Sistagirl

DOCUMENTARY

Acclaimed photographer Bindi Cole’s artistic document of Tiwi Island’s transgender Sistagirls.

After meeting the loud and proud drag performer ‘Foxxy Empire’, alter ego of Tiwi Islander Jason De Santis, Bindi accepts Foxxy’s invitation to document his remote and private transgender community in the Tiwi Islands, 90 kms north of Darwin.

Arriving on the beautiful island shores, Bindi announces her artistic intention to create 12 photographic portraits of the fascinating Sistagirls.

Through Bindi’s eyes a complex, layered and contradictory world begins to unfold. It becomes apparent that, despite the cultural place the Sistagirls once had within the Tiwi Islands community, white invasion has changed current community perceptions. Elements of judgement and shame begin to filter through the girls individual stories as a lingering grief is unearthed for several Sistagirls who committed suicide years before.

The photographic shoots roll on, laden with ups and downs and contradictory tales of acceptance or lack of, diva dramas and laughter - but all bound together by the growing inner strength of this culturally rich, transgender family.

Screening Melbourne Museum 2010
Official Selection Melbourne Queer Film Festival 2011

Director          Andy Canny, Donna McCrum
Country           Australia
Year                 2010
Duration         60mins