Jules Rosskam

Jules Rosskam
Born 1979 (age 38–39)
Nationality American
Education Bennington College, School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Occupation Filmmaker, educator
Notable work transparent, against a trans narrative, Paternal Rites
Website julesrosskam.com

Jules Rosskam is an American filmmaker, artist, and educator. His films, which include transparent (2005), against a trans narrative (2008), Thick Relations (2012), and Paternal Rites (2018), have helped shape the discussion around transgender narratives in 21st century film. [1] Rosskam is also a noted fine artist, lecturer, and professor. He is currently assistant professor of visual arts at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. [2]

Biography

Jules Rosskam was born in Chicago in 1979 and raised in Philadelphia. In 2001, he received a BA in Visual Arts from Bennington College before moving to New York City where he went on to develop a successful production and editing career working for MTV, The History Channel, Curious pictures, and independent artists and arts organizations like Dyke TV. In 2005, Rosskam became Dyke TV’s Executive Producer, playing a key role in organizing the award-winning cable access show for the queer community. [2]

Rosskam premiered his first feature film, transparent, in 2005 to critical acclaim both domestically and internationally. The documentary explores the experiences of 19 transgender men across the US who have given birth. The film was acquired by Frameline Distribution in 2006, and since then has screened in over 50 film festivals and been broadcast on PBS.

In 2008, after relocating to Chicago to obtain an MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Rosskam released his critically acclaimed second feature film, against a trans narrative. The genre-defying experimental documentary weaves interviews with performance and narrative segments, challenging dominant narratives of a monolithic transgender experience.

In 2009, Rosskam released short film Queer Teen Romance, a queer reimagining of the heartfelt after school special in collaboration with artists Sam Feder and Madsen Minax. Rosskam’s third feature film, Thick Relations (2012), blends narrative and documentary film elements to explore the interrelatedness, intimacy, mourning, joy, and ambiguity in the uncategorizable lives of a queer chosen family.  

In 2018, Rosskam released his long-awaited personal essay film, Paternal Rites. A deftly crafted and deeply intimate study on trauma, memory, and family, Paternal Rites combines archival footage, present-day audio interviews, and animation.

Set to be released in 2018 is Rosskam’s short film Something to Cry About, a touching and humorous documentary centered on three trans-masculine individuals having a good cry. Also forthcoming from Rosskam is Dance, Dance, Evolution, a short documentary investigating transgender people’s shifting relationships to dance.

Filmography

  • transparent (2005)
  • against a trans narrative (2008)
  • Queer Teen Romance (2009)
  • Thick Relations (2012)
  • Something to Cry About (2018)
  • Paternal Rites (2018)
  • Dance, Dance, Evolution (2019)

References

  1. ↑ Rondot, Sarah Ray. "Radical Epistemologies in Twenty-First Century Trans* Life Narratives." PhD Dissertation. Order No. 3730783, University of Oregon, 2015. http://search.proquest.com/docview/1734456754
  2. 1 2 "About". Jules Rosskam. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
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