But I'm A Cheerleader (35mm, OmU)

In the organizer's words:

Director: Jamie Babbit | USA 1999 | 85 min | 35mm | original version with German subtitles | with Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, Cathy Moriarty

"I imagine it gets uncomfortable, sitting that long with a stick up your ass." Megan Bloomfield is living the American high school dream: she's a cheerleader, popular, dates the football star and goes to church on Sundays... The only thing that doesn't fit into the picture is that she is a vegetarian, listens to Melissa Etheridge and, when making out with her boyfriend, her thoughts suspiciously often wander to her cheerleading colleagues. It's clear to her parents and friends. Megan must be a lesbian. So she is sent to the "True Directions" rehabilitation camp. An institution for sexual reorientation that is exaggerated in its absurdity. Between dress code, group therapy and forced standardization, we accompany Megan on her journey full of new friendships, first love and a journey to herself. Although "But I'm a Cheerleader" was met with both poor reviews and limited airplay, the film, created by a queer female director, is considered an iconic work of queer female representation and has a loyal fan base to this day.

Loan of the film print with the kind support of the Filmarchiv Austria.

Supporting film: Märtini Brös - Dance Like it is O.K. Director: Anna Karina Birkenstock | Germany 2002 | 4 min | SD Video | German original version

Here is a very successful music video from HfG Geschichte. Rotation on VIVA, MTV, etc. According to the HfG professors, the industry is being fought with its own means. Consumer criticism as a Trojan horse with a six-pack - but it works surprisingly well... How do you make someone realize that what they're watching is bullshit? According to our professors, we are witnessing a social critique in which the industry is beaten with its own weapons. Or was this a successful production because it shows what we all want to see when we watch MTV? Eerily contrasting claims - as always, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

Film print from the collection of the Kino im Blauen Salon (HfG KA)

Click here for the screening:
https://kinoimblauensalon.de/de/events/but-im-a-cheerleader-2026-07-10

Price information:

Free admission | Donation requested