[205] in peace2
Boston Gay & Lesbian Film/Video Festival
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Aimee L Smith)
Wed Apr 12 01:10:04 2000
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 01:13:30 -0400 (EDT)
From: Aimee L Smith <alsmith@photonics.mit.edu>
Message-Id: <200004120513.BAA0000008138@photonics.mit.edu>
To: peace-list@MIT.EDU, peace-women@MIT.EDU
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From: Kathleen Mullen <KMullen@mfa.org>
To: "'lbg-local-news@MIT.EDU'" <lbg-local-news@MIT.EDU>
Subject: Boston Gay & Lesbian Film/Video Festival
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000 17:46:15 -0400
Hi, Tickets will be available starting April 17th. If anyone wants to help
out with distribution of program guides (I can send you some) or has an
email list which can help spread the word that would be great. Please
contact me directly through emai. In this festival there is something for
everyone. Hope you enjoy reading and can come to the festival.
The 16th Annual Gay & Lesbian Film/Video Festival
For the fifth consecutive year, the MFA presents this festival celebrating
gay and lesbian issues and culture. Highlights include the two opening night
programs, both with directors present and receptions following. Other
festival guests include directors Kieran Turner (24 Nights), C. A. Griffith
(The Other Side), and Nick Katsapetses (The Joys of Smoking). Especially
impressive this year is the quality of documentaries, such as Living with
Pride: Ruth Ellis @100, a portrait of the oldest living "out"
African-American lesbian, and The Man Who Drove with Mandela, the latest
documentary by Greta Schiller.
The opening night programs are sponsored by ALISE. The Boston Phoenix is
the festival's media sponsor. A volunteer screening committee assisted in
the selection of this year's films.
Tickets: $7, $8
Opening-night programs with reception and filmmaker present: $10, $12
Series pass: $80, $100
Special 10-ticket pass: $50, $60
The first price is for MFA members, students, and seniors. The second price
is general admission.
Men's Opening Night with Reception Following:
Punks
Thurs., May 4, at 8 pm
Punks by Patrik-Ian Polk (2000, 103 min.). Polk's music-driven debut feature
out of West Hollywood focuses on the friendship of four fun-loving black,
gay men. At Miss Smokies, their local club, the four rant, rave, and guide
each other through the pursuit of love and friendship. Their raucous
happiness as a quartet is a compelling contrast to their struggles as
individuals. "Polk is a multitalented writer/director who has created a
wonderfully entertaining film full of fresh characters, snappy dialogue, and
great perfomances from an exceptionally attractive cast. Drenched in a
fantastic sound track (assembled by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.), Punks is
sure to make glorious waves in the worlds of black and gay cinema" (Shari
Frilot, Sundance Film Festival 2000). The director will be present; a
reception will follow the screening.
Women's Opening Night With Reception Following:
But I'm a Cheerleader
Fri., May 5, at 8 pm
But I'm a Cheerleader by Jamie Babbit (1999, 90 min.). A joyful romp through
the cheese-and-baloney of a gay-rehabilitation camp, Jamie Babbit's film
holds all the makings of a cherished cult classic. Determined to save
popular cheerleader Megan from her lurking lesbianism, family and friends
stage an intervention and send her to True Directions. Yet sparks fly and
Megan's denial falters after meeting a rebellious campmate. Babbit's clever
manipulation of color and splendid performances by an all-star cast (Natasha
Lyonne, RuPaul Charles, Cathy Moriarty) further enhance this smart satire
about the absurdity of "curing" homosexuality. The director will be present;
a reception will follow the screening.
Sadness
Sat., May 6, at 2:30 pm
Sadness by Tony Ayres (Australia, 1999, 52 min.). An adaptation
of William Yang's stage performance, Sadness is a mesmerizing montage of
storytelling, photography, and reenactment. On the first of two journeys,
Yang travels to faraway North Queensland to investigate the murder of his
uncle. The second is a journey into grief, in which Yang relates stories of
friends who have died of AIDS. These two threads are skillfully woven
together with Yang's presence as a compassionate witness. Preceded by two
films by Andy Abrahams Wilson: Hope Is the Thing with Feathers (1999, 28
min.), featuring San Francisco poet and artist Beau Riley, who celebrates
the memory of his partner of 12 years, and Casualty (1999, 5 min.), an
underwater tribute to love. This program is presented with support from the
AIDS Action Committee.
The Other Side
Sat., May 6, at 4:15 pm
The Other Side by C.A. Griffith (Del Otro Lado, US/Mexico, 1999, 79 min.,
video). A stunning tale of love and trust, The Other Side portrays a gay
couple in Mexico living their lives as fully and honestly as they are able.
Alejandro has a loving family and a devoted partner, Beto; within this
genuinely idyllic environment Alejandro faces the challenge of living with
AIDS in a country with limited medical options. As the couple is forced to
make irrevocable decisions, their passion for life illuminates the joy in
fully experiencing the present. The director will be present. Preceded by
Pensao Globo by Matthias Muller (Germany/Portugal, 1997, 15 min.), the study
of a man with AIDS who travels alone to a Brazilian pension.
In Spanish with English subtitles
Outtakes
Sat., May 6, at 6:15 pm
Outtakes by Katherine Brooks and Karen Klopfenstein (1998,
72 min.). In this tale of indie filmmaking, Cassy is a 22-year-old director
struggling to fund and complete her latest feature. Lauren, a dedicated
assistant-director with a strong Shakespearean background and a live-in
boyfriend, is unlike the untamable Cassy in nearly every waysuntil each
discovers her attraction for the other. Preceded by Wet Dress by A. Rosser
Goodman (1999, 8 min., video), conjuring a beautiful butch's fantasy femme.
Girlplay: Lesbian Short Films
Sat., May 6, at 8 pm
In the heat of NYC, two fun girls stir it up and shake it down in Sheila and
Rosie get PAID! by Rahdi Taylor (1997, 6 min.). Over 30 interviews comprise
the heartbreaking and hilarious documentary Straight Down the Aisle:
Confessions of Lesbian Bridesmaids by Christine J. Russo and Kelly Hankin
(2000, 23 min., video). Candy Kisses by Allyson Mitchell (Canada, 1999, 3
min.) takes a playful stroll away from monogamy. Performance artist Nyna
presents an erotic monologue in Verbal Sex: The Art of Nyna by Alberto
Ferreras (1999, 8 min., video). I'm Starving by Yau Ching (1998, 12 min.) is
a love tale between a ghost and a woman. Sonali Gulati will be present for
Sum Total (1999, 5 min., video), a sensual collage of mathematical
metaphors, slideshow images, and a haunting score. In Maid of Honor by
Jennifer Arnold (1999, 23 min.), Serena's role in her ex-girlfriend's
wedding tests her commitment to non-monogamy. Getting It On by Armgard Meyer
(UK, 1998, 17 min.) is one girl's odyssey into cyber-satisfaction. This
program is co-sponsored by the Lava Bar.
Men's Short Films
Sun., May 7, at 5:30 pm
The Offering by Paul Lee (1999, 10 min.) is the poetic evolution of love
between a Japanese monk and his novice. The owner of a lonely heart tries
his hand at telephone dating in Hi I'm Steve by Robert Kennedy (1999, 6
min.). Buttonhole cameras in Two Encounters by Rodney Evans (1999, 7 min.,
video) capture the divergent experiences of two men in separate New York gay
bars. Cannibal-comedy Can I Be Your Bratwurst, Please? by Rose von Praunheim
(Germany/USA, 1999, 28 min.) features legendary porn star Jeff Stryker.
MakbulsHis Favoured One by H|seyin Karagvz (1999, 7 min.) is a sensual
address to power, passion, and the joys of pedicure. Everyone scrambles to
get back in bed in Pop Tarts by Andre Hereford (1999, 11 min.). Sailor by
Bavo Defurne (Matroos, Belgium, 16 min., video) proves that cleanliness is
next to lustfulness. Gay cowboys, fur-bedecked club kids, and besotted
barflies swirl in a waltz of sex and glory while a fading chanteuse performs
in Last Call by Elisa Blatteis (1998, 6 min.). Thomas is affectionately
teased by his favorite classmate in Thomas Trips by Pascal Vincent (Thomas
Tribuche, France, 1998, 7 min.).*
24 Nights
Sun., May 7, at 7:45 pm
24 Nights by Kieran Turner (1999, 97 min.). A charming romantic comedy, 24
Nights is the story of a bookstore clerk who requests of Santa Claus the
delivery of true love. When the gift arrives, Jonathan attempts to figure it
out with a charismatic combination of wit, good nature, and bewilderment.
With a hilarious performance from Aida Turturro (John Turturro's sister) as
his roommate-sister married to an underwear model, 24 Nights is a
smorgasbord of delight. The director will be present. Preceded by Rick and
Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in the World by Q. Allan Brocka (1999, 8
min.), a wickedly funny animated comedy addressing love and lust in
Lego-Land.
But I Was a Girl:
The Story of Freida Belinfante
Thurs., May 11, at 6:15 pm
But I Was a Girl: The Story of Frieda Belinfante by Tony Boumans
(Netherlands, 1999, 69 min., video). But I Was a Girl is the story of
childhood dreams that came to fruition despite incredible odds. Born into an
Amsterdam Jewish family of musicians, Frieda Belinfante mastered the cello
and began a conducting career that was later cut short by Nazi persecution.
Yet Frieda, a jewish lesbian, was ultimately triumphant as the first woman
conductor to have her own chamber orchestra in the United States. The
resurrected history of this passionate woman is experty archived and truly
inspirational. Co-sponsored by The Boston Jewish Film Festival.
2 Seconds
Thurs., May 11, at 8 pm
2 Seconds by Manon Briand (Canada, 1998, 100 min.). Winner of four awards at
the '98 Montreal World Film Festival, Briand's film examines light, speed,
and love at first sight. Cycling is Laurence's only love. Obsessed with
speed and time, she succeeds as a champion mountain-bike racer until one
mistake destroys her career. As the speed-driven Laurence struggles to find
a new way as a bicycle courier, she chances into an influential friendship
with a cantankerous, retired speed cyclist, and is forced to face herself
and her desires. 2 Seconds is an enchanting film about staying true to what
you love most. Preceded by Alien Kisses by Dara Gellman (1998, 3 min.,
video), which transforms a kiss between women on a popular sci-fi TV show
into a sexy salute to queer desire.
In French with English subtitles
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Fri., May 12, at 6 pm
The Eyes of Tammy Faye by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato (2000, 78 min.).
This documentary from the filmmakers of last year's popular The Real Ellen
Story, investigates the legend beneath the mascara with interviews from
Tammy Faye Bakker-Messner, Jim Bakker, and others. Narrator RuPaul Charles
guides us through her fall from grace as a teleevangelist, her battle with
cancer and drug addiction, to her later short-lived career as a TV talk show
host. This film, "a crowd-pleasing combination of campy sensibility and
serious reporting, shows the former Tammy Faye Bakker to be a more
intriguing individual than might be suspected" (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles
Times). Preceded by The Trey Billings Show by David Briggs (1999, 30 min.,
video), in which a washed-up comedienne stars in a cable-access show from
hell.
Why Not Me?
Fri., May 12, at 8:15 pm
Why Not Me? by Stiphane Giusti (Pourquoi Pas Moi?, France, 1998, 94 min.).
>From the shores of Barcelona comes this delectable bon-bon of lesbian lust
and disco-bunny desire. Camille, Eve, Ariane, and Nicolas are post-college
friends who share a publishing-house career, an emotional dependency on
Gloria Gaynor, and a reluctance to come out to their parents. The only
mother in the know plans a tell-all weekend and is met with unexpected
results: inflamed passions, compromising situations, and a ride on the wild
side for parents and children alike. Why Not Me? is a delightful comedy,
boasting an impeccable sense of timing and scenery as beautiful as its young
stars.
In French with English subtitles
Wallowitch and Ross: This Moment
Saturday, May 13, at 1:30 pm
Wallowitch and Ross: This Moment by Richard Morris (1999, 77 min.). Viewers
need not be familiar with cabaret duo Bertram Ross and John Wallowitch to
enjoy this documentary. Each an acclaimed New York artist in his own
rightsRoss as Martha Graham's elegant lead dancer, and Wallowitch as a
multi-talented songwriter, composer, and pianiststhe mutual admirers began
their relationship over three decades ago and eventually fused their
artistic abilities with equal success. Through candid conversations,
interviews, archival footage, and performance clips, director Morris creates
"an exceptionally tender portrait of partners on stage and in lifehonest
and intimate, straightforward but not sentimental Morris wisely lets the
partnership speak for itself" (Lael Lowenstein, Variety).
Living with Pride: Ruth Ellis @ 100
Sat., May 13, at 3:30 pm
Living with Pride: Ruth Ellis @ 100 by Yvonne Welbon (1999, 57 min., video).
Yvonne Welbon's exceptional documentary reflects an entire century's passing
through the eyes of the oldest living "out" African-American lesbian.
Interviews and recreations capture the spirit of this indomitable woman
whose first crush was on her high-school gym teacher, and whose Detroit home
was known as the "Gay Spot" to blacks shouldered-out of the bar scene
throughout the 1940s, '50s, and '60s. Now an outspoken advocate for senior
and lesbian rights, Ellis is a living link to the experience of lesbians
throughout the century. Preceded by Border LineFamily Pictures by C. A
Griffith (1999, 29 min.), winner of the Vision in Color award at the New
England Film and Video Festival. In this film, four women portray Linden
Jordan, a poor black woman from East Oklahoma whose graduation from an elite
university gives her pause for contemplation.
Lola and Bilidikid
Sun., May 14, at 5:30 pm
Lola and Bilidikid by Kutleg Ataman (Germany, 1999, 97 min.). Best Feature
Winner at the New Festival in New York. Ataman's film presents a complex web
of family relationships in Berlin's Turkish gay scene. Venturing out from
his brother's tyrannical influence, the teenaged Murat discovers a gritty
street subculture of transvestites and hustlers. Reigning over this urban
demimonde is the glittering drag queen Lola, shadowed by his |ber-macho
boyfriend Bili. Ataman peels back multiple layers of deception to reveal the
characters' haunting secrets in this "impeccably acted and directed" film
(Elliot Stein, Village Voice). Preceded by The Grass is Greener by Amanda
Raine (UK, 1999, 15 min.), featuring the unlikely pairing of a drag queen
and a butch lesbian on a gay singles holiday.
In Turkish and German with English subtitles
Gendernauts
Sun., May 14, at 7:45 pm
Gendernauts by Monika Treut (1999, 86 min.). From the director of The Virgin
Machine comes this exploration of gender malleability. Tour guide and
"goddess of cyberspace" Sandy Stone reveals a treasure trove of San
Franscisco's leading gender-benders: Max Wolf Valerio, a female-to-male
transsexual; video artist Texas Tomboy, who relates the shifting of sub-San
Francisco tectonic plates to internal shifts of identity; and legendary
Susan Stryker, a tranny historian and male-to-female transsexual. Insightful
dialogue and sex-goddess Annie Sprinkle contribute to this unforgettable
documentary. Preceded by Belly, Femur. Femur, Belly. by Laura Cowell
(Canada, 1997, 7 min.), a chance meeting between sophisticated Belly and
heart-broken Femur.
Fun for Boys and Girls:
Gay and Lesbian Youth Short Films
Thurs., May 18, at 6:15 pm
Two friends struggle to express their mutual affection in Waves by Frank
Mosvold (Bxlgene, Norway, 1998, 10 min.). Below the Belt by Dominique
Cardona and Laurie Colbert (1999, 13 min.) portrays 17-year-old best
friends/boxers exploring their sexuality. In Liu Awaiting Spring by Andy Soo
(Australia, 1998, 11 min.), the ancient art of Chinese Opera meets a modern
coming-of-age tale. In Space Jazzeros by Nicole Chung (Canada, 1997, 5 min.)
a young girl confronts the hard realities of gay bashing. The Wait by
Michael Velliquette (1999, 3 min.) celebrates two boys' exploration of
desire. The documentary I Know Who I AmDo You? by Skyline Community (1998,
9 min. video) features proud young gays and lesbians. Why I Hate Bees by
Sarah Abbott (1997, 4 min., video) explores a girl's attraction to her best
friend. In Birthday Time by Lawrence Ferber (2000, 19 min.), a 17-year-old
vows to be kissed by his 18th birthday. Untouchable by Thirza Cuthand (1998,
4 min., video), presents a young toughie with an assertive approach to
growing up different. Thomas is affectionately teased by his favorite
classmate in Thomas Trips by Pascal Vincent (Thomas Tribuche, France, 1998,
7 min.). Co-sponsored by Boston GLASS, a program of JRI Health.
Note special ticket price: $5
Joys of Smoking
Thurs., May 18, at 8 pm
Joys of Smoking by Nick Katsapetses (1999, 86 min.). Confounded by his
lover's infidelity, student-filmmaker Gray sets out to document his friends'
views on relationships for his graduate-thesis film. With captivating
candor, the characters speak directly to the camera and reveal the secrets
of their relationships. The cinema-veriti portrait of these straight-talking
San Franciscans (lesbian, gay, and straight) is interwoven with the engaging
drama of Gray's own experiences. "Add an unglamorous but appealing cast and
a wicked sense of humor, and you've got a film that pleases its audience
without pandering to it" (Outfest '99 Catalogue). Preceded by Forgetting by
Paul VanDeCarr (1999, 3 min., video), a poetic lament of the loss of love.
The directors of both films will be present.
When Love Comes
Fri., May 19, at 6:30 pm
When Love Comes by Garth Maxwell (New Zealand, 1998, 94 min.). Liberal sex,
plenty of drugs, and the fugitive dreams of rock-and-roll pervade this urban
love story with a dynamic cast of gay, lesbian, and straight characters.
Rena Owens (Once Were Warriors) is astounding in her portrayal of Katie
Keen, a would-be singer who returns to Auckland and the comfort of her best
friend Stephen after minimal success in L.A. Stephen's relationship with
doped-up lyricist Mark, and the kinetic energy of Fig and Sallystwo lesbian
punks scrabbling for the stardom that Katie never foundsfurther intensify
this tangle of love, loyalty, and friendship. The electrifying When Love
Comes is unconventional both in form and spirit.
Fri., May 19, at 8:15 pm
The Broken Hearts League by Greg Berlanti (2000, 91 min.). Berlanti's
engrossing debut feature centers on the relationships and friendships
between seven gay men. On the eve of his 28th birthday, Dennis deliberates
whether his friends are a boon or a bane. Along a course alternately comic
and tragic, The Broken Hearts League skillfully follows his search for an
answer. "These characters are real people, funny, flawed and vulnerable,
struggling with dating, breakups, jealousies, and just making sense of their
lives" (John Cooper, Sundance Film Festival 2000). The director will be
present.
The Man Who Drove with Mandela
Sat., May 20, at 3:30 pm
The Man Who Drove with Mandela by Greta Schiller (U.K., 82 min., video).
Traveling across South Africa in 1962, Nelson Mandela eluded police in his
disguise as a white man's chauffeur. His passenger in the gleaming Austin
Westminster was Cecil Williams, a leading Johannesburg theater director,
freedom fighter, and gay man. This revealing portrait from the director of
Paris is a Woman and Before Stonewall, blends dramatized key incidents in
Williams's life with archival footage, home movies, and a rare interview
with Mandela, among others. "The result is an engrossing, smoothly put
together chronicle of a forgotten hero's personal and political bravery"
(Derek Elley, Variety).
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