His first
feature, A Little Stiff (1991), was an
autobiographical narrative about his neurotic pursuit of an art - school painter, with all the principal characters played by their real - life counterparts.
Regarded as a seminal figure in gay and lesbian cinema, and in particular, pre-Internet video - work, Benning's short films often
feature autobiographical content in fragmented
narratives that address feminism, gender identity, and youth and popular cultures.