The Media Archive for Central England is the public screen archive for the East and West Midlands. An independent charity and company based at the University of Lincoln, MACE acquires, catalogues, preserves and makes widely available moving image materials that inform our understanding of the diverse cultures and histories of communities between the Lincolnshire coast and the Welsh border.
This film is part of Free
What Am I?
Transgender pioneer April Ashley appears in this moving look at the challenges faced by the trans community in 1980s Britain
From the collection of:
Overview
Years before the Gender Recognition Act of 2004 enabled transgender people to obtain some basic rights, the practical difficulties faced by those wishing to change the sex assigned to them at birth were explored in this film produced for the ATV current affairs series Format V. Touching and sometimes frank, the film looks at issues around acceptance but there are also moments of humour, such as Steve's bad luck when bumping into his mother on his first night out presenting as male.
April Ashley, who features in the film while living in Hay on Wye in Herefordshire, was at the centre of a newspaper storm in the early sixties when she married Arthur Corbett, 3rd Baron Rowallan. Their marriage was annulled in 1970 on the grounds that Ashley was born male, despite Corbett knowing this when they were wed. Another significant figure to appear in the film is Judy Cousins who was running a self-help organisation called SHAFT in 1980. She was a noted sculptor and served with the British Army in India.
Related
Watch for free
David Is Homosexual David Is Homosexual
Amateur film 1978 38 mins Location: Lewisham
A lonely gay man discovers friends, love and activism in this rediscovered educational film made by the Campaign for Homosexual Equality
Watch for free
A Couple of Beauties A Couple of Beauties
Comedy 1972 29 mins
Innuendo-laden crime caper, a star vehicle for Manchester-based drag queen Bunny Lewis
Watch for free
The Trial of Oscar Wilde The Trial of Oscar Wilde
Drama-documentary 1960 51 mins
Gripping TV recreation of Wilde's 1895 trial for gross indecency, starring Micheál MacLiammóir.
Watch for free
We Who Have Friends We Who Have Friends
Documentary 1969 49 mins Location: London
A fascinating and important film on attitudes towards homosexuality, and what it was like to be gay, shortly after it was partially legalised.
Watch for free
Aids: The Victims Aids: The Victims
Factual TV 1985 27 mins
Two AIDS sufferers recount their experiences battling the disease and society's misconceptions.
Watch for free
Miss Norah Blaney Miss Norah Blaney
Musical 1932 9 mins
A risqué music hall ditty uncovers the pioneering gender-bending ways of 1930s young things
Watch for free
The Wye Country 1952 The Wye Country 1952
Amateur film 1952 21 mins Silent Location: Llangurig
From source to estuary – the way of the Wye and the beautiful border country
Watch for free
Hay on Wye Declares Independence Hay on Wye Declares Independence
News 1977 3 mins Location: Hay-on-Wye/Y Gelli Gandryll
Hay on Wye declares independence and pledges a future of second-hand book browsing and sausage eating.
Watch for free
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Watch for free
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.