Wolfe Video has announced today the release date for the documentary feature Ahead of the Curve, directed by Jen Rainin and Rivkah Beth Medow. Featuring interviews with Melissa Etheridge (Academy Award Winner, Best Original Song An Inconvenient Truth), Lea DeLaria (Orange Is The New Black), Jewelle Gomez (The Gilda Stories) and Franco Stevens, the documentary is set for a Home Video release on digital platforms and DVD on June 1, 2021.
This essential LGBTQ+ documentary tracing the story of Curve magazine and lesbian representation in media had its World Premiere at the 2020 Frameline Pride Showcase, followed by virtual festival screenings including Outfest and Newfest. The documentary received numerous awards, including the Jury Grand Prix award at Montreal’s Image+Nation film festival and the Audience Award at aGLIFF. The documentary is produced by Rainin and Medow on behalf of Frankly Speaking Films and executive produced by Lindsey Dryden (Unrest). Critics have praised Ahead of the Curve as “accomplished, insightful and deeply moving,” (The Hollywood Reporter) and “a celebration; made being a lesbian feel like something to revel in,” (Forbes).
With a fist full of credit cards, a lucky run at the horse track, and chutzpah for days, Franco Stevens launched Curve, the best-selling lesbian magazine ever published. Ahead of the Curve tracks the power of lesbian visibility and community from the early ‘90s to the present day through the story of Franco’s founding of Curve magazine. Decades later, in the wake of a disabling injury, Franco learns that Curve will fold within the year and questions the relevance of the magazine in the face of accelerating threats to LGBTQ+ community. To forge a path forward, Franco reaches out to women working in today’s queer spaces to understand what queer women need today and how Curve can continue to serve the community.
“Ahead of the Curve tells the behind-the-scenes and out in the community story of Franco creating and growing Curve magazine. Much more than a groundbreaking publication, Curve became a lifeline for the lesbian community in the 1990s. The film draws a through line to the queer BIPOC leaders doing this work today. However, like many inspirational LGBTQ+ icons and pioneers, especially women, trans and non-binary people, Franco’s story remains largely unknown. Releasing for Pride month will bring her story to a national viewing audience, increasing awareness of Franco’s legacy and encouraging conversations about the value of preserving and uplifting LGBTQ+ histories today,” says Director Jen Rainin.
“One of the reasons that Franco started the magazine was to say ‘our community is not a monolith, we are every color, we are every shape, we are every race, we are every size, we are every age, we are every ability – and we’re all strong and beautiful!’ With this release we’ll be able to reach a much wider audience and have those intergenerational conversations that are critical to creating a safer, more inclusive world,” says Co-Director Rivkah Beth Medow.
“Wolfe is honored to represent the innovation of Franco Stevens and her ‘glossy lesbian revolution,’” said Kathy Wolfe, Founder and C.E.O. of Wolfe Video.
Ahead of the Curve will be available to rent and purchase digitally on Apple TV, Google Play, FandangoNOW, VUDU and WolfeOnDemand.com. Bonus features exclusive to the DVD include extended interviews with Franco Stevens, Melissa Etheridge, Lea DeLaria and Jewelle Gomez.