Feminism on two wheels: Ovarian Psycos + Cycologic

With its introduction from the end of the 19th century, the bicycle served as an important marker for female independence. This program celebrates the significance of the bike for feminist and environmental activism in the world today.

Films included in the program:

Ovarian Psycos / Joanna Sokolowski & Kate Trumbull-LaValle / USA / 2016 / 75 min

Riding at night through the streets deemed dangerous in Eastside Los Angeles, the Ovarian Psycos use their bicycles to confront the violence in their lives. At the helm of the crew is founder Xela de la X, a single mother and poet M.C. dedicated to recruiting an unapologetic, misfit crew of women of color.

The film intimately chronicles Xela as she struggles to strike a balance between her activism and nine year old daughter Yoli; street artist Andi who is estranged from her family and journeys to become a leader within the crew; and bright eyed recruit Evie, who despite poverty, and the concerns of her protective Salvadoran mother, discovers a newfound confidence.

Emilia Stålhammar, Veronica Pålsson & Elsa Lövdin / Sweden/Uganda / 2016 / 15 min

When one’s traveling the streets of Kampala one does not only face a chaotic and dangerous traffic environment but also struggles to go through endless queues, pollution, motorcyclists and cars attacking you from every angle which is an energy-consuming dilemma.

Politicians seems to have given up but there are a few people who strives to show that there are alternative ways of movements. The urban planner and the passionate cycling advocate Amanda Ngabirano’s biggest dream is to have a cycling lane in her city. An impossible task, according to most people, but not according to Amanda.