| Barbara Forever | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Brydie O'Connor |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | Barbara Hammer (archive footage) |
| Edited by | Matt Hixon |
| Music by | Taul Katz |
Production companies |
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Release date |
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Running time | 101 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Barbara Forever is an upcoming American documentary film directed by Brydie O'Connor in her feature directorial debut. It is an archive-driven exploration of the life and work of the pioneering lesbian experimental filmmaker Barbara Hammer.
The film is executive produced by Christine Vachon and Matthew Perniciaro. It is scheduled to premiere in the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.
Premise
[edit]The documentary utilizes a "kinetic tapestry" of archival footage, guided by Barbara Hammer's own voice, to explore her life, body, lovers, and lesbian identity. It chronicles her persistence and ambition in recording her own history to ensure she was not left out of the historical record, framing her work as a blueprint for future queer artists.[2]
Production
[edit]The film is directed by Brydie O'Connor, who previously directed the short documentary Love, Barbara (2022), which focused on Hammer's legacy and won the Grand Jury Prize for Short Documentary at Outfest.[3] Barbara Forever serves as a feature-length expansion of O'Connor's archival research into Hammer's life.
The project is produced by Elijah Stevens, O'Connor, and Claire Edelman, with Christine Vachon (of Killer Films) serving as executive producer alongside Matthew Perniciaro. Consulting producers include Zackary Drucker and Jenni Olson.[2]
Release
[edit]Barbara Forever was announced as part of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on December 10, 2025.[4] It has been highlighted by LGBTQ+ publications as a "must-see" title for the 2026 festival season.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ https://festival.sundance.org/program/film/6932faf51a55355c3091b1ed
- ^ a b "2026 Sundance Film Festival Program: Barbara Forever". Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
- ^ "Brydie O'Connor - Filmmaker". Women Make Movies. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
- ^ Rude, Mey (December 10, 2025). "Sundance 2026: 14 must-see LGBTQ+ films". Out. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
- ^ "Queer Guide to Sundance 2026". QSaltLake. December 10, 2025. Retrieved December 13, 2025.