Mark Finch
Mark Finch | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Manchester, England |
| Died | January 14, 1995 (aged 33) |
| Occupation(s) | LGBT cinema advocate, film festival founder, film programmer |
| Known for | Founding London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, directing San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival |
Mark Finch (21 October 1961 – 14 January 1995) was a prominent English advocate and promoter of LGBT cinema. He played a pivotal role in founding and developing multiple international film festivals and pioneered the first dedicated LGBT film market connecting distributors, sales agents, and independent filmmakers.
Early life
Born in Manchester in 1961, Finch relocated with his family to Cambridge following his parents' separation. Struggling with intense depression, he cultivated a deep passion for cinema and comic books. In 1975, he launched a photocopied fanzine called Worlds, which featured comics and science fiction critiques. Despite producing five issues, the publication was not financially viable, leaving him £80 in debt by 1976. Support from a friend helped him avoid a subsequent suicide attempt.
While working part-time at the Arts Picture House in Cambridge, Finch became involved with CAPA, an amateur press association that later merged with the BAPA. He introduced himself through a zine entitled There are fairies at the bottom of my garden and went on to publish Equality, a magazine focused on gender representation in popular culture.
In 1981, Finch enrolled at London Polytechnic but discontinued his studies after a suicide attempt resulted in psychiatric care in Barnet. Subsequently, he pursued film and literature studies at the University of Warwick, attracted by Professor Richard Dyer’s scholarship on gay cinema. During this period, he contributed articles examining gay themes and camp elements in Hollywood films to various publications. After completing his degree, Finch returned to London to work as a programmer for the British Film Institute (BFI) and lived with his partner, an Anglican priest, in Walworth.
Character
Mark Finch possessed a youthful charm that concealed his personal struggles with depression beneath an outwardly warm demeanor. His career was characterized by vigorous dedication, sharp intellect, and an engaging friendliness. He delighted in wordplay and imaginative expression, often crafting whimsical stories and insightful reflections that he shared as personalized gifts with friends. Upon moving to London, he annually produced creative calendar collages which later evolved into commercial ventures during the mid-1990s; however, his original creations remained informal and deeply personal.
Film festivals
The Piccadilly Film Festival was established in 1984 by Elizabeth Hutar as part of the Piccadilly Arts Festival. Invited by Donald Reeves and Peter Pelz, Mark Finch joined the team in London. Over more than a decade, he significantly developed the festival from its base at St James's Church, Piccadilly, broadening its network well beyond his previous connections at the BFI. Emphasizing gay culture and cinema, Finch introduced in 1986 a programming format that would shape future LGBT film festivals. By 1988, he founded the London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival—today known as BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival—separating it from the larger Piccadilly event to specifically showcase LGBT films.
Applying mainstream festival management expertise to specialized audiences, Finch organized press briefings and secured substantial media attention while offering knowledgeable insights to journalists. His international collaborations with LGBT filmmakers brought him to San Francisco where he initiated Frameline Distribution and subsequently served as Exhibitions and Festival Director for Frameline. Between 1992 and 1994, he co-directed the San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival alongside Jenni Olson, nearly quadrupling attendance figures to 55,000 and expanding the festival’s touring program globally. This growth solidified its status as a crucial international venue for LGBT filmmakers.
In response to distribution challenges faced by LGBT films, Finch began developing plans for a market dedicated to distributors and sales agents; however, these efforts were cut short by his untimely death. The rapid expansion of the festival also caused operating costs to rise disproportionately compared to income, leading to financial strain. In 1994, Tess Martin assumed the role of executive director and implemented staff reductions along with downsizing the festival’s scale. These fiscal pressures deeply frustrated Finch amid ongoing growth aspirations and contributed to his deteriorating emotional state.
Legacy
Mark Finch took his own life while gradually discontinuing the antidepressant Effexor, leaving his briefcase behind on the Golden Gate Bridge. His remains were found almost six weeks later, approximately seven miles offshore near Pillar Point Harbor, roughly 25 miles south of the bridge. The coroner reported the body as "intact but unrecognisable." Although his passing shocked many, those close to him felt that such a dramatic end aligned with his character. Jenni Olson, who delivered his eulogy, reflected, "Considering his personality, I thought, 'Oh, how Mark'—that it would be so extraordinary. He never did anything modestly." A commemorative event was held at the Castro Theatre, alongside the dedication of the 19th San Francisco Festival in his honor. A fund was created to support aspiring queer filmmakers. A decade later, Olson's film The Joy of Life examined Finch's suicide and its association with the Golden Gate Bridge.
Finch’s efforts significantly influenced LGBT filmmakers; the festivals and market frameworks he helped establish continue to advance queer cinema today. His written work remains frequently referenced. Additionally, he appeared as an actor in Gregg Araki's The Living End (1992) and was featured posthumously in Todd Verow's film adaptation of Dennis Cooper’s novel Frisk (1995).
Selected works
- Mark Finch, 'Sex and Address in Dynasty', Screen 27(6) (Glasgow: 1986), 24-43 (Reprinted in Fabio Cleto (ed.), Camp (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, 1999))
- Mark Finch and Richard Kwietniowski, 'Melodrama and Maurice: Homo is Where the Heart is', Screen, 29(3) (Glasgow, 1988)
- Mark Finch, 'George Kuchar: Half the Story' in Martha Gever, Pratibha Parmar, and John Greyson (eds.), Queer looks : perspectives on lesbian and gay film and video (New York: Routledge, 1993)
- Mark Finch, 'Gays and Lesbians in Cinema.' in Gary Crowdus (ed.), Cineaste's Political Companion To American Film (Chicago: Lake View, 1994)
External links
- Mark Finch Memorial (Video Montage) directed by Jenni Olson and Lara Mac (1995)
- Mark Finch Memorial (Photo Montage) directed by Tom Di Maria (1995)
- Mark Finch Memorial Facebook page
- Remembering Mark Finch, 25 years later Bay Area Reporter tribute by Jenni Olson (2020)
- Remembering Mark Finch & Mark's Top 10 Films List Frameline blog post (2020)
- Vintage film reviews by Mark Finch Diabolique Magazine article collection (2018)