Amsterdam cinema LAB111 has announced a summer-long film program titled 'Camp, Cult & Queer,' set to run throughout July and August. The series focuses on films that have been influential within, or adopted by, the LGBTQ+ community over the decades.
The selection moves beyond movies with explicitly queer storylines. According to LAB111, the program also includes films that became queer "through devotion: through diva worship, subtext, style, excess, performance, community and the irresistible art of refusing to behave." This approach allows for a diverse lineup that explores the many ways cinema and queer spectatorship intersect.
Hollywood Divas and Dramatic Excess
A significant portion of the program is dedicated to the grand dames of the silver screen. Titles like Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s All About Eve (1950) and the legendary Bette Davis and Joan Crawford rivalry in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) are prime examples of the high-drama and larger-than-life performances that became cornerstones of camp appreciation. The dark comedy Death Becomes Her (1992) continues this tradition with Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn.
Cult Favourites and Transgression
The series also embraces the provocative and the controversial. John Waters’ infamous 'exercise in poor taste,' Pink Flamingos (1972), will be screened, alongside Paul Verhoeven’s critically maligned but now-reclaimed masterpiece Showgirls (1995). Also featured is William Friedkin's Cruising (1980), a film that was met with protests upon its release but offers a complex look at a specific moment in gay subculture.
Landmarks in Queer Representation
The program features two significant 30th-anniversary screenings. Mike Nichols’ The Birdcage (1996) brought a mainstream drag comedy to a wide audience, while Cheryl Dunye’s The Watermelon Woman (1996) was a foundational work of the New Queer Cinema and a vital piece of Black lesbian filmmaking. These are joined by modern and classic satires of identity, including Jamie Babbit's But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) and Emma Seligman's recent high-school comedy Bottoms (2023).
Full Film Selection
The full list of films announced for the 'Camp, Cult & Queer' series includes:
- All About Eve (1950)
- What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
- Pink Flamingos (1972)
- Cabaret (1972)
- Xanadu (1980)
- Cruising (1980)
- Death Becomes Her (1992)
- Showgirls (1995)
- The Birdcage (1996)
- The Watermelon Woman (1996)
- Bound (1996)
- But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)
- Bottoms (2023)
The 'Camp, Cult & Queer' season offers a comprehensive look at the films that have entertained, challenged, and reflected queer audiences for generations. For the complete schedule, screening times, and ticket information, please visit the official LAB111 website.
