lesbian custody (2025)

documentary short, trt: 18 mins

A video essay about the personal and political context of a landmark lesbian feminist documentary film from 1977 called "In the Best Interests of the Children" (dirs. Frances Reid, Elizabeth Stevens, Cathy Zheutlin, 1977) about lesbian mothers fighting to regain custody of their children in the 1970s. As a nearly forgotten period of LGBTQ+ history, this documentary short introduces us to now retired filmmaker Frances Reid (award winning cinematographer and director) and her “step-daughter” Julie Stevens while they look through the film’s archives, discuss the making of the film and their personal relationship. Ultimately the film brings awareness to this history—putting it in dialogue with the present political situation today.

co-directed by Samuael Topiary Landberg & M. Francis Skonieczny
cinematography by Clare Major