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'''Sini Anderson''' (born November 6, 1969) is an American [[film director]], [[film producer|producer]], [[performance artist]] and [[poet]]. She is originally from [[Chicago, Illinois]], has lived in [[San Francisco, California]] and currently lives in [[Brooklyn, New York]].<ref name="Sini1" />
'''Sini Anderson''' (born November 6, 1969) is an American [[film director]], [[film producer|producer]], [[performance artist]], [[choreographer]], [[dancer]] and [[poet]], from [[Chicago, Illinois]]. <ref name="Sini16" /> Anderson was the co-founder and co-artistic director of [[Sister Spit]], an all-girl weekly open mic series in San Francisco from 1994–1997, and Sister Spit's Ramblin Road Show, a [[spoken word]] tour from 1997-2000. <ref name="Sini2" /> Anderson is widely known for directing ''[[The Punk Singer]]'' (2013), a documentary about [[riot grrrl]] musician [[Kathleen Hanna]]'s legacy and experience with late-stage [[lyme disease]] .<ref name="Sini9" />
Anderson was the co-founder and co-artistic director of the [[Sister Spit]] a weekly open mic series in San Francisco from 1994–1997 and Sister Spits Ramblin Road Show a [[spoken word]] tour from 1997-2000 she performs on I Spit on Your Country (1997), Sister Spit’s Ramblin Road Show (1999), Greatest Spits!: A Spoken Word Compilation (2001) and Tribe Spit Deep (2002). Her work is also found in The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry (ThunderMouth Press)<ref name="Sini2" /> and Word Warriors: 35 Women Leaders in the Spoken Word Revolution (Seal Press).<ref name="Sini2" />


==Early Life in Chicago==
Anderson did not attend high school or college. <ref name="Sini12" /> As a young adult, she began her artistic career as a professional dancer, studying contemporary modern dance with the Chicago Dance Medium. After some years of performing as a professional dancer in Chicago, Anderson desired a voice beyond choreography and began to write. At age 22, Anderson performed the first spoken word piece she had ever written at the [[Green Mill Cocktail Lounge]] in [[Uptown, Chicago]], and won the slam for that evening. This was more than enough to encourage Anderson to fully delve into the Chicago poetry slam scene, prompting her to begin her own spoken word group called “The Words to Swallow Poets”. Anderson continued to perform with The Words to Swallow Poets at local clubs and venues opening up for musical acts before moving to San Francisco.

==San Francisco==
===Introduction to Feminism===
Anderson is incredibly outspoken about her particular brand of feminism, that of which is entirely peer-taught, punk rock, and non-exclusionary. Having not have had the opportunity to attend high school or college and take women's studies classes, San Francisco was Anderson's creative college in terms of the feminist punk art scene. <ref name="Sini12" /> It was here in her early twenties that she first heard the phrase "feminist" and immersed herself into the works of feminist artists through zines and touring, falling in love with third wave feminism for its accessibility and protesting of popular culture. <ref name="Sini12" /> She cites [[Tammy Rae Carland]], Kathleen Hannah, and [[Michelle Tea]] as her greatest peer influences. Anderson has said that her view of feminism has evolved overtime yet still remains built around art, friends, and community. <ref name="Sini12" /> She has also said that vulnerability and a willingness to emote can be strengths rather than weaknesses for women, and are important aspects of feminism. <ref name="Sini14" />

===Sister Spit and Sister Spit's Ramblin' Road Show===
Upon moving to San Francisco, Anderson was enraged by the massive sexism in the city's poetry slam scene. Within her first few months of living in San Francisco, Anderson became close friends with Michelle Tea, with who she would create the all-girl spoken word group, Sister Spit. Anderson and Tea performed in San Francisco for 3 years before they began Sister Spit’s Rambling Road Show, in which they took 10 other queer performers on the road with them across the country for 3 consecutive six-week national summer tours. Sister Spit released several albums including I Spit on Your Country (1997) on [[Mercury Records]], Sister Spit’s Ramblin Road Show (1998), Sister Spit’s Ramblin Road Show (1999), Greatest Spits!: A Spoken Word Compilation (2001) on [[Mr. Lady Records]] and Tribe Spit Deep (2002). Her work is also found in The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry (ThunderMouth Press)<ref name="Sini2" /> and Word Warriors: 35 Women Leaders in the Spoken Word Revolution (Seal Press).<ref name="Sini3" />

===Involvement in San Francisco's Queer Community===
Anderson spent much of her career in San Francisco’s [[queer]] community as Chief Curator/Artistic Director for The National Queer Arts Festival, a co-producer for the Nectar Stage at San Francisco’s Pride, president of the board of directors for the Harvey Milk Institute, and co-chair of the board of directors for The Queer Cultural Center.<ref name="Sini4" />
Anderson spent much of her career in San Francisco’s [[queer]] community as Chief Curator/Artistic Director for The National Queer Arts Festival, a co-producer for the Nectar Stage at San Francisco’s Pride, president of the board of directors for the Harvey Milk Institute, and co-chair of the board of directors for The Queer Cultural Center.<ref name="Sini4" />


==Career as an Independent Filmmaker==
Anderson also works in independent film and her credits include first assistant director on Miggy n Lil (2006), Bare Knuckle (2007), Karma Calling (2009).<ref name="Sini5" /> She recently directed the book trailer for the memoir Whip Smart by [[Melissa Febos]],<ref name="Sini6" /> which won Best Short Documentary<ref name="Sini7" /> at the Fetisch Film Festival 2010.<ref name="Sini8" /> From July 2010 to early 2013 she directed and wrote a documentary about [[riot grrrl]] musician [[Kathleen Hanna]].<ref name="Sini9" /> The film, ''[[The Punk Singer]]'', premiered in March 2013 at [[SXSW]] to positive reviews.<ref name="Sini10" />
Anderson always knew she wanted to be a filmmaker, but didn’t believe it was possible without film school. Nevertheless, Anderson’s interest in the underground San Francisco film scene in the late 90’s prompted her to work with other artists and assist first-time directors in making films. Anderson then began to make her own short films, incorporating video to go with her stage performances, becoming a [[multimedia]] performance artist.

===The making of ''The Punk Singer'' and Hanna's Lyme Disease===
Anderson and Hanna had known about each other as fellow artists for years, but it wasn’t until mutual friend Tammy Rae Carland introduced the two at the Michigan Women’s Music Festival in 2000 that the pair became friends. In 2009, family and friends grew increasingly worried about Hanna’s deteriorating health. <ref name="Sini13" /> Hanna had initially approached Anderson about directing the documentary ''Who Took the Bomp'' (2010) for her band, [[Le Tigre]], but Anderson was more concerned with preserving the legacy of her career as a whole. <ref name="Sini15" /> In the spirit of third wave feminism, Hanna agreed to have the documentary made only if Anderson would direct it; Hanna encouraged Anderson to make her first feature-length while Anderson encouraged Hanna to tell her story. Anderson has stated that it is important for people "to hear the deeper story of who [Hanna] is and where she came from, so that they could feel less alone." <ref name="Sini14" /> Halfway through filming, Hanna was diagnosed with late-stage lyme disease. <ref name="Sini13" />

The film initially was not about Hanna's lyme disease. <ref name="Sini15" /> Anderson's purpose of making the film was to tell the story of Hanna's participation in the riot grrrl movement and career in punk band [[Bikini Kill]] through interviews conducted with Hanna's family and friends, and archival footage retrieved from personal archives. <ref name="Sini15" /> The story evolved on its own, giving it entirely new purpose. <ref name="Sini15" /> She has stated that lyme disease is "such an isolating disease, quite often our own families don't even understand it."<ref name="Sini13" /> Anderson feels that Hanna's willingness "to show the vulnerability" of her illness can "potentially be of service to other people". <ref name="Sini14" />

====Film Release and Reception====
The film premiered in March 2013 at [[SXSW]] to positive reviews.<ref name="Sini10" />

Was picked up by IFC films for distribution in 2013 and released theatrically in 73 cities across America from 2013 to 2014. <ref name="Sini17" />

Has won numerous awards such as POV’s "Humanitarian Award in Media", the Seattle International Film Festival's "Lena Sharpe Aware for Persistence of Vision, Women in Cinema", Mexico City's Distrital International Film Festival's "Best First Feature Director" and "ARCA Best Director Award", and Barcelona’s BEEFEATER IN-EDIT Festival Internacional De Cine Documental's "Best International Music Documentary Director".<ref name="Sini17" />


In May 2014, [[BuzzFeed]] reported that some of the [[Kickstarter]] backers of ''The Punk Singer'' did not get the items they paid for, including signed posters, sneak previews and tickets to a private screening. Anderson said that since the documentary was now owned by [[IFC Films]], she was unable to provide sneak previews or private screenings.<ref name="Sini11" />
In May 2014, [[BuzzFeed]] reported that some of the [[Kickstarter]] backers of ''The Punk Singer'' did not get the items they paid for, including signed posters, sneak previews and tickets to a private screening. Anderson said that since the documentary was now owned by [[IFC Films]], she was unable to provide sneak previews or private screenings.<ref name="Sini11" />

==Anderson's Lyme Disease==
Only six weeks after friend Kathleen Hanna’s diagnosis of late stage lyme disease, Anderson ended up in the hospital with signs of a possible heart attack or stroke, receiving an official diagnosis of late stage lyme a month later. <ref name="Sini13" /> At first, doctors told Anderson that there was nothing wrong with her, despite her getting more ill with every passing day. <ref name="Sini13" /> Not wanting to complicate the story of ''The Punk Singer'' or detract the focus from Hannah’s illness, Anderson was reluctant to admit publicly during the filming that she had been diagnosed as well. <ref name="Sini13" />

As the making of the film went into post-production, Anderson grew more ill, ending up on an IV [[PICC]] line as a means of receiving intravenous antibiotic treatments. <ref name="Sini13" /> The treatments have strengthened Anderson's health and immune system, but today she still keeps a close watch for telltale signs of sickness, taking herbs and eating a healthy diet. <ref name="Sini13" />

After ''The Punk Singer'' was made, Anderson learned of 17 other feminist queer artists in her inner-circle that had been diagnosed with late-stage lyme disease as well. <ref name="Sini13" /> Today, the number of diagnosed feminist queer artists that Anderson knows personally has grown to 75.

==Other Works and Future Products==
Other independent film credits include first assistant director on Miggy n Lil (2006), Bare Knuckle (2007), Karma Calling (2009).<ref name="Sini5" />

Directed the book trailer for the memoir Whip Smart by [[Melissa Febos]],<ref name="Sini6" /> which won Best Short Documentary<ref name="Sini7" /> at the Fetisch Film Festival 2010.<ref name="Sini8" />

Has directed numerous music videos including [[Jolie Holland]]'s "All Those Girls" (2012)<ref name="Sini23" />, Lovers' "Girl in the Grass" (2014)<ref name="Sini24" />, and [[Girlpool]]'s "Blah Blah Blah" (2014)<ref name="Sini25" />.

Has lectured at several universities across America such as Yale University<ref name="Sini18" />, Wesleyan University<ref name="Sini19" />, University of Pennsylvania<ref name="Sini20" />, Smith College<ref name="Sini21" />, Rutgers University, and Ohio Wesleyan<ref name="Sini22" />.

===''So Sick'' (2016)===
Anderson's second feature-film, a documentary titled ''So Sick'', is set for release in 2016. <ref name="Sini17" /> The film is Anderson's vessel of exploring the epidemic of feminist artists, academics, and activists in the queer community with late stage lyme disease.

==Personal Life==
Lived in [[San Francisco, California]] in her 20's, and currently splits her time between [[Brooklyn, New York]] and [[Los Angeles, California]]. <ref name="Sini1" />

Indentifies as [[queer]] and [[lesbian]]. <ref name="Sini17" />

Has been sober for 9 years. <ref name="Sini16" />


==References==
==References==
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<ref name="Sini1">[http://www.queerculturalcenter.org/Pages/Qfestival01/Sini_Kovic.html National Queer Arts Festival 2001 lineup] on www.queerculturalcenter.org</ref>
<ref name="Sini1">[http://www.queerculturalcenter.org/Pages/Qfestival01/Sini_Kovic.html National Queer Arts Festival 2001 lineup] on www.queerculturalcenter.org</ref>
<ref name="Sini2">[http://www.amazon.com/Outlaw-Bible-American-Poetry/dp/1560252278 The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry] on www.amazon.com</ref>
<ref name="Sini2">[http://www.amazon.com/Outlaw-Bible-American-Poetry/dp/1560252278 The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry] on www.amazon.com</ref>
<!--<ref name="Sini3">{{Cite book | isbn = 9781580052214 | title = Word Warriors: 35 Women Leaders in the Spoken Word Revolution | editor1-last = Olson | editor1-first= Alix | editor1-link = Alix Olson | year = 2007 | publisher = Seal Press | location = Emeryville, CA | page = | pages =}}</ref>-->
<ref name="Sini3”>[http://www.amazon.com/Word-Warriors-Leaders-Spoken-Revolution/dp/1580052215 Word Warriors: 35 Women Leaders in the Spoken Word Revolution]</ref>-->
<ref name="Sini4">[http://www.louderarts.com/poets/anderson/index.html Sini Anderson] - the louderARTS Project</ref>
<ref name="Sini4">[http://www.louderarts.com/poets/anderson/index.html Sini Anderson] - the louderARTS Project</ref>
<ref name="Sini5">{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2481948/|title=Sini Anderson|work=IMDb}}</ref>
<ref name="Sini5">[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2481948/ Sini Anderson] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]</ref>
<ref name="Sini6">[http://melissafebos.com/whipsmart.html Whip Smart] on www.melissafebos.com</ref>
<ref name="Sini6">[http://melissafebos.com/whipsmart.html Whip Smart] on www.melissafebos.com</ref>
<ref name="Sini7">[http://subkulturell.de/2010/09/gewinner-fetisch-film-festival-2010-traum-gmbh/ GEWINNER FETISCH FILM FESTIVAL 2010 @ Traum Gmbh] on subkulturell.de</ref>
<ref name="Sini7">[http://subkulturell.de/2010/09/gewinner-fetisch-film-festival-2010-traum-gmbh/ GEWINNER FETISCH FILM FESTIVAL 2010 @ Traum Gmbh] on subkulturell.de</ref>
<ref name="Sini8">{{cite web|url=http://www.fetisch-film-festival.de/|title=Fetisch Film Festival - TraumGmbH – Multikulturelles Zentrum|work=fetisch-film-festival.de}}</ref>
<ref name="Sini8">[http://www.fetisch-film-festival.de/ Fetisch Film Festival 2010]</ref>
<ref name="Sini9">[http://www.brooklyntheborough.com/2010/07/sini-anderson-reads-at-franklin-park-announces-kathleen-hanna-documentary-2/ Filmmaker Sini Anderson Announces Kathleen Hanna Documentary] – Brooklyn The Borough</ref>
<ref name="Sini9">[http://www.brooklyntheborough.com/2010/07/sini-anderson-reads-at-franklin-park-announces-kathleen-hanna-documentary-2/ Filmmaker Sini Anderson Announces Kathleen Hanna Documentary] – Brooklyn The Borough</ref>
<ref name="Sini10">{{cite journal |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/03/12/sxsw-bikini-kill-kathleen-hanna-reveals-illness-in-new-doc-punk-singer/ |title=Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna reveals illness, reconfirms awesomeness in 'The Punk Singer' |journal=Entertainment Weekly |date=March 12, 2013 |last=Valby |first=Karen }}</ref>
<ref name="Sini10">{{cite journal |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/03/12/sxsw-bikini-kill-kathleen-hanna-reveals-illness-in-new-doc-punk-singer/ |title=Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna reveals illness, reconfirms awesomeness in 'The Punk Singer' |journal=Entertainment Weekly |date=March 12, 2013 |last=Valby |first=Karen }}</ref>
<ref name="Sini11">{{cite web|url=http://www.buzzfeed.com/hazelcills/backers-for-the-kickstarter-kathleen-hanna-doc-havent-gotten/|title=Kathleen Hanna Doc Kickstarter Backers Haven't Gotten Their Rewards|work=BuzzFeed}}</ref>
<ref name="Sini11">[http://www.buzzfeed.com/hazelcills/backers-for-the-kickstarter-kathleen-hanna-doc-havent-gotten/ "Kathleen Hanna Doc Kickstarter Backers Haven’t Gotten Their Rewards"]</ref>
<ref name="Sini12">[http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2013/03/20/badass-interview-kathleen-hanna-and-sini-anderson-on-sxsws-the-punk-singer/ Badass Interview: Kathleen Hanna and Sini Anderson on SXSW's The Punk Singer]</ref>
<ref name="Sini13">[http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/24405-lyme-disease-is-a-feminist-issue-an-interview-with-sini-anderson# Lyme Disease Is a Feminist Issue: An Interview With Sini Anderson]</ref>
<ref name="Sini14">[http://waytooindie.com/interview/sini-anderson-talks-kathleen-hanna-strength-vulnerability/ Anderson Talks Kathleen Hanna, Strength in Vulnerability]</ref>
<ref name="Sini15">[http://www.westword.com/arts/director-sini-anderson-talks-about-the-punk-singer-a-film-about-artist-kathleen-hannas-life-5804125 Director Sini Anderson talks about the Punk Singer, a film about Kathleen Hanna's life</ref>
<ref name="Sini16">[http://www.pyragraph.com/2014/04/burning-questions-sini-anderson-director-the-punk-singer/] Burning Questions for Sini Anderson, Director of The Punk Singer</ref>
<ref name="Sini17">[https://arts.uchicago.edu/event/screening-“-punk-singer”-and-discussion-filmmaker-sini-anderson] Screening, “The Punk Singer,” and discussion with filmmaker Sini Anderson</ref>
<ref name="Sini18">[http://artscalendar.yale.edu/month/2015-02-01?event=CAL-2c9cb3cc-4b13ae19-014b-9af39875-00002d9abedework%40yale.edu_&tag_id=5] The Women’s Center’s Amy Rossborough Memorial Lecture with Sini Anderson</ref>
<ref name="Sini19">[http://www.wesleyan.edu/queerstudies/events.html Queer Studies Events]</ref>
<ref name="Sini20">[https://www.sas.upenn.edu/gsws/content/screening-and-qa-punk-singer-dir-sini-anderson Screening and Q&A: The Punk Singer (dir. Sini Anderson)]</ref>
<ref name="Sini21">[http://www.smith.edu/swg/news.php THE PUNK SINGER</ref>
<ref name="Sini22">[http://blogs.owu.edu/connect2/ohio-wesleyan-host-punk-singer-documentary-filmmaker/ Ohio Wesleyan to Host ‘The Punk Singer’ Documentary Filmmaker</ref>
<ref name="Sini23">[http://www.mtv.com/videos/jolie-holland/674929/all-those-girls.jhtml Julie Holland All Those Girls]</ref>
<ref name="Sini24">[https://vimeo.com/72577580 Girl in the Grass]</ref>
<ref name="Sini25">[http://www.stereogum.com/1719183/girlpool-blah-blah-blah-video/video/ Girlpool – “Blah Blah Blah” Video]</ref>
}}
}}



{{Persondata
{{Persondata

Revision as of 02:41, 4 May 2015

Sini Anderson (born November 6, 1969) is an American film director, producer, performance artist, choreographer, dancer and poet, from Chicago, Illinois. [1] Anderson was the co-founder and co-artistic director of Sister Spit, an all-girl weekly open mic series in San Francisco from 1994–1997, and Sister Spit's Ramblin Road Show, a spoken word tour from 1997-2000. [2] Anderson is widely known for directing The Punk Singer (2013), a documentary about riot grrrl musician Kathleen Hanna's legacy and experience with late-stage lyme disease .[3]

Early Life in Chicago

Anderson did not attend high school or college. [4] As a young adult, she began her artistic career as a professional dancer, studying contemporary modern dance with the Chicago Dance Medium. After some years of performing as a professional dancer in Chicago, Anderson desired a voice beyond choreography and began to write. At age 22, Anderson performed the first spoken word piece she had ever written at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge in Uptown, Chicago, and won the slam for that evening. This was more than enough to encourage Anderson to fully delve into the Chicago poetry slam scene, prompting her to begin her own spoken word group called “The Words to Swallow Poets”. Anderson continued to perform with The Words to Swallow Poets at local clubs and venues opening up for musical acts before moving to San Francisco.

San Francisco

Introduction to Feminism

Anderson is incredibly outspoken about her particular brand of feminism, that of which is entirely peer-taught, punk rock, and non-exclusionary. Having not have had the opportunity to attend high school or college and take women's studies classes, San Francisco was Anderson's creative college in terms of the feminist punk art scene. [4] It was here in her early twenties that she first heard the phrase "feminist" and immersed herself into the works of feminist artists through zines and touring, falling in love with third wave feminism for its accessibility and protesting of popular culture. [4] She cites Tammy Rae Carland, Kathleen Hannah, and Michelle Tea as her greatest peer influences. Anderson has said that her view of feminism has evolved overtime yet still remains built around art, friends, and community. [4] She has also said that vulnerability and a willingness to emote can be strengths rather than weaknesses for women, and are important aspects of feminism. [5]

Sister Spit and Sister Spit's Ramblin' Road Show

Upon moving to San Francisco, Anderson was enraged by the massive sexism in the city's poetry slam scene. Within her first few months of living in San Francisco, Anderson became close friends with Michelle Tea, with who she would create the all-girl spoken word group, Sister Spit. Anderson and Tea performed in San Francisco for 3 years before they began Sister Spit’s Rambling Road Show, in which they took 10 other queer performers on the road with them across the country for 3 consecutive six-week national summer tours. Sister Spit released several albums including I Spit on Your Country (1997) on Mercury Records, Sister Spit’s Ramblin Road Show (1998), Sister Spit’s Ramblin Road Show (1999), Greatest Spits!: A Spoken Word Compilation (2001) on Mr. Lady Records and Tribe Spit Deep (2002). Her work is also found in The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry (ThunderMouth Press)[2] and Word Warriors: 35 Women Leaders in the Spoken Word Revolution (Seal Press).[6]

Involvement in San Francisco's Queer Community

Anderson spent much of her career in San Francisco’s queer community as Chief Curator/Artistic Director for The National Queer Arts Festival, a co-producer for the Nectar Stage at San Francisco’s Pride, president of the board of directors for the Harvey Milk Institute, and co-chair of the board of directors for The Queer Cultural Center.[7]

Career as an Independent Filmmaker

Anderson always knew she wanted to be a filmmaker, but didn’t believe it was possible without film school. Nevertheless, Anderson’s interest in the underground San Francisco film scene in the late 90’s prompted her to work with other artists and assist first-time directors in making films. Anderson then began to make her own short films, incorporating video to go with her stage performances, becoming a multimedia performance artist.

The making of The Punk Singer and Hanna's Lyme Disease

Anderson and Hanna had known about each other as fellow artists for years, but it wasn’t until mutual friend Tammy Rae Carland introduced the two at the Michigan Women’s Music Festival in 2000 that the pair became friends. In 2009, family and friends grew increasingly worried about Hanna’s deteriorating health. [8] Hanna had initially approached Anderson about directing the documentary Who Took the Bomp (2010) for her band, Le Tigre, but Anderson was more concerned with preserving the legacy of her career as a whole. [9] In the spirit of third wave feminism, Hanna agreed to have the documentary made only if Anderson would direct it; Hanna encouraged Anderson to make her first feature-length while Anderson encouraged Hanna to tell her story. Anderson has stated that it is important for people "to hear the deeper story of who [Hanna] is and where she came from, so that they could feel less alone." [5] Halfway through filming, Hanna was diagnosed with late-stage lyme disease. [8]

The film initially was not about Hanna's lyme disease. [9] Anderson's purpose of making the film was to tell the story of Hanna's participation in the riot grrrl movement and career in punk band Bikini Kill through interviews conducted with Hanna's family and friends, and archival footage retrieved from personal archives. [9] The story evolved on its own, giving it entirely new purpose. [9] She has stated that lyme disease is "such an isolating disease, quite often our own families don't even understand it."[8] Anderson feels that Hanna's willingness "to show the vulnerability" of her illness can "potentially be of service to other people". [5]

Film Release and Reception

The film premiered in March 2013 at SXSW to positive reviews.[10]

Was picked up by IFC films for distribution in 2013 and released theatrically in 73 cities across America from 2013 to 2014. [11]

Has won numerous awards such as POV’s "Humanitarian Award in Media", the Seattle International Film Festival's "Lena Sharpe Aware for Persistence of Vision, Women in Cinema", Mexico City's Distrital International Film Festival's "Best First Feature Director" and "ARCA Best Director Award", and Barcelona’s BEEFEATER IN-EDIT Festival Internacional De Cine Documental's "Best International Music Documentary Director".[11]

In May 2014, BuzzFeed reported that some of the Kickstarter backers of The Punk Singer did not get the items they paid for, including signed posters, sneak previews and tickets to a private screening. Anderson said that since the documentary was now owned by IFC Films, she was unable to provide sneak previews or private screenings.[12]

Anderson's Lyme Disease

Only six weeks after friend Kathleen Hanna’s diagnosis of late stage lyme disease, Anderson ended up in the hospital with signs of a possible heart attack or stroke, receiving an official diagnosis of late stage lyme a month later. [8] At first, doctors told Anderson that there was nothing wrong with her, despite her getting more ill with every passing day. [8] Not wanting to complicate the story of The Punk Singer or detract the focus from Hannah’s illness, Anderson was reluctant to admit publicly during the filming that she had been diagnosed as well. [8]

As the making of the film went into post-production, Anderson grew more ill, ending up on an IV PICC line as a means of receiving intravenous antibiotic treatments. [8] The treatments have strengthened Anderson's health and immune system, but today she still keeps a close watch for telltale signs of sickness, taking herbs and eating a healthy diet. [8]

After The Punk Singer was made, Anderson learned of 17 other feminist queer artists in her inner-circle that had been diagnosed with late-stage lyme disease as well. [8] Today, the number of diagnosed feminist queer artists that Anderson knows personally has grown to 75.

Other Works and Future Products

Other independent film credits include first assistant director on Miggy n Lil (2006), Bare Knuckle (2007), Karma Calling (2009).[13]

Directed the book trailer for the memoir Whip Smart by Melissa Febos,[14] which won Best Short Documentary[15] at the Fetisch Film Festival 2010.[16]

Has directed numerous music videos including Jolie Holland's "All Those Girls" (2012)[17], Lovers' "Girl in the Grass" (2014)[18], and Girlpool's "Blah Blah Blah" (2014)[19].

Has lectured at several universities across America such as Yale University[20], Wesleyan University[21], University of Pennsylvania[22], Smith College[23], Rutgers University, and Ohio Wesleyan[24].

So Sick (2016)

Anderson's second feature-film, a documentary titled So Sick, is set for release in 2016. [11] The film is Anderson's vessel of exploring the epidemic of feminist artists, academics, and activists in the queer community with late stage lyme disease.

Personal Life

Lived in San Francisco, California in her 20's, and currently splits her time between Brooklyn, New York and Los Angeles, California. [25]

Indentifies as queer and lesbian. [11]

Has been sober for 9 years. [1]

References

  1. ^ a b [1] Burning Questions for Sini Anderson, Director of The Punk Singer
  2. ^ a b The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry on www.amazon.com
  3. ^ Filmmaker Sini Anderson Announces Kathleen Hanna Documentary – Brooklyn The Borough
  4. ^ a b c d Badass Interview: Kathleen Hanna and Sini Anderson on SXSW's The Punk Singer
  5. ^ a b c Anderson Talks Kathleen Hanna, Strength in Vulnerability
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sini3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Sini Anderson - the louderARTS Project
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lyme Disease Is a Feminist Issue: An Interview With Sini Anderson
  9. ^ a b c d [http://www.westword.com/arts/director-sini-anderson-talks-about-the-punk-singer-a-film-about-artist-kathleen-hannas-life-5804125 Director Sini Anderson talks about the Punk Singer, a film about Kathleen Hanna's life
  10. ^ Valby, Karen (March 12, 2013). "Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna reveals illness, reconfirms awesomeness in 'The Punk Singer'". Entertainment Weekly.
  11. ^ a b c d [2] Screening, “The Punk Singer,” and discussion with filmmaker Sini Anderson
  12. ^ "Kathleen Hanna Doc Kickstarter Backers Haven’t Gotten Their Rewards"
  13. ^ Sini Anderson at the Internet Movie Database
  14. ^ Whip Smart on www.melissafebos.com
  15. ^ GEWINNER FETISCH FILM FESTIVAL 2010 @ Traum Gmbh on subkulturell.de
  16. ^ Fetisch Film Festival 2010
  17. ^ Julie Holland All Those Girls
  18. ^ Girl in the Grass
  19. ^ Girlpool – “Blah Blah Blah” Video
  20. ^ [3] The Women’s Center’s Amy Rossborough Memorial Lecture with Sini Anderson
  21. ^ Queer Studies Events
  22. ^ Screening and Q&A: The Punk Singer (dir. Sini Anderson)
  23. ^ [http://www.smith.edu/swg/news.php THE PUNK SINGER
  24. ^ [http://blogs.owu.edu/connect2/ohio-wesleyan-host-punk-singer-documentary-filmmaker/ Ohio Wesleyan to Host ‘The Punk Singer’ Documentary Filmmaker
  25. ^ National Queer Arts Festival 2001 lineup on www.queerculturalcenter.org
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