THEGAYUK

Category: Film

  • Top 5 Gay Films You May Have Missed

    Five Gay Films You May Have Missed

    As gay characters and stories continue to move more into the mainstream in Hollywood, films like Brokeback Mountain, Kill Your Darlings, I Love You Philip Morris and Behind The Candelabra are thrust into the public conscience through the use of big name stars, large budgets and critical acclaim. But there are a number of hidden gems out there which may just have passed you by. Whether they are low budget affairs, have unknown actors or are foreign films which do not garner much publicity, there are some great films out there which can delight, charm and move you. So here are five films which you may have missed, but are well worth catching up with.

    Poltergay

    In this utterly charming French comedy, a young man, Marc, and his new wife move into an old house which used to be used as an underground gay club, until an unfortunate accident involving a short circuiting foam machine resulted in an explosion, and is now haunted by five gay ghosts.Trapped in the confines of the house and excited by the buff new arrival, the gay ghosts cause Marc to think he is losing his mind, as he is the only one who can see them and the only one who can constantly hear Boney M playing on repeat. His behaviour drives his wife away, and, feeling responsible, the ghosts embark on a plan to get the two of them back together. Don’t be put off by the fact that this film is subtitled, otherwise you will miss this gem of a movie. It is packed full of charm and heart, with a whimsical storyline and a feel good factor, which makes for some enjoyable and undemanding fun.
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  • FILM REVIEW: Spotlight

    FILM REVIEW: Spotlight

    FILM REVIEW: Spotlight ★★★★

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  • FILM REVIEW | Dirty Grandpa

    Both DeNiro and Efron star in the new rude, crude, and obscene film ‘Dirty Grandpa’. ★

    We are ‘treated’ to seeing Robert DeNiro (as perverted frisky and unsexed Grandpa Dick Kelly – get it?) masturbate to an interracial pornography video the day after the funeral of his wife who he was with for 40 years.

    We also get to see Effon’s (James Kelly) brother pouring beer over his dead grandmother’s coffin, Efron wearing a bee thong with his arse out in the open (several times), which at one point comes off causing him to expose himself to a little boy, while simulation with the assumption of oral sex between the two (I’m not kidding here) and an endless, and I mean endless, supply of cock jokes, and cocks (one scene has Effron and DeNiro sharing a bed together in which DeNiro sleeps naked, and the next moment there is a penis in his face supposedly to be Grandpa’s).

    This is not to mention scenes of Efron in jail with a fellow cellmate feeling him up, the one gay character in the movie being made fun of because he is gay, two inept police officers who all but ignore the town’s drug dealer (Adam Pally) who happens to shoot guns in his tourist a/k/a drug shop, and an extremely horny young woman (Zoey Deutch) who has way too much sex talk with DeNiro.

    It all adds up to one dirty, and bad movie. The plot is this: after the death of his wife, Grandpa Kelly wants to head down to his condo in Florida, so he tricks grandson Jason into driving him down there, much to the dismay of Jason’s fiance Meredith (Julianne Hough), who’s he about to marry and with the wedding rehearsal just days away. On the way Grandpa and Grandson run into Grandson’s ex-schoolmate Lenore (Aubrey Plaza), with the aforementioned horny Shadia (Deutch) and the gay camp Tyrone (Brandon Mychal Smith) in tow.

    Shadia’s got the hot hots for Grandpa (to tick one of her ‘must do’ boxes) and Lenore will realize that she’s got the hots for Jason. It’s a road trip that ends in most of the character’s lives changed, as well as the audiences. You will walk out shaking your head and vow to never see a Zac Efron (and possibly a Robert DeNiro) film ever again. Thanks to Director Dan Mazer (The Dictator) and writer John Phillips for taking Efron and DeNiro to new lows in their careers.

     

  • Top 5 Unintentionally Gay Horror Movies

    Hollywood is still learning about inclusivity. Movies with real and relatable LGBT characters can be counted with one hand. But it doesn’t mean there hasn’t been plenty of homoeroticism in movies, especially in the horror film industry.

    SPONSORED BY:

    Voucherbin

     

     

     

    The following movies have not included any actual gay characters, but nonetheless have ended up creating some of the film industry’s most gay movies. Most of the homoerotic subtext gives a rather fun finish for the films.

    So, if you are about to invest your hard earned pennies in some entertainment for the weekend, and you have been searching around sites akin to VoucherBin.co.uk, to get the very best deals and coupons, we’ve got five movies that you may want to add to your entertainment list and are not going to break the bank. So, if you are in need of a spooky, yet brilliantly camp, way to spend your afternoon this winter, check out these below films.

     

    Jeepers Creepers II (2003)

    First mention must go to Jeepers Creepers II. It features a monster that has an affliction to eat half-naked teenage boys. Not as an occasional treat, but he seems to be skipping other type of human altogether.

    Much of the movie sees the young guys taking every opportunity to take of their shirt and singing songs about fighting cocks. All of this happens, while they loudly accuse each other of being gay.

    In truth, this film has a rather sinister and dark feel to it. While the homoerotic horror seems relatively unintentional, the tantalising of younger boys seems creepy. Even more so, when you remember Victor Silva (director/writer) was convicted of having sex with an underage boy in 1988.

     

    Fright Night (1985)

    This movie is not entirely a horror movie, as it falls under the category of horror-comedy intentionally. Nevertheless, there’s gayer subtext in the movie than a season of Sherlock.

    In fact, not all of it is purely subtext since the main vampire character is undercover in the movie with a hunky boyfriend by his side. He then develops a fixation with the teenage neighbour and seduces another young boy.

    Not to mention the movie features a ton of Hollywood’s future LGBT powers, such as Amanda Bearse and gay porn star Stephen Geoffreys.

     

     

    The Forsaken (2001)

    We’re not sure if this movie can even pass as unintentionally gay, since one of the lead actors has been quizzed about the homoeroticism in the movie. Yet, he’s denied a gay plot line, so we just have to take his word.

    The movie sees a young man, Sean, becoming friends with a vampire, Nick. The two end up riding across the US, while a naked woman appears (and no one bats an eyelid) and spend a lot of time staring each other in the eyes.

     

    American Psycho (2000)

    There is definitely something extremely homoerotic in the narcissism of Christian Bale’s character. He looks at himself in the mirror while having sex with his female victims and even winks at himself in a very disturbing fashion.

    Furthermore, while this blood-crazed lunatic seems to kill everyone who gets in his way, there’s one person who gets to slip away. Yes, a gay character doesn’t get the chop, with the scenes having a certain level of erotic danger in them.

     

    A Nightmare on Elm Street II: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)

    Do we even need to explain this classic movie? Well, in case you haven’t seen it, the movie is all about Freddie Kruger trying to get inside another man’s body. See? Pretty obvious if you ask us.

    In addition, the other main character, Jesse, spends much of this movie shirtless (and without pants) breathing heavily after intense nightmares covered in sweat. Finally, we have to mention that at one point, giant balls attack while Jesse showers naked. Yes – giant balls. Draw your own conclusions!

    We really couldn’t possibly make this up.

    Do you have a favourite unintentionally gay horror movie? Let us know!

    SPONSORED BY: Voucherbin.co.uk (what does this mean?)

  • FILM REVIEW | Naz & Maalik, a tender love story amidst barriers in their culture

    ★★★★ | Naz & Maalik

    Bedford-Stuyvesant is a tough neighbourhood to grow up and live in, it’s even tougher if you’re young, black, Muslim and gay.

    Naz & Maalik (Kerwin Johnson Jr. and Curtiss Cook Jr.) are two closeted Muslim teenagers who happen to be in love with each other. Their relationship remains a secret, not just to their families they are very close to, but also because of their religion’s condemnation of homosexuality. But Naz & Maalik shows us how both young men go about their daily routine on a Friday afternoon, it’s an afternoon that sees their relationship get tested over a series of events that take place on that day. They sell lottery tickets and saints cards on the streets to passersby to make a bit extra spending money, and then they go to their local mosque for afternoon prayers, where the preacher says a special welcome to any police or FBI who might be in attendance.

    A man on the street tries to sell them a gun that interests Maalik who tries to get the guy to bring the price down. They decide to just walk away and not buy the gun. But unbeknownst to them, the gun seller was an FBI agent (Bradley Brian Custer) who, along with his partner Sarah Mickell (Annie Grier), start following the young men around. But It’s Mickell who takes more of an interest, she corners them separately and questions them on where they were the night before, and while Maalik tells her that he was with Naz, it’s Naz who lies and tells her he was at another friends house as to not give Mickell an idea that him and Maalik are in a relationship. But the young men just want to be left alone, and to complete their day’s mission of getting a chicken to kill for Maalik’s mom’s birthday.

    Inspired by true events, Naz & Maalik poignantly tells what it’s like to be an outsider within your own community, a community that has been under constant surveillance since 9/11. And at its centre is a well-acted film by its two lead stars. Writer and Director Jay Dockendorf interviewed Muslims, including closeted gays, to get a realistic point of view. It’s an impressive first feature from Dockendorf.

    Available on Amazon

  • TOP LIST | Top Foodie Films

    Here is our favourite eclectic selection of mouth-watering films where the real star is the FOOD. (more…)

  • The Oscars go to… THEGAYUK predicts who will win and who should win The Oscars

    The Oscars are the ultimate prize of the movie industry but every year the nominees and winners are invariably made up of very worthy films and performances which hardly anybody paid to go see and most films did not even make it too your local Multiplex. (more…)

  • FILM REVIEW | Room

    FILM REVIEW | Room

    Room  | ★★★★★

    A mother and her son are trapped in a room and can’t escape in the very dramatic and suspenseful film ‘Room.’

    ‘Room’ will take your breath away. It’s one of the most talked about films of the year, deservedly so, with performances that are top notch. It’s an adaptation of a novel called ‘Room’ written by Emma Donoghue, who also wrote the script. And what a script it is. Although the film takes place in just a few locations, it feels like it goes far and wide.

    It’s a plot that could be ripped from the headlines: a young teenage girl was kidnapped at the age of 17 by a stranger and is held captive in a shed in his backyard with the young son who was born out of an unwanted sexual relationship with him – they call him ‘Old Nick’ (Sean Bridgers). Brie Larson plays Joy, and Jacob Tremblay is her son Jack, and both are superb. They survive in that shed, with grey concrete walls. it’s a room (or as they simply call it ‘room’), where they are held, prisoner.

    It’s got a skylight, a kitchen, a toilet next to the bed, a closet where Jack sleeps, a plant, and a mouse that pops out every now and then. And five-year Jack knows of no other life than the life he’s led in the room. He doesn’t really know anything about the world outside room, and he thinks that what he sees on television is make-believe, and not real people acting. When Old Nick pays visits to room for his sexual pleasure with Joy, Jack hides in the closet, and Joy refuses to let Nick touch him, or even to see him. But Joy has an idea that might work to get her son out of the room, and when the idea takes place and works, Jack is suddenly thrust out into the world. If you’ve seen the trailer you know that Jack and his mother have escaped the room, but it’s the five or so minutes when this happens that is the most suspenseful and compelling five minutes of this film, of perhaps any film, you will have seen for years. But Jack has to adjust to the outside world, a world he’s never been exposed to. This includes being exposed to other people, including his grandparents, the divorced Nancy (Joan Allen) and Robert (William H. Macy), and Nancy’s new husband Doug (Matt Gordon). And Joy has to adjust being out of the room as well – it’s an adjustment that’s not an easy one. Told from Jack’s point of view, we see through his very young eyes this brave new world that he knows nothing about, grandparents that he’s meeting for the first time, and more important leaving the room where he had lived all of his short life.

    ‘Room’ is a story about survival, emotions, and the tight relationship between a mother and her young son. It’s masterfully directed by Lenny Abrahamson who is responsible for holding our attention throughout the entire movie. It’s also credit to the actors who bring this story to life. Told from Jack’s perspective who is in every scene, we see his freedom as a rebirth of sorts, with Joy being his world in and out of the room. Only seven when he was cast, Tremblay captures, and holds us, in his every scene. It’s incredible that a young boy his age has so much range that he displays in the film. He’s simply incredible. It’s a shame that he didn’t receive a BAFTA, Oscar or Golden Globe nomination for this film, it’s the performance of the year. Larson is excellent as Joy. Larson rose to fame in her award-winning performance in 2013’s Short Term 12.

    She just deservedly won Best Actress at the Golden Globe Awards and is now the front runner for the Best Actress Oscar. But it’s Tremblay who steals the movie. He’s simply just amazing. ‘Room’ has been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar – deservedly so.

  • Gay and Lesbian Critics Announce Film Award Nominations

    The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association comprised of over 130 reputable critics and entertainment journalists nationwide, have released its nominees for the best in movies and television of 2015 awards, called the Dorian Awards.

    The selections come across 23 categories, from mainstream to LGBTQ-centered film, with titles as varied as Carol, The Big Short, Mad Max: Fury Road, Ex Machina, Mad Men, and Tangerine.

    This year, the 1950s-set lesbian romance Carol is in the race for Film of the Year, with its stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara competing for Film Performance of the Year — Actress. Also up for the top film prize: Brooklyn, Mad Max, Spotlight and The Big Short, director Adam McKay’s tragic comedy about Wall Street’s hand in America’s 2008 economic collapse.

    In news that may spice up award-season chatter, Tom Hardy was nominated for Film Performance of the Year — Actor for his dual role as England’s notorious mobsters the Kray Twins in Legend. Hardy’s fellow nominees include Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant, which happens to costar both actors. As for Director of the Year, nominations for Sean Baker (Tangerine) and George Miller (Mad Max) reflect a breadth as well.

    GALECA’s categories run the gamut from Wilde Wit (named for the group’s “patron saint,” Oscar Wilde) to Visually Striking Film to TV Current Affairs Show. In its trademark cheeky Campy Flick and Campy TV Show races, Fifty Shades of Grey and American Horror Story: Hotel respectively lead the charge.

    Dorian winners will be announced next Tuesday, January 19. The group’s annual, Hasty Pudding-esque Winners Toast is set for Sunday, March 6, in Los Angeles, and “any nominees or victors who care to join our LA-area members for champagne and pomme frites and fun are most welcome,” said GALECA John Griffiths, GALECA president and Television Critic for Us Weekly.

    Past GALECA toasts have drawn Lea DeLaria,Transparent’s Melora Hardin, famed marriage rights activists Jeff Carrillo and Paul Katami, The Comeback’s Robert Michael Morris, indie star Val Lauren, trailblazing actor Wilson Cruz, singer/author Sam Harris and ABC Studios Executive Vice President Patrick Moran.

    As for its Timeless Star honor, GALECA has decided to award their humble career-achievement honor to actress Jane Fonda, the veteran star of the film classics Klute, Coming Home, 9 to 5 as well as the past year’s Youth and ongoing Netflix comedy Grace and Frankie. Past Timeless picks include Sir Ian McKellen, George Takei and Fonda’s Grace costar Lily Tomlin.

    Here are the nominations for the film categories:

    FILM OF THE YEAR

    The Big Short / Paramount, Regency

    Brooklyn / Fox Searchlight

    Carol / The Weinstein Company

    Mad Max: Fury Road / Warner Bros., Village Road ShowSpotlight / Open Road, Participant, First Look

     

    DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

    (Film or Television)

    Sean Baker, Tangerine / Magnolia Pictures

    Todd Haynes, Carol / The Weinstein Company

    Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, The Revenant / Fox

    Tom McCarthy, Spotlight / Open Road, Participant, First Look

    George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road / Warner Bros., Village Road Show

     

    PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR — ACTRESS

    Cate Blanchett, Carol / The Weinstein Company

    Brie Larson, Room / A24

    Rooney Mara, Carol / The Weinstein Company

    Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years / Sundance Selects

    Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn / Fox Searchlight

     

    PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR — ACTOR

    Matt Damon, The Martian / Fox

    Leonardo DiCaprio, The Revenant / Fox

    Michael Fassbender, Steve Jobs / Universal

    Tom Hardy, Legend / Universal, Cross Creek

    Eddie Redmayne, The Danish Girl / Focus, Working Title

     

    LGBTQ FILM OF THE YEAR

    Carol / The Weinstein Company

    The Danish Girl / Focus, Working Title

    Freeheld / Summit

    Grandma / Sony Pictures Classics

    Tangerine / Magnolia Pictures

     

    FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OF THE YEAR

    The Assassin / Central Motion Pictures, Well Go USA

    Mustang / Cohen Media Group

    Phoenix / Sundance Selects

    Son of Saul / Sony Pictures Classics

    Viva / Magnolia Pictures

     

    SCREENPLAY OF THE YEAR

    Emma Donoghue, Room / A24

    Phyllis Nagy, Carol / The Weinstein Company

    Charles Randolph and Adam McKay, The Big Short / Paramount, Regency

    Josh Singer & Tom McCarthy, Spotlight / Open Road, Participant, First Look

    Aaron Sorkin, Steve Jobs / Universal

     

    DOCUMENTARY OF THE YEAR

    (theatrical release, TV airing or DVD release)

    Amy / A24

    Best of Enemies / Magnolia Pictures, Magnet

    Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief / HBO

    Making a Murderer / Netflix

    What Happened, Miss Simone? / Netflix

     

    VISUALLY STRIKING FILM OF THE YEAR

    (honoring a production of stunning beauty, from art direction to cinematography)

    Carol / The Weinstein Company

    The Danish Girl / Focus, Working Title

    Mad Max: Fury Road / Warner Bros., Village Road Show

    The Martian / Fox

    The Revenant / Fox

     

    UNSUNG FILM OF THE YEAR

    The Diary of a Teenage Girl / Sony Pictures Classics

    Ex Machina / A24

    Grandma / Sony Pictures Classics

    Me and Earl and the Dying Girl / Fox Searchlight

    Tangerine (Magnolia)

     

    CAMPY FLICK OF THE YEAR

    The Boy Next Door

    Fifty Shades of Grey

    Magic Mike XXL

    Jupiter Ascending

    Stonewall

     

    “WE’RE WILDE ABOUT YOU!” RISING STAR AWARD

    Rami Malek

    Kitana Kiki Rodriguez

    Mya Taylor

    Jacob Tremblay

    Alicia Vikander

     

    WILDE WIT OF THE YEAR

    (honoring a performer, writer or commentator whose observations both challenge and amuse)

    Billy Eichner

    Rachel Maddow

    Tig Notaro

    John Oliver

    Amy Schumer

     

    WILDE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

    (honoring a truly groundbreaking force in the fields of film, theater and/or television)

    Andrew Haigh

    Todd Haynes

    Lin-Manuel Miranda

    Tig Notaro

    Amy Schumer

     

    TIMELESS STAR

    (to an actor or performer whose exemplary career is marked by character, wisdom and wit)

    Jane Fonda

     

    by Tim Baros

  • FILM REVIEW | The Danish Girl

    FILM REVIEW | The Danish Girl

    Oscar-winning Director Tom Hooper (‘The Kings Speech’) and Oscar-winning Actor Eddie Redmayne (‘The Theory of Everything’) bring us the life of a male Dutch artist who, with the support from his wife, becomes a woman, in the new film ‘The Danish Girl.’ ★★★

    Based on the book of the same name by David Ebershoff, ‘The Danish Girl’ tells the real life story of Einar Wegener (Redmayne) who never felt right as a man so transitioned into a woman, being one of the first known recipients ever of reassignment surgery. It was with the support of his wife and fellow painter Gerde Wegener (Alicia Vikander) that gave him the courage and hope that helped him through the transition to live the rest of his life as Lili Elbe. But the film portrays Einar’s transition and Gerde’s acceptance as a dull one, there are no real revelations, nothing exciting about the story, and even Redmayne’s performance is a bit under the radar. It’s Vikander who steals the movie right from under Redmayne’s corset.
    The movie tells us that Einar’s interest in all things transgender suddenly happened when Gerde asked him to fill in for a female model who didn’t show up for one of her painting sessions. So she asks Wegener to put on a dress so that she can finish the painting. Wegener likes the way it feels, but more importantly he likes the way he looks in it, and this suddenly awakens Einar’s inner woman. This takes place in 1926 while the couple was living in the liberal land of Copenhagen, though such things were not done, nor not even discussed back then. But with Gerde’s full support, and help, Einar starts dressing up as a woman outside of their house. Things get a bit more complicated when another man, Henrick (Ben Whishaw) takes an interest in Einar, who by this time has started calling herself Lili.
    Gerde is asked to go to Paris so that she can work for a local art dealer, and while her career flourishes, their marriage slowly dissolves. And a childhood friend of Lili’s, Hans (Matthias Schoenaerts) shows up and forms a complex triangle with the couple. And it’s not long before Einar goes ahead with the surgery.
    ‘The Danish Girl’ is dull. It’s not a sweeping European love story where love conquers all in the midst of one man’s gender confusion and one woman’s loyalty to such man. Hooper’s direction can’t bring Lucinda Coxon’s boring script to life. Not even the actors can accomplish this.
    Redmayne is good as Einar/Lili, yet there were times when I thought I was still watching him play Stephen Hawking. It’s his eyes, he blinks them quite a lot in this film, just like the way he did in ‘The Theory of Everything.’ However, ‘The Danish Girl’ is pretty much Vikander’s movie.
    She’s beautiful and emotional and accepting when the times call for it – it’s just as good a performance as Felicity Jones was as in ‘The Theory of Everything.‘ Vikander’s star is on a meteoric rise, having appeared in three films this past year (‘Ex Machina,’ ‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.‘ and ‘Burnt‘). She’s currently filming the fifth Bourne Identity film with Matt Damon and Tommy Lee Jones and has two other features coming out in 2016. I was very disappointed that ‘The Danish Girl’ was not as good as I had hoped, perhaps it might be better to read the actual book, and skip the movie.by Tim Baros

  • 2015 In Review: Best Of Gay Cinema From The Iris Film Festival

    Looking back over 2015, it has been a great year for gay cinema, and nowhere more evident than at this year’s Iris Film Festival, which was held in Cardiff.

    With over 50 films, live entertainment, a bar, workshops, a youth conference, and an awards ceremony. It’s no surprise the slogan for the Iris Prize Film Festival this year was “Watch films, party nightly, repeat”. And there was certainly a lot of that going on. The festival is a showcase of fresh new LGBT cinema. 30 short films were competing for the Iris Prize of £30,000, allowing the winner to make a new short film in the UK. And there was certainly an impressive mix of work shown. Filmmakers used humour, drama, factual reporting, interviews, satire, animation, and even contemporary dance. There were also 10 films competing for Best of British Short, and several feature films.

    The climax of the event was the Awards ceremony, hosted by Amy Lamé. This opened with a live performance by Lily Beau, singing the beautifully haunting song which had been used in the festival’s video montage.

    This year, the Iris Prize was awarded to Arkasha Stevenson from the USA for ‘Vessels’ – about a transgender woman who gets silicone breast injections. Best of British Short was won by Lloyd Eyre-Morgan for ‘Closets’, which brings a young gay man from the 1980s together with another from contemporary times. It also won the Youth Jury Award for Best Short. Best Feature went to Andrew Nackman for the coming-out comedy ‘Fourth Man Out’; And performance awards went to Sigrid ten Napel for ‘Summer’, and Davide Capone for ‘Darker Than Midnight’.

    The annual event has just celebrated its ninth year in Cardiff, and took place over five days. It’s a busy event, with two screens operating and very few empty seats. Yet despite that, there was a friendly and enthusiastic atmosphere throughout. Many of the directors were there to introduce their film or take part in Q&A sessions, and chat afterwards.

    The festival is highly recommended and details can be found at the official website at http://www.irisprize.org/ . The dates for 2016 have been confirmed as 12 – 16th October, so book your tickets and see the best cinema that new, gay talent has to offer. Highlights of the film festival this year included:

    VESSELS

    USA/Arkasha Stevenson/15m

    The story of a transgender woman called Diamond who has little money, and goes to get illegal silicone breast injections. But in this case low-cost beauty comes at a cost. This film is both gorgeous to look at, and hard to watch. The person who takes the money and administers the injections emerges from a cloud of cigarette smoke with talon-like green fingernails, like an exotic dragon or witch. The pain of the procedure was uncomfortably convincing, and I admit I watched this scene with my arms folded over my chest. The film is visually stunning, with a rich blue and blood-red colour palette, unsettling use of camera angles and lighting. And all the while, the imagery of the night-time traffic travelling through the busy roads like corpuscles in blood vessels. In short, this film is stunning.

    IN THE HOLLOW

    USA/Austin Bunn/15mThe true story of two young women who went hiking in the woods, and were shot by a homophobic man. The film has all the more impact because it is told by the surviving woman recounting the story in the present day, as she re-visits the actual site of the attack. This is intercut with scenes of a re-enactment. The end result is a powerful and moving piece of filmmaking.

    THE LITTLE DEPUTY

    Canada/Trevor Anderson/9m

    A short but totally charming film about a young boy who goes to one of those Wild West themed photo studios with his father. When the photographer mistakenly offers him a red dress to wear, he corrects him and puts on a little deputy sheriff uniform and poses next to his Dad. As an adult, he decides to go back and re-create the portrait in a way that seems far more comfortable. The filming style is clever and witty, starting off like a home movie and ending up as a Wild West fantasy. This is both funny and hugely likeable, with a terrific punchline.

    CLOSETS

    UK/Lloyd Eyre-Morgan/18m

    Winner of both Best of British Short and the Youth Prize. In 1986, a teenage boy likes to wear dresses and mime to Bette Midler and Cher. Humiliated by his mother and told, “You’re not right!” he seeks refuge in his wardrobe and considers ending it all. A flash of light transports him to 2016 where he meets a gay teenager living in the same room. Closets is an intelligently written and produced film that compares what it’s like being gay 30 years ago and today. Things may have moved on, but is everything rosey now? This is a thought-provoking film that puts serious points across with humour and just a little bit of sci-fi whimsy.

    CHANCE

    UK/Jake Graf/16m

    Trevor is suffering loneliness and depression after losing Doris, his wife and long-time companion. He regularly takes flowers to the park bench which bears a plaque in her memory. There he meets another man who is also troubled and lonely, a friendship starts to develop. Over time, mutual support and fondness blossom into something deeper, but will that be enough to overcome the barriers and allow both men to find happiness again? It’s a simple plot, but a wonderfully warm-hearted film. And it’s refreshing to see a love story where the characters are older men. You really do feel the characters’ pain, their love, and their happiness. It’s a very sweet little film that will bring a lump to your throat and a smile to your face.

    PAPER THIN

    UK/Nataly Lebouleux/20m

    Here we have something totally different. A dark and sinister animation, about a young lesbian being forced to go through conversion therapy. The film takes a swipe at the religious justification behind this type of “purification”, and the ‘loving’ parents who think they know best. The unsettling nightmare-like style falls somewhere between Jan Svankmejer and David Lynch. It also brings in elements of 1950s sci-fi b-movies and horror, and the work as a whole is very disturbing to watch.

    FOURTH MAN OUT

    USA/Andrew Nackman/86m

    Adam lives in small-town USA. He’s a car mechanic by day, and hangs out with his three best friends by night, having poker nights, watching the game together, and going to strip clubs. But for the last few years Adam has been keeping a secret, and he’s finally decided it’s time to open his closet and reveal the truth.Fourth Man Out tells the story from two different perspectives. The gay man coming out to his family and friends. And the straight buddies who have to try and accept this surprising new information. The script is warm and funny, with some brilliantly comic set pieces and an assortment of wonderfully weird characters. The ensemble cast does a great job making the characters believable, funny and immensely likeable. By the time the closing credits rolled, I wanted them all to be my friends too, even the ones I didn’t like at first. And I really didn’t want the film to end.

    SCRUM

    Australia/Poppy Stockell/54mI have a confession to make. As a person who groans at the mere mention of sport, I was not expecting to be very taken by a sports-related documentary film. But despite my reservations, I have to say it completely won me over. Amazing photography, GoPro camera sequences, high definition slow motion shots, and fascinating behind the scenes footage. All of this combined makes you feel you are actually there. Plus it challenges stereotype views of gay men. Poppy Stockell shows us an Australian gay rugby team preparing for the Bingham Cup. But rather than dwelling on the sport itself, she tells the story through the players. We learn about their backgrounds, their challenges, and their passion for the game. We feel their emotion, their pride and their humour. And above all, we see the importance of belonging and being accepted. Something you don’t need to be a sports person to understand. It’s an unexpected way to produce a sports documentary film, but I loved it. I found it touching, funny and inspiring. Ok, I might not be any the wiser on the rules of rugby, or feel any more tempted to get my shorts on and join in. But I have a heck of a lot more respect for those guys who do.

    HOW TO WIN AT CHECKERS (EVERY TIME)

    Thailand/USA/Indonesia/Josh Kim/80mWhen they turn 21, young men in Thailand are put forward for a lottery which decides which are drafted into military service. The draw is a major event with friends and family present, and the men have to pull a ticket from a pot which decides the next two years for them. On the day Oat has to go through this process, he recalls the story of when he was 11 years old and his brother Ek was in the same position. Ek’s boyfriend, Jai, came from a wealthy family who could afford to bribe the officials and keep him at home. But with both parents dead, Oat and Ek have to live with their aunt and rely on Ek as the main breadwinner. As we watch the day of the lottery approach for Ek, will he be selected? And if so, what will happen to Oat? Despite two of the main characters being in a same-sex relationship, the story is not specifically about homosexuality. It is only significant because it means both men will be up for the draft at the same time. In fact, people in the film are generally accepting of the gay and transgender characters. The story is more about relationships, and how they can be affected by issues like class and power. It’s about how people “do what they have to do” to survive. I’ll admit, The Hunger Games did go through my mind with the lottery scene, but that is the only similarity. This is a skillfully written and directed film, and the cinematography is gorgeous to look at. Oat is bright, resourceful and resilient, and the actor gives an impressive performance. In fact, the acting overall is superb in this. If you’re looking for a film that gives your emotions a workout, and sticks in your mind for days afterwards, this is well worth seeing.

    SUMMER (ZOMER)

    Netherlands/Colette Bothof/85mAnne is a 16 year old who lives in a village where nothing changes. Everyone knows everyone else, and outsiders are not welcomed. Old fashioned chauvinism, racism and homophobia are the norm. Anne has never felt she belonged until Lena arrives. Lena is different to everyone else there. She is confident, rides a motorbike, wears leather, and seems to know what she wants. Anne is immediately fascinated by her, and a passionate romance soon develops between them. Summer/Zomer is a beautifully shot coming-of-age film with a surprising soundtrack of upbeat songs. It represents that moment in someone’s life when they see things clearly for the first time, and everything changes forever, which will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt different or an outsider. It reassures you that things can change, and there is hope. Despite some incredibly dark parts to the story, this is overall an uplifting film that’s hard not to like.

    by Martin David | @doubleagent73