NARCISSISM – The Auto-Erotic Images

Toni Karat presents a provocative documentary that deals with gender, narcissism, and self-love. Set in an untouched attic from 1929, the film offers intimate insights into Berlin's queer and international sex-positive community and challenges viewers' perceptions of themselves and their own identities. Karat, an award-winning lesbian, non-binary artist, explores how gender and socialization shape our ideas of self-love and narcissism, especially in queer identities. The 90-minute essayistic documentary not only offers a series of personal reflections, but is also a powerful commentary on self-perception, empowerment, and the social constructs that influence them. Karat's diverse background in art and music lends depth to the film, making it a compelling exploration of identity and psychology. Karats work, celebrated for its sensitive approach to complex issues, has not only been honored at the Berlin Porn Film Festival as the opening film and “Best Documentary,” but has also found international acclaim. NARCISSISM was named “LGBTQ+ Film of the Year” at the Korea Queer Film Festival in Seoul. The juries of the Secs Film Fest (Seattle), the Vienna Porn Film Festival, the Hacker Film Festival (Rome), and the Porn Film Festival Barcelona also awarded the film the prize for Best Documentary. The film takes up the myth of Narcissus and reinterprets the story to emphasize the importance of self-image and self-determination, especially for female-socialized and marginalized communities. The film also explores the complicated relationship that lesbians often have with narcissism and expands the dialogue about self-perception. A photo book of the same name was published to accompany the film.