MAKING SPACE FOR GIRLHOOD: Social Realism, Identity, and Resistance to Commodification in Feminist Praxis
A lecture by Sharri Hefner (Film Studies) as part of the School of Creative Arts Research Forum.
Utilizing queer, feminist, and affect theories, this talk will explore how filmmakers navigate gendered perspectives, sexual desire, and otherness within the constraints of a male-dominated film industry. Focusing on the portrayal of sex workers, it examines the representation of trans femininity in two contemporary films: Tangerine by Sean Baker (2015) and Kokomo City by D. Smith (2024). By comparing these films, the discussion interrogates how inherent biases of filmmakers influence the depiction of transgender characters and themes. The analysis contrasts the visual language and narrative strategies used by both directors, highlighting their differing approaches. The inquiry delves into how these films portray trans bodies and identities and aims to understand whether these works contribute to the pathologization of trans identities or offer more nuanced representations.
About the speaker:
Sharri Hefner is an independent filmmaker and academic. Sharri produced JT Walker’s LA GLORIA starring David Morse (Friday Night Lights) and Bill Heck (Locke and Key) for Santa Rita Film Co. (12 Mighty Orphans), which will be released to theatres and streaming in 2026. Additionally, Sharri is wrapping up post-production on a feature length documentary she directed and produced titled CHONSIE’s CRITICAL RACE, which follows an applicant for Los Angeles, California’s Cannabis Social Equity Program. CHONSIE will be released to streaming in 2026. Before that, Sharri produced Eli Daughdrill’s FAITH starring Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker), Iddo Goldberg (Peaky Blinders, Snowpiercer) and Nora-Jane Noone (Brooklyn) for Grey Shack Films. Sharri is a Sundance and Women in Film Finance Lab alum with Marquette Jones’ AFTER THE JUMP. In the past, Sharri has produced several award-winning shorts, including House of Cards and Mrs. America writer Sharon Hoffman’s ALMOST, Elias Daughdrill’s PROFESSOR, among others. Sharri has also Production Managed TRANSPLANT for Nina Yang-Bonjiovi and Forest Whittaker’s SIGNIFICANT PRODUCTIONS as well as music videos for P!NK and Katy Perry. As a performer, Sharri was a member of Actor’s Alley theatre where she starred in many productions, including in the world premieres of Peter Lefcourt’s SWEET TALK and LA RONDE DU LUNCH. Additionally, she starred in LATC Founder Bill Bushnell’s version OF MICE AND MEN and toured with the summer Shakespeare troupe. As a writer, Sharri wrote ‘Spice’ for Gene Rhee’s THE TROUBLE WITH ROMANCE which stars David Eigenberg (Sex and the City) and Jordan Belfi (Entourage) and was distributed by Warner Bros. Sharri holds an MFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts where she focused on film production and graduated summa cum laude from California State, Long Beach. Sharri is a member of Phi Betta Kappa. She currently holds the position of Assistant Professor at California State, Long Beach.
Please indicate if you have any access requirements, such as ISL/English interpreting, so that we can facilitate you in attending this event. Contact: Nicole.Grimes@tcd.ie