Queer Edward II, directed by Theo Rollason, has won the Queer Lion at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, sharing the award with London, directed by Victor Di Marco and Márcio Picoli. The award recognises the Best Queer Feature Film presented at the festival.
Queer Edward II is a behind-the-scenes account of the making of Derek Jarman’s Edward II (1991), built from previously unseen footage shot during that production.
Jarman’s film, an adaptation of Christopher Marlowe’s play, premiered in competition at Venice in 1991 and won Tilda Swinton the Best Actress award. This documentary returns to that footage 35 years on, set against the backdrop of Section 28 and the wider attack on queer life in Britain at the time.
The film premiered in the Venice Open section of this year’s festival and will screen next at the BFI London Film Festival.
Queer Edward II is a Lightborn Films production, in association with March 13th and John Gore Studios.
Photo © Seamus McGarvey / Lightborn Films