Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler on 30 Years of Killer Films

This week, we're joined by two of the greatest independent film producers of the modern era -- Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler, co-founders of Killer Films. The pair came to the Playhouse over the summer to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of their bold production company, which is best known for supporting fierce, original voices working on the margins of American cinema, including renowned queer filmmakers such as Todd Haynes, Kimberly Pierce, and John Cameron Mitchell on celebrating films including Boys Don't Cry, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Carol. 

Killer has enjoyed an especially long-lasting relationship with Haynes, whose work has evolved from the boundary-pushing early work of Poison and Safe to the postmodern melodramas Far From Heaven and Carol. Vachon also teaches filmmaking at Stony Brook University, and some of her recent students joined us in the audience for our discussion. The conversation preceded a screening of Velvet Goldmine, Haynes' daring glam rock musical from 1998. It's one of many ways that these two women have supported adventurous work that pushes art of cinema and storytelling into uncharted territory. Shortly after this conversation, Killer Films' new romcom Materialists opened theatrically to great success. Two months later, the company premiered a new film, Late Fame, at the Venice Film Festival. As they continue the important work of producing original movies, they show no signs of letting up.