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NOT THROWING IN THE TOWEL

LGBT Not Throwing in the Towel
is an inspiring documentary about being a Gay Couple in America.
Ginny and Debbie are a Lesbian couple living in Western Kentucky. This film is a personal success story, and a call to action. Ginny and Debbie's story is told around the historical framework of Gay America. Making it possible for the viewer to gain a deeper understanding of what it means and has meant to be Gay in America.

In a state where an anti-gay lawyer makes the statement that "advocating for LGBT rights is like doing the bidding of the devil,"it is obvious that there are still parts of America that have not come to terms with the LGBT community.

By necessity, Ginny and Debbie have learned how to self-parent and rebuild, putting love and trust back into their lives. Ginny and Debbie have been partners for sixteen years, they have seen tough times, experienced family rejection, public harassment and untold accounts of needless dismissal. Their commitment to each other has strengthened their union and ultimately exemplifies their place in society.

Not Throwing in the Towel is about truth, healing, loving and destroying myths. The film explores the issues of social inequality for the LGBT community and brings home the message that changing cultural mores can often be as simple as walking in someone else’s shoes. When we see how someone else lives it changes us.

There is an urgency now, more than ever before, to understand the truth about systemic inequalities.

Not Throwing in the Towel is just one story about being a gay couple in America, there are many. It is not important that we know about them all, but it is important that we know about some, intimately, as representative of those whose equal rights and social standing have been challenged so we can eliminate the 'us' vs 'them' mentality.

  • Sandra Pfeifer
    Director
    AGAINST ALL THE ODDS, KATHRYN AND HER DAUGHTERS
  • SANDRA PFEIFER
    Writer
    SAME AS ABOVE
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    28 minutes 32 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 30, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    35,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    mini-dv, iphone, canon video
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4x3 or 16x9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Special Premiere Event Maiden Alley Cinema
    Paducah, KY
    United States
    February 22, 2017
    regional premiere
  • Glitter Film Festival Oklahoma
    McAlester
    United States
    July 23, 2017
  • Women's Film Fest/Qfest - Philadelphia, PA
    Philadelphia
    United States
    March 24, 2018
  • Flying Frame Film Fest, Illinois
    Dixon Springs
    United States
    May 27, 2017
  • River's Edge Film Fest/ KY
    Paducah
    United States
    October 21, 2017
Director Biography - Sandra Pfeifer

SANDRA PFEIFER DOCUMENTARY FILMS
166 Bull Pen Rd , Simpson, IL 62985 | 618.695.3644
feedroomfilms@gmail.com/ aato.film@gmail.com/
againstalltheodds.com/ feedroomfilms.com/
1966 New Trier High School - graduate
BFA – Cinema and Photography – Film Production- cum laude
MFA Candidate – Cinema Production
Southern Illinois University - Carbondale , IL 1992- 2000

2011 – MFA Candidate – Interdisciplinary Arts - Goddard College

• Documentary Filmmaker
attended 16 film festivals nationwide with 3 documentary films.
Received eleven festival awards.
• GOLDEN TOUCH
• TRUCK STOP
• KATHRY AND HER DAUGHTERS
• AGAINST ALL THE ODDS
Created :
Special series, Women in the Traditional Workplace – 1997
Educational Curriculum, Truth and Justice in America - 2011
AWARDS
Route 66 Film Festival – Best Feature Documentary – AGAINST ALL THE ODDS
Moondance Film Festival – Semi finalist AGAINST ALL THE ODDS
Little Muddy Film Festival. - Best Documentary –Truck Stop
Slice of Life Film Showcase - Award Winner- Truck Stop
Image Union ‘Bob’ Award - WTTW, PBS Chicago - Truck Stop
Princess Grace Awards - Cash Honorarium Kathryn and Her Daughters
Kentucky Foundation for Women - Grant Award –Kathryn and Her Daughters
Moondance International Film Festival - Best Documentary, Kathryn and Her Daughters
Hometown Cinema Film Fest- Audience Choice Award Kathryn and Her Daughters
Saguaro Film Festival - Feature Film Finalist – Kathryn and Her Daughters
Independents’ Film and Video Festival- Best Documentary Kathryn and Her Daughters
Empire State Film Festival _first place- short documentary- Kathryn and Her Daughters
Women in Film – Emerging Filmmaker grant award

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Director Statement

NOT THROWING IN THE TOWEL was completed in 15 months and done with limited funds by four women, including the two principals, Ginny and Debbie.

I am the director /filmmaker. The executive producer, Johanna had the idea for the film because she had been friends with Ginny and Debbie for five years and saw a need.

I edited the film, selected the music, and along with Johanna shot the principle photography. I strived to answer the calling of the film and worked within the budget. We all four became close during the production process and bonded with the film's mission and each other.

We are proud of the result and believe NOT THROWING IN THE TOWEL has an important place in the documentary world as well as being significant for the LGBT community.

SP