Outfest

Que(e)ries: 10 LGBT Films You Should See On This Summer's Queer Film Fest Circuit

Peter Knegt — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:16:01 GMT

While "Beyond The Candelabra" is currently gaying-up Cannes in a very big way (check out our report from the film's press conference here), most of us will be waiting until next Sunday night to watch the Liberace biopic on HBO. However, once Cannes comes to a close there will be all sorts of gay heading to film festivals that are actually near you: The summer queer film festival nears!

At the end of May, cities around North America will offer summertime fun in the form of the best LGBT cinema from the past year. Here's 10 of the most notable: Inside Out (May 23-June 2 in Toronto), Out Twin Cities Film Festival (May 29-June 2 in Minneapolis and St. Paul), Film Out San Diego (May 29-June 2), Provincetown (June 19-23, and not explicitly a LGBT fest but come on... it's in Provincetown), Frameline (June 20-30, its 37th edition!), Outfest (July 11-21), Philadelphia QFest (July 11-22), Damn These Heels! LGBT Film Festival (July 12-14 in Salt Lake City), QFest Houston (July 25-29), Vancouver Queer Film Festival (August 15-25) and finally NewFest (New York's LGBT fest recently moved to September 6-11 for its 25th edition, which is technically still summer).

Not all of the festivals have yet to announce their programs (click on the above links for more information in that regard), but it's likely they will have considerable crossover content. Which is not a blow to programmers, but simply a fact that each of these festivals aim to bring the best LGBT films from Sundance, Berlin, SXSW and the like to regional audiences, and there are rarely more than 20 good films in that regard in each year (if that). This year there are at least 10 as far as this writer is concerned, all of which are listed below (and before you rage up the comments, I'm aware that this list leans considerably toward films by and about gay men -- which is sadly more an issue of a lack of good content outside of that representation than me deliberately excluding quality L or T film).

Happy summer LGBT film festivaling:

"Before You Know It" (directed by PJ Raval)
One of the biggest and often ignored issues facing LGBT communities today and tomorrow is the fact that there is a rapidly aging population within them that is not properly being cared for. In the United States -- where PJ Raval’s documentary takes place -- there are an estimated 2.4 million LGBT Americans over the age of 55. As a demographic, they are five times less likely to access social services than their heterosexual counterparts, half as likely to have health insurance coverage, and 10 times less likely to have a caretaker if they fall ill. And unfortunately there is not much attention being paid to them by their younger LGBT counterparts (or anyone else, for that matter). Which is one of the reasons that PJ Raval's documentary "Before You Know It" is such a crucial new edition to the LGBT doc canon. Following three different LGBT seniors each facing a different array of issues, it affectingly personifies an increasingly forgotten generation of queer folks (and makes you want to become friends with all of them).

"C.O.G." (directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez)
The first film to ever adapt the work of gay literary icon David Sedaris, Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s “C.O.G.” manages to both do justice to Sedaris' unique voice and sense of humor while giving it a stamp of the director’s own. Based on an essay from Sedaris's 1997 collection "Naked," both the literary and cinematic versions of "C.O.G." detail the experience Sedaris himself (played by the wonderful Jonathan Groff in the film) had when he travelled to rural Oregon to work as an apple picker. Through encounters with a glorious variety of locals, the twentysomething Sedaris came to considerable revelations about his religion ("C.O.G." stands "Child of God," an acronym that one of those said locals proudly self-identifies with) and sexuality. Expanding on those two themes, Alvarez makes good on the promise of his 2009 directorial debut "Easier With Practice," keeping Sedaris fans happy in the process.

"Concussion" (directed by Stacie Passon)
While this list is indeed largely of the male variety, Stacie Passon’s “Concussion” more than helps make up for that. The story of a suburban lesbian housewife (an amazing Robin Weigert), “Concussion” is likely to be dubbed “the lesbian hooker movie.” But it’s so much more than that. While indeed Weigert’s character decides to secretly become a prostitute for women behind the back of her wife and kids, the film uses that context to explore a complex woman who implodes amidst the heteronormative lifestyle that crept up on her. Weigert plays Abby, a fortysomething lesbian who's married with two kids and lives in the New Jersey suburbia. But after being hit in the head by her son's baseball, Abby begins to unravel and through a series of events finds herself with a new double life: Lesbian housewife by night, high-end lesbian prositute by day. It's a sexy, uncomprising and unique take on the cinematic mid-life crisis that works in large part because of Weigert's peformance. It also offers what will likely be the hottest lesbian sex on a big screen this year.

"Continental" (directed by Malcom Ingram)
Fresh off its world premiere at SXSW, Malcolm Ingram (known best for his 2006 film “Small Town Gay Bar”) is likely to make the LGBT film fest circuit rounds with his latest film “Continental." And no, it’s not about the airline or a certain hotel breakfast. It’s basically about the social opposite of a small town gay bar -- New York City’s revolutionary Continental Baths, which ran from 1968 to 1975 and was basically the Ritz Carlton of bathhouses from its "Olympia blue" swimming pool to its disco featuring some of the best performers the early 70s had to offer. One of them was infamously Bette Midler, who got her break singing in the baths (with Barry Manilow -- often in just a towel -- accompanying her on piano). Though Midler is not one of the many talking heads featured in the film (unsurprising given she was quick to distance herself from the baths once she got more famous), Ingram's documentary is not simply about the many celebrities that either performed at the baths (LaBelle, The Pointer Sisters, Peter Allen, Lesley Gore and The New York Dolls among them) or passed through them at their peak (allegedly Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Mick Jagger, Salvador Dali, Johnny Carson and Alfred Hitchcock all did -- seriously). It's about a fascinating institution that beyond being a really good time, really pushed forward gay visibility.

"G.B.F." (directed by Darren Stein)
Isn’t about time that gay boys got their own version of "Mean Girls"? That's the reductive gist of Darren Stein's "G.B.F.," a high school comedy that puts the usual second (or third) banana role of the gay best friend front and center. Tanner (the adorable Michael J. Willett, in his film debut) is accidentally outed, becoming his high school's first openly gay student. The three most popular girls at school (Sasha Pieterse, Andrea Bowen and Xosha Roquemore) -- in a clear send up of the Heathers or the Plastics -- race to snatch him up as a “the new hottest accessory,” leading to Tanner's popularity skyrocketing while threatening his friendship with his own G.B.F. (and potential love interest), played by the hilarious (and also adorable) Paul Iacono. Though in large part a send-up of the genre of straight teenage romantic comedies it mirrors, “G.B.F.” also stands nicely as its own (rare) entity: A sharp, sweet gay teen rom-com.

"God Loves Uganda" (directed by Roger Ross Williams)
Roger Ross Williams' harrowing doc takes us to Uganda, where LGBT people are facing a terrifying situation. A group American evangelical Christians have chosen the country -- which has Africa's youngest population -- as prominent location for their mission, joining forces with Ugandan religious leaders to fight "sexual immorality." And by fight, they mean help pass a so-called "kill the gays" bill -- which is exactly as disgusting as it sounds. Williams gains remarkable access to both the religious leaders and their communities, in addition to a few incredibly brave individuals (one of whom -- David Kato -- was suspiciously murdered during filming) who are fighting back against both the Americans trying to export their extreme beliefs to a vulnerable nation and the Ugandans who are supporting them. It’s a maddening and at times shocking experience but a wholly worthwhile one that should send you out of the theater ready to research whatever you can do to help this situation.

"I Am Divine" (directed by Jeffrey Schwarz)
One of the most fabulous, transgressive people to ever almost cross into mainstream American culture is at the heart of Jeffrey Schwarz's new documentary, "I Am Divine." Framed around the 1988 death of then 42-year-old Harris Glenn Milstead -- the man behind Divine -- it is mostly a loving, hilarious (there ain't no talking head like John Waters') and complex tribute to a man and his female alter-ego, both of whom lived their lives to the fullest. It takes us from Milstead's challenged Baltimore upbringing as an overweight kid (where he grew up just blocks from Waters, though the two didn't cross paths until they were both 17) to the night he died in his sleep ("of happiness," friend and manager Bernard Jay says in the film). The film must be watched by anyone who thinks, say, Lady Gaga is transgressive. Because Mother Monster has nothing on who the film rightfully proclaims "the Queen Mother of us all.

"Interior. Leather Bar." (directed by Travis Mathews and James Franco)
Actor-director-playwright-academic-etc James Franco has collaborated with up-and-coming queer filmmaker Travis Mathews for this film that explores the idea of the two of them remaking the 40 minutes of explicit S&M material allegedly cut from William Friedkin's controversial 1980 film "Cruising" to avoid an X-rating. While that in itself is a worthwhile concept for a film (and a part of "Interior. Leather Bar." is indeed a hardcore recreation of just that), the film extends well beyond it to offer footage -- perhaps real, perhaps not -- of Franco, Mathews and their cast and crew as they attempt to full off the feat. The result is a discussion of representations of queer sex in both Hollywood and society in general that won raves when it debuted at Sundance in January. Say what you want about Mr. Franco, but try not to admire his attempt at utilize his celebrity to push certain boundaries in this film.

"Pit Stop" (directed by Yen Tan)
Yen Tan’s quiet, moving "Pit Stop" made its world premiere at Sundance back in January, where it was largely overshadowed by more name-heavy (though also very good) queer flicks like the aforementioned James Franco co-directed "Interior. Leather Bar." and David Sedaris adaptation "C.O.G." Hopefully it will manage to find the audience it deserves on the LGBT film circuit (and more hopefully, beyond that). The film depicts a series of characters living in small-town Texas, among them two lost gay men in their mid-30s (Bill Heck and Marcus DeAnda). Similar in tone to 2011's queer cinema breakout "Weekend" (a staple on this circuit two years ago), "Pit Stop" has a sincerity that creeps up on you and will linger in your mind long after the credits roll.

"Valentine Road" (directed by Marta Cunningham)
Eight-grade student Brandon McInerney shot his openly queer classmate Larry King during first period at a school in Oxnard, California on February 12, 2008. On Valentine’s Day King died in the hospital and his story became a topic of considerable discussion across America and beyond. Six years later, filmmaker Marta Cunningham takes us beyond what we saw then and into an extensive and heartbreaking investigation of that terrible incident and the events that led up to it. And she doesn't simply look at King’s side of the story. She provocatively also looks at the idea of McInerney -- who was sentenced to 21 years in prison back in 2011 -- as an additional victim in the narrative. Both King and McInerney rose damaged from physically and emotionally abusive childhoods, and "Valentine Road" -- though certainly respectful of the undeniable tragedy that came from murderous and horrifying behavior -- also asks why McInerney's behavior came to be in the first place. Both a tribute to Larry King and a discussion of the state of society in America, "Valentine Road" is as haunting a film as you'll find on the LGBT fest circuit this year.

Outfest To Honor Kimberly Peirce and Open With David Sedaris Adaptation 'C.O.G.'

Peter Knegt — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:09:14 GMT

Outfest announced hat Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s “C.O.G." -- the first film adaptation of David Sedaris’s work -- has been selected as the Opening Night Gala of the 31st Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival, which will go down on Thursday, July 11.

“C.O.G.” is written and directed by Alvarez and based on a short story by David Sedaris. It stars Jonathan Groff, Denis O'Hare, Corey Stoll, Dean Stockwell, Casey Wilson and Troian Bellisario.

READ MORE: David Sedaris Goes To Sundance: "It was painful to be reminded of how pretentious and horrible I was."

Outfest also announced that it will present its 17th annual Achievement Award to writer/director Kimberly Peirce. The award is presented in recognition of "a body of work that has made a significant contribution to LGBT film and media." The Achievement Award will be presented to Peirce prior to the Opening Night Gala screening of “C.O.G.” on Thursday, July 11 at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.

“One of Outfest's principal goals has been to celebrate the many voices of LGBT storytelling on film, and we couldn't be more excited to honor Kimberly Peirce's extraordinary filmmaking career while also heralding writer-director Kyle Patrick Alvarez's stunning sophomore feature capturing David Serdaris’ hilarious tone. The mix promises to make this our most memorable Opening Night,” commented Kirsten Schaffer, Outfest Executive Director, in a statement.

Outfest has previously given this award to John Waters, Jane Lynch, Bill Condon, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, Don Roos, Donna Deitch, Kenneth Anger, Gregg Araki, Todd Haynes, Jane Anderson, Christine Vachon, Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, Gus Van Sant, Ian McKellen, John Schlesinger, and Strand Releasing.

Outfest will be held July 11 – 21, 2013. The complete lineup for the festival will be announced at the beginning of June.

Outfest Opens with Sedaris Adaptation 'C.O.G.,' Kimberly Peirce Gets Achievement Award

Anne Thompson — Sat, 18 May 2013 01:19:26 GMT

L.A.'s oldest film festival, Outfest, will open its 31st annual LGBT film fest on July 11 with writer-director Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s “C.O.G.,” the first film adaptation of David Sedaris’s work, which stars Jonathan Groff, Denis O'Hare, Corey Stoll, and Dean Stockwell. Outfest will be held July 11 – 21, 2013.

That same night at the Orpheum Theatre, Outfest will also present its 17th annual Achievement Award to writer/director Kimberly Peirce (“Boys Don’t Cry,” “Stop-Loss,” “Carrie”). The Achievement Award is presented in recognition of a body of work that has made a significant contribution to LGBT film and media.

Outfest has previously given this award to John Waters, Jane Lynch, Bill Condon, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, Don Roos, Donna Deitch, Kenneth Anger, Greg Araki, Todd Haynes, Jane Anderson, Christine Vachon, Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Freidman, Gus Van Sant, Ian McKellen, John Schlesinger, and Strand Releasing.

The complete lineup for Outfest 2013 will be announced at the beginning of June.

"C.O.G.," Alvarez's second film, premiered in competition at Sundance. Based on a Sedaris short story, the film is about recent college grad David (Groff) who spends a summer picking apples in Oregon with his friend Jennifer. He takes a picaresque journey from orchard to processing plant to an arts and crafts workshop, guided along the way by various mentors, played by Corey Stoll (“House of Cards”) and Denis O’Hare (“True Blood”).

Summer School on Differences and Plural Identities During Sicilia Queer Filmfest 2013 (Palermo, Italy)

Sydney Levine — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:30:00 GMT

This came in from our friends at Film Festival Research, an academic work group studying film festivals worldwide. They in turn received it from the director of The Sicily Queer Film Festival in Palermo.

For the first time in Palermo, on the occasione of the National Pride Parade, a Summer School on Differences and Plural Identities to heighten the role of the city as a lab for Queer Culture and Gender Studies.

How to Enroll at the Summer School
The enrollment period has recently passed, but future students wishing to enroll at the Summer School, must fill in these forms and send them to summerschool[a]siciliaqueerfilmfest.it email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Fees charged for the Summer School are €50. The Summer School is subject to limited enrolment (60 students max). Therefore, in case of renouncement, students are requested to announce their decision ASAP, in order to allow other people in the grading to participate.

For non-residents, the University will offer special conditions for board and lodging thanks to the agreements it will sign with facilities such as hotels and restaurants, situated near the locations of the
Summer School.

For more information, please contact
summerschool[a]siciliaqueerfilmfest.it

Anyone can enrol at this Summer School, even without the requested acquisition of ECTS, through a final exam, or by sending an ECTS request to his/her own faculty. The acknowledgement of these ECTS has already been approved by a decree of the “Facoltà di Lettere e Filosofia” and “Scienze della Formazione” of Palermo. The same request has been sent to other faculties of the same university, such as “Scienze Politiche” and “Giurisprudenza”

Outfest Names Kristin Pepe New Director of Programming

Bryce J. Renninger — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 21:33:20 GMT

Outfest, the organization that runs the major LGBT film festivals in Los Angeles and now New York, has just announced that Kristin Pepe, who's best known as simply KP, will take over as the festival's Director of Programming.

Pepe moves into the head programming position after five years leading Outfest's Legacy Project archival partnership with the UCLA Film & Television Archives. She will be responsible for overseeing all Outfest programming, which includes Outfest-produced film fesitivals in New York and Los Angeles as well as the Los Angeles-based film festival Fusion.

In addition to the Legacy Project, Pepe recently took over Outfest's experimental program, Platinum.

Pepe replaces Kim Yutani, who will stay on as artistic director even as she devotes more time to her Sundance duties as one of the fest's head programmers.

Breaking Glass Pictures Acquires LGBT Films 'Notre Paradis' and 'Out in the Open' for 2013 Release

Jay A. Fernandez — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:11:49 GMT

Philadelphia-based specialty distributor Breaking Glass Pictures has acquired two new films, “Notre Paradis” and “Out in the Open,” for U.S. distribution. The company plans theatrical releases for both in the first quarter of 2013: “Paradis” in January and “Open” in February.

Written and directed by Gael Morel, “Notre Paradis” follows an aging pickpocket and prostitute who recruits a young man as his lover and accomplice as they scour the streets of Paris for marks. The film has played at Outfest and the Toronto LGBT festival.

The documentary “Out in the Open,” which debuted at Outfest, explores coming to terms with one’s sexual orientation through interviews with public figures such as Carson Cressley, Eric Roberts, Greg Louganis, Josh Strickland and Cassandra Church.

Breaking Glass CEO Rich Wolff negotiated the “Paradis” deal with Frederique Rouault of Alfama Films, and Wolff negotiated the “Open” deal with Ben Milliken of RealStream Productions.

The company will next release Xavier Dolan’s Cannes premiere “Laurence Anyways,” which will have its U.S. premiere at AFI Fest Saturday, Nov. 3.

Movie Lovers We Love: Kristin Pepe Helps Save Queer History with the Legacy Project

Bryce J. Renninger — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:25:53 GMT

When Hitler took over Germany in the 1930's, not only was Jewish culture virtually obliterated, so too was the country's robust homosexual and transgender literature and culture. The Nazis famously destroyed the extensive archive of the sexologist Mangus Hirschfeld. As part of that purge, all copies of Richard Oswald's film, "Different from the Others" (co-wrote with Hirschfeld), were also burned.

With the Legacy Project, a joint venture for LGBTQ film and video preservation co-run by Outfest (LA's LGBT Film Festival) and the UCLA Film and Television Archives, the Project's Manager Kristin Pepe (who goes by KP) is working with people from all over the world to create a new print of the classic German film, thought by many to be the first feature-length gay film. [They're also raising $5,000 -- a portion of the funds (around $100,000) needed to complete the print -- on Kickstarter.]

With preservationist Jere Guldin at UCLA, UCLA film historian J. Christopher Horak and the Munich-based historian Stefan Drössler, among others, Pepe is on an adventure to recreate an experience as close as possible to watching the whole film.

"Hirschfeld made a shorter version of the film to include in a film called 'Innocently Persecuted'," Pepe explained, "And that film was in Russia. At the time that everything else was getting destroyed, it would have been destroyed had it not been in Russia. So in order for that 45 minutes to reflect the full original movie, we're creating bridge titles to reflect the original intention."

Reflecting on the Legacy Project's cut of the film, which was shown as an unfinished sneak preview in a recent Legacy Project fundraiser event, Pepe said, "I was surprised at how much the people at the Orpheum loved it. They were so happy to see a film from 1919 about gay people."

Pepe, who also teaches film at a private K-12 school in Los Angeles, is also excited to put together a curriculum guide to include "Different from the Others" in schools. "In California," Pepe told Indiewire, "it's now mandatory for children to learn about gay history, so we're setting up a curriculum to address Hirschfeld and Jewish civil rights with this film."

"Different from the Others" is far from the only project at the Legacy Project. While Pepe was enticed to the job after seeing the Project's work on "Parting Glances" with Steve Buscemi, she's helped the collection grow from 4,000 pieces of film and video to 20,000 in her five years with the organization.

When asked to reflect on what the most fulfilling work she's done so far has been, Pepe told Indiewire that restoring the experimental work of Tom Chomont, who was able to see nine of his films restored through a grant from the National Film Preservation Board before he died, was the most impactful. "There were all kinds of things in his work. Little poetic beautiful films about love -- and some harder edge S&M stuff. I fell in love with him as a person. It felt nice to be able to do somehting while he was still alive."

Also of note for Pepe was a recent restoration of a film found by another archivist at a yard sale that documented the famous drag king Miss Jimmy Reynard at the San Francisco gay bar Mona's Candlelight. The Project is currently working on restoring films taken of Harvey Milk's campaign.

"The most important thing we can do is keep these films and video in the right humidity and climate," Pepe explained. To that end, Rob Epstein donated enough content from the footage to his films ("The Times of Harvey Milk," "Common Threads," "The Celluloid Closet") to make the document listing the contents of the collection 86 pages. "Vito" director Jeffrey Schwarz also donated thirteen episodes of Vito Russo's public access show to the archives. The Mona's Candlelight and Milk footage were all donated by people who owned the film, and the Legacy Project is eager to help find a safe home for any piece of LGBT history caught on film or video.

Favorite Film: "I like all kinds of movies especially experimental films. As a teacher and programmer, I love sharing my favorite movies with people. This month I showed my 7th and 8th graders 'Children of Heaven' and 'Martin Arnold.' During 'Arnold,' they burst out making up a kind of song slapping the desk in rhythm to his piece. It was a really cool moment. On the other hand, I equally loved sharing the 70s gay hardcore porn 'L.A. Plays Itself' and Marie Losier's 'The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye' to my Platinum audience." [Another hat that Pepe has worn for the past two years is that of Programmer for Outfest's experimental program, Platinum]

Favorite Director in the Archive: "I love the Pat Rocco Collection that has hundreds of movies, interviews, and documentation of the gay civil rights struggle in Los Angeles during the 1960s and 1970s. He also made soft erotica for men that is campy and fun."

Favorite Queer Film: Tom Chomont's body of work.

The Piece of Film or Video You Wished Would Turn Itself Up to You for the Archives: More home movies of LGBT people before 1960

The Kickstarter video for The Legacy Project's "Different from the Others" campaign:

Outfest 2012 Award Winner 30th Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

Sydney Levine — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 20:15:19 GMT

Outfest 2012, the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing, showcasing and protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media, has announced the award winners of its 30th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

The nation’s leading LGBT festival and the oldest continuously running film festival in the city ran from July 12^th to 22^nd. Outfest 2012 closed with Brian Dannelly’s Struck by Lightning, starring Chris Colfer. Allison Janney, Rebel Wilson, Christina Hendricks, Dermot Mulroney and Ashley Rickards.

Special Programming Awards

Special Programming Award for Freedom

Wolfe Video Acquires "Love Free or Die" for DVD/VOD at Outfest

Srimathi Sridhar — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 22:27:48 GMT

Wolfe, the largest LGBT film distributor, acquired U.S. rights to Mackey Alston's "Love Free or Die" on DVD and VOD at the Outfest Film Festival Tuesday.

Alston received a special jury prize at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival for his work in directing the film.

A full press release of the acquisition follows:

SAN JOSE, CALIF. (July 25, 2012) — Wolfe Video has acquired the U.S. DVD/VOD rights from Cinephil to the award-winning documentary Love Free or Die at this year’s Outfest: The 30th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Director Macky Alston (Family Name, Hard Road Home) was awarded a Special Jury Prize at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival for Love Free or Die. The film follows Bishop Gene Robinson amidst the firestorm of international controversy that followed his ordination by the New Hampshire Episcopal Church as the church’s first openly gay bishop. Hailed as: “a moving look at how even a rigid church with centuries of entrenched methodology can begin a slow shift towards inclusiveness and equality” (Daniel Fienberg, HitFix.com), the film depicts how Robinson, while resolute in his calling, grows increasingly critical of the central role that religious institutions have played in fostering homophobia and hatred. The film will be available for educational/non-theatrical screenings beginning in October through Kino/Lorber in partnership with Wolfe, followed by airings on PBS stations nationwide as part of the series “Independent Lens.” Wolfe will release the film on DVD/VOD in 2013.

“Bishop Gene Robinson is an amazing example of how one man can create big change in the world,” said Wolfe President Maria Lynn. “This film is one of the most inspirational stories I've ever seen.”

“Bishop Robinson is one of those rare people whose lives change the world and inspire us to do the same,” said Director Macky Alston. “He is also the rare person who is born to carry a feature documentary. As a filmmaker and gay husband and dad whose very family exists due to the courageous leadership of people like Bishop Robinson, it has been an extraordinary privilege to make Love Free or Die.”

“Bishop Gene Robinson goes from being on the margins of his church and his country to being the catalyst for LGBT inclusion in both,” said Ross Murray, Director of Religion, Faith & Values, GLAAD. “Through his life, his ministry and his media appearances, you can witness change being made. If you have ever wondered how one person can make a difference through words and actions, see this movie.”

For more information on the film, visit http://www.lovefreeordiemovie.com/.
For more information on “Independent Lens,” please visit http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/.

SYNOPSIS: Love Free or Die (Special Jury Prize winner Sundance 2012) is about a man whose two defining passions the world cannot reconcile: his love for God and for his partner Mark. It is about church and state, love and marriage, faith and identity—and one man’s struggle to dispel the notion that God’s love has limits. In the film, Gene Robinson becomes the first openly gay person to be elected bishop in the high church traditions of Christendom. Bishop Robinson's elevation in the sleepy New Hampshire diocese in 2003 ignited a worldwide firestorm in the Anglican Communion, one that has become so heated that there is still a chance of a schism in the 80 million-member denomination. One year after being muzzled by the Archbishop of Canterbury, he finds himself speaking from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at Barack Obama’s Inauguration. Gene Robinson confronts those who use religion as an instrument of oppression, and claims a place in the church and society, not just for LGBT people, but for all.

ABOUT WOLFE Serving customers since 1985, Wolfe is the largest exclusive distributor of LGBT films. Recent major Wolfe titles include: Sundance Audience Award winner, Undertow (Peru’s submission for the Academy Awards); the wildly popular Berlinale Teddy Award winner, Tomboy and 2012 Sundance hit Mosquita y Mari. Wolfe is also well known for the DVD releases of such beloved classics as Desert Hearts, Big Eden, Were The World Mine and A Marine Story. Wolfe’s acclaimed motion picture library can be found at WolfeVideo.com as well as at national retailers such as Netflix, Redbox, Barnes & Noble, Amazon and VOD destinations such as Comcast, Time Warner, YouTube Movies, Hulu, iTunes and, of course, via the global LGBT movie viewing platform: WolfeOnDemand.com.

Find more info online at http://www.wolfevideo.com

Ira Sachs' "Keep The Lights On" Takes Top Prizes at the 2012 Outfest Film Festival

Srimathi Sridhar — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 15:18:49 GMT

"Keep The Lights On," Ira Sachs' drama about an intesely charged relationship between a documentary filmmaker and a closeted lawyer, took the Grand Jury Prizes for outstanding screenwriting and U.S. Dramatic Film at the 2012 Outfest, which closed Sunday night.

The nation's leading LGBT film festival, now in its 30th year, Outfest ran from July 12 to July 22.

The complete list of winners follows:

Special Programming Awards:
Special Programming Award for Freedom: "I am a Woman Now," directed by Michiel van Erp
Special Programming Award for Artistic Achievement: "She Male Snails," directed by Ester Martin Bergsmark
Special Programming Award for Emerging Talent: Marialy Rivas, Writer/Director

Audience Awards:
Audience Award for Outstanding Documentary Short Film: "A Force of Nature," directed by Barbara Kopple
Audience Award for Outstanding Dramatic Short Film: "The First Date," directed by Janella Lacson
Audience Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature Film: "I Stand Corrected," directed by Andrea Meyerson
Audience Award for Outstanding Dramatic Feature Film: "Any Day Now," directed by Travis Fine
Audience Award for Outstanding First U.S. Dramatic Feature Film: "Mosquita Y Mari," directed by Aurora Guerrero ($5,000 cash prize)

Jury Awards:
Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Documentary Short Film: "The Devotion Project: More Than Ever," directed by Antony Osso
Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Short Film: "Dol (First Birthday)," directed by Andrew Ahn
Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature Film: "Wildness," directed by Wu Tsang
Grand Jury Award for Outstanding International Dramatic Feature Film: "My Brother the Devil," directed by Sally El Hosaini
Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film: Fenessa Pineda, "Mosquita Y Mari"
Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film: Alan Cumming, "Any Day Now"
Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Screenwriting: Ira Sachs & Mauricio Zacharias, "Keep the Lights On"
Grand Jury Award for Outstanding U.S. Dramatic Feature Film: "Keep the Lights On," directed by Ira Sachs

For more information on the Outfest film festival, visit their website.

LatinoBuzz: 'Born Naked' Doc Plays NewFest, New York's LGBT Film Festival

Vanessa Erazo — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:33:52 GMT

Summer in New York City is the time of picnics in the park, lazy beach days, outdoor movie screenings, sweaty subway rides, and all-around fun. The summertime is also Gay Pride Parade season in most cities. Naturally, many gay film festivals take place around this time of year as well. NewFest--New York's LGBT Film Festival--is no exception. Now in its 24th year--running July 27 through 31--the festival is taking over Lincoln Center with a compelling program of narratives, documentaries, shorts and panels. Last week, we blogged about what a great year it’s been for Latino LGBT films. We continue to highlight Latino Queer Cinema in a series of posts that will lead up to NewFest’s Opening Night on July 27.

Born Naked (Madrid - London - Berlin)
Documentary Feature
Director: Andrea Esteban
Spain | 2011 | 96 mins
Mon , Jul 30 th 5:00 pm
Walter Reade Theater - Lincoln Center
Director Andrea Esteban in person July 30!

Spanish filmmaker Andrea Esteban and her girlfriend Paula criss-cross Europe hitting London, Berlin and Madrid, creating a video scrapbook of young lesbian and trans artists, activists, journalists, soccer players, and anarcho-feminists. Passing through queer artist collectives, friends’ homes, music festivals and bars--they create a time capsule of a community of women fiercely fighting to define themselves and create their own identity in the face of societal pressure to fit the norm. Avoiding the typical talking heads interviews that plague most documentaries--the women share their experiences through a series of casual conversations about having to keep their relationships secret, confronting stereotypes, coming out to their families, and what it means to be queer.

It’s verité style, quick edits, and use of split screens set to a soundtrack of indie pop make it a unique documentary that’s fun and informative but at the same time intimate and personal. The camera maintains enough distance to make you feel like you are present in the moment--as part of the conversation--and at times, like you are eavesdropping on a private chat amongst a close group of friends. Drawing its title from RuPaul's famous line “We're all born naked, and the rest is drag,” this doc will surely serve as cultural artifact, documenting a movement and a moment in time. It’s only screening once at NewFest and as happens with most documentaries--let alone a Spanish lesbian doc--it may be your only chance to see it. It’s definitely worth a look.

Screening with:

Queen of My Dreams

Fawzia Mirza & Ryan Logan | 2011 | USA | 3m

“As a young girl, Fawzia Mirza fell under the spell of Bollywood heroines and their promise of love and feminine perfection. As an adult, she looks back and re-imagines the epic romance in the classic film Aradhana in a queer light.”

Written by Juan Caceres and Vanessa Erazo, LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature onSydneysBuzzthat highlights emerging and established Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow@LatinoBuzzon twitter.

The 13 Films You Must See at Outfest

Peter Knegt and Bryce J. Renninger — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 16:23:04 GMT

Outfest -- the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival -- is kicking off its 30th anniversary celebrations tomorrow night with a screening of Jeffrey Schwarz's "Vito" and a tribute to the one-and-only John Waters. What will follow is 10 days showcasing the best LGBT cinema of the past year, which -- in something of a rare occasion -- isn't simply one or two great films and then countless filler.

It's been a pretty exceptional year for LGBT films, and if you're in Los Angeles over the next little bit, Outfest is a pretty great opportunity to see why. Indiewire offers 13 best bets below, though there's also quite a bit more where that came from, so check out the festival's full program here.

"Cloudburst," written and directed by Thom Fitzgerald
“Cloudburst” comes nearly fifteen years after writer-director Thom Fitzgerald made his directorial debut with “The Hanging Garden.” But unlike “Garden” – and most of Fitzgerald’s subsequent films (“Beefcake,” “The Event”) – “Cloudburst” doesn’t have queer male central characters. Instead, he offers up a good ol’ fashioned lesbian road trip movie. The film stars Oscar winners Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker as an American couple who decide head to Nova Scotia (where Fitzgerald is based) to marry after 30 years together, coming across a hunky hitchhiker (Ryan Doucette, in his first onscreen role). Given that synopsis, one might be inclined to dub “Cloudburst” a senior citizen version of “Thelma & Louise.” But that would be reductive. The film has its own unique sense of humanity and humor that’s handled gently by Fitzgerald. [Peter Knegt]

"Gayby," written and directed by Jonathan Lisecki
Expanding upon the hilarious short of the same name that hopped from film festival to festival two years ago, snatching up several awards, Jonathan Lisecki's "Gayby" is a tightly written hilarious romp of a group of New York friends who must deal with growing older. Matt, a gay man, and Jenn, a straight woman, are longtime friends who have decided that they want to bring a baby into the world, the old-fashioned way. What follows is a tender look at what happens to friendships when people get older and new friends and lovers come in the way. As evidenced in our FUTURES profile of him, Lisecki's always surprising and never tiring wit is a welcome addition to the film festival circuit. [Bryce J. Renninger]

"How To Survive a Plague," directed by David France and "United In Anger," directed by Jim Hubbard
It's something of a shame that two excellent documentaries about New York-based AIDS activism had to come out around the same time. But it's also something of a gift. Each unique in their storytelling and execution, David France's "How To Survive a Plague" and Jim Hubbard's "United in Anger" complement each other quite well. In their own ways, each film looks at the history and remarkable contribution of ACT UP (the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) -- the AIDS activism group born in mid-1980s New York. Though comprehensive and powerful documentaries to be sure, collectively they still only represent a small fraction of the worldwide history of one of the worst epidemics -- and greatest examples of resulting activism -- ever. So see both films, and consider them mere introductions (albeit two harrowing, beautifully crafted introductions). [Peter Knegt]

"I Am a Woman Now," directed by Michiel van Erp
The glamorous women in Michel van Erp's feature documentary are some of the first women who traveled from all over to undergo gender reassignment surgery in the late 1950's and early 1960's in Casablanca. The women get together to gab about their life as some of the first modern day transsexuals, all worked on by the doctor Georges Burou. While not all of them have the same experience of life as a pioneering transsexual, they stand out in recent history as some of the only women who received this surgery without going through the stringent psychological tests to deem one a candidate for any procedure. [Bryce J. Renninger]

"I Want Your Love," written and directed by Travis Mathews
When Travis Mathews' online art porn short of the same name was released a few years ago, many (including our own Peter Knegt) were smitten with Matthews' subtle portrayals of gay hipsters getting intimate and having sex. After exploring these themes in documentary form with "In Their Room" (shot in San Fransisco) and "In Their Room: Berlin," Mathews' feature fiction debut is once again intimate and a true document of a group of men exploring love and sex through each other. [Bryce J. Renninger]

"Keep The Lights On," directed by Ira Sachs; written by Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias
Director Ira Sachs (“Forty Shades of Blue”) paints a painfully realistic portrait of an epic relationship in “Keep The Lights On.” Set in 1990s New York, the loosely autobiographical film follows a Danish documentarian (Thure Lindhardt) who falls for Paul (Zachary Booth), a closeted lawyer. Sachs charts what follows over a volatile ten year time frame, with each man struggling with their own private compulsions and addictions – often at the expense of their relationship. With strong performances and a thoughtful screenplay that defies convention, “Keep The Lights On” captures a poignant, raw love story sure to resonate strongly with audiences. [Peter Knegt]

"Mosquita Y Mari," written by directed by Aurora Guerrero
This Chicana coming-of-age movie follows two 15 year old girls in Los Angeles' Huntington Park: Good girl Yolanda (Fenessa Pineda), and her polar opposite Mari (Venecia Troncoso). As their friendship quickly develops, questions of sexual attraction arise in a slowly revealing, carefully constructed narrative from first-time writer-director Aurora Guerrero. Guerrero -- along with her two lead actresses, who are both excellent -- is definitely a name to watch, and this is most definitely a film to watch. [Peter Knegt]

"My Brother The Devil," written and directed by Sally el Hosaini
With her debut feature, Sally el Hosaini explores the lives of two Arab-British brothers who must contend with the competing values of the gang culture they're trying to prove themselves within and their intimate feelings and love. Resisting the cliches many like films fall for, "My Brother the Devil" is a complicated story of coming to understand one's own feelings and one's place within family. [Bryce J. Renninger]

"Struck By Lightning," directed by Brian Dannelly, written by Chris Colfer
Chris Colfer shines as a smart ass high school student intent on making an impact on his classmates, and doing this his way. The film, which debuted at this year's Tribeca Film Festival, was cause for me to say, "Just watch: Colfer will be one of the most interesting pop culture voices of this generation. I've been sure of this since seeing him co-present Jane Lynch with a lifetime achievement award two years ago at Outfest. His comic smarts far exceed what we've seen on the screen so far. "Struck By Lightning" is exactly what he needed to do. Get it, girl." "Struck By Lightning" will be an awesome closing night screening for the festival; it's full of smart quips and shellacked with all kinds of camp. [Bryce J. Renninger]

"Vito," directed by Jeffrey Schwarz
A new addition to the canon of great LGBT rights documentaries, Jeffrey Schwarz’s “Vito” -- which opens Outfest -- is a passionate look at the life of Vito Russo. Russo is probably best known for the 1981 book about the representation of LGBT people in Hollywood, “The Celluloid Closet” (which was adapted into the 1995 documentary by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman). But he was also a remarkable figure in the early gay rights movement, and the fight against AIDS (which he succumbed to in 1990). Using interviews with Russo’s family and peers as well as wonderful archival footage, Schwarz gives Russo’s legacy the documentary it deserves with “Vito.” [Peter Knegt]

"Wildness," directed by Wu Tsang, written by Wu Tsang & Roy Rastegar
Wu Tsang's essay film about the party he helped through at LA's Latino bar The Silver Platter is definitely one of my favorite films of the year. Wu and his co-writer Roya Rastegar have truly made something special here, an incredibly powerful documentation of working to sustain culture, neighborhood institutions and neighborly fraternizing as young queer (often middle-class) people while fighting the more destructive aspects of gentrification. [Bryce J. Renninger]

"Yossi," written and directed Eytan Fox
Ten years after his 2002 film "Yossi & Jaggar," Eytan Fox offers up a sequel-of-sorts with the simply titled "Yossi." It plays like a sort of Israeli cross between Tom Ford's "A Single Man" and Andrew Haigh's "Weekend." Ohad Knoller reprises his role of the now singular title character, now an overweight, closeted 34-year-old doctor living in Tel Aviv. Still struggling with the tragic events that came at the end of the first film (spoiler alert: Jagger died), Yossi lives a sad, lonely life. But thankfully for Yossi, it gets better. After he randomly meets a group of young Israeli soldiers, "Yossi" gives us a hopeful second act set on an Israeli resort. A lovely little film about grief and aging and life's second chances, "Yossi" -- a last minute addition to Outfest's program -- should not be missed. [Peter Knegt]

LatinoBuzz: Latino LGBT Films Shine on the Festival Circuit

Vanessa Erazo — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 11:30:00 GMT

There are thousands of film festivals all over the world. Some are prestigious and well known--taking place in large cities across Europe and the U.S.--others in out-of-the-way towns that no one has ever heard of. These festivals show all kinds of films--from a range countries, on various topics and of many genres.

Often the films tend to be heavy on stories from the U.S.and Europe--focusing on the developed world and centering on mainstream populations. Generally speaking, they showcase films directed by men and about people who are White, straight, and well-off. As a result there are countless specialty festivals--Latino, Asian, African, and others--whose objective is to feature the talents of marginalized filmmakers. But even at a niche festival there are groups which continue to be underrepresented. At a Latino film festival it’s not always easy to find films that are Jewish, gay, indigenous, Afro-Latino or about Latin American immigrants from unexpected countries like Japan or Germany. Granted there aren’t as many movies made about these populations but--on the bright side--this year has proven to be a bountiful one for Latino LGBT films. They have played renowned mainstream festivals like Sundance and Berlin and are making the rounds at gay festivals. It’s about time.

Mosquita y Mari (ISA: The Film Collaborative)

Aurora Guerrero
USA, 2011, 85 min

“This Sundance favorite is a sweet and genuine film about two Chicana high schoolers, Yolanda, a shy, straight-A student, and Mari, her “bad girl” classmate. Yolanda offers to tutor the feisty and hot troublemaker. As she and Mari study and share their intimate thoughts in an abandoned auto body shop, their feelings inevitably get deeper, furtive glances grow longer, and Yolanda starts to come into her own. Aurora Guerrero’s debut feature takes a tender look at what it’s like to discover yourself and fall in love for the first time.”

Olhe Pra Mim de Novo (Look at Me Again ) (ISA:FiGa Films)

Kiko Goifman, Claudia Priscilla
Brazil, 2011, 72 min
trailer: http ://www .moma .org /explore /multimedia /videos /221/1116

“Syllvio Luccio, born a girl, grew to identify as a lesbian then finally a man, embarks on a road trip through Northeastern Brazil, a region characterized by rigid ideas rooted in evangelical religion and machismo. Syllvio engages with outsiders of different backgrounds on the road, including LGBT youth, a man whose paternity is questioned by his family and a group of adults afflicted with a genetic disease. Directors Kiko Goifman and Claudia Priscilla draw candid testimony from their subjects to construct a moving portrait of an individual and exploration of outsider culture.”

Elliot Loves (ISA: TLA Releasing)

Terracino
USA, 2011, 92 min
trailer: http ://vimeo .com /38051803

“Finding love in the big city is never easy. But it’s always entertaining in this bouncy romantic comedy from first time feature director Terracino. Elliot is an earnest twenty-one year-old Dominican American looking for love in all the wrong places. The juxtaposition of Elliot’s past and present paints a sweet, complex character study of a young gay man trying to find love and meaning in the big city. Wild visual nuances, surprising fantasy interludes and a non-traditional approach to just about every aspect of filmmaking make this a must see for connoisseurs of brave new cinema.”

Joven y Alocada (Young & Wild ) (ISA: Elle Driver)

Marialy Rivas
Chile, 2012, 96 min

“Seventeen-year-old Daniela is obsessed with sex. But her self-proclaimed “pussy in flames” is in direct conflict with her well-to-do, strict evangelical family in Santiago, Chile. She finds an outlet by detailing her naughty ruminations and exploits on her blog Young & Wild to her eager online followers. Marialy Rivas masterfully directs her first feature, which premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and picked up the World Cinema Screenwriting Award. Rooted in a fearless and unforgettable performance by Alicia Rodríguez, Young & Wild is a stunning, energetic look at family and youth culture in contemporary Chile.”

Four

Joshua Sanchez
USA, 2012, 75 min

“An adaptation of Pulitzer prize finalist Christopher Shinn's first play of the same name, Four is both an emotional and urgent glimpse into the lives of four troubled and fascinating individuals. As the world around them celebrates the 4th of July with fireworks and festivity, a closeted married man, his young daughter, a gay teen, and a minor drug dealer haltingly negotiate one-night affairs. Filmmaker, author and artist Joshua Sanchez opens typical expectations of race and gender, reading Shinn’s drama with an intensity, candor, and carnality.”

Film Synopses taken from Frameline: The San Francisco International LGBT Festival and OutFest: The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.

Written by Juan Caceres and Vanessa Erazo, LatinoBuzz is a weekly feature on SydneysBuzzthat highlights emerging and established Latino indie talent and upcoming trends in Latino film with the specific objective of presenting a broad range of Latino voices. Follow @LatinoBuzzon twitter.

A Never-Aired Episode of 'Happy Endings' Will Premiere at Outfest

Alison Willmore — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:48:24 GMT

Outfest is bringing some television to its 30th anniversary iteration.

The Los Angeles film festival, which announced a line-up that includes "Keep the Lights On," "How to Survive a Plague" and "Struck By Lightning" earlier this month, announced today that it's adding a screening of a never-before-broadcast episode of ABC's comedy "Happy Endings," to be followed by a Q&A with cast members Adam Pally (who plays Max), Casey Wilson (Penny), Stephen Guarino (Derrick), creator and executive producer David Caspe and executive producer Jonathan Groff.

The panel and screening will take place on Saturday, July 22 at 1:00pm at the Director’s Guild of America (DGA 1).

Max, the character played by Pally on the series, is widely heralded for going against small-screen expectations in terms of depictions of gay characters. His big romantic moment at the end of February's “The St. Valentine’s Day Max-ssacre” episode topped Indiewire's list of the 10 best LGBT scenes from the 2011-2012 TV season.

In addition to the "Happy Endings" event, the festival's also offering "TV Comedy’s Come A Long Way, Baby!,” a discussion with television comedy writers and producers Gary Janetti (“Will & Grace,” “Family Guy”), Dan Bucatinsky (“The Comeback,” “Web Therapy”), Stan Zimmerman (“The Golden Girls,” “Roseanne,” “Gilmore Girls”), Jeffrey Richman (“Modern Family,” “Charlie Lawrence,” “Frasier”).

Eytan Fox’s Israeli film “Yossi," the sequel to the international hit “Yossi and Jagger,” has additionally been added to the film lineup as a special screening.

Outfest Announces 30th Anniversary Lineup; Chris Colfer, Ira Sachs and 'Plague' Among Gala Screenings

Bryce J. Renninger — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 18:11:34 GMT

Outfest has just announced the lineup for its 30th Anniversary Edition. The festival's outdoor Closing Night screening will be Brian Dannelly's "Struck By Lightning," written by and starring "Glee" phenom Chris Colfer. [Go HERE for our interview with him.]

Gala screenings include "Keep the Lights On" (Ira Sachs, US Dramatic Centerpiece), "Young & Wild" (Marialy Rivas, International Centerpiece), "How to Survive a Plague" (David France, Documentary Centerpiece), and "Mosquita Y Mari" (Aurora Guerrero, Fusion Centerpiece).

The festival's Five in Focus series will spotlight five hot new talents. This year's honorees are: Alica Luz Rodriguez (actress, "Young & Wild"), Wu Tsang (director, "Wildness"), Sally El Hosaini (writer/director, "My Brother the Devil"), Matthew Wilkas (actor, "Gayby") and Michael Marius Pessah (cinematographer, "Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean").

Earlier, the festival announced it would open with Jeffrey Schwarz's profile of gay rights pioneer Vito Russo, "Vito" and that it would honor filmmaker provocateur John Waters with the festival's Achievement Award.

GALA FILMS
VITO - OPENING NIGHT GALA
Dir: Jeffrey Schwarz, 2011, USA, 93 min.

KEEP THE LIGHTS ON - US DRAMATIC CENTERPIECE
Dir/Scr: Ira Sachs, 2012, USA, 101 min.

YOUNG & WILD - INTERNATIONAL CENTERPIECE
Dir: Marialy Rivas, Scr: Marialy Rivas, Camila Gutiérrez Berner, Pedro Peirano, Sebastián Sepúlveda, 2012, Chile, 96 min.

HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE - DOCUMENTARY CENTERPIECE
Dir: David France, 2012, USA, 120 min.

MOSQUITA Y MARI - FUSION CENTERPIECE
Dir/Scr: Aurora Guerrero, 2012, USA, subtitled, 85 min.

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING - CLOSING NIGHT GALA
Dir: Brian Dannelly, Scr: Chris Colfer, 2012, USA, 90 min.

U.S. DRAMATIC FEATURES
ANY DAY NOW
Dir: Travis Fine, Scr: Travis Fine, George Arthur Bloom, 2012, USA, 97 min.

BEARCITY 2: THE PROPOSAL
Dir/Scr: Douglas Langway, 2012, USA, 101 min.

ELLIOT LOVES
Dir/Scr: Terracino, 2011, USA, 92 min.

THE FAMOUS JOE PROJECT
Dir/Scr: Eli Rarey, 2012, USA, 95 min.

FOURPLAY
Dir: Kyle Henry, Scr: Carlos Trevino, Jessica Hedrick, 2012, USA, 80 min.

GAYBY
Dir/Scr: Jonathan Lisecki, 2012, USA, 89 min.

I DO
Dir: Glenn Gaylord, Scr: David Ross, 2012, USA, 91 min.

I WANT YOUR LOVE
Dir/Scr: Travis Mathews, 2012, USA, 71 min.

JOSHUA TREE, 1951: A PORTRAIT OF JAMES DEAN
Dir/Scr: Matthew Mishory, 2012, USA/France, 93 min.

MORGAN
Dir: Michael Akers, Scr: Michael Akers, Sandon Berg, 2012, USA, 89 min.

MY BEST DAY
Dir/Scr: Erin Greenwell, 2012, USA, 75 min.

A PERFECT ENDING
Dir/Scr: Nicole Conn, 2012, USA, 105 min.

PETUNIA
Dir: Ash Christian, Scr: Ash Christian, Theresa Bennett, 2012, USA, 104 min.

SASSY PANTS
Dir/Scr: Coley Sohn, 2012, USA, 87 min

SUNSET STORIES
Dir: Silas Howard, Ernesto Foronda, Scr: Ernesto Foronda, Valerie Stadler, 2012, USA, 87 min.

THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID
Dir: Carrie Preston, Scr: Kellie Overbey, 2012, USA, 84 min.

WHITE FROG
Dir: Quentin Lee, Scr: Fabienne Wen, Ellie Wen, 2012, USA, 93 min.

INTERNATIONAL DRAMATIC FEATURES
BEAUTY
Dir/Scr: Oliver Hermanus, 2011, South Africa, subtitled, 105 min.

CLOUDBURST
Dir/Scr: Thom Fitzgerald, 2011, Canada, 93 min.

FACING MIRRORS
Dir: Negar Azarbayjani, Scr: Fereshteh Taerpoor, Negar Azarbayjani, 2011, Iran, 102 min.

HEAVY GIRLS
Dir: Axel Ranisch, Scr: Peter Trabner, Heiko Pinkowski, Axel Ranisch, 2011, Germany, subtitled, 77 min.

KISS ME
Dir/Scr: Alexandra-Therese Keining, 2011, Sweden, subtitled, 105 min.

A MAP FOR A TALK (MAPA PARA CONVERSAR)
Dir/Scr: Constanza Fernández , 2011, Chile, subtitled, 81 min.

MARGARITA
Dir: Dominique Cardona, Laurie Colbert, Scr: Laurie Colbert, Margaret Webb, 2012, Canada, 90 min.

MOMMY IS COMING
Dir: Cheryl Dunye, Scr: Sarah Schulman, Cheryl Dunye, 2012, Germany, 64 min.

MY BROTHER THE DEVIL
Dir/Scr: Sally El Hosaini, 2012, UK, 101 min.

NORTH SEA, TEXAS
Dir: Bavo Defurne, Scr: Bavo Defurne, Yves Verbraken (based on the novel by André Sollie), 2011, Belgium, 96 min.

OUR PARADISE (NOTRE PARADIS)
Dir/Scr: Gäel Morel, 2011, France, subtitled, 100 min.

LE REFLET
Dir/Scr: Morgane Rousseau, 2011, France, 75 min.

REMINGTON AND THE CURSE OF THE ZOMBADINGS
Dir: Jade Castro, Scr: Michiko Yamamoto, Raymond Lee, Jade Castro, 2011, Philippines, subtitled, 96 min.

STUD LIFE
ir/Scr: Campbell X, 2012, UK, 80 min.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
AUDRE LORDE - THE BERLIN YEARS
Dir: Dagmar Schultz, Ika Hügel-Marshall, Ria Cheatom, 2012, Germany, subtitled, 81 min.

BORN NAKED (MLB)
Dir: Andrea Esteban, 2011, Spain, subtitled, 83 min.

CHILDREN OF SRIKANDI (ANAK-ANAK SRIKANDI)
Dir: Imelda Taurinamandala, Stea Lim, Hera Danish, Afank Mariani, Yulia Dwi Andriyanti, Dian Eggie, Oji Ijo, Winnie Wibowo, Angelika Levi, Laura Coppens, 2012, Germany, subtitled, 73 min.

FACE 2 FACE
Dir: Katherine Brooks, 2012, USA, 107 min.

A FORCE OF NATURE
Dir: Barbara Kopple, 2011, USA, 47 min.

MISSISSIPPI: I AM
Dir: Katherine Linton, Harriet Hirshorn, 2011, USA, 46 min.

HOMEBOY
Dir: Dino Dinco, 2011, USA, 56 min.

I AM A WOMAN NOW
Dir: Michiel van Erp, 2011, Netherlands, subtitled, 86 min.

I STAND CORRECTED
Dir: Andrea Meyerson, 2012, USA, 83 min.

JOBRIATH A.D.
Dir: Kieran Turner, 2012, USA, 103 min.

LOVE FREE OR DIE
Dir: Macky Alston, 2012, USA, 83 min.

THE PREP SCHOOL NEGRO
Dir: André Robert Lee, 2012, USA, 71 min.

SATAN'S ANGEL: QUEEN OF THE FIRE TASSELS
Dir: Joshua Dragotta, 2012, USA, 72 min.

THANK YOU FOR JUDGING
Dir: Sean Fornara, Michael Urie, 2011, USA, 91 min.

UNITED IN ANGER: A HISTORY OF ACT UP
Dir: Jim Hubbard, 2012, USA, 93 min.

WALK AWAY RENEE
Dir: Jonathan Caouette, 2011, USA, 87 min.

WILDNESS
Dir: Wu Tsang, Scr: Roya Rastegar, 2011, USA, subtitled, 73 min.

PLATINUM SECTION
ANN MAGNUSON LIVE PERFORMANCE: BOWIE CABARET & THE JOBRIATH MEDLEY Musical Dir. Kristian Hoffman, Starring Ann Magnuson

BRUCE LABRUCE SHORTS

L.A. PLAYS ITSELF
Dir: Fred Halsted, 1972, USA, 51 min.

PLATINUM SHOWCASE

SHE MALE SNAILS
Dir: Ester Martin Bergsmark, 2012, Sweden/Denmark, subtitled, 72 min

THIS IS NOT A DREAM
Dir: Ben Walters, Gavin Butt, 2012, UK, 118 min.

WILDNESS
Dir: Wu Tsang, Scr: Roya Rastegar, 2011, USA, subtitled, 73 min.

Outfest Sets 'Vito' As Opening Film of 30th Edition; John Waters To Receive Achievement Award

Peter Knegt — Wed, 16 May 2012 21:26:17 GMT

Jeffrey Schwarz's "Vito" will open the 30th anniversary edition of Outfest: The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, it was announced today. In addition, the festival announced that John Waters will receive the 16th annual Achievement Award.

The Achievement Award will be presented to Waters prior to the Opening Night Gala screening of “Vito” on Thursday, July 12 at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.

Outfest will run July 12 – 22, 2012. Full press release below, including more programming details.

Los Angeles, May 16, 2012 – Outfest – the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing, showcasing and protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media – announced today that Jeffrey Schwarz’s documentary “Vito” has been selected as the Opening Night gala of the 30th Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. “Vito” chronicles the story of Vito Russo, founding father of the gay liberation movement, author of "The Celluloid Closet," and vociferous AIDS activist in the 1980s. The film features Lily Tomlin, Armistead Maupin, Bruce Vilanch, Richard Berkowitz and Larry Kramer.

Outfest will also present its 16th annual Achievement Award to filmmaker, author and artist John Waters. The Achievement Award is Outfest's highest honor and is presented in recognition of a body of work that has made a significant contribution to LGBT film and media. John Waters is a filmmaker, visual artist, author, comedian, and essayist. With films ranging from the taboo-pushing PINK FLAMINGOS to the teen-dance spectacular HAIRSPRAY, Waters and his work have been unapologetically queer, championing outside values and personal expression in a world that rarely appreciates difference. The Achievement Award will be presented to Waters prior to the Opening Night Gala screening of “Vito” on Thursday, July 12 at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.

“Honoring two legendary figures Vito Russo and John Waters is the perfect way to launch Outfest’s 30th anniversary,” said Executive Director Kirsten Schaffer. “Over that past three decades, Outfest has had a global impact on LGBT lives by promoting understanding, launching world-class talent and preserving our filmed history for generations to come.”

The nation’s leading LGBT film festival, and the oldest film festival in the city of Los Angeles, will be held July 12 – 22, 2012.

Waters will also be performing his show “This Filthy World: Gayer and Filthier” on July 11th in the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever. Focusing in on Waters’ early negative artistic influences and his fascination with true crime, exploitation films, fashion lunacy, and the extremes of the contemporary art world, this joyously devious monologue elevates all that is trashy in life into a call to arms to “filth followers” everywhere. Tickets for this screening are available at HollywoodForever.ticketfly.com.

As part of its 30th anniversary year, Outfest will celebrate this milestone across all of its programs by producing the best film festival to date, premiering its most significant feature film restoration and debuting an impressive youth filmmaking project, among many innovative and expanded initiatives.

·        30 YEARS OF OUTFEST: THE FILMS THAT SPARKED A CULTURAL REVOLUTION
A series of seminal LGBT films from the 1960’s to the 2000’s including a recreation of the first festival in 1982: QUEEN OF SHEBA MEETS THE ATOM MAN (1963-4), MAKING LOVE (Hill, 1982) and TAXI ZUM KLO (Ripploh, 1981). This series is supported by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

·        DOWNTOWN 30
A monthly screening series taking place at the Downtown Independent Theatre, presenting new and classic films of interest to LGBT audiences.

·        “DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS” RESTORATION
The Outfest Legacy Project for LGBT Film Preservation, a partnership with the UCLA Film & Television Archive, will unveil its most significant restoration to date, arguably the earliest surviving cinematic work made explicitly about LGBT people .Thispeople. This restoration is partially funded by a grant from the Andrew J. Kuehn, Jr. Foundation.

·        30 YEARS OF IMPACT: CHANGING HISTORY ONE STORY AT A TIME
Stories of Outfest filmmakers, volunteers and members from the last thirty years whose lives and careers have been deeply impacted by Outfest will be posted weekly on our website. Filmmakers and audiences will also have the opportunity to post their own story of how Outfest changed their lives by uploading a video to the site.

·        ABSOLUT OUTRAGEOUS
Absolut Vodka, one of Outfest’s longest supporters is also turning 30th this year. Absolut, celebrating supporting the gay and lesbian community going out and coming out for 30 years, is joining the Outfest 30th anniversary celebration and the iconic vodka is bringing a special gift to the party. In honor of OutfestUTFEST’s anniversary, our long termlong-term partner, Absolut Vodka, has pledged an Absolut OUTrageous cash gift of $30,000 for the Outfest Legacy Project.

Outfest 2012: The 30th Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival is presented by HBO. Grand Sponsors include Absolut and Ease Entertainment Services. For more information about Outfest 2012 sponsorship, visit www.outfest/org/sponsor.

Outfest Extends to NYC By Taking Over NewFest

Nigel M Smith — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:01:48 GMT

Outfest, the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is expanding their reach to New York.

Today, Outfest announced a new partnership with NewFest, New York's LGBT film festival, effectively taking over programming duties for this year's edition of NewFest. Their intent is to create "one national arts organization," according to their release.

So what does this all mean for NewFest staff? Well for the last three years NewFest has not had a full-time staff, hiring instead on a seasonal basis. (Full disclosure: Indiewire contributor Bryce Renninger served NewFest's head programmer for last year's edition.) The exception was executive director Lesli Klainberg, who resigned at the start of this year to work at the Film Society of Lincoln Center.

According to a festival representative, Outfest intends to hire an operations manager to coordinate the festival on the East Coast, and possibly others, who will work along with the staff of Outfest on the West Coast.

NewFest Board Co-President Steve Mendelsohn said of the development, "Outfest brings a wealth of knowledge and wide-ranging capabilities to NewFest and will enable us to enhance our annual festival and expand our year-round programming. The potential benefit for NewFest and New York's LGBT film community as a whole is something we’re very excited about."

Whether NewFest will partner up with the Film Society of Lincoln Center again this year for its gala presentations remains to be seen, under this new intiative.

The 24th edition of NewFest runs July 27-30 in New York.

Full release below:

OUTFEST and NEWFEST Form Strategic Partnership

Outfest to Program New York LGBT Festival

Los Angeles, March 26, 2012 -- Outfest, the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing, showcasing and protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media, announced today that it is forming a strategic partnership with NewFest, the New York LGBT film festival, with the intent of merging NewFest into Outfest and creating one national arts organization.

Outfest, which is celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year, will be responsible for programming this year’s edition of NewFest which will take place July 27 – 30, 2012 at a venue to be announced.

"Extending the reach of Outfest as a national organization and ensuring that Outfest continues to be a leader in bringing stories of the LGBT community to audiences is a great way to celebrate our 30^th anniversary milestone," said Outfest board Co-Presidents Jon Larson and Laura Ivey. “We look forward to working with the team at NewFest on their festival this year and on future initiatives,” added Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director of Outfest.

NewFest Board Co-President Steve Mendelsohn said, “Outfest brings a wealth of knowledge and wide-ranging capabilities to NewFest and will enable us to enhance our annual festival and expand our year-round programming. The potential benefit for NewFest and New York's LGBT film community as a whole is something we’re very excited about."

About Outfest

Outfest, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is the leading organization showcasing, nurturing and protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender film images and artists. For three decades, Outfest has brought together film lovers, innovative artists, celebrities and entertainment industry professionals to create a world-class forum for stories that reflect and often transform LGBT lives. Outfest has showcased over 5,600 films to audiences, totaling close to one million people, educated hundreds of emerging filmmakers and protected 18,000 stories and images through the Outfest Legacy Project for LGBT Film Preservation, the only program of its kind in the world.

About NewFest

As one of New York City's premier LGBT arts organizations for over twenty years, NewFest empowers, educates, entertains, and provokes the culturally rich and diverse communities of the greater metropolitan region. Through its annual film festival and year-round programming, NewFest showcases international, US,

"Weekend," "Habana Muda" Among Top Outfest Winners

Brian Brooks — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:27:28 GMT

Andrew Haigh's "Weekend" won the Grand Jury Award for "Outstanding International Dramatic Feature," while Eric Brach's "Habana Muda" took the Grand Jury Award for "Outstanding Documentary Feature Film" over the weekend at Outfest, capping the 29th Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. The jury nod in the U.S. dramatic feature category went to Stephen Cone's "The Wise Kids," which also received Outfest's screenwriting award. Director Maryam Keshavarz's "Circumstance" won the festival's Audience Award for "Outstanding First U.S. Dramatic Feature" and Tom Tykwer's "3" won Outstanding Dramatic Feature Film in the category.

The 29th Outfest took place July 7 - 17 in Los Angeles, featuruing 163 films, including 67 features and 96 shorts from 25 countries. Outfest closed out Sunday night with JAnne Renton's "The Perfect Family," starring Kathleen Turner, Jason Ritter, Emily Deschanel and Richard Chamberlain.

Outfest winners with information, award commentary and credits provided by the festival:

Jury prizes:

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Documentary Short Film: "Thank You for Your Call," Directed by Shawn Nee

For its moving examination of one man’s emotional journey through a complex and systematic issue of inequity which currently and will continue to affect many of us, we award the Outfest 2011 Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Documentary Short Film to "Thank You for Your Call," directed by Shawn Nee.

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Short Film: "I Don't Want to Go Back Alone," Directed by Daniel Ribeiro

For its sensitive and original portrayal of a young man’s self-realization of his sexuality, and for the quality of its direction, writing, and its performances, we award the Outfest 2011 Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Short Film to I DON’T WANT TO GO BACK ALONE, directed by Daniel Ribeiro.

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature Film: "Habana Muda," Directed by Eric Brach

This year’s winning documentary is a beautifully crafted narrative that reveals multiple worlds and gives us access to intimate moments and complex relationships. It’s a very personal story that rises above the issues it explores, and entertains us in every moment. The Outfest 2011 Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature Film goes to "Habana Muda," directed by Eric Brach.

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding International Dramatic Feature Film: "Weekend," Directed by Andrew Haigh

This year’s winning international dramatic feature film is a touching, authentic portrayal of gay life as we truly experience it: not stylized, not glamorized, but heartfelt, perceptive and absorbingly real. From the first frame it manages to get beneath the artifice we are used to. In its own quiet, unflinching way it leaves you a little bit changed, and yet more yourself than you ever were. The Outfest 2011 Grand Jury Award for Outstanding International Dramatic Feature Film goes to "Weekend," directed by Andrew Haigh.

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film: Nikohl Boosheri, "Circumstance."

For her fierce and sensual portrayal of a young woman struggling to balance the tumultuous landscape of her sexuality in a world in flux around her, the Outfest 2011 Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film goes to Nikohl Boosheri for her portrayal of Atafeh in "Circumstance."

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film, the cast of "Private Romeo."

For bringing fresh life to a timeless love story and infusing each moment with a 21st century immediacy that balances naked passion with longing and delivering it all with brilliant coherence, the Outfest 2011 Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film goes to the entire cast of "Private Romeo."

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Screenwriting: Stephen Cone, "The Wise Kids"

For a script that transports us to a world with rare authenticity and plunges into the lives of a myriad of characters with surprising depth and compassion and never judges its characters, the Outfest 2011 Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Screenwriting goes to Stephen Cone for "The Wise Kids."

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding U.S. Dramatic Feature Film: "The Wise Kids," Directed by Stephen Cone

We were very moved by this film not only as a love letter to the community it depicts but as a universal portrayal of characters both coming of age and coming of middle age. We also believe this film represents American independent cinema at its best and marks the discovery of a filmmaker with a compelling cinematic voice. The Outfest 2011 Grand Jury Award for Outstanding U.S. Dramatic Feature Film goes to "The Wise Kids," directed by Stephen Cone.

Audience prizes:

Audience Award for Outstanding Documentary Short Film: "Same Difference," Directed by Catherine Opie & Lisa Udelson

Audience Award for Outstanding Dramatic Short Film: "Tsuyako," Directed by Mitsuyo Miyazaki

Audience Award for Outstanding Documentary Feature Film: "We Were Here," Directed by David Weissman & Bill Weber

Audience Award for Outstanding Dramatic Feature Film: "3," Directed by Tom Tykwer

Audience Award for Outstanding First U.S. Dramatic Feature Film: "Circumstance," Directed by Maryam Keshavarz

Special Programming Awards:

Special Programming Award for Freedom: "No Look Pass," Directed by Melissa Johnson

For its unflinching look at the life of a young lesbian basketball star facing the hardships of coming out and a relationship challenged by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" the Outfest Special Programming Award for Freedom goes to "No Look Pass."

Special Programming Award for Artistic Achievement: "The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye," Directed by Marie Losier

For matching the conceptual daring and aesthetic bravado of its subjects’ lives with an equally powerful filmmaking style and for never losing sight of the love story that flourished in an atmosphere of gender experimentation and conceptual music, the Outfest Special Programming Award for Artistic Achievement goes to Marie Losier, director of "The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye."

Special Programming Award for Emerging Talent: Madeleine Olnek, Writer/Director, "Co-dependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same."

For her witty and creative vision, her skill at eliciting memorable performances, for deftly blending old school science fiction and deadpan comedy, and for believing that true love exists even if it means going to another planet to find it, the Outfest Special Programming Award for Emerging Talent goes to Madeleine Olnek, the writer/director of "Co-dependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same."

World of Wonder's Fenton Bailey & Randy Barbato: "No is the beginning of yes"

Kim Adelman — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 07:19:31 GMT

What's the secret behind the success of Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, the duo responsible for "Becoming Chaz" and "RuPaul's Drag Race" and recipients of the 15th Annual Outfest Achievement Award? According to Tori Spelling, who moderated Outfest's panel with the producing partners on July 9th, it's their motto: "No is the beginning of yes."

"Few acts can balance mainstream popularity with cult status and maintain their independence, singular vision, and relevance - especially in the mood shifting LGBT landscape," praised Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director of Outfest, when announcing that Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato would be receiving the festival's 2011 achievement award, which was given to John Schlesinger in its inaugural year (1997) and last year to Jane Lynch.

It's no doubt that Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato know how to put on a show. At the Tori Spelling-moderated Outfest panel, which took place two days after the achievement award ceremony, a tribute reel summed up Bailey and Barbato's dizzying array of credits ranging from "Party Monster" to all six seasons of "Tori & Dean." Spelling joked that the duo have a "no is the beginning of yes" drawer in which they keep projects they won't give up on no matter how many potential buyers pass over the years.

While accepting their Outfest award, Bailey and Barbato pitched their most recent passion project to the captive audience at the Orpheum Theatre. "Picture this," hyped Barbato, "'Entourage' meets 'Flashdance' with Abercrombie & Fitch sprinkled on top." And onto the stage danced the attractive Shaping Sounds troupe to perform a well-received interpretive dance number.

Between the two Outfest events, Bailey and Barbato spoke to indieWIRE about their thoughts on how the independent film and documentary landscape have changed over the years and why they consider today a golden age.

Barbato: In terms of independent film, we've watched it go from kind of 'niche but exciting' [in which] you'd discover and hear from new voices, and a lot of those happened to be gay or lesbian because it was really the only outlet. But then we watched independent film almost become mainstream and become co-opted by the mainstream in many ways.
Right now we're at an interesting time where there's such a thin line between the mainstream and independent film.
Bailey: One of the big changes that we've seen is that the separate worlds of independent film and the world of television are converging.
A lot of people talk about Reality TV often in quite negative terms, but we see a lot of Reality TV - not all, but a lot - as being an incredible renaissance for verite filmmaking, for documentary storytelling.
Sometimes the differences between these different genres are more emphasized than the things that they have in common. We feel not much attention gets paid to that. And that's why it was so very special to get that Outfest award last night. We have made some feature films, and we've also made theatrically released documentaries, and we've done a lot of television. But the way we see it, it's about storytelling.
What's so exciting about the time we're in is that there are so many different ways to tell a story - far more ways than there once were. It's technology, it's cameras, it's more media, it's more channels, it's more outlets.
As for the model of how you distribute - or monetize - your film, there are so many different ways to do it now. It used to be maybe you'd take your film to a festival, and try to sell the film at a festival to get a theatrical deal. But now to get your film seen by people, it's not always necessary that your film be released in theaters. It could be on the small screen, it could be via Netflix - there are so many ways to get your film out there. And depending on what your story is, what kind of film it is, I think you just have to look at each case individually and see what works best.
It's a great time to be in the world, telling real stories. It's an amazing golden age.
While they were looking back, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato congratulated indieWIRE on its 15th anniversary...
Barbato: indieWIRE has been the place to go for 15 years, and Fenton and I have been regular readers that whole time. It's often where we not only get our information but also get some of our juicy gossip.
Bailey: The success and growth of indieWIRE speaks to the seismic changes in film in that period of time. Because when indieWIRE started, I don't think anyone necessary thought that it would become the go-to place...to get your news in that space. So the success of indieWIRE, the underdog, is very exciting. Because in regards to monolithic structures, it's all changing. IndieWIRE rises, "News of the World" falls.
Barbato: It's exciting turning 15 - going from puberty into adulthood. In the past year or so there have been interesting and exciting changes that make us look forward to indieWIRE's future.

Gregg Araki: "The worst reason to make a film is just to go out and make one"

Kim Adelman — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 09:59:16 GMT

Director Gregg Araki is an indie film stalwart, with films dating back into the '80s with "The Long Weekend (O'Despair)" and into the '90s with "The Living End," "Totally F***ed Up," "The Doom Generation," "Nowhere" and more. This century, he recruited Joseph Gordon-Levitt in "Mysterious Skin" and the likes of Anna Faris, John Krasinski and Adam Brody in "Smiley Face" and Juno Temple in last year's "Kaboom."

But it all started back in 1987 with "Three Bewildered People in the Night," a film Araki recalls he "had to make," financing the $5K budget himself. The film revolves around a trio of young lovers who sort through their angst and despair in a late-night coffee shop. The film is the subject of Outfest's U.S. premiere screening of a new high-definition transfer July 10 as part of its Legacy Project.

Gregg Araki will attend the Outfest screening of "Three Bewildered People in the Night" July 10 at the Directors Guild Theater in Los Angeles.

Below, Araki shares with iW his thoughts on first films generally, and what "should drive" would-be filmmakers to plunge into making movies, recalling why he took on "Bewildered People." He also gives his take on the state of the indie biz in the past two decades and also gives a shout-out to indieWIRE on the occasion of its 15th anniversary this month...

This is my own personal philosophy about first films. I think first-time filmmakers should make a film when they're ready to make a film and when they have a film that they're dying to make. I think the worst reason to make a film is just to go out and make one -- or because you want to go to Sundance, or you want to be like Quentin Tarantino. The reason to make a film is because you have a story you want to tell, you have something you really, really want to say.
And that to me is what was so striking about "Three Bewildered People in the Night," that it came from a place of almost desperation. I was just so desperate to make this movie. This was way back in the old days of indie filmmaking. The whole movie cost like five grand. I kind of financed it out of my own pocket. It's really a trip to watch it, like a time machine for me -- going back to what my life was like when I made that movie. It takes me back to a much more naive and innocent time. The movie is really cool in that way.
I find people's first films so fascinating. For instance, Gus Van Sant's "Mala Noche" or Rick Linklater's super-8 feature that he made before "Slacker" are really interesting to watch because there is so much in that first film, so much of the director's passion and sheer will to get it made. And I think that that's so important for a first-time filmmaker.
When I made "Three Bewildered People," I was in my angst-ridden 20s. When I was in Toronto for a retrospective of my work, they had one Q&A night where they showed clips of all of my movies back-to-back and we talked about each one. It was amazing for me to look back at all the movies put together. As a person and a filmmaker, I've changed so much. And for me, particularly because my movies are all so personal, they really capture where my head is at, at the time I'm making them. So it was really a trip to see the progression and see all the different phases and mindsets, the things that were affecting me when I made the movie. To me, that is one of the coolest things about making films.
Independent film, particularly in the United States, goes through cycles of boom years and lean years. It's just like the economy. We went through a very hard patch a few years ago when the economy crashed, all the money dried up and all the companies were going out of business. It seems like there's been a little bit of a renaissance and things are coming back, which is always good news for filmmakers.
But my experience in making movies, is that it's always been a struggle; it's never been easy. I think that to be an independent filmmaker you have to have a certain amount of tenacity and stubbornness. And the passion to keep doing it in the face adversity, to overcome a lot of obstacles.
There's so much excitement and so much interesting work being done. I think that's really cool, and it's great that indieWIRE has been around for 15 years to keep their finger on the pulse beat and keep everybody informed about everything that's going on. It's great that the indie film community is still thriving, still growing and still going strong.

[Below is the trailer for the TIFF Bell Lightbox series looking at Araki's work in Toronto, which he refers to in this article.]

[Brian Brooks contributed to this article]

Outfest Reveals 2011 Festival Line-up, Ones to Watch, and More

Indiewire Staff — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:11:39 GMT

Outfest's 29th Annual Gay & Lesbian Film Festival kicks off in L.A. on July 7th and runs until the 17th with 163 films (67 features and 96 shorts) from 25 countries, along with over a dozen panels and special events. "This year's line-up is one of the strongest in Outfest history and we're excited to be showcasing work that is both exploring and expanding the possibilities of LGBT themes and challenging our audiences through their storytelling," said Director of Programming Kim Yutani.

Outfest 2011 opens with Rashaad Ernesto Green's first feature film, "Gun Hill Road," and will close with feature film debut, "The Perfect Family," from filmmaker Anne Renton. Other gala screenings include: Maryam Keshavarz's "Circumstance" (U.S. Dramatic Centerpiece), Andrew Haigh's "Weekend" (International Centerpiece), P. David Ebersole's "Hit So Hard" (Documentary Centerpiece), and Tom Tykwer's "3" (Broad Stage Gala). The 2011 selections for the festival's Four in Focus series include: Lisa Aschan's "She Monkeys," Maryam Keshavarz's "Circumstance," Madeleine Olnek's "Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same," and Eldar Rapaport's "August."

Full Line-up below: [Synopses courtesy of the festival]

GALAS

Opening Night Gala – “Gun Hill Road” (July 7 at 8:00pm – Orpheum Theatre)
After three years in prison, macho Enrique (Esai Morales) returns home to the Bronx and finds things changed. His wife, Angela (Judy Reyes), is distant, and his teenage son, Michael, has come out as Vanessa, a transgender woman. Unable to accept his child for who she is now, Enrique clings to his masculine ideals while Angela attempts to hold the family together by fiercely protecting Vanessa. Still under the watchful eye of his parole officer, Enrique must become the father he needs to be or once again risk losing his family and freedom.

The heart of GUN HILL ROAD lies in two places: the richly drawn character of Michael/Vanessa (newcomer Harmony Santana is unforgettable) and a father's inability to escape the vicious cycle of his life. Writer/director Rashaad Ernesto Green's first feature film is told with gentle humor, sensitivity and a deep understanding of the environment that defines its inhabitants.

U.S. Dramatic Centerpiece – “Circumstance” (July 12 at 8:00pm – DGA 1)
In a vibrant contemporary Tehran, two beautiful teenage girls struggle for their personal freedom. Atafeh and her best friend Shireen are full of youthful exuberance and a healthy streak of rebellion as they drink, smoke and go dancing at underground parties. When Atafeh's brother Mehran returns from drug rehab, he embraces a new way of life and joins the Morality Police - much to the surprise of his affluent and liberal parents - and becomes increasingly obsessed with and involved in Atafeh and Shireen's intimate relationship.

Nikohl Boosheri (Atafeh), Sarah Kazemy (Shireen) and Reza Sixo Safai (Mehran) smolder on screen in their fearless and complex performances. A feast for the senses, CIRCUMSTANCE is the original vision of writer/director Maryam Keshavarz, whose first feature effort creates a stylish and sensual coming-of-age film, presenting a timely and important story of a new generation of women in Iran who dream of a place where they can be free.

Winner of the Audience Award: Dramatic at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

International Dramatic Centerpiece – “Weekend” (July 13 at 8:00pm – DGA 1)
British filmmaker Andrew Haigh, winner of Outfest 2009's Artistic Achievement Award for his first feature, GREEK PETE, returns to the festival with his second feature - already an acclaimed award-winner itself. With the same intimacy and rare authenticity of his impressive debut, WEEKEND explores the relationship between two young gay men that evolves from a drunken one-night stand into a dynamic and complex portrait of modern gay romance over the course of a booze, drug and sex fueled weekend, building to a delicate emotional climax.

The chemistry between coleads Tom Cullen and Chris New lights fire to a precise yet free-flowing script that allows them to playfully explore the dimensions and shifting moods of their characters. The film's natural rhythm utilizes the confines of its construct to explicitly and unapologetically express themes that transcend sexuality without ever denying it. WEEKEND advances the gay narrative - both filmic and socially - in ways that few films have.

Winner of the 2011 SXSW Emerging Visions Audience Award.

Documentary Centerpiece – “Hit So Hard” (July 14 at 8:00pm – Ford Theatre)
Patty Schemel, the hard hitting drummer of Courtney Love's seminal rock band Hole, is not only a master of the sticks, but a true survivor. After growing up as an outsider near Seattle she shot to stardom in the early 90’s, engulfed by the music scene and ensuing popularity. She documented her life as a rock star – at band practice, on the road, backstage and in front of millions of people. She captured rare, precious moments behind the scenes with Hole and Kurt Cobain and the intense highs and lows of these dynamic relationships often shaped by drug abuse and an addiction that consumed her and almost killed her.

Director P. David Ebersole has masterfully woven Patty’s Hi8 videos with contemporary interviews of Patty, her band mates (including Love, Melissa Auf der Maur and Eric Erlandson), other musicians, and important figures in Patty’s life to craft a story that is as beautiful and inspirational as it is a significant cultural record.

Broad Stage Gala – “3” (July 11 at 8:00pm – Broad Stage)
In one of his most singular and stylish films, German filmmaker Tom Tykwer (RUN LOLA RUN) returns to Berlin for the setting of this seductive drama centered on an upscale middle-aged couple whose routine coexistence is upset when they separately encounter the same man and explore their sexual fluidity. Complementing an inventive narrative with a slick visual polish and dynamic soundtrack, Tykwer crafts a sophisticated film full of ideas and themes that range from erotic to darkly comic to cruel and fatalistic. Sophie Rois (Hanna) and Sebastian Schipper (Simon) deliver pitch-perfect performances as the married couple, and Devid Striesow brings a unique dimension to his role as their unwitting lover, Adam. When a complication threatens to expose their carefully guarded secrets, the resolution is both surprising and inevitable.

3 premiered at last year's Venice Film Festival and screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and earlier this year at the 2011 Berlinale.

Closing Night Gala – “The Perfect Family” (July 17 at 8:00pm – Ford Theatre)
How far will one suburban housewife go to win the Outstanding Catholic of the Year Award? Dedicated churchgoer Eileen Cleary (Kathleen Turner, in a heartbreaking performance) will bend over backwards to portray her dysfunctional brood as the Catholic ideal, even though her son (Jason Ritter) has just left his wife for the woman he really loves, and Eileen's daughter Shannon (Emily Deschanel) is about to marry her lesbian lover.

In her feature film debut, filmmaker Anne Renton skillfully balances the dramatic tension with a humorous undertone centered on Eileen's struggle to reconcile her faith and her goal of perfection with the reality of her life. A talented cast that also includes Angelique Cabral and Richard Chamberlain bolsters this unforgettable comedy-drama.

Line-Up

U.S. Dramatic Features:

AUGUST

Dir/Scr: Eldar Rapaport, 2010, USA, 100 min.

What if the ex-boyfriend you never quite got out of your system moved back to town in the middle of a heat wave? That’s what happens to Jonathan, when his sexy ex Troy returns to L.A. during a particularly sweaty summer. Jonathan falls quickly back into bed with Troy, but will this steamy summer fling pull Jonathan away from his smoldering Spanish lover Raul? Find out in this sensual melodrama that will have you sweating along with its stunning protagonists.

BUMBLEFUCK, USA

Dir: Aaron Douglas Johnston, Scr: Aaron Douglas Johnston & Cat Smits, 2011, USA, 91 min.

Distraught by the recent death of a close gay friend, Alexa travels from Amsterdam to her friend’s hometown in Iowa to make a documentary about homosexuality in small-town America. Once there, she meets local artist Jennifer, for whom she develops unprecedented romantic feelings. Bolstered by beautiful cinematography illustrative of the American experience, BUMBLEFUCK, USA is an evocative chronicle of Alexa’s journey to understand both her grief and her sexuality.

CODEPENDENT LESBIAN SPACE ALIEN SEEKS SAME

Dir/Scr: Madeleine Olnek, 2011, USA, 75 min.

Serving on a special mission, three lesbian aliens are sent to Earth. As the fetching extraterrestrials search for romance on the New York dating scene, one finds love with Jane, an eager stationery store clerk who is oblivious to the fact that she’s dating an alien. Tightly scripted with lo-fi styling and campy B-movie effects, this wholly original comedy embraces the intrinsic hilarity of lesbian life to tell a story about love that transcends galaxies.

ECUPID

Dir/Scr: JC Calciano, 2011, USA, 95 min.

Nowadays it’s not uncommon to be on an online dating site: Match.com, OkCupid, and Grindr. But what if your dating site began to manipulate your every move and spin you into a frenzy? And what if that app was voiced by Morgan Fairchild?! Marshall is feeling stuck in his 7-year relationship with Gabe and turns to an online site for help. Little does he know that the site will take control of his life - all in the name of finding true love, of course.

GOING DOWN IN LA-LA LAND

Dir/Scr: Casper Andreas, 2010, USA, 104 min.

Trying to make it as an actor in L.A.? Trying to keep your integrity while doing it? This is the story of Adam - a fresh, young, gay transplant from New York - and his trials as a struggling actor. After a few months of working a spirit-crushing job, Adam finds himself tempted by less glamorous opportunities that may not be beneficial to his resume. This slice of Hollywood life, written and directed by co-star Casper Andreas, will have you laughing, crying and maybe even reconsidering your own aspirations for stardom.

THE GREEN

Dir: Steven Williford, Scr: Paul Marcarelli, 2010, USA, 90 min.

Michael Gavin and his partner Daniel trade the rat race of New York City for the idyllic charm of the Connecticut shoreline, with hopes of a simpler life and time for Michael to finish his first novel. All that changes when one of Michael’s high school students accuses him of “inappropriate conduct,” and the town rushes to judgment. Featuring stand-out performances by Cheyenne Jackson, Julia Ormond and Illeana Douglas, THE GREEN is a gripping emotional journey that will keep you guessing until the very end.

JAMIE AND JESSE ARE NOT TOGETHER

Dir/Scr: Wendy Jo Carlton, 2011, USA, 95 min.

From writer/director Wendy Jo Carlton (HANNAH FREE) comes a lesbian romantic comedy-with musical numbers! For anyone who has ever fallen for a friend. Jamie is moving from Chicago to New York with the hope of becoming a Broadway actress. Her best friend Jessie is bummed because she is not-so-secretly in love with Jamie. As moving day approaches, Jessie tries to make Jamie jealous by dating other women... but the plan backfires in a way Jessie never could have imagined.

LEAVE IT ON THE FLOOR

Dir: Sheldon Larry, Scr: Glenn Gaylord, 2011, USA, 105 min.

Twenty years after PARIS IS BURNING brought Harlem’s drag balls to the world’s attention comes this energetic, dance-filled musical set in L.A.’s ball scene. Kicked out of his house for being gay, Darnell falls in with the city’s most trophy-challenged house, but these runway walkers will overcome tragedy and heartbreak to become the fiercest crew of all. And child, you know they’re gonna leave it all on the floor.

LONGHORNS

Dir/Scr: David Lewis, 2011, USA, 75 min.

Beers and queers run rampant in this scandalous comedy from the makers of BEARCITY and FRUIT FLY. It’s the ‘80s and “straight” Texas frat boy Kevin has a habit of lending his buddies a helping hand during male bonding sessions, but he really gets his lasso in a twist upon meeting his dorm’s new guy, the openly gay Cesar Kevin attempts to forget his attraction by escaping to a cabin in the Hill Country, but LONGHORNS still manages to give “ride ‘em cowboy” a whole new meaning.

MANGUS!

Dir/Scr: Ash Christian , 2011, USA, 88 min.

Mangus Spedgwick was destined to be Jesus - just like his daddy, and his daddy before him - in River City, Texas’ production of Jesus Christ Spectacular! When a freak accident leaves him paralyzed, Mangus wanders through the desert of small-town life, until he is shown the way by a vision of Jesus in a titty bar. Ash Christian (FAT GIRLS) directs an epic cast, including Leslie Jordan, John Waters, Jennifer Coolidge and Heather Matarazzo.

PRIVATE ROMEO

Dir/Scr: Alan Brown, 2011, USA, 98 min.

Romeo and Juliet has never been more provocative than in this contemporary all-boy staging. Writer/director Alan Brown transfers the setting from fair Verona to a high school military campus where a small group of boys from rival schools act out the tragedy in real life. This bold adaptation eschews convention and challenges common perceptions of masculinity, gay youth and the military. Anchored by solid performances, the film balances the tough dialogue, tender romance and unique setting with an erotic rhythm and a few surprising twists.

VACATION!

Dir/Scr: Zach Clark, 2010, USA, 90 min.

Four girlfriends reunite for a week of partying on the beach, and it’s all sand, sun and margaritas until one of them turns up dead. Glass Candy’s electropop soundtrack and a deliciously colored backdrop set the tone for a film in which a dead body may be the least surprising twist. VACATION! is a dazzling guessing game that includes a mysterious surfer dude, a UFO and an acid trip featuring blonde wigs and Miracle Bowel Cleanser.

THE WISE KIDS

Dir/Scr: Stephen Cone, 2011, USA, 91 min.

In a Baptist church community in Charleston, South Carolina, three teenage friends contemplate the next stage of life. There’s the devout Laura; openly gay Tim, who is anxious to start film school in New York; and gorgeous Brea, who is undergoing a deep crisis of faith. Writer/director Stephen Cone infuses comedy into a dramatic narrative. A character-driven film with an extraordinarily talented young cast, THE WISE KIDS is respectful and earnest, and never claims to have all the answers.

WITHOUT

Dir/Scr: Mark Jackson, 2010, USA, 87 min.

On a remote wooded island, nineteen-year old Joslyn (Joslyn Jensen, in a finely tuned and unshakable performance) arrives to take care of an elderly man left alone by his vacationing family. In this isolated setting, the memories of her girlfriend and circumstance of her death consume Josyln’s fragile emotions. Writer/director Mark Jackson carefully balances the film’s simple dramatic narrative with undertones of a psychological thriller that slowly reveal Josyln’s internalized grief and sense of loss in subtle and sometimes bizarre ways.

WOMAN'S PICTURE

Dir/Scr: Brian Pera, 2010, USA, 105 min.

Powerful women take the lead in this homage to the female protagonist-driven films of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. Writer/director Brian Pera (THE WAY I SEE THINGS) has drawn fascinating and complex characters in a series of vignettes, featuring Calpernia Addams as a transwoman returning to her family and childhood home; and the enchanting Ann Magnuson as a popular home shopping hostess with a complicated home life.

International Dramatic Features:

ABSENT (AUSENTE)
Dir/Scr: Marco Berger, 2011, Argentina, subtitled, 87 min.
Argentinean writer/director Marco Berger (PLAN B) returns to Outfest with a dramatic film about obsession and repression. Adorable 16-year-old Martin not so subtly pursues his ostensibly straight swim coach/gym teacher, Sebastian, who in turn harbors complicated feelings toward Martin. A beautifully shot and unusually moody thriller about forbidden desire, ABSENT is driven by a palpable sexual tension and the interplay of fantasy and reality. Winner of the 2011 Teddy Award at the Berlin Film Festival for Best Feature Film.

BASHMENT

Dir/Scr: Rikki Beadle-Blair, 2010, UK, 110 min.

Riki Beadle Blair (FIT) returns to Outfest with this hard-hitting urban drama adapted from his 2005 stage play exploring the intersection of race, sexuality and music. After a brutal gay bash attack at a reggae dancehall competition, a group of thuggish performers defend their actions as being provoked by the victim. They serve a shockingly light sentence, and as their release date nears, their original public defender rallies with the victims to examine the homophobic song lyrics and ask the question “Did the music make you do it?” Featuring finely tuned performances by a multiracial cast.

BREAK MY FALL

Dir/Scr: Kanchi Wichmann, 2010, UK, 105 min.

In this gritty and realistic drama, four queer hipster friends in East London find their lives changed one fateful drug and alcohol-fueled night. Liza and girlfriend Sally play in an indie rock band and have an intense and dysfunctional relationship. Their guy pals are also floundering: Vin works as a hustler, while Jamie looks to find stability in a boyfriend. Writer/director Kanchi Wichmann takes an unflinching and artistic look at the complex and often not so pretty terrain of human relationships.

THE FAMILY COMPLETE

Dir/Scr: Imaizumi Koichi, 2010, Japan, subtitled, 106 min.

Imaizumi Koichi’s twisted look at family dynamics and sexual obsession ranks among the most wonderfully weird films we’re screening this year. A grandfather carries a mysterious disease that makes other people want to have sex with no one but him - and soon everyone in the household is afflicted! (And then there’s the guy in the bear costume who meows like a kitten, but we’ll leave that for you to figure out.)

A FEW DAYS OF RESPITE (QUELQUES JOURS DE RÉPIT)

Dir/Scr: Amor Hakkar, 2010, Algeria/France, subtitled, 80 min.

Having escaped Iran, where their relationship means a death sentence, Hassan and Mohsen manage to make it to France. In a small town awaiting their train to Paris, Mohsen befriends lonely Yolande, and finds himself torn between a security he has never known before and his passionate connection to his younger lover. Without forced sentimentality or manufactured drama, A FEW DAYS OF RESPITE questions the nature of love and happiness, and the sacrifices we might make to achieve either.

HAPPY, HAPPY (SYKT LYKKELIG)

Dir: Anne Sewitsky, Scr: Ragnhild Tronvoll, 2011, Norway, subtitled, 85 min.

Housewife Kaja manages to stay cheerful, despite the fact that her husband would prefer to watch wrestling on TV than have sex with her. When a seemingly perfect couple moves in next door, both Kaja and her husband’s sexual liberation comes within reach, forcing the inevitable truths and secrets out. Dark humor, flat-out hilarity and tight storytelling make HAPPY, HAPPY a delightful look at the folly and resilience of adult relationships. Winner of the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

HARVEST (STADT LAND FLUSS)

Dir/Scr: Benjamin Cantu, 2011, Germany, subtitled, 85 min.

Marko, a brooding young man, is a student in an agricultural school on a farm 40 miles outside of Berlin. Driving tractors, cleaning stables and herding cows is livened up with the arrival of Jacob, an affable pretty boy, with whom Marko begins a friendship. HARVEST reveals itself with subtle storytelling and a quiet tension, while the inner workings of the farm and the natural beauty of its surroundings create an intimacy of two young men finding their way in life.

JOE + BELLE

Dir/Scr: Veronica Kedar, 2010, Israel, subtitled, 80 min.

Things get very complicated very quickly when Joe, an angsty drug dealer, meets Belle, a buoyant suicidal psychopath, in this dark comedy. After an outlandish accident in Tel Aviv leaves the pair with a body to dispose of, they embark on a madcap journey to lose the cops - and end up finding love in Sderot (the target of ongoing rocket attacks). Gritty but tender, JOE + BELLE offers an absurd portrait of life in contemporary Israel.

KAWA

Dir: Katie Wolfe, Scr: Kate McDermott & Witi Ihimaera, 2010, New Zealand, 76 min.

Kawariki must become the leader of the family after his father retires in this intimate drama. A husband and father, he realizes that in order to lead with integrity, he must come out and be honest about his own life, even though it will test the boundaries of acceptance and unconditional love. Offering valuable insights into Maori traditions, family ideals and cultural values, this feature debut is rich and textured with emotional layers and stunning New Zealand landscapes.

MARY LOU

Dir: Eytan Fox, Scr: Shiri Artzi, 2010, Israel, subti tled, 150 min.

What MAMMA MIA! did for ABBA, MARY LOU does for Israeli pop sensation Svika Pick. Meir grows up obsessed with his mother, who left them on his tenth birthday. As a teen, he and his best female friend fall for the hot new boy in school, and as the three friends reach adulthood, Meir’s yearning for his mother - and his elaborate drag performances - both bring the trio together and tear them apart. This latest film from Eytan Fox (THE BUBBLE, YOSSI & JAGGER) is funny, moving and packed with catchy tunes.

THE NIGHT WATCH

Dir: Richard Laxton, Scr: Paula Milne & Sarah Waters, 2011, UK, 90 min.

The highly anticipated BBC film adaptation of Sarah Waters’ novel, THE NIGHT WATCH doesn’t disappoint, with all the mystery, betrayal and hunger you would expect from the author of Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet. It’s an intimate character study of five Londoners in the 1940s, as their intertwining secrets and desires reflect the precious humanity and havoc of the war that serves as their backdrop. A hauntingly beautiful story, this poignant film burns with a sensual flame.

OLD CATS (GATOS VIEJOS)

Dir/Scr: Sebastián Silva & Pedro Peirano, 2010, Chile, subtitled, 89 min.

Isadora’s septuagenarian mind is fast deteriorating, which is surprisingly good news for her daughter and her daughter’s butch girlfriend, who want to take control of Isadora’s gorgeous apartment. The relatives-meets-reality drama comes to a head over a fateful family dinner in this hilarious and oddly moving dark comedy featuring perfectly tuned performances from an ensemble cast. This is the most recent collaboration from acclaimed co-directors Sebastián Silva and Pedro Peirano, whose previous film THE MAID wowed audiences worldwide and won numerous awards, including the 2009 Sundance Grand Jury Prize.

ROMEOS

Dir/Scr: Sabine Bernardi, 2011, Germany, subtitled, 94 min.

When Lukas is assigned to the women’s dormitory for his compulsory civil service in Germany, this transman learns that there’s much more to transition than physical changes. His femme best friend Ine is assigned to the same dorm, and they dive right into the anything-goes world of queer Cologne. Lukas is instantly popular, and when he meets the darkly attractive Fabio on the dance floor, his carefully controlled life changes forever, and he finds himself wanting more.

SHE MONKEYS (APFLICKORNA)

Dir: Lisa Aschan, Scr: Lisa Aschan & Josefine Adolfsson, 2011, Sweden, subtitled, 84 min.

Winner of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival Grand Jury prize, SHE MONKEYS takes the cliché mean girl movie and deepens the exploration of girlhood desire. Set in the world of female equestrian acrobatics, the competition gets hot when 15-year-old Emma is assigned to train with the older, self-confident Cassandra. The frienemies immediately ignite a psychological battle, cruelly pushing each other's boundaries of strength, sexuality, and overall control in this coming of age story that's both innovative and provocative.

Documentary Features:

THE ADVOCATE FOR FAGDOM

Dir: Angélique Bosio, 2011, France, 91 min.

Bruce La Bruce has been called bold, revolutionary, controversial, irritating, and pornographic. Whatever your take on his films, no one can deny that he’s one of the only filmmakers consistently bucking the system and pushing boundaries. In this intimate and revealing documentary, rare interviews - including candid insight from John Waters, Gus Van Sant, other contemporaries and La Bruce himself describing his artistic process - combine with archival footage to piece together an authentic portrait of this elusive artist.

ANGEL

Dir: Sebastiano d’Ayala Valva, 2010, France, subtitled, 62 min.

Angel, a former boxer from Ecuador, now works as a prostitute in Paris to support himself and his extended family. After five years away, Angel returns home, only to find ambiguous relationships and the same grinding poverty he left behind. Openly queer and living between genders, Angel faces frequent harassment, which he gracefully defuses and transforms into acceptance. Angel’s riveting story explores the intersections between migration, poverty, perseverance, sexuality and gender.

BOY CHEERLEADERS

Dir: James Newton, 2010, UK, 60 min.

Armed with pink pompoms and pursed lips, the South Leeds DAZL Diamonds are determined to become the first all-boy cheerleading squad to win the national championship in London. Under the fierce guidance of their flamboyant coach Ian Rodley, these rough and tumble boys find a drive and purpose they’ve never known before. With a flare for the dramatic, Ian inspires fearless creativity in the youngsters, whose fervent spirit and infectious charm is unforgettably life affirming.

CAROL CHANNING: LARGER THAN LIFE

Dir: Dori Berinstein, 2011, USA, 83 min.

There are very few legends left in show business, but there’s no denying that the inexhaustible star of Broadway’s Hello, Dolly! deserves that title. This delightful and delicious documentary traces Channing’s extraordinary history, from her early success as a classroom mimic to her late-in-life reunion with her childhood love. Everyone from Debbie Reynolds, Chita Rivera, and Bruce Vilanch to Channing’s devoted chorus of “Dolly Boy” dancers pops up to pay tribute to this amazing performer.

HABANA MUDA

Dir: Eric Brach, 2011, France, USA, subtitled, 61 min.

This beautifully crafted and carefully observed film follows Chino, a deaf-mute leading a working class life with his mute wife and two young children in Havana while maintaining an open relationship with a financially supportive gay lover living abroad in Mexico. This tangled love triangle slowly unravels in surprising and sometimes bizarre ways revealing questionable motives and rich complexities that will confound you and move you profoundly.

HOLLYWOOD TO DOLLYWOOD

Dir: John Lavin, 2010, USA, 81 min.

Gay twins Gary and Larry have always loved Dolly Parton. They left their small town home ten years ago to make it in Hollywood and are finally ready to get their script to Dolly. In a RV named Jolene, the boys embark on the adventure of a lifetime. This road trip is also a journey of self-discovery and an attempt to resolve mommy issues that have divided them since childhood. Featuring 15 of Dolly’s classic songs and Chad Allen, Dustin Lance Black, Beth Grant, and Leslie Jordan.

I AM

Dir: Sonali Gulati, 2010, USA, India, 71 min.

In this first-person account, thirty-three year old filmmaker Sonali Gulati returns to her childhood home in India to resolve personal demons and explore broader issues facing the gay community in India, where homosexuality was still illegal when she started the film. Hoping to reconcile feelings of loss and regret, and find closure to unresolved feelings about her dead mother, Sonali's personal journey introduces her to many colorful characters (including openly gay prince and activist Manvendra Singh Gohil) facing unique issues in a country that finally overturned its ban on homosexuality in 2009.

NO LOOK PASS

Dir: Melissa Johnson, 2011, USA, 98 min.

Basketball player Emily Tay has always been an overachiever. From star point guard at the Marlborough School in Los Angeles to a successful college career at Harvard, the engaging Tay is now a professional basketball player in Germany and in a relationship with a U.S. servicewoman. In this insightful and poignant documentary, Tay, the first generation daughter of Burmese parents, finds herself facing one of the biggest challenges of her life - telling her traditional parents who she is really is.

ORCHIDS: MY INTERSEX ADVENTURE

Dir: Phoebe Hart, 2010, Australia, 60 min.

A closely guarded family secret has left filmmaker Phoebe Hart and her two sisters filled with shame and anger. When she breaks the silence about the hereditary intersex condition that runs in her family, she is confronted with fear and hostility from her mother, and rage from her younger sister. This unique family is transformed by Phoebe’s insistence that they accept each other (and themselves) unconditionally.

PAUL GOODMAN CHANGED MY LIFE

Dir: Jonathan Lee, 2011, USA, 89 min.

Lesser known today than his more celebrated counter culture contemporaries, Paul Goodman is mostly remembered for his book Growing Up Absurd (1960), which gave voice to a generation of young people and helped define a New Left. He was an openly bisexual philosopher, poet, essayist, and pacifist whose work was essential to the emerging gay movement of the early 1970s. Privately, he lived his life with equal devotion to a wife and family he cherished. Using a wealth of archival footage and interviews with family, friends, and scholars this film is a moving tribute to Goodman’s writings and legacy, and a thoughtful exam of his unapologetic lifestyle.

SHUT UP LITTLE MAN!AN AUDIO MISADVENTURE

Dir: Matthew Bate, 2011, Australia, 90 min.

In 1987, Eddie and Mitch, two young punks from the Midwest, moved into a terrible San Francisco apartment. Through paper-thin walls, they were introduced to their middle-aged alcoholic neighbors, Raymond, a raging homophobe, and Peter, a flamboyant gay man. Compelled by Ray’s and Peter’s barrage of vitriolic diatribes, Eddie and Mitch made audio recordings to document their neighbors’ bizarre relationship. SHUT UP LITTLE MAN tells their story as a darkly comedic exploration into the blurred boundaries among privacy, art and exploitation.

TALES OF THE WARIA

Dir: Kathy Huang, 2010, USA, subtitled, 57 min.

Halfway around the world in Makassar, Indonesia, a community of transwomen called the “Waria” - Wanita (Woman) + Pria (Man) - has long been an accepted part of the cultural fabric. However, because physical transition is frowned upon in the world’s most populous Muslim nation, they are forced to walk between worlds. In this inspiring documentary, we see how four of these women manage to do that with their heads held high.

WE WERE HERE

Dir: David Weissman & Bill Weber, 2010, USA, 90 min.

Director David Weissman (THE COCKETTES) returns to Outfest with this moving chronicle of the earliest years of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco. The film breaks new ground by shedding light on the people behind the statistics, telling the moving, personal stories of five individuals who experienced the impact AIDS had on the city and witnessed the LGBT community coming together in response. Elegiac but inspirational, WE WERE HERE, which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, bears witness to the experiences of those who died - and, equally importantly, those who lived.

WISH ME AWAY

Dir: Bobbie Birleffi & Beverly Kopf, 2010, USA, 120 min.

As a high-profile artist in one of the most visible and conservative industries, country music star Chely Wright risked her entire career by publicly revealing her homosexuality last summer. No one - not even Chely - knew if the fans that helped build her career would stick by her or turn against her. WISH ME AWAY is a candid, insightful, all-access look at how she came to this decision after decades of denial, and the at-times surprising and heartbreaking reactions she received. Her story of strength and determination will inspire and encourage anyone who has ever experienced fear and doubt in their quest to become their authentic self.

WITH YOU

Dir: Scott Gracheff, 2011, USA, 90 min.

As the10th anniversary of 9/11 nears, Scott Gracheff’s documentary is a timely tribute to one of the gay heroes of that day - Mark Bingham. We know the story of Mark’s heroism on flight United 93, and we know about the international Bingham Cup rugby tournament that honors him, but this film introduces us to the man behind the legend. Featuring extensive interviews with Bingham's mother, friends, family and classmates, the film gives us a richer view of Bingham, from his teen metal-head period to his rambunctious college years through coming out and embracing the world with enthusiasm before his tragic demise.

Outfest To Honor Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato

Peter Knegt — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 08:36:49 GMT

Outfest 2011 has announced that its 15th Annual Achievement Award will be presented to Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, the team behind "Party Monster," "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" and, most recently, "Becoming Chaz."

Full press release below.

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 1, 2011) - Outfest, the Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing, showcasing and protecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media, will present its 15th Annual Achievement Award to Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato.

The Achievement Award is Outfest's highest honor and is presented in recognition of a body of work that has made a significant contribution to LGBT film and media.

"Few acts can balance mainstream popularity with cult status and maintain their independence, singular vision and relevance - especially in the mood shifting LGBT landscape," says Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director of Outfest.

The award will be presented to Bailey and Barbato prior to the Opening Night Gala screening of "Gun Hill Road" on Thursday, July 7 at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.
Says Fenton Bailey, "Outfest has been such an important organization to us and to the entertainment industry, although we are certain that they got this wrong, because we aren't gay and we are far too young to be honored in this way!" Randy Barbato adds, "Actually we are gay dinosaurs, and given we were born this way, thank goodness there was an Outfest 15 years ago to help welcome us to Hollywood."

For twenty years, Fenton Bailey's and Randy Barbato's World of Wonder global entertainment company has been producing ground breaking and landmark film, television, and web programming often reflecting lifestyles and subjects no one else is brave enough to approach. Their ambitious work has had a profound impact on LGBT audiences, and we're proud to call them part of the Outfest family.

Emerging from the '80's punk scene as disco-pop-rock duo The Fabulous Pop Tarts and NYU's Graduate Film Program, the multi-media partnership between Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato morphed into World of Wonder in 1990. Their immediate success gave birth to an immense and diverse body of work including 1997's "The Real Ellen Story," the 1998 Outfest award-winning "shockumentary" PARTY MONSTER; the wildly popular documentary THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE that opened Outfest in 2000; and "101 Rent Boys" also in 2000. Their documentary output has been prolific, including titles ranging from; MONICA IN BLACK AND WHITE to INSIDE DEEP THROAT and docu-series like "Transgenerations."

In 2003, Randy and Fenton became the first filmmakers to twice open Outfest - this time with a scripted version of the "party monster" story (PARTY MONSTER). Over the years they have produced work for almost every US Cable Network, including four seasons of "Million Dollar Listing," six seasons of "Tori & Dean" and "RuPaul's Drag Race" now shooting its fourth season. They premiered their latest documentary film BECOMING CHAZ at this year's Sundance Film Festival and in May the film was broadcast on OWN as the first film in the Oprah Winfrey Documentary Club. Randy and Fenton continue to expand their reach with everything from blogs to an art gallery and a coffee table book.
Last year's Outfest Achievement Award was presented to Jane Lynch, and previous recipients include: Don Roos, Jane Anderson, Gregg Araki, Bill Condon, Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, Todd Haynes, Sir Ian McKellen and Gus Van Sant.

The complete line-up for Outfest 2011 will be announced on June 7th.

"Gun Hill Road" and "The Perfect Family" to Bookend 29th Outfest

Indiewire Staff — Thu, 19 May 2011 08:08:12 GMT

Outfest announced the gala films for the 29th Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. The fest will kick off with Rashaad Ernesto Green's "Gun Hill Road" and close with "The Perfect Family," starring Kathleen Turner. “This year’s selection of galas represent some of the most acclaimed and thematically diverse films of the year,” stated Kirsten Schaffer, Executive Director of Outfest. “These movies have huge potential for cross-over appeal, and we are thrilled and proud to showcase them at the festival this July."

The complete line-up will be released June 7th. The festival runs July 7-17 in Los Angeles.

Below is the full list of gala films, courtesy of Outfest.

Opening Night Gala – “Gun Hill Road” (July 7 at 8:00pm – Orpheum Theatre)
After three years in prison, macho Enrique (Esai Morales) returns home to the Bronx and finds things changed. His wife, Angela (Judy Reyes), is distant, and his teenage son, Michael, has come out as Vanessa, a transgender woman. Unable to accept his child for who she is now, Enrique clings to his masculine ideals while Angela attempts to hold the family together by fiercely protecting Vanessa. Still under the watchful eye of his parole officer, Enrique must become the father he needs to be or once again risk losing his family and freedom.
The heart of "Gun Hill Road" lies in two places: the richly drawn character of Michael/Vanessa (newcomer Harmony Santana is unforgettable) and a father's inability to escape the vicious cycle of his life. Writer/director Rashaad Ernesto Green's first feature film is told with gentle humor, sensitivity and a deep understanding of the environment that defines its inhabitants.
U.S. Dramatic Centerpiece – “Circumstance” (July 12 at 8:00pm – DGA 1)
In a vibrant contemporary Tehran, two beautiful teenage girls struggle for their personal freedom. Atafeh and her best friend Shireen are full of youthful exuberance and a healthy streak of rebellion as they drink, smoke and go dancing at underground parties. When Atafeh's brother Mehran returns from drug rehab, he embraces a new way of life and joins the Morality Police - much to the surprise of his affluent and liberal parents - and becomes increasingly obsessed with and involved in Atafeh and Shireen's intimate relationship.
Nikohl Boosheri (Atafeh), Sarah Kazemy (Shireen) and Reza Sixo Safai (Mehran) smolder on screen in their fearless and complex performances. A feast for the senses, "Circumstance" is the original vision of writer/director Maryam Keshavarz, whose first feature effort creates a stylish and sensual coming-of-age film, presenting a timely and important story of a new generation of women in Iran who dream of a place where they can be free.
Winner of the Audience Award: Dramatic at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
International Dramatic Centerpiece – “Weekend” (July 13 at 8:00pm – DGA 1)
British filmmaker Andrew Haigh, winner of Outfest 2009's Artistic Achievement Award for his first feature, "Greek Pete," returns to the festival with his second feature - already an acclaimed award-winner itself. With the same intimacy and rare authenticity of his impressive debut, "Weekend" explores the relationship between two young gay men that evolves from a drunken one-night stand into a dynamic and complex portrait of modern gay romance over the course of a booze, drug and sex fueled weekend, building to a delicate emotional climax.
The chemistry between coleads Tom Cullen and Chris New lights fire to a precise yet free-flowing script with a natural rhythm that uses the confines of its construct to explicitly and unapologetically explore greater themes to connect in a way that transcends sexuality without ever denying it. "Weekend" advances the gay narrative - both filmic and socially - in ways that few films have.
Winner of the 2011 SXSW Emerging Visions Audience Award.
Documentary Centerpiece – “Hit So Hard” (July 14 at 8:00pm – Ford Theatre)
Patty Schemel, the hard hitting drummer of Courtney Love's seminal rock band Hole, is not only a master of the sticks, but a true survivor. After growing up as an outsider near Seattle she shot to stardom in the early 90's, engulfed by the music scene and ensuing popularity. She documented her life as a rock star - at band practice, on the road, backstage and in front of millions of people. She captured rare, precious moments behind the scenes with Hole and Kurt Cobain and the intense highs and lows of these dynamic relationships often shaped by drug abuse and an addiction that consumed her and almost killed her.
Director P. David Ebersole has masterfully woven Patty's videos with contemporary interviews of Patty, her bandmates (including Love, Melissa Auf der Maur and Eric Erlandson) and other important figures in Patty’s life to craft a story that is as beautiful and inspirational as it is a significant cultural record.
One of Filmmaker Magazine's "25 New Indie Faces," David's writing/directing includes "Desire" (Fox TV), "Wicked Wicked Games" starring Tatum O'Neal, STRAIGHT RIGHT (Sundance Channel), the award-winning short "Death in Venice, CA," last year's Outfest short "Swimming" starring Gretchen Phillips and Phranc; and he co-produced "Stranger Inside" (HBO), directed by Cheryl Dunye, produced by Jim McKay, Michael Stipe and Effie Brown.
Broad Stage Gala – “3” (July 11 at 8:00pm – Broad Stage)
In one of his most singular and stylish films, German filmmaker Tom Tykwer ("Run Lola Run") returns to Berlin for the setting of this seductive drama centered on an upscale middle-aged couple whose routine coexistence is upset when they separately encounter the same man and explore their sexual fluidity. Complementing an inventive narrative with a slick visual polish and dynamic soundtrack, Tykwer crafts a sophisticated film full of ideas and themes that range from erotic to darkly comic to cruel and fatalistic. Sophie Rois (Hanna) and Sebastian Schipper (Simon) deliver pitch-perfect performances as the married couple, and Devid Striesow brings a unique dimension to his role as their unwitting lover, Adam. When a complication threatens to expose their carefully guarded secrets, the resolution is both surprising and inevitable.
"3" premiered at last year's Venice Film Festival and screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and earlier this year at the 2011 Berlinale.
Closing Night Gala – “The Perfect Family” (July 17 at 8:00pm – Ford Theatre)
How far will one housewife go to win the Outstanding Catholic of the Year Award? Dedicated churchgoer Eileen Cleary (Kathleen Turner, in a heartbreaking performance) will bend over backwards to portray her brood as the Catholic ideal, even though her son (Jason Ritter) has just left his wife for the woman he really loves, and Eileen' daughter Shannon (Emily Deschanel) is about to marry her lesbian lover. Eileen's struggle to reconcile her faith and her goal of perfection with the reality of her life makes for an unforgettable comedy-drama, bolstered by a talented cast that also includes Richard Chamberlain.

At Outfest 2010, In with the Old & In with the New

Bryce J. Renninger — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:42:59 GMT

As the juries and special guests handed out the awards for this year's Outfest, LA's LGBT Film Festival, we were constantly reminded that the landscape of queer film has been changing and is still changing.

As people in the film industry continue to ask about the role and relevance of queer film and queer film festivals, many films in Outfest's 2010 lineup showed why it is important to support, foster, and create LGBT/queer film. I've heard many contend that Outfest's closer "Spork," which screened outdoors last night at the Ford Amphitheater, is pushing the boundaries of queer cinema in one of the directions it should be pushed. Ned Farr's multiple award winner "A Marine Story" and Steve Clark Hall's doc "Out of Annapolis" both tackled the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy that prohibits gay military personnel from serving openly. Docs like "Le Tigre: On Tour," "Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields," and "The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls" celebrated LGBT musical artists, while "Florent: Queen of the Meat Market" and "An Ordinary Couple" were popular studies of LGBT history told through the stories of men who have lived through it.

Aside from its lineup of new films that explore LGBT history, Outfest is home to the only film preservation program that exclusively preserves and archives queer film and video, the Outfest Legacy Project, a partnership between Outfest and the UCLA Film & Television Archive. In addition to providing these (often rare) films to the public and using film and video in the collection for education and community outreach, the project tries to salvage, restore, and archive footage in danger of being lost. Currently, with the initiative celebrating its fifth anniversary, Legacy Project manager Kristin Pepe asked five queer artists to choose films from the archive to present to Outfest audiences. I'll profile two of those re-screened films below, putting them side-by-side to two films (both currently without U.S. distributors) from Outfest's 4 in Focus directors, which spotlights new directing talent.

Student/Teacher Love/Lust: "Mädchen in Uniform" and "La Robe du Soir"

In the 1958 remake of the Weimar era 1931 film "Mädchen in Uniform" by Géza von Radványi, Lili Palmer plays the teacher to German film star Romy Schneider's student Manuela (this was the German belle's first mature role...and what a role it is). After the final shot faded, my viewing partner turned to me and said, "That was the gayest film I've seen at the festival." Though the original film is left in fragments mostly seen on VHS, this recently recovered print of the 50's remake shows off the brilliant cinematography and fantastic display of blatant homoeroticism in an all-girls Catholic school. As filmmaker/film historian Jenni Olson noted when presenting the film as her choice for the series, "Mädchen in Uniform" started the trend of schoolgirls-fawning-over-teachers in lesbian film. Wolfe has acquired the rights to distribute DVDs from the new "Mädchen" print, with a release date set for this fall.

Another schoolgirl/teacher story, Myriam Aziza's "La robe du soir (The Evening Dress)" also played to enthusiastic audiences this week. The film stars French chanteuse Lio as Ms. Solenska, a slightly raunchy teacher who has all of her students under her thumb. One student in particular, the tomboy Juliette (Alba Gaia Bellugi) is particularly struck by Ms. Solenska, and is motivated by schoolgirl lust and jealousy to go to all ends to make something out of this relationship with her French teacher. In an interview with indieWIRE, Aziza explained her motivation for making the film, "I...wanted to say something about the power a teacher can have on pupils when the line between education and seduction becomes blurred. More or less, some teachers play with it in order to fill a narcissistic wound." What results is a refreshingly new take on this old story, with bold characters and a deft directorial hand by the French director (who cut her teeth in the documentary world).

Queer Stories, Queer Forms: "Hustler White" and "Open"

In the Legacy Project's only sold-out screening (audience members took advantage of the standing-room only accommodations), Rick Castro and Bruce LaBruce's 1996 West Hollywood romp "Hustler White" showed off the queerest in queer film. Introducing the film, Le Tigre's JD Samson spoke of the film's impact on her own experimental filmmaking and the way it helped her find her place as a young punk when she was living in New York. The film, made "by hook or by crook" for almost no money, follows an anthropologist (LaBruce) just appointed to a post at UCLA who is studying hustlers. He takes on a subject-muse in Monty (former Madonna boyfriend Tony Ward), and the two explore the hustler scene along Santa Monica Boulevard. Made with the cooperation of hustlers and their clients, it includes several enthralling fetish sex scenes. The film's verisimilitude was made possible through the photographic work of Castro, who in the Q&A at Outfest explained he met many of his actors as a photographer documenting hustlers along Santa Monica and would listen to their "hustler yarns" in the years prior to making this film.

It may be true that "Hustler White" has not much in common with Jake Yuzna's debut film, but "Open," which won awards at the Berlinale and at the Tel Aviv LGBT fest, is also an astute practice in queer aesthetics. The film tells the tales of Gene and Jay, a trans-female pandrogynous couple based on the life of Genesis P-Orridge of Psychic TV and Throbbing Gristle, and a trans-man and his boyfriend. In his iW interview, Yuzna noted his inspirations for the film, "I’ve always been interested in alternatives to conventional society and culture. From the situationist international to COUM transmissions. Groups and artists who are exploring other options of living and being. I wanted to create a film that showcased this diversity of humanity. Both the people who are still living in the fringes of culture, as well as those exploring new frontiers of love, sex, and identity."

The resulting film is queer in all regards, a true intervention into conventional love stories in its narrative, in its style, in its acting, and in its editing. It's a jarring portrayal of love with a beautiful soundtrack. Just another example of what can be gained by curating, watching, and encouraging queer arts -- acts whose value Outfest reminded us of all too well.

Outfest Awards "Marine Story," "Bearcity" with 2010 Awards

Bryce J. Renninger — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 11:03:51 GMT

In a ceremony Sunday morning at the DGA Theater in West Hollywood, LA's LGBT Film Festival, Outfest, announced the award winners for their 28th annual fest. The ceremony, hosted by LA drag queen Momma, focused on celebrating films that uncovered stories that have not yet been told. The fest honored "A Marine Story" with three awards (Best U.S. Feature, Best Actress, and the Feature Audience Award). Ned Farr's film, a searing indictment of the military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy stars Dreya Weber as a tough recently discharged servicewoman who must mentor a young woman who, in dire straits, must join the military.

The entire list of awards:

Grand Jury Awards:

US Narrative Feature: "A Marine Story," Ned Farr

Screenwriting: Douglas Langway and Lawrence Ferber, "Bearcity"

Actor in a Feature Film: Stephen Guarino, "Bearcity"

Actress in a Feature Film: Dreya Weber, "A Marine Story"

International Feature: "The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister," James Kent

Documentary Feature: "Strange Powers: Stephin Merritt and the Magnetic Fields," Kerthy Fix and Gail O'Hara

Narrative Short Film: "Samaratin," Magnus Mork

Documentary Short Film: "Close (Pod Bluzka)," Lucia Von Horn Pagano

Audience Awards:

First Narrative Feature: "The Four-Faced Liar," Jacob Chase

Narrative Feature: "A Marine Story," Ned Farr

Documentary Feature: "Forever's Gonna Start Tonight," Michelle Lawler

Narrative Short Film: "You Move Me," Gina Hirsch

Documentary Short Film: "I'm Just Anneke," Jonathan Skurnik

Special Programming Awards:

Freedom Award: "The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls," Leanne Pooley

Outstanding Emerging Talent: Drew Droege, ("Go Go Reject," "Fagney and Gaycey")

Outstanding Artistic Achievement: "Undertow (Contracorriente)," Javier Fuentes-Leon