directed a new adaptation of Strindberg’s “Miss Julie” at the Hong Kong Arts Festival and “Macbeth” at the Bristol Old Vic. Femme is his debut feature as a film director.

Filmography

2021 Femme; short film, co-director: Sam H. Freeman 2023 Femme; co-director: Sam H. Freeman

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2023