GFEST 2016 Films: “Crossing the Marginal” Short & Feature films
Sat 12 Nov 12.30 pm (approx 2hr)
Rich Mix Cinema, 35-47 Bethnal Green Rd, London E1 6LA book: 020 7613 7498 £10.50, Members £8.50, Concs £8
The Orchid short film (Spain, English subtitles) dir: Ferran Navarro-Beltran
A man has something important to tell his son, but can only get through to his voicemail.
Jonathan feature drama (Germany, English subtitles) dir: Piotr J. Lewandowski
Jonathan sacrifices himself to take care of Burghardt, his cancer-stricken father, and work on the family farm with his aunt Martha. Burghardt is incapable of emotional closeness so Jonathan’s questions about his mother’s death go unanswered. But when Burghardt’s long-lost friend Ron shows up, a long buried family secret puts the father-son relationship to the test.
Mon 14 Nov 8.30 pm (approx 2hr)
Rich Mix Cinema E1 6LA book: 020 7613 Monday Special: £6 or 2 for £10
Desires: short film (France, Portugal, UK and Spain, English subtitles) dir: Clarissa Rebouças and Yannick Nolin
Charlotte has her first lesbian experience with Marie, the relationship seems to be getting serious but a conflict of desires starts when Marie discovers Charlotte’s a secret.
No Matter Who – A qui la faute : short film (France, English subtitles) dir: Anne-Claire JAULIN
It is summertime and a troop of young girls are headed to scout camp. For Marie and Lise, it is a time for their first sparks of emotion, a time to learn about desire and how to confront a group and its prejudices.
The Mermaid and the Whale: short film (Taiwan, English subtitles) dir: Aurelien Jegou
Chilean man Adrian falls in love with Taiwanese man West who is not interested in a relationship. To see him again, Adrian pretends that he is pregnant. West is startled by Adrian’s behaviour and they start playing along until Adrian discovers… he really is pregnant!
Gender Troubles: feature documentary (USA) dir : Lisa Plourde
Butch lesbians examine and challenge society’s assumptions about what it means to be female and reveal how they have learned to cope and even thrive in a world that does not honour them.
Tues 15 Nov 8.30 pm (approx 2hr)
Rich Mix Cinema E1 6LA book: 020 7613 7498 £10.50, Members £8.50, Concs £8
Denise short film (UK) dir: Kenneth O’Toole
An ageing drag queen sparkles her way through time, revisiting her glory days. The film delicately conjures feelings of nostalgia and reflection, through juxtaposed moments of her life and triumphs.
The Pearl feature documentary (USA) dir: Jessica Dimmock & Christopher LaMarca
The Pearl explores the raw emotional and physical experience of being a transgender woman against the backdrop of post-industrial logging towns in the Pacific Northwest. The film deals with the struggle of reaching middle age or later with a burdensome secret that they can no longer keep. Trailer
Mon 14 Nov 8.30 pm (approx 2hr)
Arthouse Crouch End Cinema, 159A Tottenham Ln, London N8 9BT Book: 020 8245 3099 £10, Concs £7
If I met a Magician: short film (Israel, English subtitles) dir: Shaked Goren
Omri is released from his reserve duty to attend his uncle’s memorial service. After a sleepless night, with missiles still whistling in his head, he wanders off in Tel-Aviv. The film deals with sexual desire, and the unwillingness and inability to feel a part of society. Trailer
Brothers of the Night – Brüder der Nacht feature film (Austria, English Subtitles ) dir: Patric Chiha London Premiere
The film follows a group of young Bulgarian Roma who come to Vienna looking for freedom and a quick buck. They sell sell sex as if that’s all they have. What comforts them, so far from home, is the feeling of being together. But the nights are long and unpredictable.
Thurs 17 Nov 8.30 pm (approx 2 hrs) GFEST 2016 LGBT Short films
Arthouse Crouch End Cinema, N8 9BT Book: 020 8245 3099 £10, Concs £7
Denise short film (UK) dir: Kenneth O’Toole
An ageing drag queen sparkles her way through time, revisiting her glory days. The film delicately conjures feelings of nostalgia and reflection, through juxtaposed moments of her life and triumphs
Open Plan short film (UK) dir: Daniel Murtha
Giles, Jamie and Kevin are viewing a one-bedroom flat and deciding whether to move in together. Their relationship is ‘atypical’, but not half as messy as their estate agent’s.
Away with Me short film (UK) dir: Oliver Mason
A spontaneous holiday romance in Nice turns sour when there is a clash of intentions and expectations between the two men.
Dawn short film (UK) dir: Jake Graf
As dawn creeps across London, two lost outcasts meet in the darkness, more afraid of themselves than each other. As the sun rises they are forced to look at themselves and face the harsh reality is that it takes more than the eyes to see inside a soul.
All Cats are Pink in the dark short film (France, English subtitles) dir: Guillaume Renusson
17-year-old Alice doesn’t feel comfortable with her body. As she gets ready for an interview her mother makes her change into a tight-fitting suit. Alice storms out to get some air, that’s when she meets Lola… Trailer https://youtu.be/Pyn3moUt_EQ
Rotten short film (Turkey, English subtitles) dir: Mehmet Selcuk Bilge
In Turkey, you have to ‘prove’ your sexual orientation in order to avoid military service. If you pose as feminine as they want, you can get a ‘mental disorder report’ which means you are ‘ROTTEN’.
Exchange – Austausch short film (Austria, English subtitles) dir: Lukas Schöffel
Finn, a Norwegian exchange student, ends up with a Tyrolean family. Soon his unconventional looks and his friendship with his host brother Christian threaten the value system of the host family.
Masterful Hermit short film (UK/ Wales) dir: Reg Noyes
Christina attends her leaving party before flying off around the world. She is shocked to see Enid there who she hasn’t seen for over a year when they were on the verge of falling in love. They ditch the party together and Enid hopes that Christina won’t get on the plane.
Sun 13 Nov 4 to 10 pm
Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Town Hall Approach Road, Tottenham Green, London N15 4RX Book: 020 8365 5450 £7.00
African LGBTQ Cinema at GFEST 2016: A rare and precious chance to engage with films about African LGBTQ communities at GFEST 2016! The screenings at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre provide a unique opportunity to engage with films about African LGBTiQ communities. It is a combination of a community event with locally based community groups including the Out & Proud Diamond Group and two screenings. Doors open at 4.00 pm, with screenings at 5.30pm and 8.00pm. There will be ample opportunity for Q/A and discussion.
Outed: The Painful Reality feature film (Uganda) dir: Hassan Kamago and Isaac Matovu. Trailer
Based on a true story, the film looks into the life of John Alex Kigozi aka Vida who is outed by a Ugandan tabloid as one of the “top homosexuals” in the country. Following the outing, Vida’s life turns from bad to worse, losing his job, his house and so much more.
POLICE RAID ON PRIDE UGANDA 2016 Short film (Uganda) dir: Pepe Julian Onziema and Tim McCarthy
On 4 August 2016, Ugandan police raided an LGBTIQ beauty pageant which was one of the 2016 Pride Uganda events, arresting 25 people. One young man jumped in panic from the fourth floor of the building and broke his spine. This documentary reconstructs the events by talking to those who were present on the night.
8:00 pm “RESILIENCE AND HOPE“ a series of African LGBTQ short filmsBernie Grant Arts Centre N15 4RX Book: 020 8365 5450 £7
And Still We Rise (Uganda) dir: Richard Lusimbo and Nancy Nicol Trailer
A story of courage and resilience, the film follows Richard Lusimbo, researcher and documentation manager for Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), as he documents the impact of the 2014 Anti-Homosexual Act (AHA) in Uganda and the resistance by civil society in Uganda.
Umunthu (Malawi) dir: Mwiza Nyirenda Trailer
A first person documentary on homosexuality in Malawi that investigates the complexities of tolerance, acceptance and culture in relationship to LGBTIQ rights.
Being Unbound (UK/Tanzania) dir: Anna Wistreich Trailer
Mwamba, a female-to-male trans-person living openly in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and follows Mwamba and his fellow activist-friends in their fight to create safe spaces and dialogue around a concept that is unknown to almost everyone in Tanzania.
Music video Same Love – Remix (Kenya) dir:Art Attack
A Kenyan music video of an African-themed remix of American hip hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ marriage equality anthem “Same Love”: it became a song about LGBTIQ rights and struggles, gender equalities and civil liberties for all sexual orientations across Africa. It was banned by the Kenya Film Classification Board in February 2016.