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Tag: Film Festivals

  • LGBT+ films to be shown in Delhi at Miranda House

    India’s first traveling campus LGBT+ film festival ‘ KASHISH Forward’ and Sridhar Rangayan’s ‘Purple Skies’ will screen at Miranda House in Delhi University, to raise awareness about LGBT+ issues

    After travelling to 13 cities with 16 screenings, KASHISH Forward now travels to New Delhi to screen at Miranda House, University of Delhi on August 25th from 11.30am to 4.00pm. The event which is open to all will screen 7 LGBT+ films focused on youth and their issues like gender identity, coming out and family acceptance.

    The event will also screen Sridhar Rangayan’s acclaimed documentary film on LBT (lesbians, bisexuals and transmen) ‘Purple Skies’, produced by PSBT India and Solaris Pictures. This was the first lesbian themed film to receive a U certificate from the censor board and also was telecast on Doordarshan.

    “Lesbians and bisexual women face double discrimination – as same-sex loving persons and as women – and have a tougher time negotiating for their rights in Indian society. There has to be a move to make LBT community more visible and their concerns heard loud”, said Sridhar Rangayan, director of the film and festival director of KASHISH,

    “It is important to start dialogue at college level with young minds”, he added.

    The event, organised by the Women’s Development Cell of Miranda House and KASHISH Arts Foundation, the parent body of KASHISH MIQFF in association with Queer India Support and Movies That Matter (Netherlands).

    “We at Miranda House believe in creating inclusive, safe and brave space where diversity is accepted and equitable access between all individuals is normative”, said Aishwarya Unnikrishnan, President of Women’s Development Cell, Miranda House whose motto is “Together We Rise”, aiming to forge solidarity with different movements happening across the globe to anchor beyond the binaries.

    Queer India Support is a new initiative that essentially aims to be the first line of support for LGBT+ individuals and their allies and a platform that surpasses geographical constraints with the digital medium.

    “We are happy to bridge the gap between such compelling film screenings and the campuses. Hope this contributes to the sensitization of the students and becomes a step in building a more inclusive society”, said Harsh Aggarwal, Founder of Queer India Support, which aims to be the first line of support for queer individuals and their allies.

    The films to be screened at the event are Keep Your Head Up from Ireland, Amar: Deaf Is An Identity and Scarlines from Canada, No Matter Who  from France,  To Mum (Love Me) from Singapore, and All About Love and My Child Is Gay, I Am Happy from India

  • London’s LGBT Film Festival, Flare Is Underway

    London’s LGBT Film Festival, Flare Is Underway

    Flare turns 30 this year. And what is Flare you might ask? It’s London’s LGBT Film Festival. Flare starts on Wednesday March 16th and continues up until Sunday March 27th. That’s ten jam-packed days of films, seminars, parties, and just plain lots of fun!The Pass

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  • 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

  • The Vincent Price Legacy Tour – a must if you’re a fan!

    Vincent Price, the star of many horror films, is being celebrated by having his own tour.

    The Vincent Price London Legacy Tour celebrates not only the actor’s legendary horror roles, but also his great love for London. It’s where he got the acting bug while studying art at the age of 24.Price was born in St. Louis, MIssouri in 1911 but it wasn’t until the 1960’s that London became his second home. It’s also where he met his third wife and where some of his most iconic horror screen roles were born.

    The tour, which is a first for the capital, will be led by Victoria Price, Vincent’s daughter, and who has come out as a Lesbian. Victoria is a designer, art consultant, author, and public speaker who wrote the critically acclaimed book about her father ‘Vincent Price: A Daughter’s Biography’ published in 1999, and reissued in 2014.

    She will speak about her dad, meet with fans, and help keep the memory of her father alive. The five day event will include a tour of Kensal Green Cemetery, which was a location for the film ‘Theatre of Blood,’ followed by a half day excursion on Thursday, Nov. 5th to Grim’s Dyke Hotel in Middlesex, which was the llcation of ‘Cry of the Banshee.’ On Friday November 6th Victoria will present a multi-media presentation about her father at Barts Pathology museum in the City of London. On Saturday November 7th a breakfast at Harrods is planned and which will mark the 50th anniversary reprint of Vincent and his wife Mary’s cookbook ‘A Treasury of Great Recipes.’ And finally on Sunday November 8th there will be a full day tour in Lavenham, Suffolk, which was the prime location of Price’s 1968 film ‘Witchfinder General.’
    For tickets to these events, and for more information, please click here

    Vincent Price starred in dozens of films, but is best known for his distinctive voice and performances in horror films, which included ‘House of Usher’ (1960), ‘The Pit and the Pendulum’ (1961), ‘The Raven’ (1963), ‘The Mask of Red Death’ (1964) and most famously ‘House of Wax’ (1953), and ‘The Fly’ (1958).

    Price died in Los Angeles as the age of 82 of lung cancer in Los Angeles, California.

    by TIm Baros

  • The 59th BFI London Film Festival begins on Wednesday

    The program for the 59th BFI London Film Festival is another stellar lineup of must-see movies starring the world’s hottest stars, and includes several films with Gay & Lesbian content:

    It’s a rich and diverse lineup that includes a total of 238 fiction and documentary features, including 16 World Premieres, 8 International Premieres, 40 European Premieres and 11 Archive films. Taking place from Wednesday 7 October 2015 to Sunday 18 October 2015 at various venues across London, also included are talks and seminars and special presentations.
    The festival opens with the premiere of the eagerly anticipated Suffragette. An all-star cast brings to life the early UK feminist movement as they fought for their right to vote. Carey Mulligan (who is a shoo-in for an Oscar nomination for this role) stars alongside Helen Bonham Carter, Anne-Marie Duff, with a cameo by Meryl Streep. Screenplay by Abi Morgan (The Iron Lady, Shame).

    Gay & Lesbian themed films to be shown at the festival that might be of interest to you include:

    Tangerine

    A tale of two transsexual sex workers on Santa Monica Boulevard and the friendship they have amidst their dangerous profession.

    Carol

    Carol tells the simple story of a 1950’s department store clerk who falls for another woman. This one stars the can’t miss Cate Blanchett, and is directed by Todd Haynes (Far From Heaven). With Rooney Mara.

    Chemsex

    A documentary that takes a look at London’s gay sex and drugs scene. It will do doubt cause lots of conversation and controversy.

    Grandma

    Lily Tomlin is back on the big screen playing a sharp-tongued, foul-mouthed Lesbian poet in her 70’s, who also happens to be grieving over the death of her long-term partner, and is interrupted by a visit from her granddaughter.

    Gayby Baby

    A documentary that follows the lives of four Australian children whose parents all happen to be gay.

    Aligarh

    This film follows the downfall of a male college professor after he was found in bed with his male-rickshaw driver lover. It’s one of the few films ever that has dealt with the Indian gay male experience.

    Closet Monster

    A troubled teenager falls for a new boy at his work which makes his life even more confusing. He has conversations with his pet hamster, voiced by Isabella Rossellini.

    Other movies being shown at the festival include:

    Trumbo

    Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston stars as Dalton Trumbo, a screenwriter in 1940’s Hollywood who gets blacklisted after he is confirmed to be a Communist. Diane Lane plays his wife while Helen Mirren plays gossip columnist Hedda Hopper.

    Bang Gang

    One of the most controversial films of the festival about a group of French high school students who start a private orgy society.

    High Rise

    Adapted from J.G. Ballard’s novel of the same name, High Rise stars Tom Hiddleston in a film set in a luxurious high rise tower block that begins to decay almost as soon as it is built.

    He Named Me Malala

    A documentary about the 18-year old Malala Yousafzai who was shot in the head by the Taliban for championing girls’ education in Pakistan.

    The Program

    Director Stephen Frears brings us the story of disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong (played by Ben Foster) in a documentary-style telling of Armstrong’s triumphant Tour de France years to his mighty downfall after his confession of taking drugs to enhance his performance.

    Live from New York

    A funny documentary about the long-running American television institution Saturday Night Live, from its beginnings in 1975 through its many cast members (some of whom went on to have highly successful movie and television careers).

    Black Mass

    An unrecognizable Johnny Depp stars in this true story about one of the Boston’s most violent criminals (Jimmy Bulger) who became an FBI informant. Also starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Bulger’s brother Billy and Joel Edgerton as the FBI agent who persuades Jimmy to turn against the mafia.

    The Lobster

    This film could win the award for the most far-fetched plot: In the future, single people have to find a partner within 45 days or are then transformed into animals and released into the woods. This one stars Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz. With their very good lucks there is no doubt they will find a match, within one day no doubt.

    The Lady in a Van

    Dame Maggie Smith stars as a homeless woman who lives in a van parked outside playwright Alan’s Bennett’s home in the 1960s. Believe it or not it’s based on a true story that actually took place in the 1960s, where she ended up staying for 12 years.

    Truth

    Cate Blanchett (again) stars at CBS news producer Mary Mapes, with Robert Redford as anchorman Dan Rather, and their involvement in a story that questioned then-President George W. Bush’s receiving preferential treatment to help avoid the Vietnam draft.

    Sherpa

    Documentary about the deteriorating relationship between Sherpas (local people who help expeditions guide their clients up Mt. Everest) and western tourists, arriving just a few days before last year’s deadly avalanche that killed 16 sherpa. Timely as well in that sherpas were all but ignored in the recent film ‘Everest.’
    Room

    Brie Larson stars as a woman who has been trapped in a garden shed for seven years after being kidnapped and raped. She then attempts to escape with her five-year-old son.
    The film festival closes on one of the most eagerly-awaited films of the year – a film called Steve Jobs

    Michael Fassbender plays the late Steve Jobs, the man who made Apple a household name. Kate Winslet co-stars as his assistant Joanna Hoffman and Seth Rogen plays Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.
    There are nine program strands each headlined with a gala, they are: the Love Gala, the Debate Gala, the Dare Gala, the Laugh Gala, the Thrill Gala, the Cult Gala, the Journey Gala, the Sonic Gala, and the Family Gala.
    There will also be talks with filmmaker Todd Haynes (Carol), casting director Laura Rosenthal, actress Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn), and filmmakers Jia Zhangke and Walter Salles (A Guy from Fenyang).
    There will also be prizes handed out in the following categories:

    -The Official Competition: recognizing inspiring, inventive and distinctive filmmaking.

    -First Feature Competition: recognizing an original and imaginative directorial debut

    -Documentary Competition

    -Short Film Award
    Tickets have already gone on sale, so if you want to see any of the above-mentioned films or to peruse the other events taking place at the festival, please go here:
    http://www.bfi.org.uk/lff

  • Interview: Why We Need A Gay Film Festival In Shropshire

    This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Shropshire Rainbow Film Festival that takes place annually in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. (more…)

  • Gay Rugby World Cup documentary SCRUM to open Iris 2015

    Organisers of the Iris Prize Festival have confirmed that the Cardiff based LGBT film festival has adopted a rugby theme for their opening night to coincide with the Rugby World Cup. Supported by the Welsh Rugby Union, who allowed the festival team to film their cinema advert at the Millennium Stadium, the 2015 festival will open with the rugby documentary Scrum.

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  • US Defies Anti-Gay Laws With Screening Of Gay Film

    The US Embassy looks like it will defy anti-gay laws in Russia by adding a screening of I AM MICHAEL to a film festival it is sponsoring in September.

    Amfest, which will run from the 16-27th September in Moscow and St. Petersburg announced that it added Justin Kelly’s directorial debut, I Am Michael, starring James Franco and Zachary Quinto to its line up of films.

    I AM MICHAEL documents the true story of a gay activist who turns straight and becomes a Christian pastor. The film has won a number of awards including FilmOut International Film Festival – Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor

    Although the anti-gay Russian legislation, which was introduced in 2013, doesn’t ban films about homosexuality it does become illegal if someone under the age of 18 should watch the presentation.

  • Surrey Gay Film Festival Line Up Announced

    The second annual LGBT film festival will take place again in Redhill, Surrey in August.

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  • Frameline Festival Has The Gayest Promo Ever

    We have been to a few film festivals in our time but we can say without a doubt that the brand new trailer promoting San Francisco’s Frameline Festival is by far the best we have ever seen It is also probably the gayest too.

    Now in its 39th year Frameline is the world’s oldest and largest celebration of queer cinema. It so worth the trip, that’s if you even need an excuse to visit San Francisco itself. After all, there is no place like here.

    Watch it below

    www.frameline.org

    @RogerWalkerDack

  • Four Must Sees At The Fringe! Queer Art And Film Festival

    The 4th addition of East London’s FRINGE! Queer Art & Film Festival is its largest event to date having spread to a whole week of activities. It is one of this Country’s leading exponents of edgy queer cinema proudly showcasing films that may otherwise never get screened, and yet so need to reach the audience that they deserve. Amongst this year’s premieres we have chosen 4 as THE GAY UK top tips for you to go see.

    BAMBI: This very exceptional story of an unquestionably remarkable woman and her transformation from little Algerian boy to respected Parisian Literature Professor via Music Hall Star is utterly spellbinding It quite deservedly won filmmaker Sebastian Lifschitz the TEDDY AWARD for Best LGBT Documentary at the Berlin Film Festival.

    THE DOG: A compelling documentary on John Wojtowicz a loud-mouthed obnoxious New Yorker who robbed a Bank to pay for his boyfriend’s sex change. His exploits were fictionalised and made into the Oscar winning movie ‘Dog Day Afternoon.’

    THE CIRCLE: Part documentary part fiction, this is a fascinating glimpse into the post WW2 mixed fortunes of a gay community in Europe before the onslaught of freedom that was about to occur with the swinging 1960s. Another TEDDY WINNER, this is also Switzerland’s official submission for a Best Foreign Picture Oscar Nomination.

    BOY MEETS GIRL: Eric Schaeffer’s refreshing and enchanting drama about three 20 year-olds looking for love in a small backwater town in Kentucky gently challenges us to suspend our preconceived views on gender labels and be as open to what happens as these lovelorn kids are. It’s warm and often very funny and an entertaining, intelligent, sensitive treatment of an oft misunderstood subject and probably the most enlightening and best movie that we have seen on it so far.

    FRINGE! Queer Art & Film Festival runs 3rd – 9th November. For tickets and venues checkou tfringefilmfestival.com