Nina Menkes

Born :

October 12, 1965

I am surely a feminist filmmaker, but not because I set out to become one, or am trying to make any kind of statement. Rather, it's inherent in the act of expressing myself, as a woman who is deeply alienated from mainstream cinematic structures of seeing. I express myself and am instantly feminist.

feminist kind trying

The world is mystical, mysterious, powerful, brutal and awesome... it has a surreal logic, and moves in patterns, some of which can be unearthed and illuminated - on condition that I am listening - with my spirit, heart, eyes and guts on a single axis.

powerful heart moving

I like to do the camera work myself because I kind of feel it, you know, I don't articulate it, I feel it. It's the same with editing.

cameras kind editing

I was never trying to be experimental or anti-anything; I was always trying to be real to things I was feeling.

always-trying real feelings