In the words of horror legend David Cronenberg, “[trans people] are saying, ‘Body is reality. I want to change my reality.’ […] I say, go ahead. This is an artist giving their all to their art.” The artists in question have much to give. The trans horror subgenre has exploded in recent years – equal parts a grimy riposte to respectability politics, and an expression of anguish at a hostile world.

Across all shades of horror—folk, body, comedy, erotic, cosmic, and more—these short films are bursting with the fears and morbid fantasies of trans filmmakers. It’s going to get scary, but only as scary as real life.

smalltranslibrary.org

No Thoughts/No Words / Carter Amelia Davis / 2022 / US / 2m

Black Pill / Jessi Gaston / 2019 / US / 11m

A.I. Mama / Asuka Lin / 2020 / US / 5m

Rose Tinted / Jay Casillas / 2022 / US / 12m

So Extremely Itchy / Carter Amelia Davis / 2020 / US / 1m

Papergirl / Jack Warren / 2023 / US / 7m

Wanna Go Camping? / Zach Siegel / 2021 / US / 10m

Transubstantiation, Shabbat / Elio Baseman / 2022 / US / 3m

MonsterDykë / Kaye Adelaide / 2021 / Canada / 4m

The Goophus / Carter Amelia Davis / 2021 / US / 1m

Mesmeralda / Joshua Matteo / 2019 / US / 19m

Ambition / Louise Weard / 2020 / US / 6m

See the programme’s film descriptions here.

Notes by James Hudson