Queer Edward II wins Queer Lion at Venice Film Festival

The documentary ‘Queer Edward II’ by Theo Rollason was awarded a Queer Lion at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The film, which chronicles the making of Derek Jarman’s 1991 adaptation of Christopher Marlowe’s play, was constructed from over 30 hours of long-forgotten Betamax footage discovered after decades in storage.

The documentary provides a behind-the-scenes look at Jarman’s production during the conservative Thatcher era in Britain. It features footage of the production at Bray Studios, including appearances by Tilda Swinton and insights into Jarman’s life and artistry. The footage was captured by cinematographer Seamus McGarvey.