A representative from the Tribeca Film Festival has issued this statement in response to GLAAD's campaign to have the "transploitation" film Ticked-Off Trannies with Knives barred from screening:
"The filmmakers provided a copy of this film to GLAAD in February, and for weeks the organization had been supportive to the filmmakers. In fact, GLAAD representatives advised the film's producer, director and cast on how to describe the film to its core constituency."
"Tribeca is proud of its ongoing commitment to bring diverse voices and stories to its audiences, and looks forward to the film's premiere at our Festival next month."
Meanwhile, a GLAAD rep wrote to Movieline to object to our use of the word "censorship," which they called "strong editorial. GLAAD is calling for the film to be removed from the Tribeca Film Festival and finds it troubling that the respected Tribeca Film Festival would give a film that sensationalizes anti-transgender violence and misrepresents the lives of transgender women...GLAAD's campaign ensures that the Tribeca Film Festival knows many members of the LGBT community aren't pleased with their decision to show the film -- and those of us who are offended by this film will hold the festival accountable for showing this problematic film."
Tribeca's statement corroborates what a star of the film already commented on Movieline, which is that GLAAD had been well aware of the film for close to a year -- and had even worked with the filmmakers -- but for some reason chose to use the misleading language "was recently alerted" in their press release.
Previously: GLAAD Mounts Censorship Campaign Over Tribeca Fest Transploitation Flick [Movieline]