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NorCal

Jen Rainin

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NorCal

she / they

Jen Rainin

White or Caucasian

Queer

Cis

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Affiliations

Film Independent Fellow

Impact Campaigns & Crowdfunding

AHEAD OF THE CURVE impact campaign. Visibility and representation are the most powerful tools we have to protect LGBTQ+ folk, and Franco Stevens knew this 30 years ago. Her work helped move the nation forward by creating space, visibility, and empathy for anyone who identified as lesbian. Together we can preserve Franco’s legacy by continuing the fight for intersectional visibility of LGBTQ+ women and nonbinary people in all walks of life. Here are ways you can take action: https://curvemagmovie.com/take-action/#main

Researching 30 years of Curve magazine for AHEAD OF THE CURVE, we feel in love all over again with Alison Bechdel's comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For. We were intrigued that this early contributor to Franco's magazine was the same person who created the Bechdel Test as a way to determine whether there were well-rounded female characters in movies and we were inspired to adapt her model to create The Curve Test for LGBTQ+ Women, Trans, & Nonbinary People in Films and Series. Films and series that pass the Curve Test help broaden and deepen representation beyond the styories that reduce our community to stereotypes. The test is intended as a tool for conversation, a barometer to help us see which films and series are pushing the movement forward and where we need to put more attention: https://www.curvemag.com/the-curve-test/

HOLDING MOSES is available on the New Yorker website and continues to screen with festivals and organizations around the world! You can host an in-person or virtual screening for your group too. Medical institutions, rare disease foundations, disability groups, LGBTQ+ centers, educators, corporations and community groups can screen the film and hold meaningful discussions around journeys of ableism, making caregiving visible and LGBTQ+ families. Get in touch to learn more: https://franklyspeakingfilms.com/holding-moses/

Bio

Jen Rainin founded Frankly Speaking Films with Rivkah Beth Medow to tell mesmerizing stories about strong queer women. Together, they created the feature documentary AHEAD OF THE CURVE (Netflix), the Oscar® shortlisted short documentary HOLDING MOSES (The New Yorker), Berlinale Grand Prix winner HUMMINGBIRDS (2023, POV), QUEER FUTURES (2024, The Criterion Collection), and OUTCRY: Alchemists of Rage (2024, festivals). Jen is a Film Independent fellow whose other credits include HOMEROOM (EP: Hulu), TWO SPIRITS (EP: Independent Lens), SHIT & CHAMPAGNE (EP: Hulu). With her wife, Jen co-founded The Curve Foundation to champion LGBTQ+ women’s stories and culture through intergenerational programming and community building.

Projects

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