In the Best Interests of the Children (1977) by Frances Reid, Elizabeth Stevens & Cathy Zheutlin
Sunday, June 29, 2025, 7:00 pm
Gravitational Lensing: In the Best Interests of the Children + Lesbian Custody
Feminist Film Dialogues, Program 8.5
Presented in Association with Shapeshifters Cinema
Frances Reid and Samuael Topiary in person
Admission: $15 General / $13.50 Cinematheque Members and Members of Shapeshifters Cinema
Event tickets here
Gravitational Lensing: Feminist Film Dialogues is an ongoing film series curated by Kathleen Quillian & Amy Reid and presented by Shapeshifters Cinema in association with San Francisco Cinematheque. The series is dedicated to exploring the visions, voices, concerns and lineage of women, non-binary, genderqueer and transgender filmmakers through public film screenings, workshops, conversations and presentations.
To round out our reflections on the topic of parenthood (Gravitational Lensing, Program 8), we are pleased to present this bonus program featuring the recently restored, groundbreaking feminist film In the Best Interests of the Children (1977) by Frances Reid, Elizabeth Stevens and Cathy Zheutlin along with a brand new essay film reflecting on the legacy of the 1977 documentary Lesbian Custody (2025) by Samuael Topiary and Molly Skonieczny
SCREENING: In the Best Interests of the Children (1977) by Frances Reid, Elizabeth Stevens & Cathy Zheutlin; Lesbian Custody (2025) by Samuael Topiary & Molly Skonieczny.
About Gravitational Lensing:
Inspired by and named after the scientific phenomenon in which the gravitational pull of celestial bodies clustered together causes a curvature of spacetime strong enough to magnify distant objects, Gravitational Lensing aims to highlight and amplify the work of women, non-binary, genderqueer and transgender filmmakers by the sheer magnitude of their collective creative energy when gathered together in common dialogue.
The series will be presented over the course of 12–18 months with each program organized around a specific theme, pairing films selected from our open call with other filmmakers whose work engages with similar subjects, ideas or techniques. Films in the series will touch on everything from the intersections of gender and mythology to colonial histories and everything in between.
In addition to film programs Shapeshifters Cinema will be offering a series of hands-on workshops led by experienced feminist filmmakers and educators addressing different aspects of personal filmmaking, including material cinema, documentary filmmaking and more. These workshops are designed for all levels of experience and are open to all. Visit www.shapeshifterscinema.com for details.
See also: “The Fourth Wave is a Lens” by Jadie Stillwell (which includes an interview with series curators Kathleen Quillian & Amy Reid), published by Screen Slate, SF Bay Area here.
Gravitational Lensing is presented by Shapeshifters Cinema in association with San Francisco Cinematheque. Support for the series is provided to Shapeshifters Cinema by Southern Exposure’s Alternative Exposure Grant Program.
In the Best Interests of the Children (1977) by Frances Reid, Elizabeth Stevens & Cathy Zheutlin
In the Best Interests of Children offers a rare and deeply humanizing portrait of lesbian motherhood in the 1970s. Directed by the Iris Films collective—Frances Reid, Elizabeth Stevens and Cathy Zheutlin—this pioneering documentary follows eight diverse lesbian mothers and their children as they navigate the legal and emotional battles of custody in an era rife with homophobia and misogyny. Through candid interviews, family scenes and group discussions, the film powerfully illuminates the strength and tenderness of queer families, while exposing the unjust psychological scrutiny and discrimination these women endured in their fight to be seen as fit parents. Featuring voices like writer-activist Margaret Sloan-Hunter, her daughter and community leader Pat Norman, the film bridges the gaps between race, class and sexuality to paint a multidimensional picture of love and resilience. Initially created to influence family court perceptions, the documentary soon found wider acclaim, screening at festivals worldwide and winning a Blue Ribbon at the 1978 American Film Festival. Now recognized as a landmark in queer cinema and LGBTQ+ civil rights history, the film continues to resonate, reminding us of the personal costs of justice—and the joy found in chosen families.
Lesbian Custody (2025) by Samuael Topiary & Molly Skonieczny
Lesbian Custody is a video essay about the personal and political context of the landmark lesbian documentary In the Best Interests of the Children. A nearly forgotten period of LGBTQ+ history, this documentary short introduces us to Frances Reid, a now-retired filmmaker and award-winning cinematographer and director, and her “step-daughter,” Julie Stevens, as they browse through the film’s archives, discuss the making of the film and share their relationship. Ultimately, the film raises awareness of this history, placing it in dialogue with the present-day political situation.