Seaford writer and director Rose Collis is to present her documentary ONE FOR THE BOOKS: THE MAUPIN MARATHON at Hastings Rocks International Film Festival 2024 on Saturday, April 13.
In 1984, HM Customs raided the legendary Gay’s the Word bookshop and seized 2,000+ books. They included Tales of the City, Armistead Maupin’s trailblazing novels. The shop’s directors and managers were charged with importing ‘indecent or obscene material’ and faced up to two years in prison. £50,000 was needed to cover the legal costs to fight these charges, which were viewed as an attack on the whole gay community.
In April 1985, Peter Scott-Presland’s Consenting Adults In Public theatre group staged the Maupin Marathon fundraiser: a 28-hour non-stop rehearsed reading of the first four Tales of the City books, featuring many notable performers and activists, including Gay’s The Word co-manager, Linda Semple, Fi Craig and… Rose Collis.
After being turned down for funding by the BFI and Arts Council England (twice), 50 generous people contributed to a crowd-funder which raised almost £6,000 so this film could be made.
Completed in late May, it has already been an ‘Official Selection’ in ten global film festivals, a Semi-Finalist in three others and won seven awards, including the BRIFF ‘Best Documentary 2023’ and ‘Best UK Documentary’ in the London International Filmmakers’ Festival Winter 2023.
Written, filmed, edited, narrated, directed and produced by Rose Collis, creator of the multi-award winning film, The Boy and The Bear.
Screening of ONE FOR THE BOOKS: THE MAUPIN MARATHON + Q&A with its creator Rose Collis on Saturday, April 13, 4pm at HYPHA STUDIO, Priory Meadow, Hastings TN34 1PH.
Free, cash donations on the door. Book HERE
