IN-PERSON & ONLINE
TICKET INFO PAGE 92
s
DEAF, HARD OF HEARING SERVICES & WHEELCHAIR
ACCESSIBILITY
THE 27TH ANNUAL ROCHESTER LGBT FILM FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 10-20, 2019
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SUPPORTED IN PART BY THESE GENEROUS GRANTMAKERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND BUSINESSES GRANTMAKERS
The New York State Council on the Arts The Max and Marion Farash Charitable Foundation The City of Rochester The Joseph and Irene Skalny Charitable Trust LGBT Fund for Greater Rochester MARQUEE SPONSOR
Trillium Health PREMIER SPONSORS
CITY Newspaper WXXI Public Broadcasting FEATURE SPONSORS
The Bachelor Forum Ernst & Young Hedonist Artisan Chocolates Visual Studies Workshop PRESENTING SPONSORS
Eastman Kodak Company Image360 – Rochester Randy Raetz, DDS PLLC Rochester Victory Alliance MAJOR SPONSORS
Avery Marketing Citizens Bank HAUS Capital Corporation United Church of Christ
The Best In LGBT Cinema From Around The World
Everyone remembers their first. And for Trillium Health, you were ours. From our earliest days, Trillium has been working, first and foremost, with LGBTQ individuals to prevent and treat HIV. And as long as our doors remain open, you will remain a priority. We are proud to once again support Image Out as a Presenting Sponsor. Because your stories are our stories, too.
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This event is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
MARQUEE SPONSOR
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COVERING THE ROCHESTER COMMUNITY. EVERYONE IN THE ROCHESTER COMMUNITY.
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Mogul ($2,000+)
Cox-Conant Family Doug Hausner and Scott Flaherty Norman Horton Darren Mowry and Roger Gomez Craig Woodward and Chris Mann Director ($1,000-$1,999)
Shirley Bowen and Tracy Perkins Mark Chaplin and John Strawway Steven A. Jarose and Marvin E. Ritzenthaler Robert L. Keck Matthew Ragusa Jamie and Sally Whitbeck Bill Wagner Producer ($500-$999)
Founder
Larry Champoux Lifetime Marquee
David D. Emert Susan Soleil Legacy Society
David D. Emert and Jon P. Templin Chuck Lundeen and John Williams
Paul Allen and David Quick Sara Berger and Ginny Tucker Marybeth Cerrone and Michelle Chin Tom Clark Robert O. Day Ed Donnelly and Tom Schnorr Garnetta and Rita Giuseppe Erba and Mark Pierzynski Kevin Frisch Norm Geil and Steven Price Rob Goodling Dr. W. Bruce Gorman and Joseph J. Nardone Charles E. Heckler and Rick Runyan Robert L. Keck Bill Kelly and Brad Forth Chuck Lundeen and John Williams Noreen Mastro and Arlene Sherman Chris McCormack and Doug Fleischman PAGE 3
Producer ($500-$999) Continued
H. Winn McCray Richard McGowan and Mark Brewer Robert Neale Alex Neubert and Jay Sackett Rick Porlier John Ricks Eric Rubinstein and Michael Welte Dan Sapper and Jim Villone Henry Schroeder Celebrity ($250-$499)
Jim Aimers and Don Symer John J. Altieri Nancy Brown Jennifer Caccavale Jerry Casey and Patrick Macey Sue Cowell and Marta Maletzke Todd N. Fogle David Johnson and Tim Kibler James Lesch and Richard LeRoy Richard Link Jenni Lloyd and Connie Gates David Maysuch Dan Meyers Annette Miller and Lauren Frank Diane Miller Glenn Nixon William J. O’Connor Jr. Rita Rudnick Doug Schacht Judy Schwartz John D. Stevens Bud Strohmeyer Ed Stuart and Carl Conklin Michele Thornton Dana Weiss and Carol Ebersole-Weiss Jenni Werner and Emily Stork
Cinematographer ($150-$249)
Alison Alpert Richard Connett Sharon Donovan Chunkit Fung and Scott Hartman Michael Gamilla Marvin Krieger Drs. Margaret and Arnold Matlin Joe McCrank Pat Moran Kathleen O’Neill Katie Rulseh and Dean Harris Stephen Smith Susan Stanger and Roy S. Berns Thomas Warfield Gaffer ($75-$149)
Evelyn Bailey Deanna Baker Keturah Bixby Lauri Champoux-Bilak Straus Davis Cindy German Matt Hagg and Bill Schaefer Glenn Leavy Wilfred LeBlanc Alan Pease Donald H. Poulin Don Sheffrin Sandra Urena Senior and Student Members
Kevin Campbell Johanna and Mike Connelly Michael Kusovich and Steven Brewer Earl Lubitow Scott McCarney David F. Runzo Louis Silvers Gina Specksgoor Nan Van Den Bergh
Table of Contents Member Listing..............................................3 Board of Directors’ Message..........................4 Programmer’s Message.................................6 Festival Fair...................................................9 ImageOut Art.................................................13 Next Generation Series..................................15 ImageOut There! Series.................................17 Volunteer Committees....................................18 Letters Of Support.........................................20 ImageOut Film Awards...................................23 Community Partners......................................24 ImageOutreach..............................................28 ImageOutWrite...............................................31 Festival Eve Party...........................................32 Program 1: Vita & Virginia (Opening Night)............34 Program 2: An Almost Ordinary Summer (Opening Night).. 36 Program 3: Scream, Queen!...............................38 Program 4: Queering The Script.....................39 Program 5: Third Wedding..............................40 Program 6: Quick Licks (Shorts Program).............41 Program 7: Ham: A Musical Memoir...............42 Program 8: The Garden Left Behind...............43 Program 9: Benjamin.....................................44 Program 10: Good Kisser...............................45 Program 11: End Of The Century (Spotlight).......46 Festival At A Glance.......................................48 Program 12: Unsettled: Seeking Refuge In America...50 Program 13: My Baby’s Got A Secret (Shorts Program).. 51 Program 14: Zen In The Ice Rift......................52 Program 15: Circus Of Books..........................53 Program 16: The Ground Beneath My Feet.....54 Program 17: The Prince.................................55 Program 18: Carmen & Lola...........................56 Program 19: From Zero To I Love You.............57 Program 20: For They Know Not What They Do (Documentary Centerpiece).58 Program 21: Something’s Comin’ Over Me (Shorts Program).60 Program 22: Billie & Emma............................61 Program 23: Trick (Archive)................................63 Program 24: Last Ferry...................................64 Program 25: Straight Up................................65 Program 26: Song Lang (Narrative Centerpiece)........66 Program 27: Flawless (Spotlight)........................68 Program 28: Happiness Lies In Your Own Hand (Shorts Program)...70 Program 29: Label Me...................................71 Program 30: Before You Know It.....................73 Program 31: The Blonde One.........................74 Program 32: Leave It To Levi............................75 Program 33: Gay Chorus Deep South.............77 Program 34: Jose..........................................79 Program 35: Portrait Of A Lady On Fire (Spotlight)..80 Program 36: Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Closing Night)...82 Closing Night Party........................................84 Program 37: Safe Space (Shorts Program)............86 Program 38: Changing The Game...................87 Program 39: Carmilla.....................................88 Program 40: The Shiny Shrimps.....................89 Thank You......................................................90 Theater Venues..............................................91 Advance Ticket Sales.....................................92 Membership Information................................94 Ticket Order Form..........................................95
A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
G
rab your popcorn, it’s time for ImageOut! We’re very excited to bring you the best LGBTQ cinema from around the world again this October. Our 11-day Festival of movies, art exhibitions, and parties presents a tremendous opportunity for Rochester’s LGBTQ community and our allies to come together. Whether it’s informal conversations in the concession line, post-film discussions with filmmakers, or taking at an art show, the moments spent together is the perfect time to make new friends and deepen existing relationships. Further, movies are meant to be enjoyed on the big screen in the company of others. Comedies are funnier in a theater full of laughter and dramas are at their best when others are there to share in the emotional journey. Over the last 27 years, ImageOut has evolved into a year-round celebration of the cultures and stories of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender people. In addition to the 40 film programs, our Festival also includes the release of our annual ImageOutWrite literary journal and a reading of select works from the book at Writers & Books on October 23rd. Our year-round offerings include collaborative projects with several of our community partners and regular art shows at The Visual Studies Workshop, RoCo, and Gallery Q. This year we introduced ImageOut Extra, a new bi-monthly film series at The Cinema Theater. These double-feature programs will not only gather the ImageOut family together on a more regular basis, but also help us deliver even more outstanding LGBTQ cinema. n the pages that follow you’ll find in-depth descriptions of this year’s films written by local volunteers to help you select the programs that are perfect for you. You’ll also find details about our upcoming events including the Festival Eve Party at Volo on October 10th (details on page 32) and the Closing Night Party at Geva Theater Center on October 19th (details on page 84). Lastly, this guide contains information on the many ways in which we work to make our films and events accessible to everyone. We offer a variety of discounts and free ticket programs to help remove financial obstacles; all venues are fully accessible; and sign language interpretation is available by request for all of our films. Finally several thank-yous are in order. Thank you to our film venues The Little Theatre and The Dryden Threatre at The George Eastman Museum. The financial support of our members, grantmakers, sponsors, and advertisers is essential to our success; thank you. ImageOut is made possible by our remarkable team of dedicated volunteers. Thank you for your time, talent, and passion. You are the lifeblood of this festival. See you at the movies!
I
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jamie Allen Paul Allen Secretary
Jennifer Caccavale Michael Gamilla Stan Hanby PAGE 4
Annette Miller Joe McCrank Deb Oppenheimer
Doug Schacht Michelle Thornton Stephen K. Weisenreder
Rick Porlier
Jenni Werner
Vice Chair
Matthew S. Ragusa Treasurer
Chair
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PROGRAMMER’S MESSAGE
ImageOut 27:
Make It Work!
I
n my 17 years of programming ImageOut, this is the first time that I actually doubted whether I could complete a whole film lineup before the Festival starts. It was that bad. The last few weeks were stressful and intense only because I had the perfect storm of deadlines. Oh the life of a volunteer! But I survived it and the program got done, albeit delayed. Sometimes, my best work happens when my back is against the wall. The creative process might be painful but the results can be gratifying. Without sounding too dramatic, looking at this year’s lineup brings tears to my eyes. It’s (almost) everything I wanted and I’m pretty sure you will find a lot of things to love. From hundreds of films that were submitted and the Programming Committee considered, our 27th edition will have 77 films, thoughtfully curated over 40 programs, representing 21 countries including Lebanon, Philippines, Iran, Guatemala, and Luxembourg to name a few. Determining the gala spots was a tough job as always and they are some of the films I am most excited about to bring to Rochester screens. Opening Night selections Vita & Virginia and An Almost Ordinary Summer are the perfect films to set the tone for the festival – not too heavy, a little bit sexy, and featuring captivating characters. Summer picks up
where My Big Gay Italian Wedding left off at the end of last year’s festival. It is hilarious but heartfelt. There seems to be a trend for performance films, lodged in that gray area between narrative and documentary categories. We hope to capitalize on the popularity of Fathom Events and National Theater Live broadcasts by including not one but two amazing shows. Ham: A Musical Memoir starring the impressive and energetic Sam Harris doing his one-man show. But wait until you see our Closing Night film, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. It is fabulous! The actual show has never been staged outside of the UK so most of us are not familiar with it. It’s one of my favorites this year and you too will be talking about Jamie afterwards! Song Lang from Vietnam is our devastatingly beautiful Narrative Centerpiece, showcasing a relatable connection between two men that is sometimes hard to figure out. Makes my heart melt just thinking about it. Anchoring our documentary selections this year is our Doc Centerpiece, For They Know Not What They Do, bringing to the fore the issue of religion against homosexuality and it’s harmful effects on families of faith. Through this medium we are bringing important films that hopefully spark
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conversations and a call to action. A trio of award-winning films make up our Spotlight Feature selections. Cannes Film Festival standout Portrait Of A Lady On Fire is sure to wow you with its impeccable cinematography as well as its provocative story. Ophir Award winner Flawless with its superb young cast is inspiring with its honest depiction of trans adolescence. Festival favorite End of the Century tackles modern gay hookups and gives it a fresh spin. They should definitely be high on your must-see list. s I think about all the other films that you will have a chance to see, I cannot help but get very excited. For many of them, ImageOut will be the only avenue for you to enjoy them, which highlights why film festivals are still important. There are simply too many films, LGBTQ films in particular, that will never reach our audience here if not for our efforts in bringing the best LGBTQ cinema from around the world to local theaters. And that in itself makes all the stresses and headaches of putting together a film lineup all worth it. So come join us this October for 11 days of films, parties, and community. Don’t be left out. Participate!
A
~ Michael Gamilla ImageOut Programming Director
ImageOut Curatorial Policy
It is the mission of ImageOut, The Rochester LGBT
Film & Video Festival, to inform, entertain, educate, and enrich all members of the LGBTQ community in the Greater Rochester and Western New York area. It is also our mission to foster connections among people from all racial, religious, gender, sexual, ability, class, economic, age, and ethnic groups as a major thread in the progressive art and cultural fabric of the region.
In addition, one of the stated purposes of ImageOut
is to foster education about and public discussion of LGBTQ issues, and to advance the opportunities for equity, social justice, and democracy through the media of film, video, art, writing, and poetry.
Keeping in mind both our mission and our purpose,
we feel it is our responsibility to represent all aspects of LGBTQ life in what we do. Our program curators face choices when it comes to films that include issues that may be controversial individually and/or collectively for those within and outside the LGBTQ community. It is our policy to include detailed descriptions of each film in our printed program and on our website. Our curators strive to be accurate in these descriptions.
Because we are part of a community that has
been and continues to be censored and disclaimed, it is ImageOut’s policy to neither censor materials screened in our festival nor to print explicit disclaimers. For this reason it becomes the responsibility of audience members to read the material provided and to make informed decisions about programs they attend.
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Buy Early, Pay Less
tickets fRom $25
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The Musical that In
Book by Harvey Fierstein Herman Music and Lyrics by Jerry n Poiret Based on the Play by Jea Anderson Directed by Melissa Rain Kot Musical Direction by Don y Ha m Sa by Choreography
COMINg uP LaTEr THIs sEasON... Musical
FEB 9 - Mar 22
Drama
Mar 31 - aPr 26
RochesteR’s AffoRdAble, Accessible And intimAte PRofessionAl theAtRe (585) 232-4382 • www.GevaTheatre.org
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
FESTIVAL
FAIR
Rochester Academy Of Medicine
1441 East Ave, Rochester, NY
Festival Fair Free Screening Of
Six Characters In Search Of A Play Directed by: Emerson Collins
The Festival Fair is the first chance to buy tickets in person to all the Festival films! We’ll take over the stately 1930 East Aveneue mansion that is home to the Rochester Academy of Medicine to give you the best view of this year’s Festival.
DOORS OPEN AT 6:00PM
• Purchase Festival tickets – starting at 6:30pm • Complimentary snacks and a cash bar • Preview Festival films in the “Trailer Park” • Programmer’s Preview of the Festival’s “don’t miss” films in the Eisenhart Auditorium at 8:00pm • Free screening of Six Characters In Search Of A Play following the Programmer’s Preview
Sordid Lives creator Del Shores new one-man show directed by Emerson Collins proves once again that he is not a writer, he’s a self-proclaimed thief! In Six Characters In Search Of A Play, Shores is inspired by Pirandello’s classic play to bring you six characters inspired by his real-life encounters that haven’t quite made it into one of Shores’ plays, films or TV shows. In 90 minutes, the audience will hear the truth behind how he collected these eccentrics, then he will portray them in classic Shores’ monologue style. The audience will walk away knowing “Yvonne”, the vegetarian-hating Texas waitress; “Sarah”, an elderly actress who is determined to drink and smoke herself to death if Trump is elected; “Jimmy Ray”, the evolving Georgia redneck, “Loraine”; the once brilliant drama teacher who has lost her damn mind and is now obsessed with porn; “Aunt Bobbie Sue”, the blue-collar Republican who does not care for “Mexkins” or Obama; and “Marsha”, the monkeyhating lesbian with CPOD. Get ready to laugh, think, and maybe shed a tear or two. PAGE 9
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Visual Studies Workshop Continutes to Support ImageOut Artists
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his year ImageOut continued its partnership with Visual Studies Workshop (VSW). Each year the organizations work together on an art related event. This year, VSW is sponsoring a residency for Kes Efstathiou, one of the artists whose work is on view at Gallery Q during the month of September. The residency at VSW will allow Kes to develop new ideas related to his ongoing interest in the outdoor industry and how photography and advertising are used to display outdoor activities as idealistic and effortless. His new work will examine representation within the outdoor community and the power photography plays within advertising to creative a seemingly inclusive industry. Stop by VSW between September 4 and October 6 to see what Kes is working on.
Also be on the lookout for ImageOut artist Evan Bobrow as they have a residency at VSW from October 9 through November 3. For their residency, Evan plans to use slides from VSW’s archives, their family’s personal collection, and their collection from the Rochester Strasenburgh Planetarium dome shows to construct a series of images and artifacts conveying an imagined world through the language of science museum exhibits. The new artifacts might include manuals, maps, slide viewing stations with augmented or fabricated slides, and small trinkets (made using 3d printers, laser cutters, and the machine shop available at the Rochester Makerspace). By appropriating institutional frameworks Evan aims to legitimize childhood fantasies as subject and object. Visual Studies Workshop is located at 31 Prince Street, Rochester, New York 14607. Support for VSW’s exhibitions came from Max and Marian Farash Foundation, Joy of Giving Something, and the New York State Council on the Arts Visual Arts program.
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ImageOut Art and Gallery Q Present
SCOUTING
Evan Bobrow and Kes Efstathiou ImageOut and Gallery Q are partnering to exhibit works by Evan Bobrow and Kes Efstathiou with the exhibition, Scouting, which opened September 6 at Gallery Q. Connecting through a mutual interest in depicting the landscape, Bobrow and Efstathiou will be bringing their own contemporary perspectives to the genre. Evan Bobrow is a Rochester artist whose art practice blends technical drawing, collage, and illustration. Currently they are focusing on mapping both real and imagined landscapes. They received a Bachelor of Design in Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis in 2018, with minors in Design and Computer Science. This fall they will have residencies at Visual Studies Workshop and Alfred University. Kes Efstathiou is an emerging artist based in Rochester, New York. His current practice and research grapples with societal perceptions of masculinity, the consumption of nature, and humor. Largely influenced by the history of landscape photography and commercial depictions of the outdoor industry, Kes uses a stereotypical western landscape as a backdrop to his disguised selfportraits and still life photographs. In his free time, Kes enjoys exploring both real and fake nature. He earned his Master of Fine Arts in Imaging Arts from Rochester Institute of Technology and his Bachelor of Arts in Photography from Montana State University – Bozeman. The exhibition will be on view through September 26 during regular Out Alliance hours. Gallery Q is located at 100 College Avenue, Rochester, New York.
Evan Bobrow
Kes Efstathiou
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Two million annual visitors. A million ways to make them happy. The area’s capital for culture and cuisine and the gateway to the majestic Finger Lakes, it’s easy to see why people who live here love it here in Rochester. Surrounded by breathtaking beauty. And inhabited by people just as lovely. So, come and stay for business or pleasure. You’re always welcome. Congratulations ImageOut on the 2019 festival!
®NYSED. Photo Credit: Renee Veniskey and Sheridan Vincent
Together, we are making inclusiveness less exclusive. To learn about getting involved as a supporter or grantee, visit us at www.racf.org/LGBT
> Next Generation Series
This series is free to anyone 25 and under.
Calling All the Young Ones!
The next time you attend a film festival anywhere in the world, look around you. What would you see? Or rather, what would you not see? Younger festival attendees! It’s a known fact that the millennials’ film viewing habits have changed. They prefer to download or stream movies and watch them at their convenience. They also do not like to pay premium festival ticket prices. But if we are unable to ignite their film festival interests now, how will we survive as an industry and who will take over? At ImageOut, we offer the Next Generation Series precisely to help address this concern. The hope is for young people to take advantage of getting free tickets to certain shows so they can experience the communal aspect of watching films without having to stress about their budget. Maybe they’ll enjoy it and keep coming back! The film roster in this year’s Next Generation Series is pretty exciting. Queering the Script is an eye-opening informative documentary shedding light on the origins and purposes of ClexaCon, and other fan gatherings that the female fandom enjoys. Unleash your inner nerd. Unsettled: Seeking Refuge In America looks into the current hot topic of immigration particularly on how it affects foreign LGBTQ youth seeking options to better their lives and in some cases, just trying to stay alive. Be informed and be involved. Zen In The Ice Rift is an excellent portrayal of how a young high school trans boy survives school, achieves their athletic aspirations, and along the way, finds out more about their true self. Learn. For They Know Not What They Do is about knowing how the other half lives. What makes religious people hate us so much? And is there a common ground we can stand on together? Sympathize. Billie & Emma depicts a tender romance between two young girls, while letting us see possibilities. Love. The youth shorts program Safe Space is back again this year complete with many LGBTQ stories that are fascinating, entertaining, inspiring, and, most of all, relatable. Changing the Game is not only about working with the sports and political systems but also having the guts to make changes happen. Be an activist. As always, all programs in this series are free to anyone 25 and under. Tickets can be obtained during advance ticket sales at in-person sales only and at the box office before each screening. Please be prepared to show proper ID. ~ Michael Gamilla
ImageOut Programming Director PAGE 15
Tickets can be obtained during advance ticket sales at in-person sales only and at the box office before each screening. Please be prepared to show proper ID.
Program 4
Queering The Script
Sat., Oct. 12, 1:45pm Little Theatre 1
Program 12 Unsettled: Seeking Refuge In America Sun., Oct. 13, 12:15pm Little Theatre 2
Program 14 Zen In The Ice Rift Sun., Oct. 13, 2:30pm Little Theatre 2
Program 20 For They Know Not What They Do Mon., Oct. 14, 6:00pm Little Theatre 1
Program 22 Billie & Emma
Tues., Oct. 15, 6:00pm Little Theatre 1
Program 37 Shorts Program: Safe Space
Sun., Oct. 20, 1:00pm Little Theatre 1
Program 38 Changing The Game
Sun., Oct. 20, 3:30pm Little Theatre 1
AT THE CINEMA THEATER
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ImageOut There! Series
Jeepers Creepers!
T
he twelfth edition of our ImageOut There! Series offers the most number of genre and darker films at the Festival ever, promising the audience more reasons and opportunities to squirm in their seats, let out a scream, or look away from the screen. The objective of this sidebar is, of course, not to scare you but prepare you for the cinematic journey you are about to embark. Sometimes, half the battle is being armed with the proper information. Are you ready for this challenge? The Prince is based on a Chilean version of pulp fiction whose depiction of prison violence and prison sex will shock even long-time fans of HBO’s Oz. But this critically acclaimed and award-winning film is also beautifully told and crafted that you will understand the motivations of each of the characters. Our screening will only be the second time it would be playing to an audience in North America and it really is a mustsee. So don’t let this warning scare you too much. ImageOut There! short films return with a vengeance in the program Something’s Comin’ Over Me. Eight films will either make you laugh for beinq wacky, shake your head for being crazy, close your eyes for being scary, or excite you in many ways for being way too sexy. Bring tissues. Last Ferry is more like a classic psychological thriller with a gay twist. It will not necessarily make you jump out of your seat but it will keep you at the edge of your newly upholstered seats at the Little Theatre. And if you’ve never been to Fire Island, you’ll have a better understanding of what the gays do there. Leave It To Levi improves on the typical documentary about porn performers or anyone from the sex industry. Part of the film’s success is the highly likeable subject, Levi Karter, who comes across as genuine and natural, without trying hard to make us believe that he’s better than who he really is. Having its US Premiere here in Rochester, you never know if you might actually meet Levi in person at the screening. I actually don’t even know the answer to that yet so I’m not promising anything. Rounding out our five selections is a modern take on the lesbian vampire classic, Carmilla, a moody, atmospheric, low-key but definitely creepy film. There’s hardly any fang action here but the vampire energy is palpable. So let’s hope you’ll enjoy this year’s offerings. Challenge yourself and try catching an ImageOut There! screening. ~ Michael Gamilla ImageOut Programming Director PAGE 17
Program 17 The Prince Sunday, Oct. 13 6:00pm Little Theatre 1
Program 21 Shorts Program:
Something’s Comin’ Over Me Monday, Oct. 14 8:45pm Little Theatre 1
Program 24 Last Ferry Tuesday, Oct. 15 8:45pm Little Theatre 1
Program 32 Leave It To Levi Friday, Oct. 18 10:15pm Little Theatre 1
Program 39 Carmilla Sunday, Oct. 20 6:00pm Little Theatre 1
www.imageout.org
THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS
WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU
The ImageOut Festival is driven by volunteers. Fundraising & Office Coordinator Scott Horsington is currently our only part-time staff person, so the majority of the work is done by individuals committed to our mission. After reviewing our committees, please consider becoming involved in the creation of next year’s festival – our 28th anniversary year. Volunteering is a great way to meet people, use your skills in a fun environment, and contribute to your community. ImageOut thanks all of our current volunteers and welcomes anyone interested in becoming a volunteer in 2020. Board members or volunteers will be happy to answer your questions or you may call (585) 271-2640 or email office@imageout.org. The Development Committee creates opportunities and relationships to support membership activities and funding initiatives. With support by the Office Manager, the Committee assists in identifying and pursuing funding from individuals, corporations, foundations, and government resources. It also helps identify and execute special activities that enhance the member experience. The ImageOut Art Committee produces art exhibitions and events unique to Western New York that expand ImageOut’s scope as a supporter of regional artists. The committee organizes up to four juried and curated exhibitions a year hosted at Gallery Q at the Out Alliance and at Visual Studies Workshop. The annual student juried exhibition highlights emerging artists and other juried exhibitions focus on a particular subject or theme. Annual curated exhibitions invite artists to Rochester to share their art, experiences, and visions with our community. The ImageOutWrite Committee prepares, designs, produces, and promotes the annual ImageOutWrite literary journal. The Marketing Committee manages the public presence and brand of ImageOut with social and traditional media promotion of events and programs. This committee also oversees Outreach efforts by ImageOut to individuals and organizations to promote awareness of and accessibility to all ImageOut programs.
The Outreach Committee does just that: Reaching out to many different individuals and organizations in our community – to audience members requiring ASL interpreters, to youth who may not know about us, to low-income people needing discount tickets, to nonprofit groups that want to partner with ImageOut to help promote films. They also track audience demographic information, which is important data for grant development. The Programming Committee screens hundreds of films to determine the Festival lineup. This requires research and awareness of current and available films for LGBT film festivals. They create a Call for Work to solicit films worldwide. More than just film appreciation, members are expected to be able to review films with our Festival audience in mind. Finally, they provide content for the Festival program and website. The Programming Screening Committee works as a sub-committee of Programming. The Programming Committee has a limited number of members in order for it to be an effective and manageable decision-making group. The sub-committee was created to allow other volunteers the experience reviewing films for the Festival. They attend group screenings and give input on the films they have seen with the group.
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The Publications/Web Committee provides the community with information and updates regarding the Festival and its related activities through distribution of a quarterly newsletter and maintaining and enhancing the ImageOut website. It creates flyers, advertisements, and other marketing materials, as well as the Festival program. The Special Events Committee coordinates and plans events throughout the year including volunteer and member events. The committee coordinates our presence at Rochester Pride activities and creates the Pride Parade float. During the Festival season the committee is responsible for the Festival Fair, the Member/ Filmmaker Brunch, the Festival Eve Opening Party and the Closing Night Party. The Theatre Operations Committee smoothly runs operations at all of our film venues, from taking tickets to keeping the theatres spic and span. The Ticket Sales Committee – well, not surprisingly, they sell the tickets, taking care of hundreds of orders each fall as well as for events throughout the year.
The Twenty Seventh Annual ImageOut Festival is Made Possible by the Hard Work and Dedication of the Festival Volunteers Many filmgoers don’t realize how many people help out behind the scenes – or how many different things they do. ImageOut would like to extend a huge thank you to all the volunteers who took part in our 27th Festival year. ImageOut Art Committee Jamie Allen Al Carver-Kubik, Co-Chair Ron Cook Jeffrey Cougler Kes Efstathiou Dan Larkin, Co-Chair Jean Marquez Karla Mueller Jessica Olin ImageOut Trailer Michael Gamilla Greg J. Winter ImageOutWrite Committee Deanna Baker Nancy Brown Jeffrey Cougler Ryan DeWolfe Steven Farrington Gregory Gerard Jessica Heatly, Editor Kenya Malcolm JoNelle Toriseva, Assistant Editor Becky Wiggins, Assistant Editor Development Committee Paul Allen Jennifer Caccavale Pamela Dayton Stan Hanby, Chair Scott Horsington Matteo Ragusa Michele Thornton Marketing Committee Paul Allen Amber Brooms Jennifer Caccavale, Chair Wanda Martinez-Johncox Doug Schacht Michele Thornton Stephen Weisenreder Adam Young
Outreach Committee Amber Brooms Jamie Allen Rick Porlier, Chair Representing ImageOut at the Pride Parade and Festival Arianna Ackerman Paul Allen Jess Baez Chelsea Bartolotta Sara Berger Jess Butler Jennifer Caccavale Lauri Champoux-Bilak Biannett Chevalier Karen Crawford Shaunalyn Crawford Caryn Davis Heather Drescher Michael Gamilla Greg Gerard Cindy German Mary Giancursio Gillian Griffin Char Kramer Adam Lubitow Jennifer Morgan Jesse Moses Deb Oppenheimer Rick Porlier Jenn Rodriguez Ed Sanger Michele Thornton Ginny Tucker Nan Van Den Bergh Zach Vega Steve Weisenreder Pride Parade Special Thanks To: Eric McMaster and Sue Avery for their generosity and assistance with the ImageOut float.
Programming Committee Chelsea Bartolotta Georgia Beers Michael Gamilla, Chair Mary Giancursio Stan Hanby Adam Lubitow Harry Mackey Jennifer Morgan Rick Porlier Christopher Roesch Rita Rudnick Steve Weisenreder Program Description Writers Georgia Beers Michael Gamilla Adam Lubitow Jennifer Morgan Joey Moser J O’Neill Christopher Roesch Steve Weisenreder Publications / Web Committee Terri Cvetan Poonam Dev Sara Hickman-Himes, Co-Chair Janice Metcalf Doug Schacht, Co-Chair Eryn Yates Special Events Lauri Champoux-Bilak Terri Cvetan Carol Ebersole-Weiss Scott Falkowski Doug Schacht, Chair Micky Toker Nan Van Den Bergh Jenni Werner
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Theater Operations Committee Kim Ackerman Stefan Baer Lizzie Bell Dory Braun Terri Cvetan Mollie Dapolito Sam Dien Liz Doyle Roza Eisenman Kevin Frisch Kathy Hart Dustin Hayes Dawn Johncox-Martinez Darrell Killingsworth Marvin Krieger Dan Larkin Glenn Leavy Wanda Martinez-Johncox Joe McCrank, Co-Chair Maria Monacelli William Mosley Alex Neubert Deb Oppenheimer, Co-Chair Tony Perri Darlene Russell Jay Sackett Judy Schwartz Don Sheffrin Mark Smith David Snyder Ed Stuart Nan VanDenBergh Jamie Whitbeck Sally Whitbeck Sharon Yates Theater Operations Festival Volunteers Greg Allison Pat Moran Edie Swayze Ralph Villa
Ticket Sales Committee Deanna Baker Mark Brewer Christopher Caraccilo Sharon Donovan Carol Ebersole-Weiss Todd Fogle, Co-Chair Cindy A. German Darin Inks Chris McCormack, Co-Chair Richard McGowan Craig Morrow Jean Thibodeau Steve Troth Dana Weiss
October 2019 Dear ImageOut Supporter, As the first openly gay member of the state legislature from Upstate New York, I am honored to represent our LGBTQ community and others in the 138th Assembly District. I welcome you to the 27th Annual ImageOut Film Festival, and thank you for your support and the privilege to represent you. This year’s legislative session has advanced our LGBTQ community forward. We passed the Gender Expression Non-Discriminatory Act (GENDA) to prevent discrimination on the basis of gender expression and identity. We ended the so called “trans panic� defense which has been used to deny justice to so many of our transgender and genderexpansive friends. Together, we have made great strides forward in the fight for equality and have many reasons to celebrate, but as you know, there are still many challenges ahead. As your friend and representative, I will continue to find opportunities to work with my colleagues in the legislature to ensure that we are providing resources to our LGBTQ youth and seniors. We all must continue to educate each other because it is our differences that make us a stronger community. There is no doubt in my mind that the ImageOut Film Festival has played a significant role in not only entertaining, but also educating New Yorkers so that we may live full, honest, open lives with dignity, equality, respect and authenticity. You have enriched our community, celebrated our diversity, and brought visibility through artistic works. ImageOut Film Festival has promoted awareness and provided a context to allow causes such as marriage equality and GENDA to become a reality. Thank you to the volunteers, board members, supporters and sponsors of ImageOut for your strong dedication and commitment to this festival, and I want to thank you for making the ImageOut Film Festival one of the showcase events of our region. So, sit back and enjoy the show! In Pride,
Harry B. Bronson Member of Assembly
Lovely A. Warren Mayor
City Hall Room 308A, 30 Church Street Rochester, New York 14614-1290 www.cityofrochester.gov
June 19, 2019 Dear Friends: On behalf of the citizens of Rochester, welcome to the 2019 ImageOut Film Festival, a cultural exhibition that is celebrating its 27th consecutive year in the city of Rochester. The City of Rochester is proud to be a sponsor of this exceptional event. ImageOut is among the top film festivals in New York State, attracting visitors from far and wide. ImageOut speaks to a variety of LGBTQ experiences and continues conversations about diversity and inclusion, while also reflecting Rochester’s rich LGBTQ history and culture. Each year, ImageOut contributes to our city’s vitality and quality of life, which leads to more jobs, safer and more vibrant neighborhoods and better educational opportunities for our residents. As the home of noted civil rights advocates such as Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony, we’ve always led the fight for fairness and equality for all. Rochester is a city that supports the values that the festival represents: freedom of expression, artistic quality, fiscal responsibility, creating safe spaces, education, volunteerism, accessibility and diversity. Our city will continue to advocate for human rights, equality, justice and freedom for all of our citizens, including the members of our LGBTQ community. ImageOut makes many contributions to the Rochester region that are appreciated and celebrated. Thank you for supporting ImageOut’s inspirational, entertaining and educating work. I truly hope you enjoy this year’s festivities and fellowship; we look forward to hosting you again next year. Sincerely,
Lovely A. Warren Mayor, City of Rochester
Phone: 585.428.7045
Fax: 585.428.6059
TTY: 585.428.6054
EEO/ADA Employer
City of Rochester, NY Rochester City Council
City Hall Room 301A • 30 Church Street • Rochester, New York 14614-1290
Loretta C. Scott, President Councilmember At-Large Willie J. Lightfoot, Vice-President Councilmember At-Large Molly Clifford Councilmember Northwest District Malik D. Evans Councilmember At-Large Mitch Gruber Councilmember At-Large LaShay D. Harris Councilmember South District Jacklyn Ortiz Councilmember At-Large Michael A. Patterson Councilmember Northeast District
October 10, 2019 ImageOut Film and Video Festival 274 North Goodman Street Suite A203 Rochester, NY 14607 Dear ImageOut Board Members, Staff, and Volunteers: We want to offer our sincere congratulations and best wishes as you present Rochester’s internationally known ImageOut Film and Video Festival over the next 10 days. This festival provides Rochester audiences with a first-class film festival, and we are incredibly proud to have such an institution in our community. We know that the ImageOut Festival attracts people from all over to our region, and we want to welcome them to the City of Rochester. Rochester is an inclusive and affirming community that strives to be on the forefront of LGBTQ+ rights. The Rochester City Council have long been supporters of the LGBTQ+ communities and for years our City has receive a 100% score from the Human Right’s Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.
Elaine M. Spaull Councilmember East District
This year the City of Rochester joined the LGBTQ+ community in memorializing the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, a landmark event in LGBTQ+ history by showcasing stories of activism and advocacy in our Central Library. ImageOut has been a champion for marginalized communities, bringing their stories to the big screen and showcasing the diverse array of LGBTQ+ voices. The staff, board, and volunteers cultivate a culture of inclusivity and warmly embrace the rich history and culture of our LGBTQ+ citizens. We know that it takes a tremendous effort to create such a remarkable festival experience each year, and we are so grateful for what you bring to our City. Sincerely,
Loretta C. Scott President
Willie J. Lightfoot Vice President
Elaine M. Spaull Councilmember
Jacklyn Ortiz Councilmember
Michael A. Patterson Councilmember
Molly Clifford Councilmember
Malik D. Evans Councilmember
Mitch Gruber Councilmember
LaShay D. Harris Councilmember
Phone: (585) 428-7538
Fax: (585) 428-6347
www.cityofrochester.gov
EEO/ADAEmployer
ImageOut Film Awards ImageOut celebrates independent filmmakers with the annual Audience and Jury Awards
The 18th Annual Audience Awards 2019 Audience Award Underwriters
2018 ImageOut Audience Awards:
Best Independent Narrative Feature
1985 Directed by: Yen Tan
Best Narrative Feature: ImageOut Board of Directors
Your Opinion Counts! Winners are selected by your votes on ballots provided at every screening. Audience recognition beyond applause is very important to filmmakers. Awards make a difference when filmmakers apply for grants/funding, submit to other film festivals, and seek distribution for their work. Help us support our filmmakers!
International and local filmmakers, festival programmers, film critics, and film lovers will be selected to form the different juries selecting the Best Narrative Feature, Best Documentary Feature, and Best Short from our Festival lineup.
2019 Jury Award Underwriters Best Narrative Feature: ImageOut Board of Directors Best Documentary Feature: Nocon & Associates, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
2018 ImageOut Jury Awards:
Best Independent Narrative Feature
Retablo
Directed by: Alvaro Delgado-Aparicio L. Honorable Mention: The Cakemaker Directed by: Ofir Raul Graizer Special Jury Prize: Tucked Directed by: Jamie Patterson
Best Short: Winn McCray
Best Documentary Feature: Jamie & Sally Whitbeck Best Short: Paul Allen & David Quick
The 7th Annual Jury Awards
Best Independent Documentary Feature
Life In The Doghouse Directed by: Ron Davis
Best Independent Short
Something About Alex Directed by: Reinout Hellenthal
The Mary Elizabeth Knight Flower City Flicks Fund ImageOut showcases the creativity of area filmmakers through the Flower City Flicks Film Program. Mary Elizabeth Knight was a long-time supporter of ImageOut and fan of Flower City Flicks. In her memory and to honor her loyalty toward ImageOut, her friends, after conversations with her husband Clem, a loyal ImageOut supporter himself, started the Fund. ImageOut is grateful to these individuals and for the years of assistance provided by Clem and Mary Elizabeth Knight. We are pleased for the opportunity to offer this award as a tribute to Mary Elizabeth. 2018 Mary Elizabeth Knight Award
Beard
Directed by: Christopher Crompton
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Best Independent Documentary Feature
Every Act Of Life
Directed by: Jeff Kaufman Honorable Mention: TransMilitary Directed by: Gabriel Silverman and Fiona Dawson Special Jury Prize: Man Made Directed by: T Cooper
Best Independent Short
Marguerite
Directed by: Marianne Farley Honorable Mention: (tie): The Boy Who Wanted To Fly Directed by: Jorge Muriel Mrs. McCutcheon Directed by: John Sheedy Special Jury Prize: The Things You Think I’m Thinking Directed by: Sherren Lee
www.imageout.org
COMMUNITY PARTNERS THE ACTION FRONT CENTER empowers individuals in the greater Rochester area to make healthy choices that will prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, and achieve optimal health and quality of life. We develop grass-root leadership, mobilize community collaboration and advocate for better health and social justice. Services are free of charge, confidential and available in English and Spanish. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm, evenings and weekends by appointment. ANOMALY - THE ROCHESTER GENRE FILM FESTIVAL A fresh-faced festival celebrating the latest and greatest independent genre movies from around the world. Genre movies are those that refuse to be contained by the categories of “comedy” and “drama,” or exist in the shadowy boundaries between, such as: horror, science fiction, fantasy, action, dark comedy, and the truly indescribable. Entirely volunteer-run and celebrating our inaugural year November 8-10, 2019 at the Cinema Theater, Anomaly hopes to broaden our audience’s minds, and maybe awaken some forgotten demons. For more information visit anomalyfilmfest.com or stalk us on social (eek!): @anomalyfilmfest. CITY NEWSPAPER is Rochester’s award-winning alternative newsweekly. For more than 47 years the paper has provided the Greater Rochester area with intelligent analysis of local, national, and international issues, as well as thoughtful and provocative coverage of local music, dance, art, film, theater, and food. City is free at more than 700 locations every Wednesday, with new content daily at rochestercitynewspaper.com. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@roccitynews) or Facebook (facebook.com/CityNewspaper). COME OUT AND PLAY is a social group formed in 1992 under the Out Alliance for LGBT people and allies. We have several social events such as dinner nights, bike hikes, camping trips, and wine tours throughout the year. We sponsor volleyball every Tuesday night at Cobbs Hill through the summer months, and meet for board and card games at Equal Grounds coffee shop Wednesday nights year round. Find out more by checking out or page on FaceBook (www.facebook.com/COAPNY) or by stopping in for one of our regular events! CONNECT & BREATHE began as a small group of people with a bold idea, a passion for ending abortion stigma, and a vision of creating a safe space to talk openly and honestly about abortion. Connect & Breathe offers a talkline providing unbiased support and encouragement of self-care. We envision a world free of abortion stigma. Founded by members of the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, NY, Connect & Breathe
remains a secular, unbiased nonprofit, freeing the conversation about abortion from the constraints of politics and religion. Since our inception, we have talked to people from across the U.S. and beyond. Our work remains staunchly outside of the political debate about abortion and inclusive of diverse religious perspectives, while not representing or advocating for any particular religion or faith.We treat every caller as an individual. We trust every caller’s decision and beliefs. We are here to listen. Call us at (866) 647-1764, or follow us on Facebook atfacebook.com/connectbreathe for more information and resources. DOWNTOWN UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH celebrates the beautiful diversity of gender and sexual orientation. The congregation thrives on spiritual diversity as well, listening to and learning from each other in an open-ended, exploratory conversation that delights us and sustains our work toward peace and justice for all. We invite you to visit us at www.downtownpresbyterian.org or call our pastor, Rev. Dr. Pat Youngdahl, at 325-4000, ext. 22. FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH OF ROCHESTER Our Mission: Through spiritual connection in community, we Listen deeply to others and ourselves Open to wonder and transformation Serve together with love and humility. We are an inclusive spiritual community of belonging, welcoming all people to find their spiritual home with us. We act in partnership with others to end racial, social, environmental and economic injustice within our own community, in greater Rochester and the world. Contact: Rev. Bob Renjilian, Interim Associate Minister, church phone: 585-271-9070 ext. 104, cell phone: 585-210-8544, email: RevBob@rochesterunitarian.org FLOWER CITY PRIDE BAND has been performing in Rochester, NY since 1994. We are an all-volunteer community band open to adult LGBT musicians and allies playing woodwind, brass or percussion instruments as well as color guard. The Flower City Pride Band performs throughout the year at community events in western New York, including the Breast Cancer Walk, the Rochester Pride Parade, and the Park Avenue Winter Open House and more. Our mission is to create music in a welcoming, inclusive environment while supporting and educating the LGBTQA+ community as well the community at large. The Flower City Pride Band is a proud member of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association (LGBA). GEVA THEATRE CENTER Founded in 1972, Geva Theatre Center is a not-for-profit, professional theatre company dedicated to creating and producing professional theatre productions, programs and services of a national standard. As Rochester’s leading professional theatre, Geva is the
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most attended regional theatre in the Northeast US, and one of the 25 most subscribed in the country, serving up to 160,000 patrons annually, including more than 16,000 students. The 526-seat Wilson Stage is home to a wide variety of performances, from musicals to American and world classics. The 180-seat Fielding Stage is home to Geva’s own series of contemporary drama, comedy and musical theatre; Geva Comedy Improv; Geva’s New Play Reading Series and the Hornets’ Nest – an innovative play-reading series facilitating community-wide discussion on controversial topics. In addition, the Fielding Stage hosts visiting companies of both local and international renown. Geva offers a wide variety of educational, outreach and literary programs, nurturing audiences and artists alike. Since 1995, the organization has been under the artistic direction of Mark Cuddy. THE HIGH FALLS FILM FESTIVAL (November 1-5, 2018) celebrates the artistry and innovation of women in film-behind the camera, in leading roles on the screen, and at the heart of storylines. Our focus on women in film is inspired by our city’s legacy as the birthplace of film and the women’s rights movement. The offerings include an international slate of independent films, workshops, panels and talks with the filmmakers. To learn more, please visit www. highfallsfilmfestival.com THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN represents a force of more than 3 million members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization, HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. For information on volunteering in the Western NY area, contact Carol Ebersole-Weiss at: carol.HRC4WNY@gmail.com” JORDAN HEALTH AT COMMUNITY PLACE offers reproductive health services and primary care to adolescents ages 12-25. Our specialties include physicals, sick visits, PrEP, STI/HIV testing and treatment, birth control, pregnancy options counseling, and health education programs. Call us to make an appointment at 585-784-5940 and visit us at 145 Parsells Avenue or online at www.jordanhealth.org. THE LGBT+ GIVING CIRCLE was formed by a group of like-minded individuals and households interested in grassroots philanthropy to improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and allies now and in the future. The LGBT Giving Circle members support the fund with annual contributions which will be used to award grants to nonprofit organizations that bridge diversity and cultivate community. Find out more at www.racf.org/LGBT.
LITERACY ROCHESTER improves the reading, English language, math and digital literacy skills of adults in Monroe County. Our trained volunteers support participants in achieving their personal goals to fully engage in their community as citizens, parents, consumers and workers. THE MOCHA CENTER’S mission is to improve the health and wellness of LGBTQ communities of color. Founded in 1996, The MOCHA Center has educated LGBTQ communities of color in Rochester and Buffalo about HIV/AIDS for over two decades. We offer HIV testing, a transgender support group, and linkage to care (PEP, PrEP, HIV treatment, and primary care). In addition, The MOCHA Center is a place where people gather, find friendship, and explore their sexual and gender identities in community. In 2015, The MOCHA Center joined Trillium Health, expanding their commitment to health care for communities of color. The two agencies are committed to providing a culture of compassion for the people they serve. The MOCHA Center: Rochester is located at 189 N. Water St. Their phone number is (585) 420-1400. THE OUT ALLIANCE has been a champion for Western New York’s LGBTQ communities for over forty years, providing advocacy, education and community-enriching programs that span the ages and interests of our vibrant communities. The Alliance may be best known for producing the annual Rochester PrideFest celebration and the Empty Closet newspaper. Please visit outalliance.org to learn more about our work and activities. THE OUT ALLIANCE LIBRARY & ARCHIVES holds one of the largest collection of LGBT materials in New York State including novels, plays, poetry, non-fiction, magazines, movies, and the ImageOUT video submission collection. It’s also a clearinghouse for archival collections including personal papers and organizational records, and stores a run of The Empty Closet (which is one of the longest continually produced LGBT publications in the US). Most items can be borrowed. For more information visit http:// www.gayalliance.org/programs/library-archives/ or email library@outalliance.org for more information or to make a donation of library materials. PRIDE AT WORK is affiliated as a constituency group of the AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor & Congress of Industrial Organizations). The purpose of Pride At Work is to mobilize mutual support between the organized labor movement and the LGBTQ Community around organizing for social and economic justice. Membership is open to all regardless of union status, sexual orientation or gender identity. Follow local activities on the PAW blog at: www.prideatwork.blogspot. com and contact President Bess Watts by email at besswhat@gmail.com or call (585) 770-4714.
ROCHESTER AMBUSH takes over a different bar on the second Friday of each month. This is a chance for LGBTQ+ women and allies to mix, mingle and have some fun. Come prepared for anything, including meeting new friends and finding your community! Follow us on Facebook @ambushrochester to learn more! THE RGMC creates social change through excellence in the choral arts. The RGMC uses the power of song to celebrate diversity and provide hope and comfort to our community. Now in our 37th year, the RGMC provides a safe, welcoming place for all interested in joining us proudly in song and identity. ROCHESTER JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL The Louis S. Wolk Jewish Community Center of Greater Rochester established the Ames Amzalak Rochester Jewish Film Festival (RJFF) in 2001 to present the best contemporary Jewish-themed films from around the world to the Rochester community. RJFF exists to promote awareness and pride in the diversity of all people; to strengthen community consciousness of Jewish identity, history and culture; to provide a forum for community gatherings that allows valuable dialogue; and to create an international showcase for filmmakers who are Jewish or whose work explores Jewish themes. ROCHESTER VICTORY ALLIANCE at the University of Rochester Medical Center: Approximately 14,000 new HIV infections occur daily around the world. Even with advances in treatment of HIV/AIDS, infection rates continue to rise in many communities. We know we can’t treat our way out of this pandemic. We need a long-term solution: an HIV vaccine. Since 1988, the Rochester Victory Alliance has conducted more than 100 clinical studies to learn more about HIV vaccines. More than 1,500 local volunteers have stepped up to join one of our studies. With every study we do, we learn more about which vaccine strategies will work best. Today, because of the support from our volunteers and community advocates alike, we continue to build upon this research with ongoing and upcoming clinical studies. To learn more about volunteering for an HIV vaccine study, please call the Rochester Victory Alliance at 585-756-2329 or find us online: www.RochesterVictoryAlliance.org.
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TEMPLE SINAI This congregation began in 1959 when two-dozen families came together to establish a new Reform congregation in the Rochester area. Their goal to create a synagogue that lived up to Reform Jewish values and that provided a safe and inclusive environment for Jewish spiritual, educational and social fulfillment remains strong and vibrant today. In almost seventy years, the congregation has grown to a membership of approximately 650 families comprised of newcomers and old-timers, children and adults, Jews with abilities and disabilities, individuals, couples and families, gay and straight, Jews by birth and by choice, non-Jewish partners and spouses. There is a culture of warmth and connectedness with and among our congregants. We nurture and cherish our culture of inclusiveness, our sense of community and our sense of respect for all. Temple Sinai is a diverse and welcoming congregation. Contact: Judy Schwartz TRILLIUM HEALTH promotes health equity by providing affordable and extraordinary primary and specialty care, including LGBTQ health care. We are a Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Healthcare Equality Index leader in LGBTQ-affirming health care. Located at 259 Monroe Avenue, services include primary, sexual, and mental health care, HIV and hepatitis treatment, an onsite pharmacy, PrEP and PEP (HIV-prevention medications), and insurance enrollment. We offer 24/7 access to PEP (HIV post-exposure prophylaxis). Trillium Health’s major programs are built around the New York State initiative to End the HIV Epidemic by 2020. Call 585-545-7200, or visit trilliumhealth.org. For PEP: 585-241-9000. For PrEP: 585-454-PrEP (7737). WRITERS & BOOKS is Rochester’s literary center, for nearly 40 years fostering lifelong reading and writing among individuals of all ages. Writers & Books is located at 740 University Ave. Rochester, NY 14607, (585) 473-2590, www.wab.org. WXXI PUBLIC BROADCASTING is an award-winning PBS / NPR broadcast family of television, radio and online services dedicated to meeting cultural, civic and educational needs of its audience. WXXI operates 5 television stations, 6 radio stations and The Little Theatre providing programs for Rochester, Geneva, Ithaca and Alfred, NY areas. WXXI’s partnership with cultural and educational agencies helps to engage audiences with thought-provoking, community based programming; focusing on the arts, education, health and citizenship. Learn more: Go Public at WXXI.ORG.
Let’s make the future one that you’ll be proud of. At MassMutual New York State, we understand the unique financial needs of the LGBTQ community and can help you build financial strategies to ensure your loved ones are protected. For more than 165 years, MassMutual has helped policyowners on their quest for financial freedom. Marlene Dattilo Financial Services Professional MassMutual New York State 716-222-8198 madattilo@financialguide.com www.ny-state.massmutual.com
Insurance Representative of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), Springfield, MA 01111-0001, and its affiliated US Insurance companies. Local firms are sales offices of MassMutual, and are not subsidiaries of MassMutual or its affiliated companies. Insurance products issued by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), Springfield, MA 01111, and its affiliated US insurance companies. Securities and investment advisory services offered through MML Investors Services, LLC, Member SIPC® and a MassMutual subsidiary. Supervisory Office: 300 Corporate Parkway, Suite 216N, Amherst, NY 14226. 716-852-1321. CRN202012-219051
Proud sponsor of the ImageOut festival.
Kodak.com/go/motion © 2019 Kodak. Kodak and the Kodak logo are trademarks.
www.imageout.org
ImageOutreach: Making ImageOut Accessible
Young Adults
ImageOut believes everyone should have the opportunity to be part of the larger LGBT community regardless of age, financial need or disability. Our goal is to reach more people every year.
To encourage young adults (25 and under) to attend ImageOut a $2 discount is available for all films shown during the Festival as well as a $20 Full Festival Pass discount. Individual purchases must be made at in-person advance ticket sales or at the theater box offices with a valid photo ID. Requests for group tickets may be ordered in advance by contacting the ImageOut office but must be received no later than Friday, Ocotber 4, 2019.
Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Seniors
ASL interpreting for Festival films can be requested up until Friday, October 4th to guarantee that an interpreter can be present and prepared. An updated list of films that will be interpreted will be on the Festival website. Captioning via subtitles is present for foreign language movies, however filmmakers frequently do not caption brief English dialog. ImageOut apologizes that Open Captioning of English-language movies is not feasible at this time. The Dryden Theater and Little Theatre 2 have Hearing Loop Systems.
Wheelchair Accessibility
ImageOut venues (Little Theatre and Dryden Theatre) are wheelchair accessible. The Little Theatre provides a limited number of wheelchair accessible seats; additional accessible seating is available upon request during the advance ticket sales period prior to 5:00pm Friday, October 4th to ensure adequate seating arrangements.
As appreciation for their role in the community, and to encourage further participation in the festival, a $2 discount is available to individuals over the age of 65 for all films shown during the Festival as well as a $20 Full Festival Pass discount. Individual purchases must be made at in-person advance ticket sales or at the theater box offices with a valid photo ID.
Community Partners
ImageOutreach connects our patrons to the greater Rochester community – arts and media organizations, social clubs, volunteer groups, churches, and health care facilities – that speak to their interests. Read about our Community Partners in this program guide, and consider joining and supporting our local LGBT-friendly organizations.
Free or Discounted Tickets
ImageOutreach reserves tickets for people of limited financial means. Patrons who can demonstrate low income (e.g. EBT card) can contact the ImageOut office for Outreach tickets. Human service organizations may also arrange Outreach tickets for their eligible clients.
Next Generation Film Series
Devoted to films by, for, and about LGBT youth. Youth are invited and encouraged to participate in film selection, so that the films we show are relevant to the issues, concerns, and experiences of today’s LGBT youth. Tickets are free to all Next Generation Series films for anyone 25 and under. Page 28
You Can Help
If you or someone you know could benefit from these programs, call (585) 271-2640 or email us at office@imageout.org. If you can help defray the costs of these programs, add a donation with your ticket order and earmark the funds for ImageOutreach, visit www.imageout.org/outreach. htm to donate online or send a check marked “Outreach” to ImageOut, 274 North Goodman Street, Rochester, NY 14607. Thank you!
in Rochester is proud to support ImageOut CHRIST CHURCH 141 EAST AVE
ST. PAUL’S CHURCH EAST AVE @ WESTMINSTER RD
CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION LAKE AVE @ RIVERSIDE ST
ST. THOMAS’ CHURCH 2000 HIGHLAND AVE
CHURCH OF ST. MARK & ST. JOHN 1245 CULVER RD
Or, to find a church near you, visit: episcopalrochester.org
Wednesday, October 23, 2019 from 7-8pm Writers & Books, 740 University Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607
Experience the Literary Side of ImageOut A special one-time reading event held at Rochester’s literary center, Writers & Books. Local writers and members of the ImageOutWrite team will be on hand to share selections from this year’s ImageOutWrite literary journal. It’s an opportunity for LGBT writers, authors, and allies to connect during an evening celebrating the written word.
ImageOutWrite Volume 8 showcases the power of personal perspectives, offering the reader vivid glimpses of experiences both lived and imagined. The authors represent a broad array of LGBTQ and allied voices within Western New York and around the world, and their works are by turns passionate, inspiring, hilarious, disturbing, and soulful.
Hear the authors’ words in their own voices, grab a copy of ImageOutWrite, and network with members of our local writing community!
ImageOutWrite Volume 8 Is Available For Sale
During the Festival, purchase a copy; in-person special Festival pricing: $10 (save $4.95 off cover price) – available in the lobby of the Little and Dryden Theaters between screenings. Volume 8 and past volumes are also available online during and after the Festival at lulu.com.
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FESTIVAL EVE PARTY O
Thursday, October 10th 7:00-10:00pm at VOLO
(90 South Clinton Avenue at the corner of Broad Street)
ur opening party on the Eve of the Festival will be at the newly opened VOLO. There will be tasty snacks, Hedonist Chocolates, cash bars, and plenty of fun for all ImageOut members, volunteers, and patrons who have purchased a ticket to either of the Opening Night films (Friday, October 11th Programs 1 & 2) or join us with a $10 cover at the door. Ample parking can be found at the Midtown Garage. PAGE 33
FRIDAY, OCT. 11 • 6:30PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1 www.imageout.org
1
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Vita & Virginia Directed by: Chanya Button Ireland/UK / 2018 / 110 min.
OPENING NIGHT SELECTIONOSING NIGHT SELECTION
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“M
adness. What a convenient way to explain away her genius.” Those of us who took any type of literature course in college or who saw/read The Hours think we know pretty much all there is to know about literary icon Virginia Woolf: her creative genius, her bouts with mental illness, her long-suffering husband, Leonard. Did you know of her struggles with her sexuality? That her gender-bending novel Orlando was actually based on a real woman? Of her affair and love letters to fellow writer and socialite Vita Sackville-West? Vita & Virginia, based on the play by Emmy award-winner Eileen Atkins, allows us to be flies on the wall during this time in her life, and it is so worth it. It’s 1920s London, and Vita Sackville-West (Gemma Arterton, Quantum of Solace) is a popular, best-selling writer. She’s also married to a diplomat, has two children, is a wealthy socialite, and a feminist before her time with a reputation for eschewing societal rules, announcing what she wants, and getting it. And what she wants is to meet and befriend fellow author and mysterious recluse Virginia Woolf (Elizabeth Debicki, The Great Gatsby, Widows). Virginia, however, is struggling with her next novel, locked away in her writing room and crumpling page after page. She hasn’t the time or the desire to make a new friend, but Vita is known for her persistence, and it isn’t long before Virginia relents. Their friendship blossoms slowly, two highly intelligent women fascinated by one another’s minds. It’s a joy to watch and the old adage “opposites attract” has never been more apparent than with Vita and Virginia. Vita is an extrovert, bubbly and talkative, lover of dinner parties and large gatherings, happy to see and be seen. Virginia is the introvert, quiet and in her own head much of the time, uncomfortable in crowds, anxious to get back to her books and her solitude. Despite their differing personalities, though, they’re drawn to one another’s intelligence, and the sexual tension begins to build to extraordinary levels before they plunge headlong into a clandestine and ill-fated affair, even as Virginia battles with her inner demons of mental illness. London of the 1920s makes for a gorgeous and moody backdrop, in turns bright and overcast, and the modern soundtrack gives the film an updated, more urgent feel. Both Gemma Arterton and Elizabeth Debicki give fantastic, nuanced performances, and their chemistry is off the charts, heady and sensual. Isabella Rosselini as Vita’s image-obsessed mother; Rupert Penry-Jones as Harold, Vita’s husband, whose sexual proclivities are similar to those of his wife; and Peter Ferdinando as Leonard Woolf, a man whose business, worry, and heart are all centered around Virginia, round out an amazing cast that helps elevate what is essentially an arthouse film to something a bit... bigger. But at its core, Vita & Virginia is the story of a forbidden love affair between two women – a story based on their actual love letters – who lived as they chose to, and who were far, far ahead of their time. ~ Georgia Beers
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OPENING NIGHT Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
CLOSING NIGHT Out CT Connecticut LGBT Film Festival
WOMEN’S SPOTLIGHT FILM OUTshine Film Festival (Miami)
SPOTLIGHT LGBTQ+ FEATURE Provincetown Int’l Film Festival
Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
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FRIDAY, OCT. 11 • 9:30PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1 www.imageout.org
2
NARRATIVE FEATURE
An Almost Ordinary Summer (Croce e delizia)
Directed by: Simone Godano Italy / 2019 / 100 min. / In Italian and French with English subtitles.
OPENING NIGHT SELECTION
Page 36
NEW YORK STATE PREMIERE
I
t’s looking like a perfectly ordinary summer vacation when Carlo brings his family to stay at a beach house he “rented” on the property of Tony’s seaside estate. Meanwhile, Tony has gathered his family for what appears to be an ordinary family dinner. But what their families don’t know is that not only are these two seemingly straight grandfathers in love with one another, they’re planning to get married in just three weeks! Despite their families’ expectations, this is not going to be an ordinary summer. Tony is wealthy, free spirited, and expresses his emotions with ease. He never married, but 30 years ago, he fathered two daughters with two different women one month apart. Unreliable and a bit selfish, he was a bad father and his daughter Penelope still bears the emotional scars to prove it. Angry that her father is marrying Carlo, Penelope hatches a plot to sabotage their relationship. A widower who struggles to open up emotionally, Carlo is Tony’s polar opposite. He operates a fishing boat with his adult son Sandro and has always been a reliable and affectionate father to his two sons. Sandro wants his father to be happy, but struggles to accept that his father intends to marry a man. Will Sandro find acceptance for his father’s new relationship or will he go along with Penelope’s nefarious plan? Can Tony and Carlo overcome their differences and win over their families in time for their upcoming nuptials? Director Simone Godano and his stellar ensemble cast have created an almost perfect dramedy. Even as it wades through tense family drama, the film always feels light and is consistently funny throughout. In fact, there’s nothing ordinary about An Almost Ordinary Summer ; this crowd-pleasing film proves at every turn that it’s nothing short of extraordinary. ~ Stephen Weisenreder
AUDIENCE AWARD
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE Damn These Heels LGBTQ Film Festival (Salt Lake City)
Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
TLVfest Tel Aviv LGBT Film Festival
Vancouver Queer Film Festival
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SATURDAY, OCT. 12 • 11:30AM • DRYDEN THEATRE www.imageout.org
3
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Scream, Queen! My Nightmare On Elm Street Directed by: Roman Chimienti and Tyler Jensen USA / 2019 / 99 min.
G
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
QDoc Portland Queer Documentary Film Festival
Cleveland Int’l Film Festival
Fantastic Fest (Austin)
NEW YORK STATE PREMIERE
ay audiences often gravitate toward horror films because of their strong women protagonists who face down the terrifying monsters that seek to destroy them. First seen as helpless victims, these Final Girls take matters into their own hands to defeat baddies in a bloody showdown. Jamie Lee Curtis still reigns as the ultimate scream queen with actresses like Neve Campbell and Sigourney Weaver in her esteemed company. When Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge came out in 1985, audiences picked up on the blatant gay content, but it destroyed the career of star Mark Patton. With Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street, Patton takes his rightful place among those powerful heroines, and claims the title of the first ever Final Boy. Freddy’s Revenge almost revels in how gay it is. Not only is there an S&M-themed death in a gym locker room shower, there’s a scene in which Patton’s Jesse dances around his room and shakes his behind quite a lot. The camera loves to linger on his body – he wakes up several times shirtless and drenched in sweat. In their first dream encounter, Freddy Krueger tells Jesse, “Daddy can’t help you now.” It’s shocking that the content was always referred to as gay subtext when it’s on full display. Directed by Roman Chimienti and Tyler Jensen, Scream Queen! allows Patton to revisit his early career as we retrace his almost Tab Hunter-like ascent as a young actor. A talented performer with boyish good looks, he was in high demand – even starring on Broadway with Cher and Karen Black under the direction of Robert Altman. So what went wrong? With the rise of homophobia and the AIDS epidemic, actors were forced to go back in the closet. Unable to get work, Patton’s agents were concerned that he couldn’t “play straight,” resulting in Patton retreating from Hollywood life until very recently to enjoy his film’s cult status. Following Patton’s journey toward self-acceptance, Scream, Queen! allows Patton to see what his character meant to so many young gay fans. As he confronts personal demons revolving around the slasher film’s initial reception, Patton’s story becomes an ultimately inspiring one, allowing him to emerge as an activist and reclaim his legacy as a horror icon. ~ Joey Moser
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SATURDAY, OCT. 12 • 1:45PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1
4
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Queering The Script Directed by: Gabrielle Zilkha Canada/USA / 2019 / 85 min.
NEW YORK STATE PREMIERE
> Next Generation Series
I
f you have ever “shipped” a couple on a TV show, wished a couple was gay that actually wasn’t, decided a couple was even if the showrunners disagreed, or have simply watched carefully the number of queer characters on television in general, this fascinating and super timely documentary is for you. Director Gabrielle Zilkha talks to industry experts, website mistresses, showrunners, writers, actresses, and fans about the state of female queer representation on TV as Queering the Script takes us back to the beginning. From Ellen’s historical coming out episode to the tandem births of the Internet and Xena, Warrior Princess, we see how the word “fandom” became the norm
SPECIAL AWARD
OFFICIAL SELECTION
SPECIAL PROGRAMMING AWARD FOR FREEDOM Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival
and how the collective love/heartbreak/rage of that fandom can affect the direction of a show, and how #BuryYourGays spawned an outrage of fans so enormous, it created Clexacon, the world’s largest multi-fandom event for LGBTQ women and allies. From Buffy the Vampire Slayer to The L Word to Orange is the New Black to Glee, The 100, Carmilla, One Day at a Time, Wynonna Earp, and Riverdale... they’re all touched on, along with many, many others. In a time of such turmoil in our country, this documentary reassures us that we’re still here, we’re still queer, and we’re very, very loud. There’s no silencing us now. ~ Georgia Beers Page 39
SATURDAY, OCT. 12 • 1:45PM • DRYDEN THEATRE www.imageout.org
5
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Third Wedding (Troisièmes noces) Directed by: David Lambert Belgium/Luxembourg/Canada / 2018 / 98 min. In French with English subtitles.
NEW YORK STATE PREMIERE
M
artin Janssens is in a dark place. His husband Jan has just died, he’s flat broke, and the artistic house that he and Jan so lovingly cared for is on the verge of foreclosure. Worse yet, his suicide attempts keep going comedically awry. So when an opportunity presents itself to save his home, Martin takes the leap. A friend is looking for someone to marry his mistress and help her obtain a visa to stay in Belgium. In exchange for a handsome sum of money, Martin agrees to marry her.
It would be hard to imagine a more imperfectly matched duo. Not only is Martin gay, but he’s ornery, set in his ways, and still grieving the loss of his husband. Tamara, Martin’s new fiancée is 30 years younger than he is. She’s impulsive, headstrong, and has a few secrets. A Congolese immigrant on an expired student visa, marrying Martin is her only chance to avoid deportation. She’s committed to this pretend partnership. Is he? In order to make this charade work, Martin and Tamara will have to convince the authorities that their relationship is real. They’ll need to pass written tests and a series of surprise (and very invasive) home inspections. If that isn’t bad enough, the outspokenly gay Martin will have to make his new-found heterosexuality public to his friends and family. Third Wedding is a quirky, irreverent comedy that fearlessly finds humor in topics that probably shouldn’t be funny. It explores life and death, love and loss, immigration, and even depression in a way that is both poignant and hilarious. Based on a bestselling Belgian novel, Third Wedding will leave audiences talking, thinking, and laughing. ~ Stephen Weisenreder Page 40
SATURDAY, OCT. 12 • 4:00PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1
6 A Family Affair
SHORTS PROGRAM
Quick Licks
Curated by: Michael Gamilla Total Running Time: 96 min.
Our 2019 Shorts Programs are made possible through the gererosity of longtime ImageOut supporters David D. Emert and Jon P. Templin
Whether you’re young or young at heart, this inspiring, and sometimes funny, collection of stories of queer women will make you believe in life and love.
Tell-By Date
A Family Affair
Directed by: Florence Keith-Roach / UK / 2019 / 13 min. Misdirection
When Annabelle wakes up in a stranger’s bedroom on her 30th birthday, she thinks the day cannot get any worse. But then Bernard walks in...
Adeline
Tell-By Date
Directed by: Sarah Ball / USA / 2019 / 14 min. Telling your boy that he isn’t your biological son is easier set than done.
Misdirection
Directed by: Carly Usdin / USA / 2019 / 14 min. I Know Her
A distracted college freshman needs an escape from her obsessive-compulsive disorder and her big crush on her sexy straight roommate.
Girls Weekend
Adeline
Directed by: Audrey Biche / France / 2018 / 10 min. In French with English subtitles.
An elderly woman at the end of her life reminisces her years spent at a boarding school for girls.
I Know Her
Directed by: Fawzia Mirza / USA / 2019 / 3 min. In the afterglow of a seemingly fated hookup, two women realize that perhaps they have a little too much in common.
Girls Weekend
Directed by: Kyra Sedgwick / USA / 2019 / 12 min. My World In Yours
Erica returns home to Las Vegas for a painfully awkward – and surprisingly touching – reunion with her homophobic sister, people-pleasing mother, and gun-toting father. This film stars Ali Liebegott (who also wrote the short), Amy Landecker, and Linda Lavin.
My World In Yours (Min värld i din)
Directed by: Jenifer Malmqvist / Sweden / 2019 / 30 min. In Swedish and Arabic with English subtitles.
Shams and Stella are in love. But Shams hasn’t told Stella that she’s seeking asylum nor about Hanine, her girlfriend who’s still in Palestine waiting for Shams to help her come to Sweden.
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SATURDAY, OCT. 12 • 4:00PM • DRYDEN THEATRE www.imageout.org
7
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Ham: A Musical Memoir Directed by: Andrew Putschoegl USA / 2019 / 113 min.
I
NEW YORK STATE PREMIERE
t’s no surprise that Sam Harris lives up to the title of his one man show, Ham: A Musical Memoir. The only type of person who could play over 10 characters in a musical adaptation of his own life needs to have incredible comedic timing, chutzpah, and the ability to laugh at himself. Harris has all that and more, and you will never think of being a ham as a bad thing ever again. When Harris walks out on stage, it feels like you’ve known him for a very long time. As he begins to tell you the story of his life, he jokes about how the world has changed so much over the years (“Alexander Graham Bell had nothing on Snapchat!”), and we think that his show will simply be an entertaining cabaretstyle show. Harris is able to draw us in very easily with his quick wit and easygoing demeanor – he even tells us that he’s nervous as he walks out on stage in this filmed stage production. When you’re hungry for the stage, you can’t hold it back, and Harris details his youthful attraction to musical theater – he recounts his disappointment of not being seriously considered for the role of Helen Keller in a school production of The Miracle Worker among others. His exuberance for becoming a star drove him through his early years, but growing up in Oklahoma’s conservative Bible Belt didn’t give him a chance to grow emotionally or personally. Like most uninhibited, dramatic kids, he grew up with a seemingly gruff father and didn’t take to playing baseball naturally. As Harris’ star begins to ascend, the more he struggles with his own identity and being the person he always wanted to be. In an emotional section midway through the show, he recalls how he never thought he would ever get married or have children. Ham: A Musical Memoir is like a family photo album scored with original songs and familiar ballads like “I Am Changing” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade” as told by your most entertaining family member. Harris is on stage mostly alone (he is joined on stage by pianist Todd Schroeder), and his story is deeply and surprisingly emotional while remaining funny and lighthearted throughout. His message is clear: we are more alike than we realize and we should be as true to ourselves as much as we can. And belt it out like Ethel Merman as we do it. ~ Joey Moser
OFFICIAL SELECTION BFI Flare London LGBT Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION Reeling Chicago LGBTQ+ Int’l Film Festival
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SATURDAY, OCT. 12 • 7:00PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1
8 JURY AWARD
JURY AWARD
BEST DRAMA BEST SCREENPLAY FEATURE BEST FEATURE North Carolina Gay & BEST ACTRESS Lesbian Film Festival Sunscreen Film Festival (Florida)
NARRATIVE FEATURE
The Garden Left Behind
Directed by: Flavio Alves USA / 2019 / 88 min. / In English and Spanish with some English subtitles
F
or his feature film directorial debut, Flavio Alves (short film Tom in America, ImageOut 2014) teams up veteran actors Ed Asner and Michael Madsen with relative newcomer Carlie Guevara in an intimate, poignant, and powerful film portraying the marginalization, struggles, and transphobia experienced by an undocumented trans woman of color in New York City. Guevara stars as Tina, a young Mexican trans woman who shares a warm and accepting relationship with her grandmother, Eliana (Miriam Cruz). Despite the occasional misgendering when Eliana repeatedly confuses Tina’s pronouns, their mutual love is always apparent. Unfortunately they live with constant insecurity as undocumented immigrants, requiring Tina to obtain forged paperwork, both for her transition and to gain steady employment. Tina is not only supporting the two of them financially, but is also attempting to pay for the counseling required to receive the estrogen therapy that she deeply desires. Ed Asner (TV’s The Mary Tyler Moore Show) plays Tina’s therapist, Dr. Cleary, who is recommended by several of Tina’s trans friends. While she initially meets him with predictable trepidation (as he holds the power to approve or deny her referral for treatment) their relationship subtly changes for the better over time and Asner brings tempered warmth to the role of a somewhat benevolent “gatekeeper.” Tina’s partner, Jason (Alex Cruz) is only barely willing to be seen with her in public, despite his obvious attraction. Michael Madsen (Kill Bill, Reservoir Dogs) plays a completely different kind of character from his norm as Kevin, the bantering tavern owner who challenges Tina to “beat the clock” mixing drinks, and ends up so impressed that he hires her on the spot. Regrettably, there’s a darker side to Tina’s journey as she faces the complexities inherent to living as an undocumented trans woman of color. These include the side-long glances, misogynist and transphobic comments, her boyfriend’s apparent shame at being seen with her, and even the seemingly conflicted attraction and contempt so obvious at the counter of the neighborhood bodega. With a cast that features trans actors in every trans role (it can be done!), strong cinematography, writing, and acting, Alves has crafted The Garden Left Behind into a film that offers a realistic, contemporary illustration of the friends, family, lovers, and sadly the bigotry so common to trans and intersectional identities. ~ Jennifer Morgan
VISIONS AUDIENCE AWARD SXSW Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARD
AUDIENCE AWARD
AUDIENCE AWARD
BEST OF FEST Bentonville Film Festival
BEST FEATURE NARRATIVE Translations: The Seattle Transgender Film Festival
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE Wicked Queer Boston LGBT Film Festival
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SATURDAY, OCT. 12 • 7:15PM • DRYDEN THEATRE www.imageout.org
9
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Benjamin
NEW YORK STATE PREMIERE
Directed by: Simon Amstell UK / 2018 / 85 min.
C
omedian Simon Amstell (Never Mind the Buzzcocks) writes and directs this charming love story about a young British filmmaker agonizing over the impending premiere of his latest feature. The new movie has been a long time coming for Benjamin (Colin Morgan, The Happy Prince and BBC’s Merlin). Desperate to escape the sophomore slump after his award-winning debut turned him into a rising star of the indie film world, he’s been spinning his wheels for years trying to produce a follow-up. Now that he’s in the final stages of ushering the film across the finish line, he can’t stop himself from tinkering and second-guessing every single creative decision he’s made.
AUDIENCE AWARD
OFFICIAL SELECTION
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE Milan Int’l Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION
While Benjamin’s struggling professionally, things start to look up for him romantically when he meets adorable and talented French music student Noah (Phénix Brossard from ImageOut 2016’s Departure). As he and Noah hit it off, it seems things may finally be turning around for the neurotic filmmaker – if he can only just get out of his own way. Benjamin’s journey toward self-fulfillment is endearing, maddening, and completely relatable. The anxiety of being a working artist is the source of some cringe-inducing comedy, never more than in a darkly funny subplot involving Benjamin’s pal Steve (Joel Fry) and his struggles as an aspiring standup comedian. With appealing performances and a witty screenplay, Benjamin is a deadpan showbiz satire and a poignant love story, about the hard work of discovering one’s artistic voice, and the even more difficult process of then deciding what you want to say with it. ~ Adam Lubitow
BFI London Film Festival
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SATURDAY, OCT. 12 • 9:30PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1
10
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Good Kisser
NEW YORK STATE PREMIERE
Directed by: Wendy Jo Carlton USA / 2019 / 75 min.
WARNING: Strong sexual content
I
n Good Kisser, writer/director Wendy Jo Carlton (Hannah Free, Jamie & Jessie Are Not Together) takes us on an exploration of the hazy lines of modern dating in a refreshing way we haven’t really seen before. Jenna (Kari Alison Hodge – Crazy Bitches, the Web Series) and Kate (Rachel Paulson, East Siders – and Sarah Paulson’s little sister!) have been together for almost two years when they decide that maybe spicing up their relationship is in order. At Kate’s urging, they decide to try out having a date with a third woman. Jenna is shy and nervous going in, not at all sure of herself, but the second she lays eyes on Mia (Julie Eringer, Fox Trap), she starts to think maybe this isn’t such a bad idea after all.
JURY AWARD
OFFICIAL SELECTION
BEST LESBIAN DRAMA FEATURE North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
WOMEN’S GALA FEATURE Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
Seattle Int’l Film Festival
As the evening progresses, alcohol is consumed, music is danced to, stories are shared, and though something seems slightly off, Jenna can’t put her finger on it. Until she stumbles across a secret that changes everything. Take a little comedy and a little drama, add it to some romance, toss in a nice helping of sexy. Mix it all together and you’ve got Good Kisser – not your average lesbian romance that will change the way you look at popsicles forever. ~ Georgia Beers Preceding the feature will be:
Vibes
Directed by: Bane Fakih USA / 2018 / 7 min. Mayssa is looking for a sexual release to cure her recent depression but luck – and her mother – are not on her side.
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SATURDAY, OCT. 12 • 9:30PM • DRYDEN THEATRE www.imageout.org
11
NARRATIVE FEATURE
End Of The Century (Fin de siglo)
Directed by: Lucio Castro Argentina / 2019 / 84 min. / In Spanish with English subtitles.
SPOTLIGHT SELECTIONOSING NIGHT SELECTION
Page 46
WARNING: Strong sexual content and nudity
W
hen you look back on the casual encounters you’ve had, how fractured are those memories? Do you ever wonder what life would be like if you’d stayed with an old flame? The thrill of getting to know a new person is a genuinely hard thing to capture, but End of the Century director Lucio Casto delivers a Grindr sense memory film that is both sexy and quietly tender. While staying at an Airbnb in Barcelona, New York poet Ocho (played with lean, scruffy charisma by Juan Barberini) spies Javi (Ramon Pujol) from his balcony and invites him up. Juliet would’ve been able to get Romeo into her bedroom faster if she had stronger WiFi. After their passionate tryst, the two grab some wine and food together and realize that they’ve met before, twenty years prior.
JURY AWARD
JURY AWARD
JURY AWARD
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
BEST FIRST FEATURE Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
BEST ARGENTINE FILM Buenos Aires Int’l Festival of Independent Cinema
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE In an Int’l Narrative, Honorable Mention Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
New Directors / New Films (New York)
Melbourne Film Festival
Reminiscent in tone to Andrew Haigh’s Weekend, End of the Century slowly reveals a connection (and future?) between these men that goes beyond a simple hookup. There is a refreshing openness between Ocho and Javi. While Ocho is more restless and willing to try new things with new men, Javi is enjoying the freedom of the open marriage he shares with his husband. Neither men are judging the other – they’re simply enjoying those post-coital moments when you feel like you can ask your new partner anything you want and get away with it. Castro’s camera loves Ocho and Javi in the same frame together, and he wisely doesn’t rush their conversations. There is a lot of scenes where it feels like Castro doesn’t want us to interrupt his actors as he observes them flirting and making love. End of the Century also shows how hookup culture has changed over the years. It used to be about a chance connection – catching a man’s eye in a public place. Now you can decide whether you’re going to get lucky without leaving your home. The film plays with the structure of a normal hookup story and eventually tosses it out the window. It’s beautifully free. While relationships often feel like they come to a complete stop, Castro makes us question whether the end is really just a beginning. He introduces different pathways to rewrite our own romantic journeys, and End of the Century is an erotic example of how we shouldn’t be closed-minded about how those journeys can transform us. ~ Joey Moser Page 47
www.imageout.org
Festival at a Glance THURSDAY 10th
FRIDAY 11th
SATURDAY 12th
SUNDAY 13th
LITTLE THEATRE 1 LITTLE THEATRE 1 DRYDEN THEATRE
LITTLE THEATRE 2
MONDAY 14th
LITTLE THEATRE 1 LITTLE THEATRE 1
11:00am 11:30am 12:00pm
3 Scream, Queen!
12:30pm 1:00pm
12 U nsettled:
Seeking Refuge In America
1:30pm 2:00pm
13 M y Baby’s Got A Secret
2:30pm
4 Queering The Script
3:00pm
5 Third Wedding
3:30pm
14 Zen In The Ice Rift
4:00pm
15 Circus Of Books
4:30pm 5:00pm
6Q uick Licks
5:30pm
7H am: A Musical Memoir
6:00pm 6:30pm
16 T he Ground Beneath My Feet
7:00pm 7:30pm
17 The Prince
20 F or They Know Not What They Do
8:00pm
1 Vita & Virginia
8:30pm
8 The Garden Left Behind
9B enjamin
9:00pm 9:30pm
Festival Eve Party / Volo
18 C armen & Lola
10:00pm 10:30pm 11:00pm
10 Good Kisser 2 A n Almost Ordinary Summer
11 End Of The Century
11:30pm 12:00am
PAGE 48
19 F rom Zero To I Love You
21 Something’s Comin’ Over Me
$312 ) Full Festival Pass $225 ( VALUE
Save 25% over advance ticket sale prices!
• The Full Festival Pass gains you entry to all Festival programs including the Opening and Closing Night parties. • Enjoy priority seating with a Full Festival Pass. • Passes are limited, purchase early (passes sold out last year). • $20 Full Festival Pass Discount is available to young adults (25 and under) and seniors (over 65).
TUESDAY 15th
WEDNESDAY 16th THURSDAY 17th
LITTLE THEATRE 1 DRYDEN THEATRE
FRIDAY 18th
SATURDAY 19th
SUNDAY 20th
LITTLE THEATRE 1 LITTLE THEATRE 1 LITTLE THEATRE 1 DRYDEN THE ATRE LITTLE THEATRE 1 11:00am 11:30am 12:00pm
ay Chorus 33 G Deep South
12:30pm 1:00pm 1:30pm 2:00pm
34 Jose
37 Safe Space
2:30pm 3:00pm 3:30pm 4:00pm 4:30pm
35 Portrait Of A Lady On Fire
hanging 38 C The Game
5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm
27 Flawless
22 Billie & Emma
6:30pm
30 B efore You Know It
7:00pm
39 C armilla
25 Straight Up
7:30pm 8:00pm
28 H appiness Lies In Your Own Hand 23 T rick
31 The Blonde One
8:30pm
36 Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
9:00pm 9:30pm
40 The Shiny Shrimps
26 S ong Lang
10:00pm 10:30pm
24 Last Ferry 29 L abel Me
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11:00pm
32 Leave It To Levi
Closing Night Party At Geva
11:30pm 12:00am
SUNDAY, OCT. 13 • 12:15PM • LITTLE THEATRE 2 www.imageout.org
12
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Unsettled: Seeking Refuge In America Directed by: Tom Shepard USA/Lebanon/Canada / 2019 / 82 min.
NEW YORK STATE PREMIERE
> Next Generation Series
I
t’s not easy being LGBT. Even in the most progressive places, people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender can face harassment, discrimination, and even physical violence. There are many places in the world, however, where it is really hard being LGBT, as it is currently illegal in 70 countries. And in four of those countries, being LGBT is punishable by death.
GRAND JURY PRIZE BEST DOCUMENTARY Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
JURY AWARD
AUDIENCE AWARD
BEST BEST LGBTQ FILM DOCUMENTARY New York FEATURE Cinematography TLVFest Tel Aviv Int’l LGBT Film Festival Awards
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Damn These Heels LGBTQ Film Festival (Salt Lake City)
San Francisco Int’l Film Festival
Unsettled: Seeking Refuge in America introduces us to four young people who have fled their homes abroad (and the persecution they faced there) in hopes of being granted asylum in the US. Junior is an HIV-positive refugee from Congo; Subhi, a Syrian refugee; and Cheyenne and Mari, a lesbian couple from Angola. This eye-opening film powerfully captures the struggles faced by these LGBT youths. Finding housing and employment were daunting enough tasks prior to 2016, but now they find themselves in an America where the Statue of Liberty may as well be holding a “No Vacancy” sign. Hopefully, this film can illuminate the importance of understanding, compassion, and activism needed to make America a safe haven for those seeking refuge from persecution based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. ~ Christopher Roesch
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SUNDAY, OCT. 13 • 12:30PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1
13 XaveMePlease
SHORTS PROGRAM
My Baby’s Got A Secret Curated by: Michael Gamilla
Our 2019 Shorts Programs are made possible through the gererosity of longtime ImageOut supporters David D. Emert and Jon P. Templin
Total Running Time: 107 min. WARNING: Strong sexual content
Black Hat
Secrets and lies have become essential to our gay lives, partly to protect ourselves and partly to protect the people we love. These are just some of our stories.
XaveMePlease
Directed by: Wesley Taylor / USA / 2019 / 11 min.
First Position.
Down-and-out Xavier seizes an opportunity with an older man on a lonely night in New York City.
Black Hat
Directed by: Sarah Smith / USA / 2019 / 15 min. A pious Hasidic man (Adam Silver) living a secret double life misplaces his hat one night, which will cause his two separate lives to collide in a way he never imagined.
First Position.
Directed by: Michael Elias Thomas / USA / 2019 / 20 min. Marco
In this gorgeously photographed film, a young dancer moves to San Francisco in the early 1980s, only to have his dreams of success and a career thwarted by a sickness ravaging a community, taking away their ability to choose their future.
Miller & Son
Marco
Directed by: Saleem Haddad / UK / 2019 / 22 min. When a banker invites a male sex worker to his apartment in London, he finds himself coming face to face with both his own past, and one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in recent years.
Miller & Son
All We Are
Directed by: Asher Jelinsky / USA / 2019 / 22 min. Ryan is a mechanic who runs the family’s auto shop during the day and sneaks out to express her femininity at night, until an unforeseen event threatens the balance of her compartmentalized life.
All We Are
Directed by: Will Stewart / USA / 2018 / 17 min. No names. No personal information. No drama. Just sex and fantasies. And a safe word. Those are the rules. Until someone falls in love.
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SUNDAY, OCT. 13 • 2:30PM • LITTLE THEATRE 2 www.imageout.org
14
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Zen In The Ice Rift (Zen sul ghiaccio sottile) Directed by: Margherita Ferri Italy / 2018 / 87 min. In Italian with English subtitles.
NEW YORK STATE PREMIERE
> Next Generation Series
C
JURY AWARD
OFFICIAL SELECTION
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HONORABLE MENTION Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
GAZE Int’l LGBT Film Festival (Dublin)
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Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival
OUTshine Film Festival (Miamai)
Mardi Gras Film Festival (Sydney)
oming out to yourself and then others is always filled with trepidation at best. Often it’s even more intimidating when you live in a small rural village. Set in the snow-capped panorama of the Apennine Mountains in Italy, Zen in the Ice Rift introduces us to Maia – who prefers to go by Zenasi, or Zen for short – a talented, androgynous hockey wing who’s competing with the boys on the local team and aspiring to move up to the regional camps, and maybe even the national team. Eleonora Conti’s debut performance as Zen nails the character of a pensive loner who is badgered and bullied for not being “female” enough. Despite easily being as talented and quick as their teammates, Zen has to fight being tyrannized for being different and having the audacity to merit a place on the town’s all-male team. Paralleling Zen’s plot line is that of Vanessa (newcomer Susan Acchiard), the girlfriend of the hockey team’s captain who’s struggling with her own questions surrounding sexual attraction. In order to spend an intimate time with her boyfriend, she coerces Zen into lending her the key to the lodge Zen’s mother rents out. But after a disastrous “first time,” Vanessa runs away from home the next day, and returns to the lodge in an attempt to sort out her emotions. It’s only then that she and Zen slowly form a bond as outsiders, and as their defenses come down they start to share their most deeply felt selves. Vanessa attempts to clarify her true sexual attraction and Zenasi knows that he’s really Zen – a young man – and grows deeply dysphoric when he looks in the mirror, knowing that his reflection contradicts his true self. What we witness is a dual coming-of-age, and the paths they each take fill out the remainder of the film, and echoes a search for clarity that we must also struggle to find. Margherita Ferri directs this visually enticing film and thankfully doesn’t fill it with transgender tropes and the all-toooften sensationalized focus on transitions. That fact, combined with Conti’s powerful performance as Zen, makes the film an uplifting and spirited “must see.” ~ Jennifer Morgan
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SUNDAY, OCT. 13 • 3:15PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1
15
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Circus Of Books Directed by: Rachel Mason USA / 2019 / 92 min.
T
o Rachel Mason, her family seemed just like any other American family. Her parents, Karen and Barry, were great parents. They supported and provided for their three children. Just like any family, they had outings, celebrations, and regular trips to synagogue. But the Masons had a secret, one so closely kept that the kids didn’t even know until they were teenagers: the Masons’ family business is a hardcore gay adult bookstore. Karen and Barry Mason have run Circus of Books, a prominent adult bookstore in West Hollywood, since 1982. After his medical supply business went under, Barry Mason took a job distributing adult magazines for Larry Flynt. Soon he would purchase one of the stores on his route and turn it into a
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OPENING NIGHT Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
CLOSING NIGHT North Bend Film Fest (Washington)
Tribeca Film Festival
Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival
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Reeling Chicago LGBTQ+ Int’l Film Festival
Provincetown Int’l Film Festival
Hamptons Int’l Film Festival
aGLIFF All Genders, Lifestyles and Identities Film Festival (Austin)
True/False Film Festival
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bustling business that would become a top seller, and occasional producer, of gay pornography. They even helped to produce Jeff Stryker’s iconic adult film, Stryker Force. Circus of Books became such a pillar of the local gay scene, that the alley behind the store became known as Vaseline Alley – West Hollywood’s most prolific hook-up spot. Circus of Books is a three-ring spectacle, dazzling audiences with the story an eccentric all-American family, the ups and downs of a hardcore adult business, and a unique slice of gay history. Directed by Rachel herself, Circus of Books is intimate, personal, and endlessly entertaining. It is full of twists and turns that surprise both the audience and the filmmaker. It features interviews with Larry Flynt, Jeff Stryker, and former Circus of Books employee, Alaska (Rupaul’s Drag Race All-Stars). Hitting on everything from Jewish faith and parenting to the AIDS crisis, Reagan-era obscenity laws, and even a trip to a sex-toy trade show, Circus of Books is one of the most entertaining ImageOut documentaries in years. ~ Stephen Weisenreder
SUNDAY, OCT. 13 • 5:30PM • LITTLE THEATRE 2 www.imageout.org
16
NARRATIVE FEATURE
The Ground Beneath My Feet (Der Boden unter den Füssen) Directed by: Marie Kreutzer Austria / 2019 / 108 min. / In German with English subtitles.
L
GRAND JURY AWARD
BEST PERFORMANCE
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OUTSTANDING INT’L NARRATIVE FEATURE Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
VALERIE PACHNER Guadalajara Int’l Film Festival
Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
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Berlin Int’l Film Festival
Seattle Int’l Film Festival
OUTshine Film Festival (Miami)
ola is a control freak of the highest order. Not yet 30, her focus is solely on her work. As a business consultant for a multi-million-dollar company, she’s on the fasttrack to becoming an AP (account principal). She has money, a busy travel schedule, a rigorous workout regime, and an affair with her female boss. Everything is well in hand and life is unfolding exactly as Lola wants it. The ground beneath her feet is steady and solid, if not constantly moving, treadmill-like. Lola is in hotel rooms and offices much more often than her own flat – which, interestingly, is just as sterile – but she seems completely at ease with the way her neat and tidy life is run. Until she gets a phone call from a hospital informing her that her older, schizophrenic half-sister, Conny, has attempted to take her own life. That’s when Lola’s carefully sewn up life begins to slowly unravel. Nobody knows about Lola’s family or its history of mental illness. We watch her unconvincingly argue with Conny’s doctor that this wasn’t a suicide attempt, but an accidental overdose, no big deal. Conny claims to Lola that she’s being mistreated by the doctors and hospital staff, but Lola waves it off as Conny’s usual paranoid delusions. She insists to the skeptical medical staff that Conny can come live with her; she’ll take care of her and things will be fine. The thing about having such a death grip on control, though? When one finger begins to slip, the entire hold is weakened, and it isn’t long before Lola starts to panic, wondering if she’s losing her grip not just on the details and order of her life, but on reality itself. The Ground Beneath My Feet is a gripping psychodrama, and the bleak winter Austrian backdrop only serves to make it feel colder and more barren. Valerie Pachner, in a riveting performance, brings not only a subtlety, but an unexpected sympathy to Lola, even when we want to reach into the screen, shake her, and tell her to stop and look around, that her job isn’t everything. Director Marie Kreutzer does a great job embracing the mess of ambivalence that Lola seems to have, even though we know that beneath the steady, authoritative voice and power suit is a woman who has just realized she’s standing over a fault line and is more than likely freaking out inside as she quietly waits for the earthquake. ~ Georgia Beers
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SUNDAY, OCT. 13 • 6:00PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1
17
NARRATIVE FEATURE
The Prince (El Príncipe) Directed by: Sebastián Muñoz
Chile/Argentina/Belgium / 2019 / 96 min. / In Spanish with English subtitles
EAST COAST PREMIERE
ImageOut There! Series
WARNING: Graphic sexual contnet, violence, and nudity
I
n 1970s Chile, 20-something Jaime (Juan Carlos Maldonado) is imprisoned for murder after a night of heavy drinking that ends with Jaime suddenly and seemingly inexplicably slashing the throat of his best friend. Already a lost and lonely soul in the outside world, one expects the young man would be easy prey for the unscrupulous souls he’ll find inside the prison. And at first, those assumptions seem correct when he’s dropped into a cell with “The Stallion”
JURY AWARD
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QUEER LION BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE Venice Film Festival
Venice Int’l Film Critics’ Week
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Mill Valley Film Festival
San Sebastian Int’l Film Festival
(Alfredo Castro). A charismatic and respected older gangster, The Stallion maintains a small stable of younger men who cling to him for the protection he provides. Amidst the jealousy of certain cellmates, Jaime immediately becomes the favorite, the one who shares The Stallion’s bed each night. Dubbed “The Prince” by his new makeshift family, Jaime adapts surprisingly well to life behind bars. On the inside, the most valuable currency is loyalty; though his relationship with The Stallion is complicated, there’s genuine affection there. In these unexpected new circumstances, he’s able to embrace his sexual identity and find the home he never really knew outside those prison walls. Attracted to the power and affection he’s craved for so long, Jaime finds himself willingly drawn into the deadly power struggles that play out amongst the prison’s inmates. Inspired by a ‘70s dime store pulp novel, The Prince both embraces and rises above its somewhat disreputable origins to become a thrilling prison drama, a poignant coming-of-age story, and a gripping story about the very human desire to be loved and seen for who we truly are. ~ Adam Lubitow Page 55
SUNDAY, OCT. 13 • 8:15PM • LITTLE THEATRE 2 www.imageout.org
18
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Carmen & Lola (Carmen y Lola) Directed by: Arantxa Echevarria Spain / 2018 / 103 min. In Spanish with English subtitles.
NEW YORK STATE PREMIERE
C
armen & Lola is the coming-of-age story of two young girls in the Roma (gypsy) community on the outskirts of Madrid. 17-year-old Carmen goes through the motions of her traditional gypsy life: helping with her younger siblings, selling her family’s wares at the street market, assisting her mother with chores. One day soon, she’ll get married to a boy of her parents’ choosing, have a bunch of babies, and pretty much become her mother. This is how life goes for a gypsy girl.
JURY AWARD
JURY AWARD
OFFICIAL SELECTION
BEST FIRST FEATURE Ibero-America Competition Guadalajara Int’l Film Festival
CINE LATINO AWARD Palm Springs Int’l Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
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Milan Int’l Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
Until she meets 16-year-old Lola. Lola is slightly more liberated than Carmen, which Carmen finds alluring. While Lola has a mother who wants more for her than an illiterate life just like her own, her father is traditional, and eschews any attempt at education or Lola bettering herself, because why? What’s the point? When Lola and Carmen meet, the fascination is instantaneous. Lola likes birds, graffiti, and girls, and while Carmen is initially horrified, her horror doesn’t last long. But the Roma community frowns upon homosexuality or independent women who want to make their own decisions about how they live their lives. With the exception of one understanding teacher, Carmen and Lola are on their own and find themselves up against what feels like an army. And if they want to be together, if they want better lives for themselves, they’ll need to make some tough choices and battle their way through. ~ Georgia Beers
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SUNDAY, OCT. 13 • 8:30PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1
19
NARRATIVE FEATURE
From Zero To I Love You Directed by: Doug Spearman USA / 2019 / 106 min.
NEW YORK STATE PREMIERE
S
ometimes the connection between two people is so strong that romance progresses rapidly from zero to “I love you.” That’s the case for Jack and Pete when they meet at a Philadelphia gay bar. Their storybook romance includes long talks, eagerly awaited text messages, and passionate sex. There’s just one problem: Jack is married. To a woman. Jack (Scott Bailey) has had 12 happy years of marriage. He’s got a beautiful wife, two daughters, and a picturesque suburban home. A chance sexual encounter with a cater waiter awakens desires that he has been suppressing for a long time. Finally acknowledging to himself that he may be gay, he starts visiting gay bars and before long, romance blooms.
AUDIENCE AWARD
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
BEST DRAMA North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
BFI Flare London LGBT Film Festival
Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival
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Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
QFlix LGBT Film Festival
Reeling Chicago LGBTQ+ Int’l Film Festival
Enter Pete (Darryl Stephens, Boy Culture, Noah’s Arc). Jack is his fourth married boyfriend. His dad is angry to see him continue his self-destructive cycle of dating unavailable men. His friends remind him that he has plenty of other suitors, but this one feels different; there’s something special about Jack. Will Pete decide to break his cycle or will he follow his heart? Can Jack manage to pursue his new love interest without hurting his wife? Will he summon the courage to make the agonizing decision between his family and the man he loves? From Zero to I Love You is a romance film that follows none of the usual formulas. Writer-director Doug Spearman tells a story that cuts right to the core of gay romance, probing issues like self-acceptance and the very nature of attraction. The film makes no excuses for its imperfect protagonists and refrains from passing judgement on them as well. Combining perfectly textured characters with a nuanced romance and a pair of ultra-handsome leading men, From Zero to I Love You is a “can’t miss” love story. ~ Stephen Weisenreder
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MONDAY, OCT. 14 • 6:00PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1 www.imageout.org
20
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
For They Know Not What They Do Directed by: Daniel Karslake USA / 2019 / 92 min.
DOCUMENTARY CENTERPIECEOSING NIGHT SE-
LECTION
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> Next Generation Series
“M
ost people are not trying to be homophobic. Most Christians are trying to be faithful to their understanding of Scripture.” – Rev. Dr. Delman Coates Many in the LGBTQ community have experienced rejection, discrimination, or worse from religious organizations and people of faith. This is often true even within our own families. When this occurs, it is understandable that large portions of our community would, at best, distrust the faith community and view it as the enemy. But the truth can be more complicated.
For They Know Not What They Do by Daniel Karslake (ImageOut 2007 Documentary Audience Award-winner For the Bible Tells Me So), does an excellent job of exploring the basis of anti-LGBTQ sentiment originating in the religious community. While there are always some with questionable motives, a more balanced picture emerges, where it becomes clear that people of faith aren’t always the “bad guys.” People with the best of intentions can act badly because they misunderstand, or are misled. As Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis explains, “fear of culture plus fear of being wrong in the eyes of God is an unholy cocktail.” This thought-provoking documentary uses interviews with LGBTQ people from devout backgrounds (one of whom is a survivor of the Pulse nightclub massacre), their families, and religious leaders – including Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in a major Christian denomination – to show that people of faith are not always the enemy, nor is there always malicious intent. While it points out the harm that has been, still is, and can be done in the name of religion, we should be careful not to paint with too broad a brush, because in many cases, those who seem to be deliberately causing us harm and have malice in their hearts might merely know not what they’re doing. ~ Christopher Roesch
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OPENING NIGHT Out on Film Atlanta LGBT Film Festival
Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Tribeca Film Festival
Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
MONDAY, OCT. 14 • 8:45PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1 www.imageout.org
21
Matt & Dan: Zombie Ex
SHORTS PROGRAM
Something’s Comin’ Over Me Curated by: Michael Gamilla Total Running Time: 115 min.
ImageOut There! Series Our 2019 Shorts Programs are made possible through the gererosity of longtime ImageOut supporters David D. Emert and Jon P. Templin WARNING: Contains graphic violence, and explicit sex scenes. Zombies, trolls, critters, vigilantes, serial killers, a deadly stapler, torture, and porn: it’s everything you want and more on a Monday date night.
Bathroom Troll
Matt & Dan: Zombie Ex
Directed by: Will Gordh / USA / 2019 / 5 min. Having not seen your ex for a long time after an awkward breakup, what do you do when you encounter him during the zombie apocalypse? Conversion Therapist
Bathroom Troll
Killer Date
Directed by: Aaron Immediato / USA / 2018 / 17 min. Move over, Carrie. When a clique of mean girls bully Cassie for not looking like a girl, her deep rage unleashes a revenge troll that lurks in the bathrooms.
Conversion Therapist
Directed by: Bears Rebecca Fonte / USA / 2019 / 20 min.
Fish Tank
A pansexual, polyamorous trio kidnap a pray-the-gay-away evangelical conversion therapist and torture him until he sees the light.
The Office Is Mine
Killer Date
Directed by: Colton Tran / USA / 2019 / 14 min. Quiet and awkward aspiring serial killer, Ed Larson, asks his next target on a date in an attempt to add another notch to his murder belt, but things don’t go as planned.
Fish Tank
Directed by: Neal Mulani / USA / 2018 / 6 min. When a college student goes to his first hook-up with a mysterious older man, he must determine if his anxieties point to a darker truth about his host for the night.
The Office Is Mine
Directed by: Michael Varrati / USA / 2019 / 14 min. Stigma
Fueled by paranoia that his status as the go-to gay guy in the office is at risk, Zac must find a way to neutralize the threat of the gay new hire.
Serodiscordantes
Stigma (Estigma)
Directed by: David Velduque / Spain / 2018 / 15 min. In Spanish with English subtitles.
It’s Friday night, the bell rings and Alex opens the door to the worst of his fears.
Serodiscordantes
Directed by: Noel Alejandro / Spain/Germany / 2019 / 24 min. In Spanish with English subtitles.
Consumed by guilt from hiding his HIV status from his boyfriend Evaristo, Miguel must find a way to reveal his secret to stop dark thoughts from permeating his dreams.
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TUESDAY, OCT. 15 • 6:00PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1
22
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Billie and Emma Directed by: Samantha Lee
Philippines / 2018 / 107 min. In Tagalog and English with English subtitles.
NEW YORK SNEAK PREVIEW
> Next Generation Series
W
riter/Director Samantha Lee brings us a delightfully romantic tale of young love, set in the mid-1990s, that is certain to tug at your heart. Zar Donato moves from behind the camera in her acting debut as Billie: a precocious teen who’s been sent from Manila to live with her aunt in the small rural village of San Isidro. Billie’s father desperately hopes that attending parochial school away from the city will discourage her newfound attraction to girls. Cielo Aquino plays Billie’s aunt, the religion teacher Miss Castro, who obviously loves Billie despite her rebellious nature and deep-seated ambivalence about fitting in.
AUDIENCE AWARD
OFFICIAL SELECTION
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BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival
Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
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TLVfest Tel Aviv Int’l LGBT Film Festival
Roze Filmdagen Amsterdam LGBT Film Festival
Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
Billie’s struggles with conformity are readily visible with her cropped haircut and the Doc Martin style boots that she dons with her plaid, Catholic school dress. The popular girls, among them Emma (played by Gabby Padilla) murmur and avoid Billie despite a certain curiosity about her rebellious nature. Emma is an overachiever, popular with classmates and teachers alike. But when she and Billie are assigned a joint project in class, Emma’s anxiety sets in. She assumes the leadership role in the project (undoubtedly to ensure that Billie didn’t ruin their grade). But after a moment of forgetfulness (and a somewhat unwitting save by Billie) her distrust softens and the two begin to warm to each other. They soon become friends, but as their affection grows Emma finds herself confused by her new feelings, and is torn between her attraction to Billie and her diminishing fondness toward her boyfriend. When Emma discovers she is pregnant, her hopes for the future begin slipping away as others attempt to direct her course. Emma has important choices to make, and those decisions will affect her life for a long time to come. ~ Jennifer Morgan Page 61
TUESDAY, OCT. 15 • 8:30PM • DRYDEN THEATRE www.imageout.org
23 JURY AWARD
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Trick
Directed by: Jim Fall USA / 1999 / 89 min.
IMAGEOUT OF THE ARCHIVES
W
hen Trick came out in 1999, it was something of an anomaly. There are no characters dying of HIV, no homophobia or hate crimes, and it’s not a saccharine coming-out story featuring teens having emotional confrontations with their parents about being gay. The film’s light and earnest romance allows its characters to live in their own skin, even as it flirts with camp and longings of the heart. Capturing the butterflies of a new romance is trickier than you’d think, but Jim Fall’s romantic comedy does it nimbly. Christian Campbell’s Gabriel is a struggling musical theater composer whose shy nature lets people walk all over him. His straight roommate is always commandeering their apartment for trysts while his best friend, Katherine (Tori Spelling – yes, that Tori Spelling) is a chatterbox who doesn’t know when to keep her mouth shut. Gabriel ventures out to a gay bar and locks eyes with John Paul Pitoc’s Adonis of a go-go boy, Mark, but there’s just one problem: they have nowhere to go. Instead of giving up (we gays can be extremely goal-oriented when it comes to hooking up), the pair venture all over New York City to find some place that will allow them a few hours of private time. As they are denied at almost every turn, a quiet and tentative romance sneaks up on both of them. Every person wants to give them advice about relationships or sex, and if you aren’t familiar with drag legend Miss Coco Peru, you won’t be able to forget her in Trick. Some may scoff at romantic comedies, but when they are done well, they can warm your heart as much as any awardsseason drama. Trick is carefree and loose, and it pinpoints the moment your emotions connect to your libido. It helps that Campbell’s affable nature clicks effortlessly with Pitoc when they start to get to know one another. If a go-go boy and a musical theater lover can make it work, it truly means there’s hope for the rest of us. Celebrating its 20th anniversary since its theatrical release, we are proud to bring back Trick to Rochester as our ImageOut of the Archives selection this year. ~ Joey Moser
JURY AWARD
SIEGESSÄULE OUTSTANDING READER’S CHOICE EMERGING TALENT: Berln Int’l JIM FALL Film Festival Outfest Los Angeles (1999) LGBT Film Festival (1999)
OFFICIAL SELECTION Sundance Film Festival (1999)
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TUESDAY, OCT. 15 • 8:45PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1 www.imageout.org
24
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Last Ferry
NEW YORK SNEAK PREVIEW
Directed by: Jaki Bradley USA / 2019 / 86 min.
ImageOut There! Series
F
ire Island, the famous gay vacation spot just a quick ferry ride from New York City, is the perfect spot for fun in the sun, epic parties... and murder. Joseph, an introverted young lawyer in need of some friends, makes a solo pilgrimage to the island. He arrives ready for a never-ending parties full of eligible men, but it’s April and the parties don’t start for another month. As he sits sullenly on a pier, he meets a handsome stranger who lures him into The Meat Rack. The Meat Rack is Fire Island’s fabled hook-up spot
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BFI Flare London LGBT Film Festival
Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION
in a secluded grove of trees. Once there, Joseph is drugged and robbed. Delirious, he staggers through the pines looking for help and comes upon a murder scene. He runs for his life and narrowly escapes. His luck changes when he meets Cameron. Alone with no money, no phone, and nowhere to go, Cameron and his friends adopt him for the long weekend. Just like that, Joseph’s dreams of parties, new friendships, and romance are back on track. But does he dare let his guard down and have fun with a murderer pursuing him? And what about that murder; did it really happen or was it a drug-induced hallucination? Last Ferry is a slow-burn thriller that has a little bit of everything. It has enough mystery to keep you guessing and enough danger to have you on the edge of your seat. Add in an ensemble of relatable characters with hot bodies and you’ve got everything you need for a steamy suspense thriller. ~ Stephen Weisenreder
Reeling Chicago LGBTQ+ Int’l Film Festival
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WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16 • 6:00PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1
25 OFFICIAL SELECTION
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CLOSING NIGHT Out On Film Atlanta LGBT Film Festival
Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION
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Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
Reeling Chicago LGBTQ+ Int’l Film Festival
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Straight Up
NEW YORK STATE PREMIERE
Directed by: James Sweeney USA / 2019 / 95 min.
T
odd obsessively structures his life to dodge a flotilla of phobias: flying, UV rays, and all bodily fluids and intimate sexual contact. After years of disastrous dates with men, Todd has a breakthrough: Maybe he really isn’t gay after all. Maybe finding the right woman will solve his deepest fear: living alone for the rest of his life. When Todd excitedly shares this revelation, his therapist and his two best friends react with utter disbelief. Todd is clearly a classic Kinsey Six, at best a Kinsey Five if he avoids wearing cashmere. Undaunted, Todd determinedly pursues his new straight persona. When Todd randomly meets aspiring actress Rory at a local library, they rapidly bond over Gilmore Girls (not only do they love the characters, they also both speak at the show’s insanely fast tempo). Over wine, cake, and a series of housesitting gigs in luxe LA mansions, they become soulmates. But sooner rather than later problems emerge. Todd’s studly friend Ryder continues to challenge Todd’s supposed heterosexuality, saying that he’s acting untrue to himself and unfair to his girlfriend. And everyone constantly inquires about their sex life, which is nonexistent and an increasing frustration for Rory, who is simultaneously fed up with the indignities of the Hollywood acting world. Finally Rory makes the difficult decision to leave Todd, relocate to Seattle, and settle for a humdrum 9-to-5 job. Heartbroken, Todd refuses to relinquish their romantic future. But how can their unorthodox relationship ever really work? Writer, director, and star James Sweeney mixes witty dialogue and hilarious characters with emotionally complex moments. In our modern era of exploding identities, from graysexuality to heteroromanticism to polyamory, Straight Up probes how self-reflection can lead to self-reinvention, even when it means steering off all the traditional paths and into the unknown. ~ J. O’Neill
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WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16 • 8:30PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1 www.imageout.org
26
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Song Lang
Directed by: Leon Le Vietnam / 2018 / 101 min. / In Vietnamese with English subtitles
NARRATIVE CENTERPIECE
Page 66
D
irector Leon Le deftly balances the grandeur of the stage with gritty realism in his feature film debut. Set in Saigon in the 1980s, Song Lang revolves around two men who may have more in common than they think they do when their lives first intersect. Lien Binh Phat plays Dung ‘Thunderbolt,’ a debt collector whose main tactic to get people to pay is to throw around his fists. When he goes to collect from a struggling folk opera company, he meets Linh Phung, the quiet leading actor played by former Vpop singer, Isaac. Dung is about to burn the company’s costumes when Linh steps in to pay what he can out of his own pocket. This tough, underground collector is immediately struck with how Linh stands up to defend his company.
AUDIENCE AWARD
AUDIENCE AWARD
AUDIENCE AWARD
FUTURE FORWARD AWARD
OFFICIAL SELECTION
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
INT’L NARRATIVE FEATURE TLVfest Tel Aviv LGBT Film Festival
BEST FEATURE New York Asian Film Festival
BEST NEW DIRECTOR Beijing Int’l Film Festival
OPENING NIGHT Vancouver Queer Film Festival
Over the course of a few days, we see a bond forming between these two men. Linh has struggled with acting the emotional moments in the opera’s finale, and Dung remains emotionally closed off to everyone – he barely looks anyone in the eye, as if he’s making a conscious effort not to connect. Phat’s performance is sturdy and strong, and there’s a brooding machismo not unlike Heath Ledger’s Ennis del Mar from Brokeback Mountain. A relative newcomer, Phat won the Gemstone Award for rising star at the Tokyo International Film Festival and the Vietnamese Cinema Association awarded him Best Actor. His performance brings a hard edge that is balanced beautifully by Isaac’s warmth and open face. When these two men spend time alone with one another, you wonder whether they will end up as respected friends or something more. The chemistry between them is easy, sweet, and more flirtatious than either may realize. There is melodrama on display, but Le grounds it with gentle direction complemented by the amber hues from cinematographer Bob Nguyen. Saigon is both dangerous and alive in Song Lang, but Le’s film reminds us that art often imitates life. ~ Joey Moser Page 67
THURSDAY, OCT. 17 • 5:30PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1 www.imageout.org
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NARRATIVE FEATURE
Flawless
Directed by: Sharon Maymon & Tal Granit Israel / 2018 / 93 min. / In Hebrew with English subtitles.
SPOTLIGHT SELECTIONOSING NIGHT SELECTION
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N
obody will argue against the fact that being a teenager can suck. And high school can be rough, no matter who you are. But it can also be wonderful and worthwhile and rewarding... if you can survive it. Seventeen-year-old Eden (Ukranian transgender actress/ model Stav Strashko) isn’t sure she will. Her father has moved her and her two little sisters more times than they care to count, whenever Eden’s trans identity is discovered and becomes a problem. New school after new school: it’s always the same result. Always the same hope for Eden: maybe this time will be different. Instantly nicknamed “Miss Plateau” because of her flat chest in the new Jerusalem high school she just transferred to, Eden will take that over some of the other things she’s been called before. And when she’s quickly befriended by two classmates, Tiggist and Keshet, who feel her pain in the “we hate our bodies” club, Eden starts to settle in and dares to relax a little bit. Maybe this time will be different. After all, it’s prom-posal time of year. Tiggist is certain her flat chest is the reason her boyfriend hasn’t asked her to prom yet. Keshet hates her nose, certain that a smaller one would garner her a date. And while Eden has turned a few heads, it’s Itay, a ruthlessly bullied boy, who may be a kindred spirit. Like most teenage girls anywhere in the world, the three are desperate to look other than they do. And when Tiggist and Keshet rope Eden into the alarming deal they made – without the knowledge of their parents – with a woman online, agreeing to travel to Kiev and trade a kidney for the plastic surgery they each so desperately want, things get darker. But directors Sharon Maymot and Tal Granit only leave us there long enough for things to begin to crumble for Eden, before taking us right back to high school. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell which is worse. Kudos to Strashko for giving a stunning performance that feels genuine and heartfelt. She also makes history as the first transgender woman to receive a Best Actress nomination at the Israeli Academy Awards. It’s almost startling to realize that teenagers in Israel go through the same insecurities and worries that teens do here. With one of the most honest portrayals of what it feels like to be a trans adolescent, Flawless is both heartwarming and exceptionally relatable in a way we haven’t seen in a while... and that in itself is a breath of fresh air. ~ Georgia Beers
NOMINEE BEST PICTURE Ophir Awards (Israeli Academy Awards)
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OFFICIAL SELECTION
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OFFICIAL SELECTION
Tribeca Film Festival
Jerusalem Film Festival
Sidewalk Film Festival (Birmingham)
San Diego Jewish Film Festival
Philadelphia Israeli Film Festival
THURSDAY, OCT. 17 • 7:45PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1 www.imageout.org
28 Interested In: Episode 1
SHORTS PROGRAM
Happiness Lies In Your Own Hand Curated by: Michael Gamilla Total Running Time: 96 min. Michael And Michael Are Gay – Burning Man
Our 2019 Shorts Programs are made possible through the gererosity of longtime ImageOut supporters David D. Emert and Jon P. Templin WARNING: Strong sexual content Hilarious gay adventures about hooking up and a gay pug named Fergis. Enjoy!
Interested In: Episode 1
Directed by: Blayze Teicher / USA / 2019 / 6 min. Sophomore Year. First Semester. Hooking up on campus.
Michael And Michael Are Gay – Burning Man
Directed by: Annika Kurnick and Ian Alda / USA / 2018 / 8 min. Michael and Michael go to Burning Man... what could possibly go wrong?
Sweater
Directed by: Nick Borenstein / USA / 2019 / 5 min. Sweater
Michael And Michael Are Gay – Naked Party
After a disastrous hookup attempt, Corey’s day couldn’t be worse. Then he gets a free coffee.
Interested In: Episode 2 / 6 min.
Sophomore Year. End of Second Semester. Hooking up with the community college guy on Grindr.
Michael And Michael Are Gay – Naked Party / 12 min.
Michael and Michael get naked with strangers... what could possibly go wrong? Holidays
Holidays (Vacaciones)
Interested In: Episode 3
Directed by: Juan Olivares and Victor Barba / Spain / 2016 22 min. / In Spanish with English subtitles. A young couple travels to Madrid with their family to enjoy a few days of summer. Then an unexpected phone call from Juanma, a hotel employee, unleashes a mayhem of entanglements and mistaken identity that goes out of control. Will their relationship survive?
Interested In: Episode 3 / 6 min.
Sophomore Year. End of Summer. Hooking up with the young lawyer. The Handyman
The Handyman
Repugnant
Directed by: JC Calciano / USA / 2019 / 9 min. A single, gay man schemes creative ways to have a hunky repairman continue to have to come back to his house to fix things.
Michael And Michael Are Gay – Dinner With Straights / 9 min.
Michael and Michael have a casual dinner with straight friends... what could possibly go wrong?
Repugnant
Directed by: Kyan Krumdieck / New Zealand / 2018 / 13 min. Grace must prove that her pray-the-gay-away dog therapy works by trying to “cure” Fergis the pug of his homosexuality.
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THURSDAY, OCT. 17 • 10:00PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1
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NARRATIVE FEATURE
Label Me Directed by: Kai Kreuser
EAST COAST PREMIERE
Germany / 2019 / 60 min. In German, Arabic and English with some English subtitles.
WARNING: Strong sexual content and nudity
A JURY AWARD
OFFICIAL SELECTION
BEST MEDIUM-LENGTH FILM Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis
Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
Syrian refugee seeking asylum in Cologne, Waseem makes a meager living working as a gay-for-pay hustler. A broodingly handsome man, Waseem has no shortage of customers but is adamant that these interactions remain strictly transactional. He ensures a barrier is maintained between himself and the men who pay for his companionship. Then one night he arrives at the apartment of a wealthy but lonely young German named Lars. Lars purchases Waseem’s services, and they negotiate what is and isn’t on the table once their clothes come off. Despite Waseem’s chilly and brusque demeanor, he piques Lars’ curiosity. Asking a stream of personal questions — whose answers go for 20 euros a pop — there’s a prickly sort of chemistry there. Soon Lars becomes a regular customer. The film moves between their time together and Waseem’s daily return to the communal refugee shelter where he lives. We see that he’s just as much of an outsider there as he is in the new country he’s struggling to make home. It’s clear that both men have a deep desire to be close to someone. As Lars works to get Waseem’s walls to drop ever so slightly, an intimacy grows between the two men. It’s an odd sort of relationship: they have sex, but they’re not exactly lovers; there’s a certain trust, but they aren’t friends; and despite money being exchanged, their meetings aren’t strictly business. A riveting debut from writer-director Kai Kreuser, Label Me becomes both a powerful depiction of the refugee experience and a tender ode to those relationships that can never be defined, but somehow mean everything. ~ Adam Lubitow
OFFICIAL SELECTION Raindance Film Festival
Preceding the feature will be:
Parking
Directed by: Ahmad Seyfipour Iran / 2018 / 9 min. In Tehran, a thief encounters two men having sex in the backseat of a car in a residential parking garage.
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Rochester Friends Meeting (Quakers) 84 Scio Street, Rochester NY 14607 (across from the East End Garage)
http://www.rochesterquakers.org or “Rochester Quaker Meeting” on Facebook Come Worship Among Friends Sundays 11:00 am • Tuesdays 12:15 pm
FRIDAY, OCT. 18 • 5:30PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1 www.imageout.org
30 OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
CLOSING NIGHT Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Before You Know It Directed by: Hannah Pearl Utt USA / 2019 / 98 min.
R
achel takes care of everyone. It’s her job; it’s what she does. From her eccentric playwright of a father, Mel (Mandy Patinkin) to her equally eccentric aspiring actress sister, Jackie (Jen Tullock) to her far-tooobservant young niece, Dodge, Rachel looks after them all in the maze of an apartment they all share above a struggling theater in New York City. Dealing with her family, trying to stage a production of her father’s latest play, and finding creative ways to financially keep the lights on at the theater leave Rachel little time for even thinking about the cute girl she just had a date with, let alone actually pursuing her. When her father dies unexpectedly, Rachel feels even more burdened by her caretaking role, especially the financial part. Turns out the building that houses their apartment and the theater – the one she thought their father owned – is actually co-owned by their mother, who died when she and Jackie were very young. Except she’s not dead at all. Mom Sharon is now actress Sherrell (Judith Light) and she is alive and well, and is the lead on a popular soap opera. With no choice but to confront Sherrell and get her signature so they can keep their home, Rachel reluctantly follows a very assertive Jackie to the studio to come face-toface with their painful past. Needless to say, things do not go according to plan. Director Hannah Pearl Utt (who also plays Rachel) and Jen Tullock wrote the script together and it’s in turn charming, hilarious, heartbreaking, and touching. The supporting cast is peppered with well-known faces (Alec Baldwin, Tim Daly, Mike Colter, Peter Jacobson) and though several storylines run at once – the theater, Sherrell, Jackie’s love life, Dodge’s therapy – they never get tangled or confusing. Hannah Pearl Utt has a deft and subtle touch as a filmmaker, making Before You Know It an engrossing family dramedy that will leave you thinking about how short life really is, and putting your focus on the things that really matter. ~ Georgia Beers
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FRIDAY, OCT. 18 • 7:45PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1 www.imageout.org
31
NARRATIVE FEATURE
The Blonde One (Un Rubio)
Directed by: Marco Berger Argentina / 2019 / 109 min. / In Spanish with English subtitles
NEW YORK STATE PREMIERE
WARNING: Strong sexual contnet and nudity
A
JURY AWARD
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
BEST LGBT FILM Molodist Int’L Film Festival (Kiev, Ukraine)
MEN’S SPOTLIGHT FILM OUTshine Film Festival (Miami)
Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
BFI Flare London LGBT Film Festival
Guadalajara Int’l Film Festival
Reeling Chicago LGBTQ+ Int’l Film Festival
rgentinian director Marco Berger has carved out a niche for himself creating deeply sensual films that explore ideas of male sexuality, machismo, and friendship within Latin culture. With films like Taekwondo and Plan B, the filmmaker seems fascinated by stories about men and the hidden desires they can’t help but explore. In need of a new roommate after his brother moves out of the shabby apartment they share in Buenos Aires, Juan (Gaston Re) offers the extra room to his handsome work colleague, Gabriel (Alfonso Barón) who’s in need of a place to crash. Gabriel doesn’t talk much – Juan’s mates soon start referring to him as “the mute” when they come by for a few rounds of beer and football. Though there’s a clear, immediate attraction between the two men, it remains unacknowledged at first. But Gabriel finds it increasingly hard (pun intended) to keep his eyes off his roommate when he wanders around the flat naked after the amorous visits of his determined ex-girlfriend Natalia (Melissa Falter). The sexual tension between Juan and Gabriel builds to a fever pitch as the men continue to circle one another. Furtive glances, loaded silences, and lingering touches go a long way in demonstrating why Marco Berger’s movies tend to feel like some of the horniest around. The Blonde One balances its endless supply of eye candy with some intriguing ideas about sexual attraction and masculinity. There’s even a dose of genuine heart thanks to Gabriel’s tender visits with his young daughter, who loves him unconditionally. These threads combine with the lead actors’ naturalistic performances and Berger’s sure directorial hand to make a film that’s the perfect blend of sexy and sweet. ~ Adam Lubitow
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FRIDAY, OCT. 18 • 10:15PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1
32
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Leave It To Levi
UNITED STATES PREMIERE
Directed by: Jake Jaxson USA / 2019 / 70 min.
ImageOut There! Series
WARNING: Contains graphic sex and nudity.
W
ho’s ready for an up-close and very personal look at porn star Levi Karter? Using a mix of home videos, studio outtakes, and new footage, this inventive documentary gives us a front-row seat to seven years of his life, from fresh-faced teenager to 25-year-old industry veteran. As an 18-year-old in Athens, Ohio, Luke began filming himself for an unpublished vlog (video blog). In some of the videos he’s speaking to the camera discussing his hopes, dreams, fears, and emotions. Other videos are considerably more explicit. Soon he would sign a contract with prolific porn studio, Cocky Boys, and Luke became Levi. As the film moves into its second act, studio footage replaces Levi’s home videos and we head inside “Camp Cocky Boys,” the country estate where Cocky Boys shoots its movies. There we see porn stars at play – the wholesome off-camera kind of play – and see another side of the often vilified profession. We’ll hear from Cocky Boys CEO (and this film’s creator) Jake Jaxson and co-owner RJ Sebastian, and meet several of Levi’s famous co-stars including Liam Riley, Ricky Roman, and Jake Bass. Levi’s mom, Anne, and his drag alter ego, Sassy Frass, take center stage in the film’s final section and Leave it to Levi ascends to new heights. Unlike other porn industry documentaries, Leave it to Levi avoids the cautionarytale clichés. There are no drugs, no regrets, and no descents into despair. Instead we have an supremely likeable leading man who’s totally in control of his career and his sexuality. So stay up late and join us for a film that is heartwarming, fun, and very sexy. ~ Steve Weisenreder
OFFICIAL SELECTION Guadalajara Int’l Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION TLVfest Tel Aviv Int’l LGBT Film Festival
Preceding the documentary will be:
What Is The Sexy?
Directed by: Dudley Beene and Heath Daniels / USA / 2019 / 3 min. A raunchy and hilarious response to the titular question that also pays homage to 1990s music videos.
Page 75
585-216-7189 Kitten Around Cat Boarding
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Call
Volunteer Donate Get the Word Out www.connectandbreathe.org 1-866-647-1764
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• The Full Festival Pass gains you entry to all Festival programs including the Opening and Closing Night parties. • Enjoy priority seating with a Full Festival Pass. • Passes are limited, purchase early (passes sold out last year). • $20 Full Festival Pass Discount is available to young adults (25 & under) and seniors (over 65) - see page 93 for more information on discounts.
SATURDAY, OCT. 19 • 11:00AM • DRYDEN THEATRE www.imageout.org
33
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Gay Chorus Deep South Directed by: David Charles Rodrigues USA / 2019 / 98 min.
I
n the wake of the 2016 US presidential election, a wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation and outspoken homophobia swept the nation, and nowhere has that been more prevalent than the Deep South. In response, more than 300 members of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, together with the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, decided to raise their voices and bring their message of love and acceptance to communities below the Mason-Dixon Line. With 25 performances in just 7 days, the Lavender Pin Tour brings the SFGMC to five states across the Deep South, from Mississippi to the Carolinas. In addition to telling the story of the tour, Gay Chorus Deep South is full of remarkable human stories. The choir’s Artistic
AUDIENCE AWARD
AUDIENCE AWARD
AUDIENCE AWARD
BEST DOCUMENTARY Tribeca Film Festival
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Berkshire Int’l Film Festival
BEST DOCUMENTARY Pink Apple Queer Film Festival (Zurich)
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
CLOSING NIGHT San Francisco LGBTQ+ Film Festival
OPENING NIGHT Outfest aGLIFF Los Angeles LGBT All Genders, Lifestyles, Film Festival and Identities Film Festival (Austin
AUDIENCE AWARD
AUDIENCE AWARD
BEST BEST MUSIC DOCUMENTARY DOCUMENTARY NorthwestFest Int’l NorthwestFest Int’l Documentary Documentary Festival (Edmonton) Festival (Edmonton)
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival
Provincetown Int’l Film Festival
Page 77
Director, Tim Seelig, was a Southern Baptist Minister before coming out at age 35. Coming out cost him not just his job and his wife, but his children as well. For Tim, this journey home carries considerable redemptive significance. Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, Jimmy White hasn’t spoken to his father in seven years. If dad can be convinced to attend, the concert in Jackson offers Jimmy an opportunity for reconciliation. In Birmingham, Alabama, we see another chorus member make an emotional return to the high school where he was tormented as a teen. At that same school we meet a group of queer students eager to attend the chorus concert, some of whom will have to attend without their parents’ knowledge. Laced with musical numbers from throughout the tour, Gay Chorus Deep South feels more like a musical than a documentary. Audiences will be swept away by the beautiful music, inspired by the lives that are touched by this tour, and heartened as the chorus finds acceptance in places they never expected. ~ Stephen Weisenreder
SATURDAY, OCT. 19 • 1:15PM • DRYDEN THEATRE www.imageout.org
34
NARRATIVE FEATURE
José Directed by: Li Cheng
NEW YORK STATE PREMIERE
Guatemala/USA / 2018 / 85 min. In Spanish with English subtitles.
WARNING: Strong sexual content and nudity
J JURY AWARD
JURY AWARD
QUEER LION BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE Venice Film Festival
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE Wicked Queer Boston LGBT Film Festival
JURY AWARD
JURY AWARD
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE Kashish Mumbai Int’l Queer Film Festival
BEST NARRATIVE FILM Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival
osé is a tender romance and a vividly-observed character study about a young gay man struggling to break free of his stifling environment and learning what he truly wants out of life. José (Enrique Salanic) is a 19-year-old living with his mother (Ana Cecilia Mota) in their working-class Guatemala City neighborhood. They struggle to make ends meet; she sells homemade sandwiches on street corners, while he earns money chasing down customers in a busy intersection for the small restaurant where he works. José’s only other social connection seems to be through hookup apps, which provide an outlet for the feelings he otherwise keeps hidden. Guatemala is a religious, deeply conservative country, particularly when it comes to LGBTQ issues. Surrounded by poverty and violence, circumstances aren’t conducive to living as openly as José otherwise might. But he begins to question his semi-closeted existence when he meets Luis (Manolo Herrera), a migrant construction worker in the country only temporarily, with the intention of leaving once that work runs out. Meeting up in motel rooms that rent by the hour, the two men find an intimacy with one another that seems impossible outside those walls. José had never dared expect more for himself, but their connection is enough to slowly shake him out of his routine, and the reserved young man begins to open up, if only slightly. Luis gently pushes José to leave with him, but he remains susceptible to cultural forces that feel beyond his control. And there are the pressures of his mother, who fears her son will lose his way if he abandons her. Drawing inspiration from extensive interviews he conducted with marginalized young people living in Latin America, Li Cheng directs his story with great sensitivity and a gritty realism. Working with mostly non-professional actors, he gets wonderfully naturalistic performances from his cast. There’s an authenticity in the film’s portrayal of their lives, showing us the resilience it sometimes requires to chase after happiness, despite your circumstances. ~ Adam Lubitow
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SATURDAY, OCT. 19 • 3:30PM • DRYDEN THEATRE www.imageout.org
35
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Portrait Of A Lady On Fire (Portrait de la jeune fille en feu) Directed by: Céline Sciamma France / 2019 / 119 min. / In French and Italian with English subtitles.
SPOTLIGHT SELECTIONOSING NIGHT SELECTION
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JURY AWARD
JURY AWARD
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD
FILM CRITICS AWARD
QUEER PALM BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE Cannes Film Festival
BEST SCREENPLAY Cannes Film Festival
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE Melbourne Int’l Film Festival
WINNER Norwegian Int’l Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Toronto Int’l Film Festival
New York Film Festival
Jerusalem Int’l Film Festival
Sydney Int’l Film Festival
I
n 1760 Brittany, France, an artist named Marianne (Noémie Merlant) is commissioned to paint the wedding portrait of Héloïse (Adèle Haenel), a young woman who has just left the convent. Because she is a reluctant bride-to-be, Marianne arrives under the guise of companionship, observing Héloïse by day and secretly painting her by firelight at night. As the two women orbit one another, intimacy and attraction grow as they share Héloïse’s first moments of freedom. Héloïse’s portrait soon becomes a collaborative act of and testament to their love.
Winner of several prizes at Cannes, including the Queer Palm, Portrait of a Lady on Fire solidifies Céline Sciamma (director of 2011 ImageOut favorite, Tomboy and writer of 2016 Imageout Narrative Feature Audience Award winner Being 17) as one of the most exciting filmmakers working in the world today. Together, Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel turn the female gaze into a dangerous, engrossing thrill, crafting the most breathtaking and elegant performances of the year. With contemporary themes in period dress, Portrait of a Lady on Fire leaves its audience an exquisitely sensual image of desire.
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SATURDAY, OCT. 19 • 6:30PM • DRYDEN THEATRE www.imageout.org
36
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie Directed by: Jonathan Butterell UK / 2018 / 143 min.
CLOSING NIGHT SELECTIONOSING NIGHT SELEC-
TION
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R
uPaul Charles, queen mother to throngs of drag children all over the country, has always said, “Anybody who can step out of the house with a pair of heels and some lipstick on their lips is my hero.” Well, Mother Ru, prepare yourself for Jamie New. In Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, a young man shines a glimmer of light on a small-minded town, but this coming-of-age tale has a bit more glitter and sass than they ever could’ve bargained for. Based on Jenny Popplewell’s 2011 BBC documentary, Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, this musical was written by Dan Gillespie Sells with book and lyrics by Tom McRae, and this live performance was broadcast across the UK from the West End’s Apollo Theatre in 2018. A film adaptation starring Max Harwood, Academy Award nominee Richard E. Grant, and Emmy nominee Sharon Horgan is in the works and slated to open in Fall 2020. The original production was nominated for 5 Laurence Olivier Awards, and it’s the definition of a crowd-pleaser. Living with his single mother in Sheffield, Jamie New (John McCrea) is teased for being flamboyantly gay, but he has another secret. On his sixteenth birthday, his mother gifts him a pair of red patent leather pumps, and Jamie reveals that he wants to be a famous drag queen. When he puts the heels on for the very first time, we are reminded of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz or Lola from Kinky Boots. Jamie quits waiting for permission to be his true self. He hits the ground running with his education in becoming a fabulous drag queen. At a secret drag queen boutique, he meets the owner, Hugo (Phil Nichol), who gives Jamie some advice on how to avoid just being a boy in a dress. He also introduces him to Loco Chanelle, Hugo’s own drag persona, in the campy number, “The Legend of Loco Chanelle (and the Blood Red Dress).” As Jamie, McCrea gives us a hero to root for who can strut his stuff in high heels. Both his speaking and singing voices convey a range of emotions that other actors his age wish they had, and his physical comedy is performed with gusto and an appropriate lack of vanity. He’s fabulous. Jamie’s biggest support comes from his mother, Margaret, in a luminous performance from Josie Walker. Every mother who has a child come out to her should follow Margaret’s example of how to support her child. Even though she makes some questionable decisions, Margaret’s love for Jamie never wavers and she constantly reminds him to own who he is. While there are scary moments in the show tied to bigotry and confusion, the musical is a learning experience for everyone. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie succeeds because of how much we need hopeful stories. The music is effortlessly infectious and the performances are true and honest. Living in our own truths is how we grow as a community and as a society, so we could all learn a lot from Jamie New. This theatrical event captures your heart from the opening musical number and never lets go even after you leave the cinema. ~ Joey Moser Page 83
CLOSING NIGHT PARTY Saturday, October 19th
I
9:30pm at The Geva Theatre Center (75 Woodbury Blvd, Rochester, NY 14607)
mmediately following Everybody’s Talking About Jamie – The Closing Night Film at the Dryden Theatre.
Sweet
CHOCOLATES and ICE CREAM TASTES By Hedonist Artisan Chocolates PLENTY OF TABLE SEATING Relax and socialize with your ImageOut Festival friends.
COOKIES & CUPCAKES By Get Caked COFFEE By Soul Coffee & Jazz
Savory HOT and COLD HORS D’OEUVRES CASH BARS TASTY GROOVES Page 85
SECOND FLOOR LOUNGE AND DANCE FLOOR Enjoy the intimate bar and dance the night away at the second floor lounge.
SUNDAY, OCT. 20 • 1:00PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1 www.imageout.org
37 Listen
SHORTS PROGRAM
Safe Space
Our 2019 Shorts Programs are made possible through the gererosity of longtime ImageOut supporters David D. Emert and Jon P. Templin
Sweetheart Dancers
> Next Generation Series
Curated by: Michael Gamilla Total Running Time: 96 min.
From these LGBTQ youth stories of hope, bravery, and resilience, you have got to believe that the kids will be alright.
Listen
Directed by: Jake Graf / UK / 2019 / 4 min. Sequins
Featuring young trans actors in trans roles, Listen honestly and frankly depicts some of the myriad struggles experienced daily by trans children and teenagers, giving a much needed voice to this often maligned segment of the community.
Bubble
Sweetheart Dancers
Directed by: Ben-Alex Dupris / USA / 2019 / 14 min.
In A Moment
Sean and Adrian, a Two-Spirit couple, are determined to rewrite the rules of Native American culture through their participation in the “Sweetheart Dance.” This celebratory contest is held at powwows across the country, primarily for heterosexual couples... until now.
Wonder
Sequins
Directed by: Michael Beddoes / UK / 2019 / 18 min. Seventeen-year-old Paul Bigsby has only one dream at the moment: to be a proper drag queen.
Bubble
Directed by: Alyssa Lerner / USA / 2019 / 18 min. In this comedic coming-of-age story set during the 2008 financial crisis, a Filipina teenager struggles with her parents avoiding the reality of their home foreclosure and her growing realization that she’s in love with her female best friend.
In A Moment (In einem moment)
Directed by: Sharlin Lucia / Germany / 2019 / 17 min.
The One You Never Forget
In German with English subtitles.
It took meeting Leon for Max to finally realize his true self. But can he truly leave his little fortress to finally see the world?
Wonder
Directed by: Javier Molina / USA / 2019 / 17 min. It’s Halloween and 11-year-old Sammy wants to dress up as a superhero... the one with an invisible jet and lasso.
The One You Never Forget
Directed by: Morgan Jon Fox / USA / 2019 / 8 min. Fourteen-year-old Carey nervously prepares for his first school dance and must decide if he’ll let his curious father meet his date or not.
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SUNDAY, OCT. 20 • 3:30PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1
38
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Changing The Game Directed by: Michael Barnett USA / 2019 / 90 min.
> Next Generation Series
L
JURY AWARD
AUDIENCE AWARD
AUDIENCE AWARD
BEST DOCUMENTARY aGLIFF All Genders, Lifestyles, and Identities Film Festival (Austin)
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Frameline San Francisco Int’l LGBTQ+ Film Festival
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARD
OFFICIAL SELECTION
BEST DOCUMENTARY Damn These Heels LGBTQ Film Festival (Salt Lake City)
Tribeca Film Festival
eaping into the national controversy surrounding what’s “right” for youth sports and transgender athletes, Michael Barnett directs a powerful and intimate documentary examining the hurdles that demand to be confronted in the lives of Mack Beggs, Sarah Rose Huckman, and Andraya Yearwood. These transgender teens are each forced to maneuver the rules set by the governing bodies of their states for high school sports and sadly they are forced to cope with taunts, bias, and blatant bullying from detractors who mean to deter them from competing as themselves in the sports that they love. Ultimately their stories are uplifting and full of courage and resilience but this film can be difficult as we’re exposed to the no-holds-barred reality of misgendering, name-calling, and transphobic slurs (most often from adults) meant to marginalize and “other” these teens and trans folks in general. It’s always disturbing to witness unfettered bias and bullying, especially when directed toward youths. Fortunately the overriding message of this film counters those disheartening attacks with the encouraging voices of family members, coaches, faculty, and allies. The important differences that accompany having supportive individuals in the lives of transgender youths become strikingly evident even when some of those voices are still “learning the ropes.” Beggs and Yearwood have been under the spotlight of national controversy over the past two years; Beggs having been forced to wrestle against girls despite his desire to compete against boys and Yearwood facing hostility for being permitted to run on the high school girls team as a transgender girl. Huckman may be less well-known nationally, but the 17-year-old cross country skier was instrumental in the promotion of New Hampshire’s anti-discrimination bill (HB1319) which updated state law to include the protection of transgender persons in the areas of housing, employment, and use of public places. Despite the film’s more difficult segments, the importance of its overriding messages of strength and encouragement, reinforced by the component of endurance in the face of adversity, provides stirring and victorious examples of Changing the Game. ~ Jennifer Morgan
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SUNDAY, OCT. 20 • 6:00PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1 www.imageout.org
39
NARRATIVE FEATURE
Carmilla
NEW YORK STATE PREMIERE
Directed by: Simon Amstell UK / 2019 / 96 min.
ImageOut There! Series
T
he lesbian vampire novella Carmilla was written in 1872 by Irish author Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, predating Bram Stoker’s Dracula by 25 years, and was likely the first story written in English to prominently feature lesbianism. Since then, Carmilla has been told and retold, filmed and refilmed countless times. Look it up on IMDB and the listing goes back to the very early 70s, just in film and television alone. It’s a timeless Gothic classic that is both horrifying and erotic, both heartbreaking and sexy. In this retelling, director Emily Harris opts to keep the setting very Gothic and very British, moody and overcast. 15-year-old Lara (Hannah Rae) lives in isolation in a large, drafty house with her father and her very strict governess, Miss Fontaine (Jessica Raine). Her days are spent waiting not-soanxiously for the arrival of Charlotte, a friend who lives in another town, so Lara will finally have somebody her own age to spend time with and discuss things that have her teenage brain curious about life, herself, and her burgeoning sexuality. When Charlotte falls ill and must cancel, Lara sinks into a depression. She’s sad, terribly lonely, and tired of Miss Fontaine’s attempts to make a proper lady out of her (going so far as to battle against the fact that Lara is left-handed – the horror!). One carriage crash in the night will change Lara’s world forever. Enter the mysterious Carmilla (Devrim Lingnau), a victim in said carriage crash, who is brought to Lara’s house to recover from her injuries. Carmilla is young, beautiful and alluring to everybody in the house, but especially to Lara, and the two form a bond that quickly slides from friendly to sensual to downright sexy before it hits the border of sinister and lingers there. When Lara falls ill in a very similar fashion to other young girls in neighboring towns, and the only common denominator is Carmilla, Lara’s father and Miss Fontaine decide they must take some kind of action to save her. ~ Georgia Beers
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SUNDAY, OCT. 20 • 8:30PM • LITTLE THEATRE 1
40 OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
CLOSING NIGHT OUTshine Film Festival (Miami)
CLOSING NIGHT Out Film CT Connecticut LGBT Film Festival
OFFICIAL SELECTION
OFFICIAL SELECTION
NARRATIVE FEATURE
The Shiny Shrimps (Les Crevettes pailletées) Directed by: Maxime Govare & Cédric Le Gallo France / 2019 / 103 min. / In French with English subtitles
M
atthias LeGroff, an ill-tempered world champion swimmer, has been caught on camera using antigay slurs. His reputation in tatters, he’s ordered to rehab his image by coaching a gay water polo team. Making matters worse, he’s been assigned to The Shiny Shrimps, a team so bad that they’ve been called “the worst team in gay sports history.” For Matthias, the equation is simple: coach The Shiny Shrimps to success at the upcoming Gay Games or he’ll never swim competitively again. The Shiny Shrimps aren’t just bad, they’re downright silly. Much to the chagrin of their ultra-competitive new coach, they’re clearly more focused on having fun and building comradery than wins and losses. Instead of strategy and skill, practice time is spent learning choreography. A match against their arch rivals, a team of “vicious lesbians” known as The Pool Punchers, shows Matthias what an impossible challenge lays in front of him. The film really hits its stride when The Shiny Shrimps hit the road for The Gay Games in a dilapidated bus reminiscent of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. As the film morphs from sports movie to road trip comedy and back again, we see this team of misfit characters in a whole new light. While the Shrimps traverse the backroads of Europe, they also navigate everything from homophobia, heartbreak, and acceptance of transgender teammates to wacky all-night parties, drunken hook-ups, and tattoos in places best left to the imagination. Screwball comedy swims side-by-side with some truly tender moments in a movie that perfectly balances side-splitting laughter with a surprising amount of heart. Whether you’re a fan of sports movies, slapstick fun, or men in speedos, there’s something for everyone in The Shiny Shrimps. ~ Stephen Weisenreder
OPENING NIGHT Outfest Reeling Los Angeles LGBTQ Chicago LGBTQ+ Film Festival Int’l Film Festival
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THANK YOU ImageOut wishes to thank all those individuals, businesses, and organizations whose help made this year’s Festival possible.
GRANTMAKERS:
ADDITIONAL THANKS TO:
The New York State Council on the Arts The Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation The City of Rochester The Joseph and Irene Skalny Charitable Trust LGBT Fund for Greater Rochester
2019 ImageOut Rochester Pride Parade Walkers ASL Interpreters Avery Marketing Sue Avery Berlin International Film Festival Michael Stütz, Christian Jankowski Chris Cooley and Larry Hand (for hosting Michael’s stay In San Francisco) Dryden Theatre Allen Buell, Jared Case, Alex Vasile Equal=Grounds Empty Closet Frameline: San Francisco LGBTQ Film Festival Peter Klein, Paul Struthers Geva Theatre Center Jack Garner Jehd Canceram (for hosting Michael’s stay In Toronto) Gateway and Company Gilded Square Michelle Michael Inside Out – The Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival Andria Wilson, Andrew Murphy Little Theatre and its fab staff McMaster Productions Eric McMaster
MARQUEE SPONSOR:
Trillium Health PREMIER SPONSORS:
CITY Newspaper WXXI Public Broadcasting FEATURE SPONSORS:
The Bachelor Forum Ernst & Young Hedonist Artisan Chocolates Visual Studies Workshop PRESENTING SPONSORS:
Eastman Kodak Company Image360 - Rochester Randy Raetz, D.D.S. PLLC Rochester Victory Alliance United Church of Christ MAJOR SPONSORS:
Avery Marketing Citizens Bank Haus Capital Corporation
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Out Alliance OUTshine LGBT Film Festival Joe Bilancio The MOCHA Center, Inc. Christopher Goodwin Northstar Distribution Dave North Andreas Polzer, Gaël Boudjema (for hosting Michael’s stay in Berlin) Rochester Art Supply David Hoffend BJ Scanlon VisitRochester Visual Studies Workshop Tate Shaw Greg Winter And to all the generous distributors, filmmakers, artists, and writers for sharing their passion and work with ImageOut, ImageOut Art, and ImageOutWrite this year.
THEATER VENUES
Little Theatres 1 and 2 240 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14604 Little Theatre 1: 290 seats Little Theatre 2: 178 seats
Dryden Theatre George Eastman House 900 East Ave., Rochester, NY 14607 500 seats
The Little Theatre box office opens 30 minutes before each program begins. Once the Little Theatre 1 box office opens, you may purchase tickets for any of the programs featured at the Little that day. Between screenings, a special ImageOut box office table will be located in the lobby to the left of the concession stand. Here you can purchase tickets for any remaining programs in the Festival. Come early to buy tickets and enjoy the Little Theatre Café! The Café features live music five nights a week. Check the Little website for hours and music schedules: www.thelittle.com. Directions to Little Theatre: From the EAST: Come in to Rochester on Route 490. Take the Goodman Street exit. At the top of the ramp turn right (go North) onto Goodman to East Avenue. Turn left (go west) and go through three lights. The Little will be on your right (on the north side of East Avenue). To park in the East End garage, continue to Scio Street, turn right (go North). The entrance to
the garage will be on your left (on the West side of Scio Street). Parking here is $2.00 after 5:30pm weeknights and all day on weekends. From the WEST: Come in to Rochester on Route 490. Take the Goodman Street exit. At the top of the ramp turn left (go North) onto Goodman to East Avenue. Turn left (go west) and go through three lights. The Little will be on your right (on the north side of East Avenue). To park in the East End garage, continue to Scio Street, turn right (go North). The entrance to the garage will be on your left (on the West side of Scio Street). For current parking rates please visit the City of Rochester website: CityofRochester.gov. Parking: There is free parking in close proximity to the Little Theatre. On-street parking near the Little is free after 6:00pm and all day on weekends. Additional parking can be found at the East End Garage. It’s a short walk from the theatre (see driving instructions above).
The Dryden Theatre box office, located in the lobby to the left of the theatre entrance, opens 30 minutes before each program begins. There you may purchase tickets for any of the programs featured at the Dryden that day, and for any remaining programs in the Festival. Come early to buy tickets and enjoy the Eastman House Café! The Eastman House Café is open from 10:00am to 8:00pm Tuesday through Saturday and 11:00am to 5:00pm on Sundays. Directions to The Dryden Theatre: From the EAST: Come in to Rochester on Route 490. Take the Goodman Street exit. At the top of the ramp turn right onto Goodman (go North) to East Avenue. Turn right onto East Avenue (go East). Pass through 2 lights (at Oxford and Portsmouth) and the entrance to the Dryden Theatre at George Eastman House will be the first driveway on your left (on the north side of East Avenue).
From the WEST: Come in to Rochester on Route 490. Take the Goodman Street exit. At the top of the ramp turn left onto Goodman (go North) to East Avenue. Turn right onto East Avenue (go East). Pass through 3 lights (Portsmouth) and the entrance to the Dryden Theatre at George Eastman House will be the first driveway on your left (on the north side of East Avenue). Parking: Parking lot entrances are located off East Avenue and University Avenue. Parking is free, adjacent to the theater in the George Eastman House parking lot. Additional parking is available on University Avenue and in the evening on both sides of East Avenue.
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Advance Ticket Sales SAVE UP TO 20% WHEN YOU PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE
Festival Fair
Tuesday, September 24 Ticket Sales at the Fair: 6:30 – 9:00pm (Doors open at 6:00pm)
Free and Open to the Public –
Our First In-Person Ticket Sales Opportunity Rochester Academy of Medicine 1441 East Ave, Rochester NY 14610 (Parking is availble in lots adjacent to the building.)
T
he Festival Fair is the first chance for the general public to buy tickets to all the Festival films! We’ll take over the stately 1930 East Aveneue mansion that is home to the Rochester Academy of Medicine to give you the best view of this year’s Festival.
Online Ticket Sales
Enjoy free snacks and a cash bar and plan your Festival experience – we’ll be showing Festival film trailers to help you make your choices. And at 8:00pm we’ll be presenting our Programmer’s Preview in the Academy’s Theater with the latest news on must-see Festival films, followed by a FREE screening of Six Characters In Search Of A Play (more information on page 9).
Online ticket purchasing will remain available throughout the entire festival. To purchase tickets online you must be able to either print your emailed tickets or show them at the door on your smart phone.
ImageOut offers secure, online ticket purchasing beginning Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at 5:00pm through the end of the Festival. Online ticket purchases require use of a credit card or a PayPal account. All online purchases will have a modest processing fee added per each ticket. Tickets purchased online will be emailed to you immediately.
You can find links to purchase tickets on the home page of the ImageOut website (www.imageout.org) and on every Festival website film program page. PAGE 92
September 18 – October 20
Online ticket sales begin Wednesday, September 18 at 5:00pm and will continue through the Festival.
September 24 – Festival Fair, 6:30 – 9:00pm (Doors open at 6:00pm) Our first
in-person ticket sales opportunity, Rochester Academy of Medicine, 1441 East Ave. (Details on opposite page).
Additional In-Person Ticket Sales
Tickets may be purchased at the ImageOut office in Village Gate Square, 274 N. Goodman Street, Bldg A, Suite A203 on these dates and times: Saturday, Sept. 28................ 12:30 – 4:00pm Thursday, Oct.3..................... 6:00 – 8:30pm Sunday, Oct. 6...................... 12:30 – 4:00pm Tuesday, Oct. 8..................... 6:00 – 8:30pm Thursday, Oct. 10.................. 7:00 – 9:00pm (At the Festival Eve Party / Volo) The office is closest to the Goodman Street entrance. There is ample parking in the back lots at Village Gate Square where you can easily access the building through the “B” entrance. Tickets purchased in person may be paid for by cash, check, money order, or credit card. (Credit card orders will be charged a $3 processing fee.) Advance tickets will NOT be sold at the Little or Dryden Theatres.
Additional Notes On Tickets • Advance ticket prices are lower than ticket prices once the festival begins. • A $2.00 discount is available for young adults (age 25 and under), with proper ID, for all programs. Discounts are available either in person, or online using discount code: ya19 • A $2.00 discount is available to Seniors age 65 and over with proper ID for all programs. Discounts are available either in person, or online using discount code: senior19
Tickets by Phone
• Seniors and Young Adults are also eligible for a $20 discount on Full Festival Passes. Discounts are available in person, or online using discount code: yaseniorpass.
Saturday, Sept. 28................ 12:30 – 4:00pm Thursday, Oct.3..................... 6:00 – 8:30pm Sunday, Oct. 6...................... 12:30 – 4:00pm Tuesday, Oct. 8..................... 6:00 – 8:30pm
• All screenings are available for advance purchase. Some programs may sell out prior to the show. To avoid disappointment, we encourage you to buy your tickets early. Rush tickets for a sold out show may become available right before the screening.
If you are unable to purchase your tickets online or in-person we will have volunteers taking phone orders at 585-271-2640 during these hours:
Tickets will be mailed to you within one week of your order date. To ensure a smooth transaction, please fill out the order form in this Program before calling and have your credit card available. Phone orders may only be paid for by credit card and there is a $3.00 processing fee for each order. Please do not call the ImageOut office with ticket orders during regular business hours. If you call the office at any other time, you will reach our voice mail. In this case, please clearly leave only your name, phone number, and best time to return Have Questions? your call. Our ticket committee volunteers are in the office during the evenings and will respond Email the Ticket to messages at that time. Please do not leave Committee your ticket order on our phone messaging We encourage you to system, as such orders will not be accepted. contact us at tickets@imageout.org. We try to respond within 24 hours. PAGE 93
• ALL SALES ARE FINAL. There are no refunds or exchanges after the purchase of tickets. • For Group rates please email us at tickets@imageout.org • Vouchers or coupons will not be accepted unless issued by ImageOut. • Please check venues and start times on your tickets as they vary each night. • Fax or direct mail ticket orders will not be accepted. • We are unable to “hold” ticket orders for later purchase.
www.imageout.org
Director
Become a Member and Support ImageOut! There’s still time to become an ImageOut member – and many benefits to enjoy during the Festival: n Priority admission n Free tickets to Festival screenings nM ember-only events held during and after the Festival n Discounts at partner businesses
Memberships are for the calendar year. 2019 ImageOut memberships expire on December 31, 2019.
Renew or Become a New Member: fill out the form below and mail it to ImageOut, 274 North Goodman Street, Suite A203, Rochester, NY 14607. You can also become a member by calling the ImageOut office at 585-271-2640 or online at www.imageout.org.
Select a level of giving that is comfortable for you. Membership donations in addition to ticket sales contribute to the viability of ImageOut. See the grid to the right for member levels and associated benefits. Please use the form to join by mail or join online at: www.imageout.org and become a member today.
Making a Difference – for the Future of ImageOut.
Please contact me, I would like to pay for my membership in installments.
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Wouldn’t it be great to know that the joy you experience and the affirmation that you receive as an ImageOut filmgoer will be shared by others in the years ahead? You have a special opportunity to help secure and shape ImageOut’s long-term future. The ImageOut Legacy Society was created to provide a powerful way to support ImageOut’s commitment to presenting LGBTQ arts and cultural experiences for many years to come. Legacy Society membership is afforded to any person whose estate plan designates ImageOut as a beneficiary. For more information about planned giving opportunities, contact the ImageOut office at 585-802-3945 or office@imageout.org.
SAVE UP TO 20% WHEN YOU PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE t DATE
2019 Ticket Order Form DATE LAST NAME FIRST NAME STREET ADDRESS
CITY / STATE / ZIP PHONE EMAIL ADDRESS
No fax or direct mail ticket orders will be accepted because ticket availability cannot be guaranteed. There will be no refunds or exchanges.
ACCESSIBILITY ASL interpreting for Festival films can be requested up until Friday, October 4th to guarantee that an interpreter can be present and prepared. Those requesting or inquiring about wheelchair accessible seating should call the Festival Office directly at 585-271-2640. Requests must be made prior to 5:00pm on October 4, 2019.
TIME
BOX OFFICE ADVANCE TICKET TICKET THEATER PRICE PRICE QTY
PROGRAM NUMBER / TITLE
Fri. Oct. 11 6:30pm 1 Vita & Virginia (Advance ticket includes party) Little 1 $15 $15 Fri. Oct. 11 9:30pm 2 An Almost Ordinary Summer (Advance ticket includes party) Little 1 $15 $15 Sat. Oct. 12 11:30am 3 Scream, Queen! My Nightmare On Elm Street Dryden $10 $9 Sat. Oct. 12 1:45pm 4 Queering The Script Little 1 $10 $9 Sat. Oct. 12 1:45pm 5 Third Wedding Dryden $10 $9 Sat. Oct. 12 4:00pm 6 Quick Licks (Shorts Program) Little 1 $10 $9 Sat. Oct. 12 4:00pm 7 Ham: A Musical Memoir Dryden $10 $9 Sat. Oct. 12 7:00pm 8 The Garden Left Behind Little 1 $10 $9 Sat. Oct. 12 7:15pm 9 Benjamin Dryden $10 $9 Sat. Oct. 12 9:30pm 10 Good Kisser Little 1 $10 $9 Sat. Oct. 12 9:30pm 11 End Of The Century (Spotlight) Dryden $12 $11 Sun. Oct. 13 12:15pm 12 Unsettled: Seeking Refuge In America Little 2 $10 $9 Sun. Oct. 13 12:30pm 13 My Baby’s Got A Secret (Shorts Program) Little 1 $10 $9 Sun. Oct. 13 2:30pm 14 Zen In The Ice Rift Little 2 $10 $9 Sun. Oct. 13 3:15pm 15 Circus Of Books Little 1 $10 $9 Sun. Oct. 13 5:30pm 16 The Ground Beneath My Feet Little 2 $10 $9 Sun. Oct. 13 6:00pm 17 The Prince Little 1 $10 $9 Sun. Oct. 13 8:15pm 18 Carmen & Lola Little 2 $10 $90 Sun. Oct. 13 8:30pm 19 From Zero To I Love You Little 1 $10 $9 Mon. Oct. 14 6:00pm 20 For They Know Not What They Do (Documentary Centerpiece) Little 1 $10 $90 Mon. Oct. 14 8:45pm 21 Something’s Comin’ Over Me (Shorts Program) Little 1 $10 $90 Tues. Oct. 15 6:00pm 22 Billie and Emma Little 1 $10 $9 Tues. Oct. 15 8:30pm 23 Trick (Archive) Dryden $10 $90 Tues. Oct. 15 8:45pm 24 Last Ferry Little 1 $10 $9 Wed. Oct. 16 6:00pm 25 Straight Up Little 1 $10 $9 Wed. Oct. 16 8:30pm 26 Song Lang (Narrative Centerpiece) Little 1 $12 $11 Thur. Oct. 17 5:30pm 27 Flawless (Spotlight) Little 1 $12 $11 Thur. Oct. 17 7:45pm 28 Happiness Lies In Your Own Hand (Shorts Program) Little 1 $10 $90 Thur. Oct. 17 10:00pm 29 Label Me Little 1 $10 $9 Fri. Oct. 18 5:30pm 30 Before You Know It Little 1 $10 $9 Fri. Oct. 18 7:45pm 31 The Blonde One Little 1 $10 $9 Fri. Oct. 18 10:15pm 32 Leave It To Levi Little 1 $10 $90 Sat. Oct. 19 11:00am 33 Gay Chorus Deep South Dryden $10 $90 Sat. Oct. 19 1:15pm 34 José Dryden $10 $9 Sat. Oct. 19 3:30pm 35 Portrait Of A Lady On Fire Dryden $10 $9 Sat. Oct. 19 6:30pm 36 Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Film & Party) Dryden $30 $25 Sat. Oct. 19 6:30pm 36F Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Film-Only Ticket) Dryden $18 $15 Sat. Oct. 19 9:30pm Closing Night Party (Party-Only Ticket) Geva $20 $15 Sun. Oct. 20 1:00pm 37 Safe Space (Shorts Program) Little 1 $10 $9 Sun. Oct. 20 3:30pm 38 Changing The Game Little 1 $10 $9 Sun. Oct. 20 6:00pm 39 Carmilla Little 1 $10 $9 Sun. Oct. 20 8:30pm 40 The Shiny Shrimps Little 1 $10 $9
Full Festival Pass $225 (a $312 value)
$ 225
A Full Festival Pass entitles you entrance to all shows, early admission for seat selection, plus the Opening and Closing Night Parties.
That’s over a ( 25% SAVINGS )
ImageOutreach Donation (Suggested donation – $5.00)
Please consider making a donation to ImageOutreach. Your support will help our youth, hard-of-hearing and less fortunate members of our community access the Festival.
PAYMENT METHOD: o Cash o Check o Visa o MasterCard o Discover o AmEx Credit Card CSV Code:
SUBTOTAL CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FEE ($3 per order) TOTAL AMOUNT DUE
TOTAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 FO P 37 38 39 40
TICKET DISCOUNTS Next Generation Film Series All programs in this series are free to anyone 25 and under. (see page 15 for a listing of the films in this series)
Tickets can be obtained during advance ticket sales at in-person sales only (see page 93 for dates & times)
and at the box office before each screening. Please be prepared to show proper ID.
Young Adult Discount
ImageOut offers a $2 discount to individuals 25 and under for all film programs in the Festival. Full Festival Passes are discounted $20 for young adults. See page 93 for more details.
Senior Discount
ImageOut offers a $2 discount to individuals over the age of 65 for all film programs in the Festival. A $20 discount is available for Full Festival Passes. See page 93 for more details.
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