The Empress of Vancouver
Synopsis
The Empress of Vancouver is a cinematic and intimate collision of drag, queer history, and performance art, a musical and genre-bending irreverent documentary that follows trans icon Oliv Howe as she prepares for the 40th anniversary of her coronation.
Feature film, 2022.
Cast
Oliv Howe
Maiden China / Kendell Yan
Chanel Thomas Oliver
Oraf Orafsson
Davey Dave Decarlo
Veronica Lynn Turner
Billy Gene
Mike Harcourt
David Myers
Key Creatives
director Dave Rodden-Shortt
producers Jessica Hallenbeck
cinematography Dave Rodden-Shortt
editors Dave Rodden-Shortt, Hân Phạm
sound design Oscar Vargas
composer Cindy Lee/ Patrick Flegel
Supporters
TELUS Originals
Creative BC
Vancouver Foundation - Gender Equality Grant
Broadcaster
TELUS Originals
Distribution & Sales
Festivals & Awards
2022
Inside Out Film Festival
Vancouver Queer Film Festival
Lunenburg Doc Fest
CUFF.Docs Documentary Film Festival
2023
Victoria Film Festival
Available Light Film Festival
BFI Flare
North West Fest and Rainbow Vision
Tampa Bay Transgender Film Festival
Virginia Queer Film Festival
White Rock Social Justice Film Society
Sid Williams Theatre Society - Comox
Prism 36 - AGILFF’s LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Reel Pride Film Festival 2023
press
Screen Daily BFI Flare; full festival line-up unveiled
Calgary Herald CUFF Docs: Empress of Vancouver explores history of the city's gay scene
Stir Vancouver The Empress of Vancouver pays tribute to a drag icon and this city’s fight for queer rights
Vancouver Sun Vancouver Queer Film Festival aims to “Empress”
Vancouver Sun Dave Rodden-Shortt’s feature documentary The Empress of Vancouver is the star of the VQFF's opening gala
CBC Cutaways Oliv Howe is a Vancouver trans icon — here's how we told her genre bending story
Rolling Rolling Interview with Dave Rodden-Shortt about The Empress of Vancouver.
Vancouver Foundation Lantern Films wants trans and gender-diverse representation behind the scenes of upcoming film