Queer Artivism
An insight into 5 queer film festivals accompanied with the discussion about the importance of queer film festivals, queer film and people's experience with both.
Seven years after completing an Israeli Defense Course for female combat soldiers, director Hen Lasker returns to take a deeper look at the place where she first fell in love with a woman. Over the course of 66 days and nights, Lasker shoots a fly-on-the-wall documentary that allows unprecedented intimacy into the lives of the trainees and commanders of the Israeli army. The dichotomy of the innocence of these baby-faced trainees with the heavy burden of military service is a central theme of the film, illustrated in a scene where they discuss losing their virginity while waiting their turn to fire a machine gun. But it is the director’s relationship with Smadar, a breathtaking commander struggling to mask her gentle soul with a strict military persona, which makes the film truly enchanting. The intersection of love, duty, and personal growth thrive through to the film’s surprisingly moving finish.
An insight into 5 queer film festivals accompanied with the discussion about the importance of queer film festivals, queer film and people's experience with both.
Frankie and Charlie have moved to a tiny house. They regret it. It’s Christmas Eve. Frankie is miserable. Charlie’s organised a festive family lunch. Then Charlie finds a disoriented cockatiel by the river. She tucks him into a box and brings him inside. Little do they know – this bird has its own agenda. Nobody seems to notice something strange has started falling from the sky.
Riki returns to Iason Mink to live as his "pet," but Riki's friend Guy tries to take him back.
On planet Amoi, a great society has developed, creating a computerized city called Tanagura, ruled by supercomputer Jupiter. The populace is almost entirely male and is based on hair color; anyone silver/blond are the elite, with dark/black hair as the bottom of society, often known as "mongrels". Blonds have "pets", which are usually young boys kept for a few years, who are especially made for performing sexual actions for the Blond's voyeurism entertainment. The pets are not supposed to be kept for long, nor are Blonds allowed to interact sexually with them; but one Blond, named Iason Mink, has kept a pet for years. Mink is also rumored to sleep with his pet named Riki and refuses to let go of him; despite Jupiter's disapproval. Riki fights with his emotions and society problems, unable to decide what to do about his old friend/lover Gai (Guy) and their gang. Iason is obsessed with keeping Riki, and Riki doesn't know what to do; fight against him or surrender to him.
The teenage son of two fathers makes a documentary film about his parents but is surprised when a real-life plot twist occurs in his family.
The lifelong friendship between Rafe McCawley and Danny Walker is put to the ultimate test when the two ace fighter pilots become entangled in a love triangle with beautiful Naval nurse Evelyn Johnson. But the rivalry between the friends-turned-foes is immediately put on hold when they find themselves at the center of Japan's devastating attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
Crustacés et coquillages is a fresh French comedy film with numerous surprise turnarounds and about the tolerance of a family of four. The family spend an idealistic summer vacation together where each of the family members gets involved in a new or old relationship.
While waiting for her divorce papers, a repressed literature professor finds herself unexpectedly attracted by a carefree, spirited young woman named Cay.
Tobi and Achim, the pride of the local crew club, have been the best of friends for years and are convinced that nothing will ever stand in the way of their friendship. They look forward to the upcoming summer camp and the crew competition. Then the gay team from Berlin arrives and Tobi is totally confused. The evening before the races begin, the storm that breaks out is more than meteor-logical.
The star of a team of teenage crime fighters falls for the alluring villainess she must bring to justice.
Six friends (three men, one gay and a woman) gather together in Jason's house outside Beirut for his birthday. Each of them has a very difficult family situation. During a long, intense night, eating, dancing and talking seriously, the young people make an ideal pact of love and friendship in the name of freedom, of a dream, of the hope for a better future. As in a new Decameron, modern rebels against the oppression, traditions, sexism and homophobia that permeate their society. But the violence of the real world breaks in on their splendid isolation. The first Lebanese gay movie, which was censored in its country of origin. This film combines different genres and styles: a Bollywood style format full of songs, choreographies and colours, but also a powerful melodrama, alternating moments of comedy and dramatic elements. A manifesto of liberty and emancipation, with a cast of actors as stunningly beautiful as fashion models.
Shortly after The Third Solar Term of the Chinese Calendar (the Awakening of Insects), Qizhe returns home to spend his spring break with his mother. After meeting a man who he originally met online, he begins to lose control of his double life- one which is living true to himself, and the other, which is pretending to be the perfect son.
Guy Ben-Ner, one of Israel's foremost video artists, gained international recognition with a series of low-tech films, starring his family in absurdist settings carved out of their intimate spaces and their everyday surroundings. Many of his videos are inspired by screenplays for films, folktales and novels. Analyzing these literary and cinematographic passages allows him to exploit the conventions of film narrative: how to tell a story, captivate an audience through a tale, sustain a degree of tension and entertainment, and so on. At the same time, he corrupts the magic of fiction by openly showing us the entrails of everything he records, without worrying about revealing the tricks of the trade. A large part of his filmic oeuvre features a conglomeration of cinematic and literary references which the artist quotes, adapts or interprets. Ben-Ner self-referentially links the great themes and their literary, cinematic and artistic realization.
When Alexandria Smith, a non-binary manic playwright gets nullified due to a social media video they must return home and face their crumbling relationships. A modern LGBTQ adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull” for a new generation.
A road trip through gay spaces in small town South Africa, Graeme Reid's documentary introduces viewers to hairstylists, preachers, traditional healers, and beauty queens. This moving film provides an alternative vision of acceptance and celebration, in contrast to the wave of homophobia that is sweeping across sub-Saharan Africa.
REAL BOY is the coming-of-age story of Bennett Wallace, a transgender teenager on a journey to find his voice-as a musician, a friend, a son, and a man. As he navigates the ups and downs of young adulthood, Bennett works to gain the love and support of his mother, who has deep misgivings about her child's transition. Along the way, he forges a powerful friendship with his idol, Joe Stevens, a celebrated transgender musician with his own demons to fight.
A biography of artist Frida Kahlo, who channeled the pain of a crippling injury and her tempestuous marriage into her work.
In the 1970s, a young transgender woman called “Kitten” leaves her small Irish town for London in search of love, acceptance, and her long-lost mother.
During her wedding ceremony, Rachel notices Luce in the audience and feels instantly drawn to her. The two women become close friends, and when Rachel learns that Luce is a lesbian, she realizes that despite her happy marriage to Heck, she is falling for Luce. As she questions her sexual orientation, Rachel must decide between her stable relationship with Heck and her exhilarating new romance with Luce.
Four drag queens plan to rob the bank but on the very same day another group of teenager have the same task as them.