I Used To Be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story

The coming of age stories of four women whose lives were changed forever by their love of boybands Backstreet Boys, One Direction, Take That and The Beatles.

This event has now passed.

Melbourne filmmakers Jessica Leski and Rita Walsh interviewed three generations of fangirls. The women are not, as you might expect, hysterical and hormonal teenagers. They are obsessive, sure, but also insightful and vulnerable. Their ages reflect the bands they adore: the oldest of the quartet being a fan of the Fab Four. The youngest, Elif, lives at home with parents who fail to appreciate her One Direction devotion. Sydneysider and Take That fangirl Dara can’t understand her own obsession with heartthrob Gary Barlow. Loving a boyband has helped the women through difficult times, and shaped their relationships, faiths and sexuality. Ultimately though, they’ve all found joy in the fandom world.

Jessica Leski graduated from VCA in 2006. A short filmmaker and lecturer, her debut documentary, The Ball, was AACTA-nominated and screened at festivals worldwide.

Party: After the screening on Saturday 9 June head to the Hub for Boyz II Girlz Party, starting at 8.30pm

This film is nominated for the Documentary Australia Foundation Award for Australian Documentary

Running time: 96 minutes
Language: English
Country: Australia
Directed by Jessica Leski

Find out more about Sydney Film Festival

Details