My Mums Used to be Men has won Best Documentary at the Barcelona International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (Audience Awards).
Authored by twelve year old Louise Jarvis, My Mums Used to be Men follows life for the family that tabloids dubbed ‘Britain’s Weirdest Family.’ Louise’s Dad, Brian had a sex change to become Sarah. Brian’s partner, truck driver Lee, has also had a sex change and he’s now Louise’s other ‘mum’ Kate.
This extraordinary story is seen through the eyes of Louise as she tries to come to terms with the unwelcome, and hostile attention her family has attracted. She retraces the family’s recent history explaining how she coped with Sarah and Kate’s sex change operations during which her dad became her mum and her dad’s gay male partner became his lesbian lover. And she goes on a journey to try and work out exactly what makes a ‘normal’ family and whether it really matters.
The award follows the film’s selection to be screened at a number of international film festivals over the summer.
In June, the film was short listed in the best documentary category at the New York Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation awards. It was also been screened at the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film festival and the Torino GLTB film festival. The win in Barcelona sees the film’s world tour come to an end.
My Mums Used to be Men was produced and directed by Julie Beanland and executive produced by Jess Fowle.