Nightclubbing

PHOTOGRAPHY

May 9

This short documentary takes you on a nostalgic trip back to the pre-pandemic days of nightclubbing. Photographer and filmmaker Matt Ford captures club promotor Stella Marbles and discusses the essence and importance of Queer clubbing and safe spaces for our generation.

Short documentary 'Nightclubbing', directed and produced by Matt Ford

Everybody deserves to feel safe. Everybody deserves to feel part of something.

Matt Ford, a portrait photographer and film maker whose work over the past two years has centred around queer narrative believes this to be true. “Since I came out onto the gay scene in the late 90s, I’ve watched as open homophobia has decreased exponentially. I’ve seen more unity within different queer communities and I’ve also seen a growing acceptance of queer people in more typically ‘straight’ spaces.

“The social impact, and the power, that bigoted people once had has been taken back by the queer community. Which is exactly where it belongs.”

Matt Ford

Founder of Trans Pride and queer/trans strip club Harpies, Lucia Blayke, performing at Cookie Jar. Image by Corinne Cumming.

This film is a testament to the importance of these queer spaces. They are lifelines to young kids still in the closet and seasoned queers alike. They are a safe space, where anyone and everyone can express themselves without fear or threat and instead with joy, and happiness. With 60% of these spaces closing down since 2006 we must protect the ones that we still have.

Stella Marbles photographed by Matt Ford.

Stella Marbles, ‘London’s masked club kid’, is a drag artist and founder of legendary East London queer night Cookie Jar as well as being a producer of many other immersive events. Outside of their performances at Cookie Jar, Stella’s unique mask-based performance art has showcased around the world, from NYC’s Bushwig Festival to Tate Britain, and regularly takes the stage in London’s renowned clubs and cabaret spaces.

With the closure of clubs over lockdown it’s been a tough time for them and the queer minorities and misfits that find their night a much needed escape from the straight dominated world we live in.

“I wanted to make this film to ask why, in the more inclusive society we live in, are queer spaces still such a vital part of the community?”

Matt Ford

Stella’s night, is one of the few no tradition events that celebrates drag in all its forms and creativity, giving a stage to the underrepresented.

“Making this film was important to me because by discussing my journey as a queer artist and Cookie Jar’s story I hope I can, in some small way, inspire and encourage younger LGBTQ+ people to embrace their creative potential and see the power in their difference. It was also very important for me to celebrate everyone who’s made Cookie Jar possible and educate people on the importance of nightlife for our community.”

Book your tickets to the next Cookie Jar here.

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Christian Trippe

Nightclubbing

This short documentary takes you on a nostalgic trip back to the pre-pandemic days of nightclubbing. Photographer and filmmaker Matt Ford captures club promotor Stella Marbles and discusses the essence and importance of Queer clubbing and safe spaces for our generation.

“The social impact, and the power, that bigoted people once had has been taken back by the queer community. Which is exactly where it belongs.”

“I wanted to make this film to ask why, in the more inclusive society we live in, are queer spaces still such a vital part of the community?”

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