Barbara Hammer documentary wins Teddy Award at Berlinale

The documentary “Barbara Forever” has won the Teddy Award for best documentary at the Berlin International Film Festival. Directed by Brydie O’Connor, the film provides an intimate portrait of the late experimental filmmaker Barbara Hammer, a pioneer of queer cinema.

Hammer, who passed away in 2019, was a central figure in providing self-representation for lesbian visibility. Her work, including the influential 1974 film “Dyketactics,” explored female bodies and desire through an avant-garde lens. The documentary utilizes approximately 400 hours of archival material, including previously unreleased footage, to weave together her life and artistic output.

O’Connor, who discovered Hammer while studying queer cinema in Washington D.C., describes the film as a way to connect Hammer’s historical significance with personal stories from those who knew her. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release in selected cinemas on October 8, 2026.