26th Teddy Award Winners

Award winners were just announced at the official site here. Winners are in *BLUE.

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2/1/2011

As organizers say in their press release “The world’s most prestigious queer film prize the TEDDY AWARD will be presented during the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival on 17 February 2012 for the 26th time. TEDDY AWARD prizes will be presented in the categories: best feature film, best documentary / film essay and best short film.” The following are the films being considered for the awards.

Competition
Les adieux à la Reine (Farewell My Queen) by Benoït Jacquot, France and Spain (L)

Panorama
7 Deadly Kisses (7 Deadly Kisses) by Sammaria Simanjuntak, Indonesia
A Lazy Summer Afternoon with Mario Montez by John Heys, Germany
Anak-Anak Srikandi (Children of Srikandi) by Children of Srikandi Collective, Indonesia (L/Q)
Audre Lorde – The Berlin Years 1984 to 1092 by Dagmar Schultz, Germany (L)
Bugis Street Redux by Yonfan, Hong Kong and China
*Call Me Kuchu by Malika Zouhali-Worral and Katherine Fairfax Wright, USA BEST DOCUMENTARY
Cherry by Stephen Elliot, USA (L?)
Dtlef by Stefan Westerwelle, Germany
Glaube, Liebe, Tod (Belief, Love, Death) by Peter Kern, Austria
Green Laser by John Greyson, Canada
Hot Boy Nổi Loạn và Câu Chuyện về Thằng Cười, Cô Gái Điếm và Con Vịt (Lost In Paradise) by Vu Ngoc Dang, Vietnam (G)
*Keep The Lights On by Ira Sachs, USA (G)  BEST FEATURE FILM
König des Comics (King Of Comics) by Rosa von Praunheim, Germany (G)
Kuma by Umut Dag, Austria (interesting)
L'âge atomique (Atomic Age) by Héléna Klotz, France (G)
Leave It On The Floor by Sheldon Larry, Canada and USA (G)
Mommy is Coming by Cheryl Dunye, Germany (L)
My Brother The Devil by Sally El Hosaini, UK
Olhe pra mim de novo (Look at me Again) by Kiko Goifman and Claudia Priscilla, Brazil
Parada (The Parade) by Srđjan Dragojevic, Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia and Slovenia
Ulrike Ottinger – die Nomadin vom See (Ulrike Ottinger – Nomad from the Lake) by Brigitte Kramer, Germany
Unter Männern – Schwul in der DDR (Among Men – Gay in East Germany) by Markus Stein, Ringo Rösener, Germany (G)
Vito by Jeffrey Schwarz, USA (G)
Wo men de gu shi (Our Sotry – 10 year “guerrilla warfare” of Beijing Queer Film Festival) by Yang Yang, China
Zucht und Ordnung (Law and Order) by Jan Soldat, Germany (G)

Forum
Francine by Brian M. Cassidy and Melanie Shatzky, USA and Canada
*Jaurès by Vincent Dieutre, France  SPECIAL JURY AWARD
Koi ni itaru yamai (The End of Puberty) by Kimura Shoko, Japan (L –wow! Must be seen for me)
Sekret (Secret) by Przemyslaw Wojcieszek, Poland
Sleeples Knights by Stefan Butzmühlen, Cristina Diz, Germany (G)
Swoon by Tom Kalin, USA (G)

Forum Expanded
A World of our own by Eline McGeorge, Norway and UK
As they say by Hicham Ayouch, Morocco and UAE
Road Movie by Elle Flanders and Tamira Sawatzky, Canada
The Tiny Ventriloquist by Steve Reinke, Canada

Generation
Joven & Alocada (Young & Wild) by Marialy Rivas, Chile (L – just won screenplay award at Sundance)
Kronjuvelerna (The Crown Jewels) by Ella Lemhagen, Sweden (L)
Magi I Luften (Love is in the Air) by Simon Staho, Denmark and Sweden
Nono by Rommel Toletino, Philippines
Una Noche by Lucy Mulloy, USA, Cuba and UK
The Wilding by Grant Scicluna, Australia

Perspektive Deutsches Kino
Man for a Day by Katarina Peters, Germany, UK and Finland
Westerland by Tim Staffel, Germany (G)

Shorts
Erotic Fragments No. 1, 2, 3 by Anucha Boonyawatana, Thailand
La Santa (The Blessed) by Mauricio López Fernández, Chile
*Loxoro by Claudia Llosa, Spain, Peru, Argentina and USA  BEST SHORT FILM
The Man That Got Away by Trevor Anderson, Canada

To check the official press release go to pages 10 up to 13 here.

The Jury
Alessandro Rais, film historian and film critic, Italy
Bilge Taş, co-founder Pink Life QueerFest in Ankara, Turkey
Joako Ezpeleta, organizer of FIRE!! International LGBT Film Mostra of Barcelona, Spain
João Federici, producer of Mix Brasil Film Festival of Sexual Diversity, Brazil
Magali Simard, film programmer at Toronto International Film Festival, Canada
Monika Visniarova, programmer for Filmovy Festival inakosti / Slovak Queer Film Festival, Slovakia
Mhlanhla Ndaba, production manager for the Out in Africa Film Festival, South Africa
Shannon Kelley, Head of Public Programs for the UCLA Film & Television Archive, USA
Yang Yang, co-founder and executive-chairwoman of the Beijing Queer Film Festival, China

To read info about each juror go here.

Last year organizers were so kind as to classify films but this year they haven’t done it yet, so I hope that when they list the films at their official site –info came from press release- they’ll be so kind as to tell us to which letter from LGTB+ each film belongs. Still from what I read about each film most seem to be with gay interest, a few with T interest and very little to L interest, sigh.

I was already following Marialy Rivas Young & Wild, but Kimura Shoko’s film is a great find that I hope to see soon. Cheryl Dunye is no stranger to Berlinale as in 1996 won the Teddy for her film Watermelon Woman and her latest film, Mommy is Coming, not only is a full German production but story could will be interesting. Wasn’t able to tell from synopsis if there are other lesbian interest movies, but no matter what interest has Kuma by Umut Dag seems very interesting.

Award ceremony will be on February 17 and as in previous years Arte TV will broadcast ceremony plus video will be uploaded to official site.

2011 Cannes Queer Palm Award Winner

So perhaps my gaydar is not rusty (or should I say my movie gaydar?) as the ONLY movie that I discover as really having LGBT interest is the winner of the 2011 Queer Palm. Hmm, still have to watch films that were considered but from what I leaned from each film LGBT interest is marginal to story and/or is related to secondary characters.

There are two exceptions, one is the film that there was no available info or meaningful trailer, Michael, and it wasn't after was screened that we learned what was all about. Similar situation happened for the second, Snowtown. As we know now both films are not what we can call a positive representation of LGBT relations/lifestyle that awards similar to this one honor. Still, if now I think about the film that was honored last year, Kaboom -which I already saw- wasn't also a positive portrait ... so, don't really know what organizers honor with this award.

Nevertheless, this year the Queer Palm goes to a clearly gay interest film.

Skoonheid (Beauty), Olivier Hermanus, South Africa, France and Germany

Film was part of Cannes Official Selection and was screened in the Un Certain Regard section; I hope film is as interesting as what I learned promises because I'll watch film.


This year the Queer Palm site was sort of abandoned and better coverage came from French LGBT sites, I hope that this improves next year as I really want this award to consolidate as a desired award that filmmakers are interested in winning, just like happens with the Teddy. Last, today we know the winner but still have no clear idea about which films were considered for the award.

If you wish to read the news at a French site please go here.

Found the reason why movie was chosen:

“We have been deeply impressed by a movie which comes from a country of the “Cine-World” as [French, daily newspaper] Libération would say, a country which remains to be explored: South Africa. The movie takes place in a background which is the white, straight, religious middle class, that is the ruling class of the country. This is a portrayal of a man, a family man, being confronted to his profound desire and being unable to accept it. It’s a film about self-hatred and a film about homophobia, as well as a film dealing with racism, in a very subtle way. It is a true cinema film, a quite unpleasant one at first sight, and very disturbing, hard-hitting, radical. We are honored and delighted to award the 2011 Queer Palm to “Skoonheid” (Beauty) by Oliver Hermanus.”

To read at official site go here.

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2011 Cannes Queer Palm Lineup

4/22/11

Perhaps my gaydar is rusty but I found one gay interest film in all the selections and was hoping that one film was lesbian interest but according to Queer Palm organizers there are ten films that can be considered for this award and unfortunately the one I was hoping in the lesbian interest is not there.

These are the films to be considered for the award during the second edition of the Queer Palm.

Busong (Palawan Fate), Auraeus Solito, Philippines
Chatrak (Mushrooms), Vimukthi Jayasundara, India and France
Des Jeunes Gens Mödernes, Jérôme de Missolz, France and Belgium
La Guerre est déclarée, Valérie Donzelli, France (maybe with lesbian interest??!! Yes in secondary characters)
La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I Live In), Pedro Almodóvar, Spain
My Little Princess, Eva Ionesco, France
Skoonheid, Olivier Hermanus, South Africa, France and Germany (gay interest)
Snowtown, Justin Kurzel, Australia
Walk away Renée, Jonathan Caouette, USA, France and Belgium (gay interest)

Also considering O Abismo Pratedo by Karim Aïnouz, Brazil but I imagine that only after watching film will confirm if is eligible or not. Also in the selection a film from the independent cinema selection (L’Acid): Gatos Viejos (Old Cats), Sebastian Silva and Pedro Peirano, Chile which is with lesbian interest!!!

To read about each movie you have to open the complete guide and browse it; guide is here available in French and English, but be careful as the English version has several mistakes.

Jury
President: Elisabeth Quin, Journalist/writer, France
Marie Comant, Journalist, France
Gerard Lefort, Film critic, France
Thomas Abeltshauser, Journalist/film critic, Germany
Fred Arends, Pink Screens Film Festival programmer/journalist/film critic, Belgium
Esther Cuénot, Co founder of Quinzaine de cinema LGBT or Cinemarges Festival, France
Roberto Schinardi, Journalist/film critic, Italy

To learn more about each of the juror go here.

With a few exceptions, the movie descriptions included in the guide are as ambiguous as the ones I have read, so the only way we could be sure is after someone has seen the films. Almodovar has been so mysterious about this movie that no one is really sure if movie will have some LGBT interest and just because is Almodovar I don’t want to assume that film will be eligible, but he’s one of my favorite directors so all his films are must be seen for me no matter the story. The same applies to Isabelle Huppert movies, so if My Little Princess has some LGBT interest will be a tiny plus but I’ll watch movie for her performance and the puzzling story.

Most interesting is that organizers are planning to have Le Marché Queer Palm to promote LGBT filmmakers and films. The market will not be open this year but already started planning for the 2012 edition, so if my filmmakers friends are interested go here to find the formats to be used to register feature films, short films, screenplays and/or synopsis (depending of the stage of your project).

Also on May 17 the film Illegal Love by Julie Gali will be screened to celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia. Closing ceremony will be on May 21st. Still pending the short films that are eligible and they have announced one juror for the short film competition: Joao Pedro Rodrigues; as soon as there more info available will modify post.

Honestly I’m still not sure how many films will be eligible for this year award but I hope that the Queer Palm second edition will be successful and most important, sets strong basis for improvement in future editions so eventually will become a respected and desired award, just like the Belinale’s Teddy Award.

Read synopsis, watch photos and some trailers @MOC

Cold Movie Bits

I thought that was my terrible cold what didn’t allowed me to enjoy the movies, surely does not help but also most are not really interesting. So here are some movie bits.

Four Lions by Christopher Morris – Dark UK comedy that was hilarious at moments, but playing with humor while telling a Muslim terrorist’s story was too much for me in the not positive way. Sigh.

Kaboom by Gregg Araki. Story and film are too bizarre for my taste plus visuals are not interesting; yes, the first 2010 Cannes Queer Palm winner is labeled as a Sci Fi comedy but I couldn’t understand the kind of humor or well, is definitively not my kind of humor. Perhaps has more lesbian than gay interest but as expected in a Sci fi film is not definitely what lesbian interest audiences are used to watch. I watched until the end when the Earth goes Kaboom, still I believe I fall asleep several times, lol! If you skip it won’t miss much. Sigh.

Made in Dagenham by Nigel Cole. What surely is an interesting story about UK Ford’s female workers strike to ask for equal pay becomes uneven and uninteresting thanks to a script that unsuccessfully tried to tell too much –especially sentimental personal stories- plus a director not disciplined enough to maintain story focus on the great achievement these women accomplished for UK and the rest of the world. Usually enjoy Sally Hawkins and Bob Hoskins performances but here they tend to be dull. If you skip it you won’t miss much, but story is one that we should know. Enjoy!

Tron: Legacy by Joseph Kosinski. Still recall first installment and wanted to watch for the special effects but story was not interesting and special effects were also not interesting. Still young Jeff Bridges looks like in Starman, which I imagine is where they got the idea to do the special effects. Boring, very boring. Sigh.

Waste Land by Lucy Walker, Karen Harley and João Jardim. Very interesting documentary for highlighting the transformative power of art and the beauty of the human spirit; but is excellent food for thought for life in city landfills dwellers that live out of garbage. Do not miss it, highly recommend it. Enjoy!!!

So this is it, probably forgot a few ones, but these are the ones I recall. Sigh.

25th Teddy Award Award Winners

I imagine that the 25th Anniversary party must be in full boom right now (have seen pics) but organizers had time to upload winners at their site and if you wish to check the news there go here or go to Berlinale official site here and scroll down to Teddy Awards.

Winners are in *BLUE.

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2/4/11
Can you believe that Teddy is 25! Time goes by very fast. Congratulations! As always most films are gay interest and for a change I’m going to use the classification that organizers use: Teddy Category, where each film is classified as L, G, Q, and T. These are the films that are competing for the Teddy Award.

Teddy Category L (lesbian)
Apflickorna (She Monkeys), Lisa Aschan, Sweden, 2011 – Generation 14plus
Chang-Pi-Hae (Ashamed), Kim Soo-hyun, South Korea –Panorama
E-Love, Anne Villacèque, France, 2011 – Forum
Fjellet (The Mountain), Ole Giæver, Norway – Panorama Special
*Generations, Barbara Hammer and Gina Carducci, USA, 2010 – Berlinale Shorts - BEST SHORT FILM
La Ducha (The Shower), Maria José San Martín, Chile, 2010 – Berlinale Shorts
Lollipop Monster, Ziska Reimann, Germany, 2011 – Perspektive Deutsches Kino
Odem (Lipstikka), Jonathan Sagall, Israel and UK – Main Competition
Utopians, Zbigniew Bzymek, USA, 2011 – Forum
Viva Riva!, Djo Tunda Wa Munga, Congo, France and Belgium, 2010 – Forum

Teddy Category G (gay)
Auf der Suche (Looking for Simon), Jan Krüger, Germany, 2011 – Forum
*Ausente (Absent), Marco Berger, Argentina, 2011- Forum - BEST FEATURE FILM
Bizim Büyük Çaresizliğimiz (Our Grand Despair), Seyfi Teoman, Turkey, Germany and Netherlands – Main Competition
Blokes (Blocks) Marialy Rivas, Chile, 2010 – Generation 14plus Short Fim
Die Jungs vom Bahnhof Zoo (Rent Boys), Rosa von Praunheim, Germany – Panorama Dokumente
How Are You, Jannik Splidsboel, Denmark – Panorama Dokumente
Leicht muss man sein, Fliegen muss man können (Lightflight), Annette Frick, Germany – Panorama Dokumente
Mondo Lux – die Bilderwelten des Werner Schroeter (Mondo Lux – The Visual Worlds of Werner Shcroeter), Elfi Mikesch, Germany – Panorama Dokumente
OFF BEAT by Jan Gassmann, Switzerland – Panorama
Poo kor karn rai (The Terrorists), Thunska Panisittivorakul, Thailand and Germany, 2011- Forum
Porno Melodrama, Romas Zabarauskas, Lithuania, France and Finland – Panorama Supporting Films
Rundskop (Bullhead), Michaël R. Roskam, Belgium and Netherlands – Panorama
Sala samobójców (Suicide Room), Jan Komasa, Poland – Panorama
Spring, Hong Khaou, UK – Panorama Supporting Films
Stadt Land Fluss (Harvest), Benjamin Cantu, Germany, 2011 – Generation 14plus
The Queen Has No Crown, Tomer Heymann, Israel – Panorama Dokumente
Tomorrow Everything Will Be Alright, Akram Zaatari – Berlinale Shorts
We Were Here, David Weissman, USA – Panorama Dokumente
Zai Yi Qi (Together), Zhao Liang, China – Panorama Dokumente

Teddy Category Q (queer)
!Women Art Revolution - A Secret History, Lynn Hershman Leeson, USA – Panorama Dokumente
Ghosts #9, Genesis Breyes P-Orridge, UK, 1989 – Forum Expanded
homo@lv, Kaspars Goba, Latvia – Panorama Dokumente
House Of Shame / Chantal All Night Long, Johanna Jackie Baier, Germany – Panorama Dokumente
Maya Deren’s Sink, Barbara Hammer, USA, 2010 – Forum Expanded
The Advocate For Fagdom, Angélique Bosio, France – Panorama Dokumente
Warum Madame Warum, Johny Heys, Germany – Panorama Supporting Films

Teddy Category T (transgender)
Romeos, Sabine Bernardi, Germany – Panorama
Swans, Hugo Viera da Silva, Germany and Portugal, 2011 – Forum
*The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye, Marie Losier, USA and France, 2011 – Forum BEST DOCUMENTARY
*Tomboy, Céline Sciamma, France – Panorama SPECIAL JURY AWARD

To check films at the official site go here, for now film summaries are available only in German and if you want to read about each film you can go to the festival site where information is available in English. There are some quite interesting feature films that are of lesbian interest that definitively are must be seen for many that read this blog.

עיניים פקוחות Einayim Petukhoth (Eyes Wide Open)

Been waiting for a long while to watch this film and the wait was absolutely worth it as Haim Tabakman’s debut film, that was screened in the Un Certain Regard at 2009 Cannes, not only has an interesting exploration of strict religion beliefs and behaviors but also film has very good tech specs with many silences, slow pace and intriguing cinematography. Can’t say that was a surprise as film was exactly what I was expecting: a good movie that incidentally happens to totally belong to the gay interest genre.

Film tells the story of a married, father of four, respected kosher butcher and Orthodox Jewish, Aaron, who falls in love with a twenty two year old male Yeshiva student, Ezri. That’s the story on the surface as is a very good excuse to show not only the vision -and reality- of homosexuality in ultra-strict religions but also gives us a glimpse into a tight community life that not often we are allowed to watch in the big screen. I particularly was fascinated by the rituals shown by Aaron’s wife, rituals that truly seem so foreign and incomprehensible that totally puzzled me. But basically is the story of Aaron and how he became alive after being “dead” and probably that’s the reason why Ezri is a character that is under-developed in story, whilst giving more importance to a strict, religious, conservative man drama. Film has a very interesting story that in my opinion is above the sad love story or the expected strict behaviors against homosexuality.

Film is absolutely of gay interest but surely is not the regular film in genre as transcends it to become an art-ish film with a story that I’m sure will engage many that enjoy the lesbian interest genre and even those that don’t particularly care about any of the mentioned genres. I strongly recommend film for the good production values and the story as even if there are some love scenes they are very discrete and some even beautiful.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

Gordos (Fat People)

So been watching comedies but this film by Daniel Sánchez Arévalo was a little bit darker and was able to enjoy it a little bit more as there are five main characters and each generates a story that converge in the therapy group where the film begins.

Basically is a film about obesity and people trying to find the causes of their disease, the reasons that impel: to eat, to keep little rewarding personal relationships and to flee from its realities. Combines drama and comedy so is light and deep and conciliates bitterness and sweetness; but mainly is about the many contradictions that obese people could have. Consequently you have melodrama in the story of the therapist as well as in the woman that got fat while her partner left to America for work; comedy in the very religious couple as well as in the fat family where only the son is skinny; and ludicrous tragedy in the homosexual who ends up marrying the widow of his associate who he murdered for love.

What I liked is that for me is an exploration, or better, a metaphor for all that we swallow, for everything that fattens us and makes our life heavier as well as all the contradictions that only fuel undesired actions.

Maybe above commentaries are too serious for a film that intends to be mainly a comedy, but I believe that film is more drama than comedy as I didn’t laugh that much; after all there are not many movies that tell stories about fat people and their relationships with other fat and skinny people. This movie does it while trying to be entertaining.

As a film is average, the value of this film is the story if you don’t mind watching fat people (some scenes are in the nude) that lose and gain weight for real, as actors had to gain weight for when they’re performing their fat character which makes film quite credible/believable against those films that use prosthetics to make characters fat. Film was in the Giornate degli Autori at the 2009 Biennale, was official selection in 2009 Stockholm fest and was nominated for many Goya’s at 2010 annual awards plus collected other honors while transited the festival circuit.

I do recommend film if you are struggling with your size (no matter if you’re fat or not for real) or know someone that does and is close to you, as maybe story could give you some food for thought as story touches almost every reason and consequence that drives people to get overweight.

Enjoy.

Watch trailer @MOC

Piedras (Stones)

Thanks to my dearest photographer friend this Christmas weekend I was able to watch several films from Spain and to start talking about them let’s get into this Ramón Salazar 2002 first film about the “large” stones in life (love, friendship, family and career) that have spaces in between for the “small” stones, meaning our small necessities. That’s according to film producers as what I actually saw was stones in shoes from five very different women.

An interesting story -in an acceptable film that becomes entertaining but not much else- about Adela who manages a brothel, Anita Adela’s retarded daughter, Leire a shoe designer that abandoned her inspiration while living with Kun, Isabel that lost the meaning of her life and her husband, and Maricarmen that lost her husband and now has to earn a living driving his husband taxi. Story is intertwined until at the positive end all characters are related one way or another, including the reason why Kun left Leire, Joaquin; so story has a little gay interest.

My main problem with film is that due to director choice of storytelling technique and editing, I was not able to feel for any of the characters, even when some actors perform quite acceptable; but in general the women stories were interesting. One thing, this is nothing alike, similar or close to Almodovar, even when there are two/three of his trademark actresses; so please don’t compare in any sense this movie to any oeuvre of the great director.

Unfortunately not much to tell about movie, but if you’re in the mood to watch a film about women then perhaps you could give this movie a try as was in competition for the Golden Bear at the 2002 Berlinale.

Enjoy.

Watch trailer @MOC

2011 Sundance Film Festival

Ah! Sundace! The fest that I keep wondering why I don’t enjoy the films they screen, showcase and honor with awards. Still is a remarkable festival in the indie world of movies. This year will run from January 20 to 30, 2011 and to my surprise I discovered one film, Circumstance, that calls my attention not only because belongs to the lesbian interest but also because has a story set in Iran. Here are some of the films that you can find here , all except one are new to the blog and with a few exceptions you have to guess if films are lesbian or gay interest (yes films are in one label, LGBT)

Attenberg, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Greece, 2010
Becoming Chaz, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, USA (documentary about Chaz Bono), 2010
Circumstance, Maryam Keshavarz, Iran and USA, 2011
Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same, Madeleine Olnek, USA, 2010
Gun Hill Road, Rashaad Ernesto Green, USA, 2011
The Ledge, Matthew Chapman, 2010
Pariah, Dee Rees, USA, 2011
Quelque jours de repit (A Few Days of Respite), Amor Hakkar, Algeria and France, 2010
Red State, Kevin Smith, USA, 2011
Uncle Kent, Joe Swanberg, USA, 2010
We Were Here, David Weissman,USA, 2010 (documentary)

These are the films in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition

Abraxas, Naoki Katô, Japan, 2010
Asalto al Cine (The Cinema Hold Up), Iria Gómez Concheiro, Mexico, 2011
Boker Tov Adon Fidelman (Restoration), Yossi Madmony, Israel, 2010
Boleto al Paraiso (Ticket to Paradise), Gerardo Chijona Valdes, Cuba, Spain, and Venezuela, 2010
I Baci Mai Dati (Lost Kisses), Roberta Torre, Italy, 2010 (could be interesting)
Kinyarwanda, Alrick Brown, USA and Rwanda, 2011
Le Vendeur (The Salesman), Sebastien Pilote, Canada, 2011
Mad Bastards, Brendan Fletcher, Australia, 2010
Quelque jours de repit (A Few Days of Respite), Amor Hakkar, Algeria and France, 2010
Sykt Lykkelig (Happy, Happy), Anne Sewitsky, Norway, 2010
The Guard, John Michael McDonagh, Ireland, 2010
Todos Tus Muertos (All Your Dead Ones), Carlos Moreno, Colombia, 2010
Tyrannosaur, Paddy Considine, UK, 2010
Vampire, Iwai Shunji, Canada and USA, 2010 (could be interesting, English language film from Japanese director)

To read info about each film go here and if you wish to learn the films in the U.S. Dramatic Competition go here; to check the all the categories in and out of competition go here.

So this is for today with festivals, hope Sundance brings us some unexpected (positive) surprises.

22nd Palm Springs International Film Festival

From January 6 to 17, 2011 fest will run and this year has the amazing program screening 40 of the 65 submissions to Oscar in the foreign language category; just for these movies I wish I could go. But there are other that seem interesting in the 193 films from 68 countries, with 9 world premieres, that will be screened like the ones that will open and close the fest.

Opening Gala: Potiche, François Ozon, France
Closing Film: The First Grader, Justin Chadwick, UK and Kenya

Among the Special Presentations three sections called my attention:
The Gay!La (Hers) that will showcase Leading Ladies by Daniel Beahm and Erika Randall Beahm, USA which is a musical
The Gay!La (His) that will showcase great Mine Vaganti (Loose Cannons), Ferzan Ozpetek, Italy
Special Presentation: Le Hérisson (The Hedgehog) by Mona Achache, France

The fest will honor many people and films; among them we have Michael Douglas, Ben Affleck, Danny Boyle, The Social Network, Robert Duvall, Colin Firth, Natalie Portman, Javier Barden, Jennifer Lawrence, and Carey Mulligan.

In general most of the films are known to the blog but if you feel like learning about the 193 films please go here.

New Voices/New Visions

These are the 12 features that are in competition in this section

40, Emre Sahin, Turkey
Adem (Oxygen), Hans Van Nuffel, Belgium
As if I Am Not There, Juanita Wilson, Ireland (interesting but surely hard to watch)
Der Albaner (The Albanian), Johannes Naber, Germany
Buna! Ce Faci? (Hello! How Are You?), Alexandru Maftei, Romania
Diciotto Anni Dopo (Eighteen Years Later), Edoardo Leo,Italy
Mavro Livadi (Black Field), Vardis Marinakis, Greece (seems is gay not lesbian interest, still has very nice visuals – check trailer @MOC)
Metro Cuadrado (Square Meter),Nayra Ilic, Chile
Pájaros de Papel (Paper Birds), Emilio Aragón, Spain
Smukke Mennesker (Nothing’s All Bad), Mikkel Munch-Fals, Denmark
Sound of Noise, Ola Simonsson and Johannes Stjärne Nilsson, Sweden
Svinalanjorna (Beyond), Pernilla August, Sweden (yes, is the one with Noomi Rapace)

To read about each film go here. I really dislike when festivals do not specify if film is lesbian or gay and join them with the label ‘Gay/Lesbian’ they shouldn’t do this as films have very different audiences. Nevertheless if you feel like checking the 18 films listed under the joint label please go here. One film absolutely calls my attention: Little Sparrows by Yu-Hsiu Camille Chen, Australia, 2010 that I really hope has lesbian interest.

Mine Vaganti (Loose Cannons)

I liked this movie beyond any expectations I had and they were high as film is directed by one of my favorite directors: Ferzan Ozpetek, thus I was expecting the best. I got an excellent film with a strong/compelling story, great performances and a Turkish born director that seems to understand Italians more than some of his contemporary colleagues, as this is a drama where main and secondary characters not only are important for story but also have something to say, hide or are the kind we should be careful when near to them as all are true loose cannons as the English title clearly says.

Movie is a drama but also is a farce, is tragic and has extraordinary comedy at the correct time (gee, did I laugh loud!) and yes, is gay interest but honestly even if is essential to the story told I feel is not the main theme as this film is a very interesting exploration into human behavior of the good and not so good kind.

Not easy to tell you what is all about without giving away crucial moments that will surprise you and will make you nervously laugh or will get your reactions; but I’ll try as you should watch this film without knowing much about the story. Tells the story of the Cantone family who are a large extended family living in one big house in Lecce where they own a large pasta factory. Younger son Tomasso, who lives in Rome, returns for a visit and decides to tell them that he’s gay to avoid being forced to assume his responsibilities at the family business as he’s only interested in becoming a writer and stay living in Rome where he’s able to be away from his family and the little town gossip and homophobia. The Cantone family plus friends are having a fun dinner and Tomasso decides that’s the right moment to tell all, his secret; but his older brother Antonio, who he told before, stops him to make an announcement. Antonio’s news is the trigger to a true roller coaster ride into the lives of the Cantone family that includes Tomasso’s grandmother, father, mother, aunt, brother, sister, brother-in-law, and nieces plus the maids, the father mistress, his friends from Rome, and Alba, an eccentric young beautiful woman that also works at the factory in a high position.

Excellent performances by all actors’ that superbly perform sharp dialogues with fantastic expressions in a script co written by Ozpetek and in a film with impeccable cinematography plus tech specs; but most impressive, even when by now is a given for me, are Ferzan Ozpetek filmmaking outstanding abilities that with this film shows an excellent comedy timing and true delicate care of all his characters. Bravo!!!

Film collected many honors including a Special Jury Mention at 2010 Tribeca plus many Italian honors and film is nominated for the People’s Award at 2010 European Awards. Mention honors because I do believe that this film is superior in every cinema element to actual Italy submission to 2010 Oscar; maybe because story is about homosexuality those in charge of selection decided not to chose this magnificent film. If I’m right then is a true shame that they didn’t follow Peru’s example; but it is understandable as this film shows Italians homophobic reactions.

Highly recommend this film if you enjoy talkie European good movies, definitively is must be seen for those that follow Ozpetek oeuvre and for those that enjoy the gay interest genre.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

Contracorriente (Undertow)

Don’t remember if I have said it before but I have a hard time watching gay interest movies; but if movie transcends the genre like Brokeback Mountain did then films become not only watchable but interesting and many times very emotional. Had to watch this film as is Peru’s submission to Oscar, but I wasn’t in a rush. Gosh I should have seen it before as had nothing to worry because Javier Fuentes-León’s opera prima has a story that slowly grows on you until the very sad end where you will shred a lot more than one tear. It’s amazing how narrative takes you almost like “by-the-hand” and slowly starts to pour emotions that become absolutely intense at the very end; in a way I’m glad that wasn’t more emotional or that had more intense emotions at the beginning as I know my heart couldn’t take it. The way it is, is enough!

Film tells the story of fisherman Miguel, married, her wife pregnant and having what looks like a casual affair with Santiago, his opposite as is a well-to-do city dweller that went to the seaside to paint and take photos. Santiago wants more but Miguel is tied by the small village traditions, prejudices, perceptions and the child on the way. One day Santiago appears in Miguel’s house to his dismal and fear that the wife could see him; but only Miguel can see him and you have to watch the rest of this story that according to his director is an exploration into what many people, especially in Latin American, tend to distort and limit: the concept of manhood. I tend to agree as definitively is a story about our own internal prejudices and fears, the consequent dishonest behavior where we lie to ourselves and the ultimate acceptance of what we are and deeply love. Story is really interesting and I suggest you don’t get lost into thinking that there is a ghost, try to imagine that is just the product of someone imagination due to intense love and surely will uncover more interesting layers to the story.

Performances are acceptable even when at times lost attention to the very interesting story due to not-so-good performing; cinematography is nice as location looks like untamed paradisiacal sea shores and once in a while director created great visual compositions, my only complaint is that there were too few.

Obviously I liked the movie a lot more than what I imagined as slowly but surely story really grows on you thanks to the “well-modulated” emotional narrative with the crescendo at the end. Film clearly is must be seen to those that enjoy the gay interest genre but I also especially recommend the movie to many that read the blog and enjoy the lesbian interest genre as even when there is nothing lesbian shown, story theme and message is one that I know will be easy to relate to.

Not sure if film is suitable for general audiences as I believe will be too soapy for them and wonder if they can relate to or understand the intensity of the story as no, this is not another Brokeback Mountain as does not have well-known actors nor the mastery of the director.

Anyway, long after I finished watching the movie I was sad and very emotional, took me a while to relax and feel good again; but then I felt very glad that I was able to watch this story.

Enjoy!!!

Watch trailer @MOC

7th Seville European Film Festival

From November 5 to 13 fest will take place in Seville, Spain and as we know the much awaited nominations for this year’s EFA’s will be announced on November 6th. Festival has many sections with some very interesting films but I’ll list films in competition in the two main categories.

Official Selection

Chicas, Yasmina Reza, France, 2010
De Gelukkige Huisvrouw (The Happy Housewife), Antoinette Beumer, Netherlands, 2010
De Vliegenierster van Kazbek (The Aviatrix of Kazbek), Ineke Smits, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Georgia and Germany, 2010
El Regreso (The Return), Nonio Parejo, Spain, 2009
Flamenco Flamenco, Carlos Saura, Spain, 2010
Hævnen (In a Better World), Susanne Bier, Denmark, 2010
Joy, Mijke de Jong, Netherlands, 2010
Mavro Livadi (Black Field), Vardis marinakis, Greece, 2010 (gay interest?)
Mr. Nice, Bernard Rose, UK and Spain, 2009
Naufragio (Wreckage), Pedro Aguilera, Spain, 2010
Ovsyanki (Silent Souls), Aleksei Fedorchenko, Russia, 2010
Poll (The Poll Diaries), Chris Kraus, Germany, Austria, and Estonia, 2010
Son of Babylon, Mohamed Al-Daradji, Irak, UK, Netherlands, France, EUA, Egypt, Palestine, 2010
Szelíd Teremtés - A Frankenstein Terv (Tender Son – The Frankenstein Project), Kornél Mundruczó, Hungary, Germany, and Austria, 2010
Zena sa Slomjenin nosem (The woman with a broken nose), Srdjan Koljevic, Germany and Serbia, 2010

To check info about each film go here.

For the first time festival will honor a film with the Silver Girardillo given to the Best New Director of a feature film and here are the films in this section

First-Films-First

Adem (Oxygen), Hans van Nuffel, Belgium and Netherlands, 2010
Gigola, Laure Charpentier, France, 2010 (lesbian interest)
Harisma, Christina Ioakeimidi, Greece, 2010
Juan, Kasper Holten, Denmark, 2010
Majority, Seren Yüce , Turkey, 2010
Shahada, Burhan Qurbani, Germany 2009 (gay interest)
Sinestesia, Erik Bernasconi, Switzerland, 2010
Third Star, Hattie Salton, Hattie Dalton, UK, 2010
Win/Win, Jaap van Heusden, Netherlands, 2010
Zwart Water (Two Eyes Staring), Elbert van Strien, Netherlands, 2009

To check info about each film go here and to browse all the sections go here where you will also find the section with sixteen (16) shortlisted films for EFA’s top award.

There are many very interesting films in this year festival and if you enjoy European films I strongly suggest you browse the site to check them all.

The City of Your Final Destination

This James Ivory film is a good film but definitively is not for general audiences as works like a classic piece of literature that could be too brainy for many or simply not-so-interesting to watch; still because of actors’ performances story becomes quite watchable if not impact full.

Film has an excellent cast with Anthony Hopkins, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Laura Linney and one less known actress that I particularly enjoy, Alexandra Maria Lara. My kudos go to Alexandra Maria Lara as she has a very annoying character that she was able to built so good that you really dislike her Diedre; also with a not so good character Laura Linney builts a distant, perhaps manipulative Caroline quite well, so good that I’m sure many will not like Linney’s performance. No need to mention that Hopkins and Gainsbourg performances are superb. Also here two actresses with smaller roles but that also called my attention great Norma Aleandro and Norma Argentina.

To me this film was more about actors’ performances that about a story, which is not surprising when film looks and feels more like reading a book than watching a film which is not bad, but know that style is not the cup-of-tea of many.

Film tells about about Kansas University doctoral student Omar Razaghi that wins a grant to write the biography of diseased Latin American writer Jules Gund; but Omar has to get the approval of three people who were close to Gund, his gay brother (Hopkins), his widow (Linney) and his younger mistress (Gainsbourg) all living at the writer’s estate in Uruguay. Omar writes for authorization and gets back a rotund denial; but Omar’s girlfriend (Lara) forces him to go in person to get the authorization. As Omar arrives to the faraway from civilization estate he’s not welcomed but slowly as he becomes part of this odd triangle he’ll discover more about himself than about Gund or any of the other estate dwellers. Basically it’s a story about finding your true self.

Can’t say that disliked the film but neither that I love it. As mentioned liked actors’ performances and inevitably have to mention that not often we are able to watch Anthony Hopkins playing (so deliciously) a gay man with a younger long term (25+years) Japanese lover, which definitively makes this film must be seen for those that enjoy the gay interest genre and for those that enjoy films that look and feel like classical literature.

Enjoy!!

Watch trailer @MOC

Queer Frame

Most of us know that is not easy to watch LGBT films as in many countries film will never be in your neighborhood theater. Lately Internet has proven to be a good distribution outlet for films to be watched by VOD, but most sites have mainstream film catalogues and seldom will we find the occasional –but always old- LGBT film available for us to watch.

Since a few months ago I have been following the development of a VOD site dedicated to ONLY LGBT films. Site started with a small catalogue but slowly has been increasing its catalogue with more films. Today site announced the acquisition of seven new films, including some that I’m looking forward to watch, so I decided to share with you all the address of Queer Frame a site open to world audiences that slowly but surely is increasing its catalogue with good films.

I haven’t watched a film yet at the site but I imagine that films will be in their original language and surely will have Italian subtitles as Queer Frame is an Italian site, so if you understand Italian definitively is a plus to use the site as most available films are not originally in English. Anyway prices to stream films start at 0.99 Euros, to download at 3.99 Euros and you can also shop for DVD’s.

If you’re interested in browsing the site go here.

Hope that in the future more VOD sites with only LGBT films will become available so world audiences can find the site that has subtitles in a language they understand and/or that most of us understand, English.

Cheers!

4th Queer Lion Award Winner

No surprise that a gay interest film won the fourth Queer Lion, as the only lesbian interest film in the selection seems like a not so-positive portrait of lesbianism; but is a pleasant surprise to learn that the winner film is from Argentina. Winner comes from Orizzonti sidebar.

Queer Lion: En el Futuro (In The Future), Mauro Andrizzi, Argentina

Tonight -probably right now- many are celebrating at the party that followed the award ceremony. I really hope that next year the selection will be more balanced -interest wise. To read the announcement at the official site go here.

See you next year.

4th Queer Lion Awards Lineup

These are the films that will be competing for the Queer Lion.

Black Swan, Darren Aronofsky, USA (lesbian interest) - Main Competition
Capo Dio Monte, Pappi Corsicato, Italy (documentary about gay artist) - Venice Days -Spazio Aperto
Drei (Three), Tom Tykwer, Germany (gay interest) - Main Competition
En el Futuro, Mauro Andrizzi, Argentina (gay interest) - Orizzonti -
Et in Terra Pax, Matteo Botrugno and Daniele Coluccini, Italy (gay interest)- Venice Days
Happy Few, Antony Cordier, France (gay interest) - Main Competition
Lisetta Carmi, A Soul on the Road, Daniele Segre, Italy (sort of gay interest?) - Venice Days (Italian Portraits and Landscapes)
Potiche, Fracois Ozon, Frace (gay interest) (Must be seen) - Main Competition
La Solitudine dei Numeri Primi (The Solitude of Prime Numbers), Saverio Costanzo, Italy, Germany and France (gay interest) - Main Competition
The Tempest, Julie Taymor, USA Closing Film (first is Taymor, second Helen Mirren, THIRD Mirren plays Prospera that in the original Shakespeare play is a man and here is a 'virile woman', must be seen)- Out of Competition
Sposerò Nichi Vendola, Andrea Constantino, Italy (gay interest) - Controcampo Italiano (Short Film)

As expected there is only one really lesbian interest as The Tempest I'm doubting will have any specific interest, but will be interesting watching Helen Mirren playing the role. Also think that Potiche is in the considered films because is Ozon as was described as being totally 'queer' because the actresses. Will check for more info about the genre as news start to appear.

To check information and photos for each film go here where you can also browse the other related activities. Award ceremony will be on September 10th.

4th Queer Lion Award News

Been checking everyday for news and today found that the list will be available next Monday, August 23 finally. Let's hope that this year there will be more diversity, but from the films I have been able to identify in the main competition seems that will be as always with gay interest films as a majority.

Sigh.

67th Venice International Film Festival Lineup

Today feels like a holiday as have some free time to write in the blog and what better than to post the lineup of the second most important festival in the world, La Biennale.

From September 1st to the 11th the fest will run in Venezia and definitively I'll be watching if RAI International broadcast the event as the opening film is Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan with a great cast and to my surprise a little lesbian interest in the story.

Here are the films in the Main International Competition.

Attenberg, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Greece
Balada Triste de Trompeta (A Sad Trumpet Balad), Alex de la Iglesia, Spain and France
Barney's Version, Richard J. Lewis, Canada and Italy
Black Swan, Darren Aronofsky, USA (lesbian interest)
The Ditch, Wang Bing, Hong Kong, France and Belgium (was the surprise film!)
Di Renjie Zhi tongtian Diguo (Detective Dee and the Mystery of Phantom Flame), Hark Tsui, China (with Tony Leung Ka Fai)
Drei (Three), Tom Tykwer, Germany (gay interest)
Essential Killing, Jerzy Skolimowski, Poland, Norway, Hungary, and Ireland (with Emmanuelle Seigner)
Happy Few, Antony Cordier, France (gay interest)
Jusan-Nin No Shikaku (13 Assasins), Takashi Miike, Japan (with Kôji Yakusho)
Meek's Cutoff, Kelly Reichardt, USA
Miral, Julian Schnabel, USA, France, Italy and Israel (Most awaited, must be seen -of course)
Noi Credevamo, Mario Martone, Italy and France (with Toni Servillo!)
Noruwei No Mori ノルウェイの森 (Norwegian Wood), Anh Hung Tran, Japan
La Passione, Carlo Mazzacurati, Italy
La Pecora Nera, Ascanio Celestini, Italy
Ovsyanki Овсянки (Silent Souls), Aleksei Fedorchenko, Russia
Post Mortem, Pablo Larraín, Chile, Mexico and Germany
Potiche, Fracois Ozon, France (Must be seen)
Promises Written in Water, Vincent Gallo, USA
Road To Nowhere, Monte Hellman, USA
La Solitudine dei Numeri Primi (The Solitude of Prime Numbers), Saverio Costanzo, Italy, Germany and France (gay interest)
Somewhere, Sofia Coppola, USA
Vénus Noire (Black Venus), Abdellatif Kechiche, France

Main Competition Jury
President: Quentin Tarantino
Guillermo Arriaga, director/screenwriter, Mexico
Ingeborga Dapkunaite, actress, Lithuania
Arnaud Despelchin, director/screenwriter, France
Danny Elfman, musician/composer, USA
Luca Guadagnino, director/screenwriter, Italy
Gabriele Salvatore, director/screenwriter, Italy

Very impressive lineup with well-established directors like Schnabel, Ozon and others like Sofia Coppola, Larrain, Skolimowski, Reichardt among others. My first impression is that this lineup is NOT similar to the -now- infamous Cannes 2010 lineup.

Up-to-today the official site has only the list, but soon will have information about each film. To check the complete list go here.

If the competition lineup is impressive just check the also impressive long list that makes the Out of Competition Official Selection.

1960, Gabrielle Salvatores, Italy
A Letter to Elia, Martin Scorsese and Kent Jones, USA (documentary)
All Inclusive 3D, Naddia Ranocchi and David Zamagni, Italy and Austria
Dante Ferretti - Production Designer, Gianfranco Giagni, Italy (documentary)
Gorbaciof, Stefano Incerti, Italy
I'm Still Here: The Lost Year of Joaquin Phoenix, Casey Affleck, USA
Jianyu (Reign of Assassins), John Woo and Su Chao Pin (Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement)
Jingwu Fengyun Chen Zhen (Legent of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen), Andrew Lau, China and Hong Kong (Opening Night Tribute to Bruce Lee)
Last Movie, Dennis Hopper, USA, 1971
Lope, Andrucha Waddington, Spain and Brazil (with Sonia Braga... hmm)
Machete, Robert Rodriguez and Ethan Maniquis, USA Midnight Opening Film (yes, will watch no matter how gross could be)
Niente Paura - Come Siamo Come Eravamo e le Canzoni di Luciano Ligabue, Piergiorgio Gay, Italy (documentary)
Notizie Degli Scavi, Emidio Greco, Italy
Passione, John Turturro, Italy
Prezit Svuj Zivot (Surviving Life), Jan Svankmajer, Czech Republic and Slovakia
La Prima Volta a Venezia, Antonello Sarno, Italy ( with Toni Servillo and only 43')
Raavanan, Mani Ratman, India (short name Raavan - Of course must be seen for me with Aish) will screen the Tamil version and as an Out of Competition Event the Hindi version
Sei Venezia, Carlo Mazzacurati, Italy
Senritsu Meikyu 3D (The Shock Labyrinth: Extreme), Japan
Sorrelle Mai, Marco Bellocchio, Italy
Taikong Xia 3D (Space Guy), Yuan Zhang, China (animation short)
That Girl in Yellow Boots, Anurag Kashyap, India
The Tempest, Julie Taymor, USA Closing Film (first is Taymor, second is with Helen Mirren, must be seen)
The Town, Ben Affleck, USA
Tungngaan 3D (The Child's Eye 3D), Oxide Pang and Danny Pang, China and Hong Kong
L'Ultimo Gattopardo: Ritratto di Goffredo Lombardo, Giuseppe Tornatore (documentary)
Vallanzasca - Gli Angeli del Male, Michele Placido, Italy
Vittorio Racconta Gassman - Una Vita da Mattatore, Giancarlo Scarchilli, Italy (documentary) (I'm interested) Yes, there will a tribute to Vittorio Gassman.
Yongxin Tiao (Showtime) Stanley Kwan, China (with Tony Leung Ka Fai)
Zebraman, Takashi Miike, Japan, 2004
Zebraman: Zebra City No Gyakushu (Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City), Takashi Miike, Japan

To check the list go here.

I'll wait for the official site to have films information to list the Orizzonti section as right now ALL (shorts, feature films, experimental films, etc) are together. But for starters here are the opening and closing fims

Opening Film: La Belle Endormie, Catherine Breillat, France
Closing Film: Ok-hui-ui yeonghwa (Oki's Movie), Hong Sang-soo, Korea

The Orizzonti section will have four new awards:

Orizzonti Award to full-length (long and very long feature films)
Special Jury Orizzonti Prize (ditto)
Orizzonti Award (short films)
Orizzonti Award (medium-length films)

The renewed Orizzonti section absorbed the CortoCortissimo and Special Events sections, so I'm really curious to find out how they will manage this section and obviously the "new trends" feature films that will screen.

Shirin Neshat will chair the Jury of the Orizzonti section and none other than Fatih Akin will chair the Luigi De Laurentiis Award given to a debut film, an award that gives US$100,000 to be shared by the director and producers - no ex aequo (tie) is permitted.

Other sections in the fest this year are ControCampo Italiano with new trends in Italian Cinema and Italian Comedy a retrospective section on Italian comedy from 1910 to 1988.

If you thought that August is a lousy summer month for movies please think again as in a few days (after the 15) the Berlinale will start to pour us with lots of information about movies as well as events from fest that starts on September 1st.

Last but not least please don't forget that this fest has the Queer Lion Award and for starters I'm almost sure that Aronofsky's Black Swan is in the list of films competing for this award, hope there are many more that we will learn as soon as they publish the list or when I research each film in the fest.

Bravo! La Biennale ha iniziato!!

To watch available trailers ONLY for films in main competition go Movie On Companion.

63rd Locarno Film Festival Lineup

Yesterday the fest opened with the premiere of much awaited (by me) of Benoit Jacquot's Au fond des Bois (Deep in the Woods) starring none other than Isild Le Besco, who also directed a film in the main international competition.

Today the International Competition opened and here are the films in competition.

Bas-Fonds, Isild Le Besco, France (lesbian interest and first time that I see in a fest: Not suitable for those under 18!! yep, will be heavy!)
Beli Beli Svet (White White World), Oleg Novkovic, Serbia, Germany and Sweden
Beyond The Steppes, Vanja d'Alcantara, Belgium and Poland
Cold Weather, Aaron Katz, USA
Curling, Denis Cote, Canada
Han Jia (Winter Vacation), Li Hong qi, China
Homme Au Bain, Christophe Honoré, France (Gay interest, again not suitable for those under 18)
Im Alter von Ellen (At Ellen's Age), Pia Marais, Germany (story seems interesting)
Karamay, Xu Xin, China (Documentary) (must be very hard to watch)
L.A. Zombie, Bruce LaBruce, USA, Germany and France (obviously gay interest and the no under 18 notice, lol! yep, been reading about this film that has been called 'pornography')
La Petite Chambre, Stéphanie Chuatand and Véronique Reymond, Switzerland and Luxembourg
Luz Nas Trevas - A Volta Do Bandido Da Luz Vermelha (Light in Darkness - The Return of Red Light Bandit), Helena Ignez and Icaro C. Martins, Brazil
Morgen, Marian Crisan, Romania, France and Hungary (yes will watch)
Periferic, Bogdan George Apetri, Romania and Austria (Yes, Must Be Seen for me)
Pietro, Daniele Gaglianone, Italy
Saç (Hair), Tayfun Pirselimoglu, Turkey and Greece
Songs of Love and Hate, Katalin Gödrös, Switzerland
Womb, Benedek Fliegauf, Germany, Hungary and France

To check the list and read information about the films go here and select Films & Screening Schedule then Concorso Internanazionale, film info is in English. Some films have trailers or scene videos. Have to say that there are some quite strange and weird stories in some movies, just the synopsis made me gasp when reading, some absolutely will have to see them just to find how the filmmaker dealt with the story.

There is also the Cineasti del Presente Competition (Filmmakers of the Present Competition) dedicated to emerging directors from the world; check the films in the competition section. The shorts competition Pardi di Domani (Leopards of Tomorrow) has up to 40 minutes shorts by directors who haven't yet made feature films and has an award for international filmmakers and another for Swiss filmmakers.

The fest runs until August 14 and will be checking for the winners as soon as they're published.

Outfest 2010

Yesterday the fest had the award ceremony and the most amazing thing is that a lesbian interest film won the top award,something that's not really common so I hope the film is good. Here are some of the winners

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding U.S. Dramatic Feature Film: A Marine Story by Ned Farr

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film: Debra Weber in A Marine Story by Ned Farr

Grand Jury Award for Outstanding International Dramatic Feature Film: The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister, James Kent, UK

To check all award winners go here.

This year the fest site went digital with their film guide (is here) and honestly was not easy to read, but I was able to discover one lesbian interest film that totally called my attention and it's new to the blog. Take a look.

La Robe du Soir (The Evening Dress), Myriam Aziza, France, 2009 Watch trailer @ Movie On Companion