On October 9, the day after International Lesbian Day, the award-winning Irish documentary, Lesbian Lines, will release in cinemas nationwide. Written and directed by Cara Holmes, the film shines a light on the overlooked history of the underground lesbian helplines during the late ’70s in Ireland.
Lesbian Lines had its world premiere at Sheffield Doc Fest and its Irish premiere at Docs Ireland in Belfast, winning the Pull Focus award for Best Irish Feature Documentary. Since then, the film also won the Audience Award and the Best Feature award at the GAZE International LGBTQIA+ Film Festival in Dublin.
Additionally, it has been nominated for The GALAS Arts and Entertainment award. In response to the nomination, Holmes said on social media, “We made Lesbian Lines so the women who created connection, community and change when it was needed most would not be forgotten. And that their courage could inspire the generations that come next”.
She continued, “These women answered calls from across the island of Ireland, offering support, friendship and a lifeline to lesbians at a time when being visible took enormous courage. Their story is part of our queer history. It’s part of Irish history, and it belongs to all of us.”
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Before the Lesbian Lines documentary releases across the country, it will have a screening at the PRIOSMA Queer Film Festival in Cork on September 11. This will be followed by a Q&A with Holmes and participants of the documentary and an afterparty at the Savoy from 10pm featuring FLIRT and the band I DREAMED I DREAM. Tickets can be booked via Eventbrite.
The documentary is distributed by Wildcard, produced by Evan Horan and executive produced by Keeper Pictures’ Yvonne Donohoe and Katie Hollie, RTÉ’s Gráinne McAleer and Sally Roden, and Screen Ireland’s Niamh Fagan. The film is also supported by Coimisiún na Meán, New Dawn, Screen Ireland and RTÉ.
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