The Celluloid Closet, which examines portrayals of homosexuality and gender variance in films from the silent era onward. That led Olson to start a film series, Lavender Images. “I wanted to see the films that Vito Russo wrote about, and I thought other people would want to see them too,” she says.That started her off on a career as a film critic, curator, historian, and writer-director-producer who’s made movies in what’s been called an essayistic style. “I never expected I would grow up to be honored by one of the most important international film festivals,” she tells The Advocate.The Special Teddy Award is presented for “outstanding achievement and long-term service to a figure from the creative industries whose work has made an.