Scalarama 2026: Forbidden Letters (1979) film screening

While the director, Arthur J. Bressan Jr., was closely associated with the Gay Liberation Movement and the Freedom Day Marches he filmed in 1972, 1974 and 1977, in a 1981 interview he bemoaned his comrades’ resistance to less positive images of queer life:

“It’s not always neat, it’s not always terrific. Sometimes it’s very terrible, and not just from political oppression but also self-oppression”, he remarked.

Released in the wake of the first organised backlash against the movement, Forbidden Letters is about both of these kinds of oppression, but ultimately the film’s darkness is played off against something rarely seen in the cinema at that time: gay love 💕 (and of course, sex).

What does it mean to be free?
Does political liberation lead to personal happiness?
Can love overcome a lack of freedom?

Larry (Robert Adams) has a day to fill before his lover Richard (the famous Richard Locke) is released from prison. As their friend Iris (Victoria Young) reminds him, he’s in the “homo heaven” of San Francisco, yet he just can’t get out his head. With some extraordinarily bold location shooting, alongside the inclusion of documentary-like footage, Bressan shows us that city’s old school glamour and its natural beauty alongside its potential coldness. Possibly uniquely for an ‘adult’ movie, Bressan also supplements this by commissioning original songs by gay singer-songwriters explicitly about queer relationships.

Artist Florian Hynam (@florianoscarartist) will be hosting a stall and the bar will be open. There will be an introduction, as well a space for socialising afterwards so please do join me for a rare public screening of what I believe is one of the most honest, touching, beautiful and certainly most explicit queer films of the period!

This event is part of the Scalarama Leeds DIY film festival. To check our the rest of the programme, visit their website: SCALARAMA LEEDS 2026 // SCALARAMA LEEDS DIY FILM FESTIVAL

If you have any questions, please contact me via DM to @Donkeyskinpresents on instagram, or via the contact page on this site.

Content notes: please be aware this film does feature extended, explicit and unsimulated scenes of sex throughout. It centres around an age-gap relationship. There are also some surreal and disorientating prison sequences. This is an 18+ event.

Guest artist bio: Florian Hynam is an artist and archivist based in Leeds, his work looks at homoerotic history, the act of archiving vintage gay p*rnography and the historical insight this material provides. Working with digitised items within his archive and the processes of archiving these objects through collage, printmaking, textiles, video, metal work and performance.

Tickets: If you are able and willing to support the event by buying full-price tickets please do, but open concession tickets are also available. If you want to come but can't afford the concession rate contact me using the methods above.

Location: Nests is a queer-led DIY arts space in Mabgate, just off Leeds city centre prioritising creativity and community. It's at 2 Regent Street LS2 7QA, which is the site formerly occupied by CLAY.

Timings: doors, stalls and bar will open 20:30. Introduction will start around 20:50 or when people are settled. The film will begin 10 minutes later and be finished around 22:20-22:30. The space will then be open until 23:30 for dancing, board games, socialising etc.

Accessibility: There is one step at the entrance of the venue, a ramp is available upon request and there is an accessible portaloo toilet. There will be low-level ambient music before the film, and slightly louder music after it.