MQFF 2008 Program by Melbourne Queer Film Festival

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CONTENTS Welcome Messages

7, 9

Special Presentations

58–61

All our panels and special sessions.

Sponsors

Community Partners

Supporters Prahran Market Clinic

Hampton Foodstore

Arid Zone

Life Resolutions

Magnify Media

Connexus

Grazzhopper Energy Drinks

Blakes Feast

Midsumma Festival

Turtle Cove

Ice CafĂŠ Bar

TICKETING OPENING NIGHT & CLOSING NIGHT Opening Night film & party

Closing Night film & party

Breakfast With Scot (pp.16-17)

XXY (pp.18-19) $22 full, $19 conc, $17 MQFF

$42 full, $36 conc, $33 MQFF

SINGLE TICKETS QUEERIES Sessions 32 & 70 (pp.76-77)

SINGLE TICKET session $16 full, $13 conc, $11 MQFF

$10 full, $8 MQFF & conc

CELLULOID CASSEROLE Session 54 (p.79)

Gold coin donation

MULTI-SESSION PASSES TRIPLE CHOC PASS

STRAWBERRY PASS

sessions $43 full, $36 conc, $31 MQFF

sessions $72 full, $61 conc, $52 MQFF

GOLDEN TOFFEE PASS

MINT PASS

All sessions including Opening & Closing Nights $300 full, $255 conc, $220 MQFF

7 sessions $100 full, $85 conc, $70 MQFF

CURATED PASSES Curated passes are the perfect Festival companion for busy queers. One pass gets you along to a selection of the best sessions for girls (Lazy Lesbians Pass) and boys (Lazy Buggers Pass), or Festival Director Lisa Daniel’s personal picks for 2008 (Director’s Choice Pass). Sessions are non-transferable.

sessions $72 full, $61 conc, $52 MQFF

LAZY LESBIANS PASS 1 Out at the Wedding Thu 6 Mar 21 Shelter Me Sat 8 Mar 52 Spider Lilies Wed 12 Mar 63 Love My Life Fri 14 Mar 77 The New World Sat 15 Mar

LAZY BUGGERS PASS 38 The Bubble Sun 9 Mar 46 The Witnesses Mon 10 Mar 49 Clapham Junction Tues 11 Mar 65 Shelter Fri 14 Mar 78 A Four Letter Word Sat 15 Mar

DIRECTOR’S CHOICE PASS 5 Poltergay 23 Vivere 33 She’s a Boy I Knew 58 Saturn in Opposition 75 Oz Shorts

Thu 6 Mar Sat 8 Mar Sun 9 Mar Thu 13 Mar Sat 15 Mar

TICKETING BUYING TICKETS All tickets and passes can be booked via our website at

www.melbournequeerfilm.com.au It’s quick and easy, totally secure and available 24 hours. Please note that all tickets purchased on the website will be available from the first venue you attend, they will not be posted out. For group bookings of 10 or more, please phone the MQFF office on 03 9827 2022 for discount.

ACMI CINEMAS

Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, Flinders St, Melbourne. Ph: 03 8663 2583. Box office open daily 10am–6pm (extended hours during the Festival).

TICKETING RULES 1. All prices include GST. 2. A session ticket will be required to enter each film (except for Golden Toffee holders). Session tickets should be attached to your Festival multipass. 3. Only one ticket per session per multipass will be issued. 4. We encourage patrons to arrive early as seating is unreserved. 5. Laws governing film festivals mean that all audience members must be 18 years or over, with the exception of Queeries (see pp.76-77) where patrons 15 years and over are permitted. 6. No refunds or cancellations given unless a session is moved or cancelled. 7. Valid concessions: full time students, healthcare card holders, Senior’s Card, Melbourne International Film Festival members, City Of Melbourne Companion Card, ACMI members, Classic Cinema members. One concession ticket per card holder will apply on presentation of valid card. Please note: when picking up pre-booked tickets, please present your valid concession card. MQFF members receive further discount.

GOLDEN TOFFEE PASS RULES 1. Your laminated Golden Toffee Pass must be presented for entry to each session. 2. Golden Toffee Passes are strictly non-transferable. 3. Please choose your sessions carefully as you may not be able to see all films in the Festival. 4. Golden Toffee Pass holders are requested to be seated 15 minutes before the beginning of each session. Your reserved seat may be sold if the session is booked out.

HARES AND HYENAS 63 Johnson St, Fitzroy Ph: 03 9495 6589 www.hares-hyenas.com.au Tickets can be purchased 10am–7pm Monday–Saturday, 12pm–6pm Sunday.

STAND BY TICKETS 1. WHAT IS STAND BY? Standby refers to seats made available immediately prior to a sold out session. Some sessions listed as sold out will have a limited number of tickets available for sale due to the holding of seats for Golden Toffee holders.. Once the Golden Toffee holders and all other ticket holders are seated, any spare seats will be sold as ‘standby’. 2. WHERE CAN I BUY STANDBY TICKETS? Standby tickets are only available at the venue immediately prior to the session, on a cash only basis. 3. WHAT IS A STANDBY RESERVATION NUMBER? A Standby reservation number gives you a place in the queue to purchase Standby tickets. Numbers will be handed out at the ACMI Box Office 30 minutes prior to a session. At very popular sessions a queue is formed so that Standby Reservation Numbers can be handed out in an orderly and fair manner. 4. WHY ARE STANDBY TICKETS CASH ONLY? Cash only sales avoid delays caused by credit card payments. The sooner tickets are sold, the quicker we can get you into the cinema and avoid you missing any of the feature. 5. WILL I MISS ANY OF THE SESSION? The Standby queue is processed as quickly as possible, and we generally get all patrons into the cinema before the session starts. In very busy sessions it may happen that some patrons miss the first minute or two. 6. WHAT SORT OF SEATS WILL I GET? You may end up sitting in the first rows, and groups may have to sit separately. 7. HOW CAN I AVOID MISSING OUT ON TICKETS? The best way to avoid missing out is to buy your tickets early!

AWARDS AuDIENCE ChOICE AWARDS Here’s your chance to make your mark on a filmmaker’s life and vote for the films you love the best in the Fest. These are the awards voted by you, the audience, and all of them result in major cash for the winners. So take a deep breath and vote for your faves. Voting forms are available at ACMI Cinemas and the Festival Club, or you can vote online at www.melbournequeerfilm.com.au. The winners of these awards will be announced at the Closing Night film and party at ACMI Cinemas.

Audience Choice Awards For Best Feature Film All feature films in the Festival are eligible. The winning film receives $5000 cash, co-presented by MQFF and Volkswagen.

Audience Choice Award For Best Documentary All documentaries of 45 minutes and over (including Special Presentations) are eligible. This award is cosponsored by the Festival and MQFF Life Member David McCarthy. The winning film will receive $2000.

Audience Choice Award For Best Short Film All short narrative films screened in the Festival are eligible. The winning film will receive $500 cash.

Audience Choice Award For Best Australian Short Film All Australian short narrative films screened in the Festival (except those screening in Celluloid Casserole) are eligible. The winner will receive $1000 in cash co-presented by MQFF and Karen Russell of Step Right Up.

JuRY AWARDS

The City of Melbourne has confirmed their longstanding support of the Festival by generously providing a $2000 cash prize for this award. All films listed in Oz Shorts (Australian Shorts Package, pp.62–63) are in the running for The City of Melbourne Emerging Filmmaker Award for Best Australian Short Queer Film, which will be announced and presented at the second session of the Oz Shorts package on Saturday 15 March (Session 75). See p.62 for a list of this year’s judges.

PHOTO: CATHERINE O’NEIL

The City of Melbourne Emerging Filmmaker Award for Best Australian Short Queer Film

Above: 2007 winner of the City of Melbourne Emerging Filmmaker Award for Best Australian Short Queer Film, Denie Pentecost (director of Sexy Thing) with Cr Gary Singer, City of Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor and Lisa Daniel, Festival Director.

Selectors’ Choice Award for Best Australian Short Queer Film Films in the Celluloid Casserole (see p.79) are screening in competition for the MQFF Selectors’ Choice Award. The award and $500 cash will be announced after the screening at Loop on Wednesday 12 March.

OPENING BREAKFAST WITH SCOT Dir: Laurie Lynd, Canada, 2007, 35mm, 95 min Certain to be a Festival highlight, Breakfast With Scot is at once an all-round comedy crowd pleaser and a substantial drama about the strength of love in blended families. Former National League hockey star Eric lives with partner Sam, a lawyer (Ben Shenkman, Angels in America, Law and Order), yet in the public eye they play it straight. But when Sam’s adventure-seeking brother Billy takes a job in South America, his ex-girlfriend, Julie, is discovered dead from a drug overdose, leaving her son Scot in Billy’s care. Unable to locate Billy, Eric and Sam reluctantly agree to take temporary custody of Scot. Fearing that the 11-year-old will act like typical boys his age, they are surprised to find Scot to be a swishy, mincing sissy who dresses flamboyantly and is more ‘gay’ than they are. Here the film shifts into top gear, with the household thrown into confusion as Eric and Sam negotiate difficult parenting issues while getting to know an intriguing, brave and grieving little boy. (BZ) Director Laurie Lynd has “found the needed balance that makes Breakfast With Scot not only amusing and heartfelt, but also genuinely thoughtful about life’s many unexpected turns.” Toronto Star

OPENING

Plus:

MIRROR MIRROR Dir: John Winter, Australia, 2007, video, 11 min After so many years together, Joe faces life without Jana. Saying goodbye is never easyâ&#x20AC;Ś Stars Roy Billing.

Join us in the Astor foyer immediately following the film for our slap-up Opening Night Party!

MAR

2008

Wednesday 5 March

7.30pm

Astor Theatre, St Kilda www.

.com.au

1 7

CLOSING XXY Dir: Lucía Puenzo, Argentina/Spain, 2007, 35mm, 87 min

Spanish with English subtitles Selected as Argentina’s official entry for the 2008 Academy Awards as Best Foreign Language Film, XXY scooped two prizes at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival and has been a critical and audience favourite at festivals around the world. This groundbreaking film is an emotionally powerful story of a teenager’s painful journey of identity. 15-year-old Alex lives in an isolated wooden cabin on the remote coast of Uruguay with marine biologist father Kraken and mother Suli. Their lives are disrupted when a couple arrives with their 16-year-old son, Álvaro, from Buenos Aires. Álvaro’s father is a plastic surgeon, who has journeyed the distance at the invitation of Kraken and Suli, to discuss their child as a possible patient. Alex was born with both female and male genitals and with the onset of puberty Kraken and Suli believe a decision has to be made – a ‘choice’ to be either a boy or a girl. The new arrivals have a profound effect on the family: Alex and Álvaro are attracted to each other and the two teenagers confront the fraught world of early sexual experience with more obstacles than most; and Kraken must wrestle with his conscience to decide whose interests the planned surgery serves. Argentina is at the forefront of creating bold and challenging films, and XXY joins such recent titles as Suddenly (MQFF 04) and A Year Without Love (MQFF 06), as examples of this powerful queer voice in world cinema. Lucía Puenzo’s debut feature is a stunning and bold film, spearheaded by a magnificent, utterly fearless performance by Inés Efron as Alex. (PT) “…sensitive treatment of an equally sensitive theme elevates it into something memorable.” Variety

Australian premiere Followed by our Closing Night Party in the Festival Club.

MAR

2008

Sunday 16 March ACMI Cinemas

8.30pm

CLOSING OPENING

CENTREPIECE SPIDER LILIES (CI QING) Dir: Zero Chou, Taiwan/China, 2007, 35mm, 94 min

Mandarin with English subtitles This beguiling drama from Taiwan and China revolves around the themes of memory, loss and abandonment, as two women who knew each other when young reconnect after time and circumstance have pulled them apart. Takeko is a withdrawn tattooist, who divides her time between her work and caring for her brother Ching, who is still suffering the traumatic after-effects of witnessing the death of their father in an earthquake.

Takeko, who was with her girlfriend at the time of the quake, is now so guilt-stricken she has suppressed her sexuality and avoids relationships altogether. Jade, on the other hand, abandoned by all of her family other than her grandmother, spends her days as a webcam girl, performing sexual favours for unseen eyes. But she hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forgotten the older Takeko, whom she adored as a child. The way the pair negotiate their respective pasts and possible future is delicately handled by Zero Chou, who uses fine editing and framing to juxtapose past and present. A fascinatingly layered and emotionally complex film, Spider Lilies is at times like a waking dream and always evocative. (MS)

Presented by

SESSIoN 52 MAR

2008

Wednesday 12 March

6pm

ACMI Cinemas

21 2

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SELECTORS’ Each year, the MQFF selection panel wades through the Festival submissions and debates their favourite session of the Festival. It’s a purely subjective choice, and rather than highlight a session which contains a flawless piece of cinema, the Selectors’ Choice reflects films chosen for their ability to draw a strong emotional response. This year our panel have selected two documentaries that are undeniably powerful to the core, and highlight issues of human rights that many of us in Australia take for granted. Please join the MQFF selection panel for an informal chat and a drink in the Festival Club immediately following the session. They’ll be happy to answer questions about the MQFF selection process.

THE BIRTHDAY Dir Negin Kianfor & Daisy Mohr, The Netherlands/Iran, 2006, video, 63 min

Farsi with English subtitles Qom: the religious capital of Islamic Iran is also a paradise for transgenders. While the Koran outlaws homosexuality, it doesn’t speak against gender transitioning. In 1976, the Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa that allowed people to change gender if they wished. Dutch Iranian filmmakers Mohr and Kianfar take us on a fascinating journey with two young men and a woman awaiting surgery. Behind closed doors, we catch a rare glimpse into the lives of Muslim men and their families, who cope or don’t cope on the cusp of reassignment procedures. As the two men contemplate leaving their masculine identity behind, their families support them, with grief and good spirit. For many Iranians, crossing the Islamic gender divide entails a future life behind the veil, and the prospect of impoverished sovereignty on a daily basis. Women are second-class citizens. Paradoxically, for women transitioning to male, it’s a blessing. Extraordinary interviews with lovers, family members, compassionate clergy and pioneering transgender surgeons make this a must-see film of the Festival. (PA)

Best documentary on human rights, Docusur (Tenerife) 2007. Plus:

TRANSVESTITES ALSO CRY (LES TRAVESTIS PLEURENT AUSSI) Dir: Sebastiano D’Ayala Valva, France, 2006, video, 55 min

Spanish with English subtitles Three years in the making, this gritty documentary chronicles the parallel lives of two Parisian transgenders, Mujeron and Romina. Both are Ecuadorean emigres, illegal immigrants living on the edge, etching out a humble existence as prostitutes in the queer suburb of Place du Clichy. Mujeron (or ‘Big Woman’ in Spanish) is a former boxer who relocated to the City of Lovers, to live and love freely and to support her family back home. Romina is blessed with a husband, many lovers and a very spoilt terrier dog. They share a formidable reputation at the infamous Bois de Boulogne, the woods or ‘beat’ renowned for all manner of sexual transgressions. The film provides candid interviews about their high-risk lifestyle and uncertain future. As the women contend with aging, increased competition on the beat, the illnesses of friends, reduced income and precarious living arrangements, they look SESSIoN 56 to the future armed with mascara, a multicoloured Thursday 13 March 6pm palette of eye shadow and brave shiny faces. Ultimately it’s tragedy which brings these two souls together. (PA) ACMI Cinemas

23 2

FEATuRES A FOUR LETTER WORD Dir: Casper Andreas, USA, 2007, video, 87 min “Let the manhunt begin!” It’s another night, and time for Luke to find a man (or three). But when our party boy enters his fave gay bar flanked by his sidekicks, little does he realise that he’s about to meet his match – the rich, macho and very much a top, Stephen. Although he’s smitten with the sexy new man on the scene, Luke is horrified at the thought of – gulp – monogamy. He is chastised by Zeke, his gay crusader co-worker at a Chelsea sex store, and is forced to face the realities of his lifestyle. When Luke considers giving the ‘m’ word a chance, he attends a sexual compulsives meeting where he discovers he is not the only nympho in NYC. And while Stephen seems to have it all, it soon turns out that his cash doesn’t flow from a trust fund… With plenty of eye candy (heck, there’s nude yoga, so go crazy boys!), a supporting cast with their own issues, and plenty of zippy one-liners, A Four Letter Word has been a favourite on the GLBTI fest circuit. (PT) “One of the most entertaining films of the year.” Mark James, PlanetOut.com

Winner of Outstanding Screenwriting Award, 2007 LA Outfest.

SESSIoN 10 MAR

2008

Friday 7 March

8.15pm

ACMI Cinemas SESSIoN 78 MAR

2008

Saturday 15 March ACMI Cinemas

8.15pm

FEATuRES

BAM BAM & CELESTE

BEFORE I FORGET (AVANT QUE J’OUBLIE)

Dir: Lorene Machado, USA, 2005, video, 85 min Margaret Cho, Bruce Daniels and Alan Cumming star in this wacky road trip movie sure to delight those looking for a well-written comedy rich in popular culture references and heavy on the chuckle meter. After years of teasing from their high school alumni, and going nowhere in their 20s, Celeste (an overweight Korean goth punk girl) and Bam Bam (an over-the-top gay African American) decide to escape their culturally stifling Midwest hometown and head for the bright lights of New York City with the intention of taking on their high school nemeses who now run the world famous Salon Mirage. Now in their 30s and curious to see what the world has to offer, they discover a reality TV makeover show that will help to highlight Bam Bam’s talent for hair and makeup. Encouraged by the show’s booking assistant (Cumming), Bam Bam and Celeste pack their eye catchingly decorated car and head east, where it all has the potential to go horribly wrong! (LD) Plus:

LOVE IS LOVE Dir: Anne Renton, Australia, 2007, video, 7 min

Love is Love offers a witty, yet poignant window into the challenges related to one’s sexuality. Stars Margaret Cho and lesbian icon Jane Lynch.

2008

French with English subtitles Pierre used to be a gigolo, but at 58, those days are long gone. Instead he is on the other end of the sex trade, plying youth with cash, with a casualness that hides no guilt or shame. HIV positive for over two decades, Pierre navigates his casual life with apparent ease – he meets friends for drinks or dinner, and we are privy to these conversations, eavesdropping on private musings of the comings and goings of a group of men whose beauty has faded, but whose intelligence is still razor sharp. Languidly paced, Before I Forget is a beautifully nuanced drama from acclaimed actor Jacques Nolot. Nolot has appeared in such modern queer classics as Wild Reeds and The Witnesses, which is screening in this year’s Festival. His depth of acting experience has prepared him for the role of Pierre, resulting in an honest and emotionally raw portrait. If you are looking for a finely tuned film experience that you can discuss afterwards (especially the final scene!), then Before I Forget is for you. (PT)

Official Selection, 2007 Cannes Film Festival and 2007 Toronto International Film Festival. SESSIoN 43 MAR

2008

Monday 10 March

6pm

ACMI Cinemas

SESSIoN 89 MAR

Dir: Jacques Nolot, France, 2007, 35mm, 108 min

Sunday 16 March

6pm

ACMI Cinemas

2 2

FEATuRES

THE BUBBLE (HA BUAH)

BUTCH JAMIE

Dir: Eytan Fox, Israel, 2006, 35mm, 114 min

Dir: Michelle Ehlen, USA, 2007, video, 87 min

Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitles

Jamie Klein is an out-of-work butch lesbian actor who channels her feminine side for auditions in the hope of scoring a role. Frustrated by her almost terminal lack of success, she’s nevertheless spurred on by her nemesis (roommate Lola’s successful cat actor, Howard), and decides to take a different approach and audition as her more natural butch self. Much to her surprise, she lands a role in a low budget independent film as Steve – a male. Offended by the realisation that there is no room for a butch woman in showbiz, but hard up for work, she reluctantly takes the role. Inevitably, Jamie takes a liking to her dual existence, but runs into trouble when she meets all-American girl Jill who works on set. Jill takes a liking to male Jamie, especially as he seems so much more sensitive to women’s wants and needs than most men. She’s none the wiser that male Jamie is in fact butch lesbian Jamie, and enthusiastically attempts to woo ‘him’. To complicate matters, Jill reveals she is an ex-lesbian who thinks she’s been ‘cured’ by the ex-gay ministry Exodus. Will Butch Jamie reveal herself, and if so, what will straight-laced Jill make of it all, and where does Lola fit into all of this? (LD)

Noam and Ashraf are two lovers from two very different worlds. Noam is an attractive out-gay man with a passion for Morrissey and 80s pop – at his part-time job in a trendy music store he encourages teen pop fans to forget Britney Spears and expand their ears. It’s during a shift at his part-time job with the Israeli army at a border checkpoint that he first meets handsome Palestinian Ashraf. Noam shares a house with friends Yali, a restaurant manager, and gorgeous fashion designer Lulu. The trio organises peace raves and when they’re not busy with their careers, promoting left-wing sentiment in opposing Israel’s Palestine policy. Ashraf and Noam meet again at a beachside rave, and their passion blossoms despite their religious and cultural differences. Set against the new liberal climate of Israel, the four friends party hard and momentarily rise above old cultural and religious battle wounds. But political and personal tensions surface, creating a private schism between their homelands, when a suicide bombing changes their fated love, and their new friendships. (PT) “The Bubble offers a sexy, modern and queer take on Romeo and Juliet in this story of lovers from two different worlds.” Shannon Kelley, San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2007

A multiple award-winner at the 2007 Berlin Film Festival, Eytan Fox’s other films include ‘Walk on Water’, and ‘Yossi and Jagger’ (MQFF 2003).

2008

Sunday 9 March ACMI Cinemas

SESSIoN 17 MAR

SESSIoN 38 MAR

“A fantastic dyke comedy... In the tradition of The Player, director Michelle Ehlen spins a spot-on satire of the movie industry, while examining butch/femme dynamics and the politics of lesbian relationships.” Jason A Heidemann, Time Out Chicago

8.15pm

Saturday 8 March ACMI Cinemas

2.15pm

FEATuRES

THE CHINESE BOTANIST’S DAUGHTERS (LES FILLES DU BOTANISTE CHINOIS) Dir: Sijie Dai, China/Canada/France, 2006, 35mm, 105 min

Mandarin with English subtitles In the Chinese countryside in the 80s, two gorgeous 20-year-old women carry on an illicit and dangerous affair in one of the most visually sumptuous, explicitly erotic and emotionally arresting lesbian features of this year’s Festival. The beautiful Li Min leaves the orphanage where she was raised to intern with Chen, a renowned but stern expert in herbal medicine. From the moment she arrives at his serene island haven, she can’t help but focus on Cheng An, the botanist’s exquisite daughter. The attraction is instantly mutual, and their budding friendship blossoms into a love affair that neither can deny. In such a conservative environment their affair can’t be without difficulty, and eventually the women plot to marry Min off to An’s brother in a desperate and potentially disastrous attempt to remain near each other. Unfortunately their plan sets in motion a journey from which they may not be able to return. A visually stunning film, The Chinese Botantist’s Daughters is a powerful tale of desire set amid the lush beauty of China’s countryside. (LD)

Winner of Audience Choice Award for Best Feature, 2007 Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.

Australian premiere SESSIoN 4 MAR

2008

Thursday 6 March

8.15pm

ACMI Cinemas

2008

Dir: Adrian Shergold, UK, 2007, video, 94 min

Clapham Junction is a provocative and powerful drama written by acclaimed playwright Kevin Alyot about the mixed experiences of several gay men during 36 hours in London, and the devastating consequences that unfold when their lives collide. From a civil partnership ceremony to a heated dinner party, five separate stories are woven into the fabric of modern day London from school and work to bars, beats and clubs, during one hot summer’s night in the capital. Will and Gavin’s ceremony is intercut with a swanky middle-class dinner party as young men hit the gay bars. The different strands are woven together as the film builds to a shockingly violent climax on Clapham Common. Starring Rupert Graves and Australia’s Rachel Beck, Clapham Junction was inspired by the homophobic murder of 24-year-old Jody Dobrowski on Clapham Common in 2005, and the film raises awkward questions about the homophobia which still exists in British society 40 years after decriminalisation. Produced by Britain’s Channel Four as part of a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales, Clapham Junction is a Festival highlight and not to be missed.

Warning: contains sex scenes and scenes of violence which may upset some viewers. SESSIoN 49

SESSIoN 48 MAR

CLAPHAM JUNCTION

MAR

Tuesday 11 March ACMI Cinemas

6pm

2008

Tuesday 11 March

6.15pm

ACMI Cinemas

2 27

FEATuRES

DOLLS (PUSINKY) THE CURIOSITY OF CHANCE Dir: Russell P Marleau, UK, 2006, video, 98 min Imagine John Hughes’ Pretty in Pink if Ducky were the film’s star — and gay. This loopy, unlikely teen comedy more than fulfills that fantasy, tracking the exploits of a charming, queer dandy in the stultifying world of high school during the tacky 80s. Popular kids, fashionistas and bullies sporting thin ties and mullets make for a grim welcoming committee as Chance glides into school on his first day, decked out in top hat and cane. His fashion sense and quick wit are almost all he needs to deflect ennui and homophobic threats, particularly from football jock Brad Harden, who predicts that exposure to fags will soon have all the real men fantasising about Patrick Swayze. Luckily, Chance befriends the school’s other biggest misfits, sassy Twyla and nerdy Hank, who help him through the thickets of high school hell. A ‘chance’ night out at a local drag bar, a little detective work and an unlikely allegiance with straight dreamboat sports jock/wannabe musician Levi, and Chance seems poised to rock both the school and his own world. Brisk, colorful and awash in classic 80s pop music, this quirky feature from Russell Marleau is a gay bubble-gum delight.

Australian premiere

2008

Saturday 15 March ACMI Cinemas

Czech with English subtitles Three 18-year-old school friends, Iska, Vendula and Karolína, decide to embark on a road trip to Holland following their graduation, with Iska’s younger brother, Votja, inadvertently tagging along for the ride. Each with their own distinct personalities and goals, the girls’ summer is a rites-of-passage, with Votja as the witness to the adventures, dramas and sexual escapades of these girls on the cusp of adulthood. (PT) “Our film is about the search for love; there are lots of ‘open’ scenes and some sex scenes as well. But these are things and attitudes that belong to the age category of the protagonists of the film: teenagers. And sex is something that also belongs to them; young girls often use sex in their actual search for love… the film is actually about the confrontation of someone’s previous naïve view of the world with the real observation of life.” Dolls director, Karin Babinská.

Official Selection, 2007 Montreal World Film Festival. SESSIoN 44 MAR

2008

Monday 10 March ACMI Cinemas

SESSIoN 74 MAR

Dir: Karin Babinská, Czech Republic, 2007, 35mm, 90 min

4.15pm

6.15pm

FEATuRES

FINN’S GIRL Dir: Dominique Cardona & Laurie Colbert, Canada, 2007, 35mm, 88 min Dr Finn Jefferies is a thoroughly modern lesbian, her family is pure 21st Century: two mothers, two careers and a kid. Nothing had ever rocked Finn’s passionate, committed life until the untimely death of her beloved partner, Nancy. A brilliant gynaecologist, Finn dedicates herself to running Nancy’s abortion clinic, despite the potential dangers and threats from picketers and pro-life campaigners. Finn, seemingly still lost in her grief, takes risks that jeopardise her relationship with the only person she really loves – her and Nancy’s daughter, 11-year-old Zelly, and is seemingly oblivious to her child’s attention-seeking antics - shoplifting, smoking dope and skipping school. When Finn is the subject of a sniper-attack at the clinic, police officer Diana Peris is assigned as protection. Intrigued by Finn and concerned for Zelly, Diana devotes overtime to her task, and for the first time since Nancy’s death, Finn feels drawn to someone she might be able to lean on and maybe even love. (PT) “A refreshingly sophisticated, original story.” LA Outfest

Winner of Special Programming Committee Award, 2007 LA Outfest. SESSIoN 35 MAR

2008

Sunday 9 March

6pm

ACMI Cinemas

2008

Dir: Jaymes Thompson, USA, 2007, video, 110 min There are horrors too awful to mention to be found at the Sahara Salvation Bed & Breakfast, and they don’t just involve the suspicious mincemeat muffins offered to guests when they check in. Totally tongue-incheek, this laugh a minute and sexy offering is a must for queer horror fans. On the eve of a monster annual dance party, five wary couples arrive at the rather suspicious looking Sahara, where they’re greeted by the hostesses, Helen and her odd daughter, Luella. Among the guests are a drag queen and his lover, ‘Mr Leather’ Dom (who’s idea of commitment is a little shady); preppy couple Alex and Mike; and Rodney and his ‘trainer’ Todd, with whom he hopes to spend a hot weekend largely in bed! Also on the guest register are a pair of power dykes who manufacture ‘adult goodies’, and Brenda with her wholesome folk singing lover, Starr. These girls are ready for a weekend of wife-swapping, but our hostesses have other plans: homo-hating Helen enjoys killing queers for sport! When her daughter’s lesbian tendencies surface, the guests had better hide the cutlery; and if that wasn’t enough, her son simply likes to eat people - straight or gay. You may never stay in a gay B&B again! Totally tongue-in-cheek, funny and sexy with a clear warning, never accept ‘delicious’ warm muffins in any B&B, ever!

Australian premiere

SESSIoN 72 MAR

THE GAY BED & BREAKFAST OF TERROR

SESSIoN 12

Saturday 15 March ACMI Cinemas

2.15pm

MAR

2008

Friday 7 March

10.15pm

ACMI Cinemas

2 2

FEATuRES

THE HOUSEBOY Dir: Spencer Schilly, USA, 2007, video, 81 min

HOLDING TREVOR Dir: Rosser Goodman, USA, 2007, video, 88 min Screenwriter Trevor is stuck in a rut. Young, handsome and intelligent, he’s an angst ridden gay 20-something who’s woefully entangled in a dead-end relationship with his heroin addict boyfriend, Darrell, and has a dead-end job to boot. After Darrell’s latest overdose, Trevor feels obligated to help his lover return to sobriety, much to the chagrin of his best mates, Andie and Jake, who are over Darrell’s never-ending dramas. Trevor finds some solace by doing some hard partying of his own, which works for a nanosecond. Eventually his home life also becomes fraught, with flatmates Andie and Jake having to face their own emotional demons. Jake realises he has some safe sex issues and takes an HIV test, while Andie (a recovering alcoholic) finds herself having a risky one-night stand. Enter Ephram, a studly medical intern with a warm heart, high ambition and high hopes. Trevor and Ephram hit it off and a potentially beautiful romance begins. Will Trevor manage to cut ties with self-destructive Darrell, and move on with his new lover or will he choose a different route? (PA)

Plus:

BABYSITTING ANDY Dir: Pat Mills, Canada, 2007, video, 11 min

Australian premiere

What do you do if you’re nine and nobody will tell you what ‘fellatio’ means? When Andy’s uncle and his boyfriend arrive to babysit, Andy is not on her best behaviour. Armed with a supersoaker and a devious mind, Andy corners the men, who can do nothing but comply.

SESSIoN 15

SESSIoN 40

MAR

2008

Saturday 8 March ACMI Cinemas

Twenty-something Ricky is left alone to house-sit after the 40-something yuppy couple he shares a bed with go away for the Christmas holiday season. When he accidentally learns that his threesome is about to revert to a twosome without him, he tries to find a human connection through the internet and a series of soul destroying dates and risky one night stands with strangers. Feeling lonely, isolated and patronised by his place in the ‘thrupple’, he contemplates life and death, ultimately finding a friend worth living for. But is it too late? The Houseboy is an entertaining and engaging indie story about treating others kindly and the healing power of friendship. (LD)

12.15pm

MAR

2008

Sunday 9 March ACMI Cinemas

10.30pm

FEATuRES

KISS THE BRIDE

IN SEARCH OF THE WILD KINGDOM

Dir: C Jay Cox, USA, 2007, video, 100 min

Dir: Shine Louise Houston, USA, 2007, video, 60 min

“You know what’s great about sucking cock? It doesn’t taste like wedding cake.”

Houston’s amusing take on lesbian pornography has her playfully exploring the limits of sexual orientation in this wacky and sexy mockumentary. ‘Award winning documentary maker’ Georgia Mann goes to San Francisco to produce her new film ‘Lesbians of San Francisco’, along the way violating every single rule of documentary filmmaking, crew management and perhaps even the law as we’re treated to a series of vignettes exploring the fluidity of gender and sexuality. Hell, let’s cut to the chase ladies – we’re talking hot sex and hot gals! Enjoy.

Meet Matt, the editor of a successful San Francisco queer magazine, who is smack bang in the throes of putting together a ‘gay wedding issue’. He’s young, successful and handsome, but he’s unable to hold down a steady boyfriend, so when he’s invited to the wedding of Ryan, his first schoolboy love, he hightails it back to his hometown, in the disguised hope that Ryan’s gone to seed. Of course Ryan hasn’t put on 50 kilos and gone bald, in fact he looks like he goes to the gym 4 hours a day and moisturises twice daily. And he loves his fiancé, Alex (Tori Spelling). But when the boys meet up, the 10 years between drinks fades away and the sexual tension between them reignites. Ryan resists the temptation… but will he be able to hold back for long?

Warning: explicit sex scenes. Plus:

GOOD DYKE PORN Dir: Bren Ryder, Canada, 2007, video, 23 min A no-holds barred montage followed by two superhot scenes by (and one starring) pornographer Bren Ryder are sure to end your late night at MQFF with a bang! Dyke porn made for dykes by dykes.

Warning: explicit sex scenes.

The new film from Latter Days director C Jay Cox is a snappy comedy with plenty of eye-candy and some great supporting performances, especially from Joanna Cassidy (Six Feet Under) as Alex’s constantly drunk mother who tries to hit on Matt. (PT) SESSIoN 2 MAR

2008

Thursday 6 March

SESSIoN 25 MAR

2008

6.15pm

ACMI Cinemas

Saturday 8 March ACMI Cinemas

10.15pm

SESSIoN 62 MAR

2008

Friday 14 March

6pm

ACMI Cinemas

FEATuRES

LOVE MY LIFE (RABU MAI RAIFU) Dir: Kôji Kawano, Japan, 2006, 35mm, 96 min

Japanese with English subtitles

SESSIoN 63 2008

Friday 14 March

Dir: Zabou Breitman, France, 2006, 35mm, 109 min

French with English subtitles

Equally stunning, Ichiko and Eri are Japanese uni students exploring their blossoming love for each other. When Ichiko comes out to her father, he tells her he is also gay and her deceased mother was a lesbian. The explanation he offers for this coincidence is their shared desire for a family. From here Ichiko embarks on a series of compelling discoveries, meeting her father’s lover, then bumping into her mother’s past girlfriend while strolling on the beach. When Eri and Ichiko meet Eri’s former boyfriend, she doesn’t tell him that Ichiko is her lover. Ichiko’s ego is bruised, and she runs from the restaurant. Her relationship is put to the test as complications and crises prevent an easy, loving relationship to continue. Against this setting of pensive vignettes, Love My Life is tempered with a hip rocking soundtrack from Japanese band Noodle, and two ultra chic lead actors who look like they’ve been plucked straight from a manga comic. In the vein of Fucking Åmål (1998), Love My Life delivers a solid youth-oriented Japanese drama that cuts to the core of teen sexuality. (BZ)

MAR

THE MAN OF MY LIFE (L’HOMME DE SA VIE)

6.15pm

Like Michael Ondaatje’s allegorical novel The English Patient, The Man Of My Life is a film that succeeds on a level beyond mere story. The film concerns the relationship dynamics that are put to the test when a married couple invites a gay neighbour over for dinner to their house in the Rhône region of France. After the rest of the family has gone to bed, the husband, Frédéric, and Hugo, the neighbour, spend the wee hours of the morning discussing life and love. As events unfold, we keep returning to this fateful evening, at which nothing more than a glance, a tiny inflection, tell us all we need about motivation and desire. We learn that Frédéric’s relationship with his wife is not the ideal it seems on the outside. Hugo, meanwhile, has frantic conversations with his mother about his dying father. But The Man Of My Life is told at least as much through achingly evocative cinematography and direction as it is through plot and dialogue. The film delivers the same calibre of poetic nuances of classic French cinema such as The Three Colours trilogy and Beau Travail (1999). This is European cinema at its finest. (BZ) SESSIoN 3 MAR

ACMI Cinemas

2008

Thursday 6 March

SESSIoN 88 MAR

2008

Sunday 16 March ACMI Cinemas

4.15pm

SESSIoN 90 MAR

2008

Sunday 16 March ACMI Cinemas

8pm

ACMI Cinemas

6.15pm

FEATuRES

MY SUPER 8 SEASON (MA SAISON SUPER 8) Dir: Alessandro Avellis, France, 2005, video, 74 min

French with English subtitles The 1968 student riots in Paris provide the backdrop for a friendship between two dreamy young activists in this engaging and original French feature. Julie and Marc are enthusiastic and sprightly intelligentsia with the world at their feet. Julie separates from her partner Stephane and moves into a women’s refuge where she takes up the fight for feminism and lesbian rights. Meanwhile, Marc motivates others to fight for gay rights. While at home he argues with his working class Dad, and he fights for his love with a young factory worker, Andrew, who has a reputation around the beats of Paris and is always finding disaster. On the cusp of the 1970s, the direct action grows, the sexual politics become more difficult and youth fades to adulthood. Alessandro Avellis’s brilliant and sexy debut is inspired by the true story of FHAR - the Homosexual Revolutionary Front and its pioneers Guy Hocquenghem and Francoise d’Eaubonne.

THE NEW WORLD (LE NOUVEAU MONDE) Dir: Etienne Dhaene, France, 2007, video, 92 min

French with English subtitles French director Dhaene’s film explores the complex and often hilarious issues that arise when a lesbian couple considers stepping outside of their comfortable existence in the hope of having children. Lucie (a boxing coach) is keen to start a family, but Marion is not so keen and needs convincing – especially given they will need some outside help to make it happen. Eventually Marion warms to the idea and they being their search for a suitable sperm donor. When the very heterosexual Hugo steps up and offers to do the job, the implications of their plan become complicated and a series of miscommunications sets off an hilarious chain of events. The New World is an engaging and lighthearted take on modern parenting - lesbian style. (LD)

Australian premiere

Plus:

COWBOY FOREVER Dir: Jean Baptiste Erreca, France, 2006, video, 27 min

SESSIoN 8 MAR

2008

Friday 7 March

Emotions are stirred and fantasies assumed as two young, handsome Latino cowboys, Jones and Govinda, experience a true love story in the open air.

2008

SESSIoN 77 MAR

2008

Saturday 15 March

8pm

ACMI Cinemas

SESSIoN 55 MAR

6.15pm

ACMI Cinemas

French with English subtitles

Wednesday 12 March

10.15pm

ACMI Cinemas

FEATuRES ONE NIGHT STAND (POUR UNE NUIT) Dir: Emilie Jouvet, France, 2006, video, 80 min

French with English subtitles One Night Stand is a truly original rumination and exploration of lesbian sex and sexuality. Opening in documentary mode, avant-garde director Jouvet interviews each Parisian sex player before they delve into the vignettes of sexy, saucy girl-on-girl action. The players aren’t your typical polished porn stars, but instead androgynous, natural and provocative queers engaging in erotic, intense and profound sexual adventures. From one hook-up to another, Jouvet breaks stereotypes with such scenes as power femmes in rough, consensual play, two butch bois fucking on a purple couch and hot, sweaty ambivalent sex over a graffiti-covered toilet. Each scenario overtly pushes boundaries and goes beyond traditional masculine and feminine roles. One Night Stand is a multi-layered feast (both a doco and a sex film all rolled into one), that brilliantly displays a true exploration of human sexuality in all of its finest carnal glory! Warning: explicit sex scenes. Plus:

GIVE PIECE OF ASS A CHANCE Dir: Bruce La Bruce, Canada, 2006, video, 14 min Canada’s queer bad boy Bruce La Bruce and The Scandelles give rise to a different type of women’s collective with kidnapping and sex toy plunging abandon. The prudish should repair early to the foyer for tea and scones.

ONE TO ANOTHER (CHACUN SA NUIT) Dir: Pascal Arnold & Jean-Marc Barr, France, 2006, 35mm, 95 min

French with English subtitles Twenty-year-old siblings, Lucie and Pierre, are virtually inseparable. If they are not hanging out with the members of Pierre’s band, Nicolas, Sébastien and Baptiste, then they lie around naked, their matching strawberry birthmarks on their asses proudly displayed for all the world to see. When Pierre is found beaten to death, Lucie is understandably distraught and determined to find the killer(s). The suspects are many, as Pierre was fond of espousing the tenets of free love with both guys and girls, seemingly to experiment with his own sexual powers. One To Another begins with Lucie narrating the tale of her already dead brother to a doctor, and the audience is led on a trail that zigzags through time, from the wonderfully freespirited early gigs of the band, to the orgies Pierre indulges in, to the jealousies that rage within this cloistered group. One To Another is an unmistakably French drama, one that is highly charged and fuelled by a sexual engine that never dissipates. (PT)

Official Selection, 2006 Toronto Film Festival SESSIoN 37 MAR

2008

Sunday 9 March

Warning: explicit sex and simulated violence. SESSIoN 67 MAR

2008

SESSIoN 85

Friday 14 March ACMI Cinemas

8pm

ACMI Cinemas

10.15pm

MAR

2008

Sunday 16 March ACMI Cinemas

2.15pm

FEATuRES

OUT AT THE WEDDING Dir: Lee Friedlander, USA, 2007, video, 96 min Alex Houston’s life in NYC is pretty fabulous. She’s a successful businesswoman engaged to a devoted Jewish African-American. It all seems to be going so well – too well in fact. And of course it all begins to unravel when she’s required back home in South Carolina to perform bridesmaid duties for her highly strung sister. The trouble lies in the fact that Alex has told her fiancé that her family are all dead, whilst her family thinks she’s still single. She’s terrified to tell her racist, rightwing family that her fiancé is a black Jewish man, and she’s equally terrified to inflict them onto him. The chuckles come thick and fast as Alex digs herself deeper and deeper into the quagmire created by her doublelife, and then attempts to dig herself out with more and more outlandish stories. To make matters worse, her dimwitted high school sweetheart misunderstands a conversation, and starts to spread the rumour that Alex is a lesbian – not that there’s anything wrong with that! And when a slightly drunk Alex makes a vague speech at the wedding attempting to reveal her bi-racial relationship, everyone mistakenly reads it as a coming out speech, and her suddenly liberal thinking family go out of their way to accept her supposed sexuality. But if you think the complications end there, wait until Alex’s newly married sister arrives in NYC to meet Alex’s ‘girlfriend’, only to find her own feelings aren’t what she expected. (LD)

OUTING RILEY

Presented by Joy 94.9

“Buoyed by a smart, funny script, Outing Riley attacks intolerance head-on and finds light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes the bonds of family can overcome the ignorance of tradition.” Jonathan l. Knapp, San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

SESSIoN 1 MAR

2008

Thursday 6 March

6pm

ACMI Cinemas SESSIoN 76 MAR

2008

Dir: Pete Jones, USA, 2004, video, 86 min This coming out comedy charmer has been hiding away waiting for its grand unveiling, and here it is at last! Bobby Riley (played by writer/director Pete Jones,) is a 30-something, knockabout Irish Catholic guy from Chicago who has a great job as an architect, adores his large close-knit family, loves beer, worships the Chicago Cubs and is in a monogamous relationship. He also happens to be gay, and completely in the closet to most of his family. Terrified of the consequences of coming out and being labelled as a stereotyped gay man, Riley stays rooted behind his closet doors, and is out only to his partner Andy and his no nonsense sister, Maggie. Upon his father’s death, Bobby finally decides to reveal himself to his brothers, who include a conservative priest and a couple of hard-drinking, skirt-chasing straighterthan-straight guys. Will he panic at the last hurdle and be unable find the words to tell them, despite the urgings of his boyfriend, Maggie and his lesbian ‘beard’? Or will Maggie inevitably decide to take things into her own hands and spill the beans herself? And will all manner of Irish hell break loose as Bobby suspects? (LD)

SESSIoN 7

Saturday 15 March ACMI Cinemas

6.15pm

MAR

2008

Friday 7 March

6pm

ACMI Cinemas

FEATuRES

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY

POLTERGAY

Dir: Duncan Roy, USA, 2007, video, 97 min

Dir: Eric Lavaine, France, 2006, 35mm, 93 min

“All art is at once surface and symbol.” Oscar Wilde.

French with English subtitles

The Picture Of Dorian Gray is Duncan Roy’s (Aka) contemporary retelling of Oscar Wilde’s only novel about the corruption of the soul. Set against New York’s art world, youth is the obsession of the age, something to be treasured at all costs, and those who are head first in the ‘scene’ are vacuous and guided by no moral compass. When 19-year-old Dorian is the subject of a complex, visually stunning mixed-media installation he soon realises that he can stay young forever if he can secure the work and lock it away from prying eyes. Successful at this task, Dorian can then do anything he likes, with no consequences, or none that he can readily perceive… at first. However, he soon learns that there is a price to pay, but at what cost? If you are familiar with the original novel you will be intrigued to observe Roy’s treatment of this legendary morality tale, and if you are a newcomer to this tale, then you can experience this reworking uninhibited, in all its excesses. (PT)

Despite the cheesy title, Poltergay is a well-rounded feel-good comedy of love lost and ghostly lust. Imagine Bruce Willis in Sixth Sense meeting the Queer Eye gang – with gay disco spooks haunting a hetero hunk. Here’s the plot: young couple, Marc and Emma, move into an old house that once hosted an underground gay disco. Unaware that five gay men died there 30 years earlier, Marc begins hearing the strains of Boney M and is spied on by spooks more interested in seeing him in the shower than rattling candlesticks. Emma sees nothing of these 70s spooks, and soon moves out, thinking Marc is either gay, having an affair or mentally unbalanced. As Marc comes to understand the essentially benign poltergeists, he discovers a thing or two about his own sexuality. (BZ)

“Roy’s Dorian Gray has all the poisonous wickedness one simultaneously dreads and adores in the original novel.” Stephen Fry

Australian premiere

Director Duncan Roy will be in attendance.

“Just go with the film and enjoy one of the best comedies around – before Hollywood remakes it with Robin Williams.” Eye for Film

SESSIoN 5 MAR

2008

Thursday 6 March

SESSIoN 36 MAR

2008

ACMI Cinemas

Sunday 9 March ACMI Cinemas

6.15pm

SESSIoN 80 MAR

2008

Saturday 15 March ACMI Cinemas

10.15pm

FEATuRES

ROME & JULIET

SATURN IN OPPOSITION (SATURNO CONTRO)

Dir: Connie Macatuno, The Philippines, 2007, video, 135 min

Dir: Ferzan Ozpetek, Italy/France/Turkey, 2007, 35mm, 110 min

Tagalog with English subtitles

Italian with English subtitles

Bride-to-be Juliet employs the services of a beautiful wedding planner, Rome. Together the two women work closely day-by-day planning schedules, stationery, menu items – the perfect nuptials. However, the pre-school teacher and the planner soon discover they have much more in common than orchestrating a wedding. Their friendship blossoms into a steamy lesbian romance, but love between women is a scandal in conservative Filipino society, so their affair must remain secret at all costs. When Juliet’s fiancé and family discover the affair, the brideto-be is banished. Her family, too, is shamed by the affair, and they disown their daughter. As the griefstricken Juliet flees the barrage of taunts and familial hatred, a tragic accident lands her in a coma. Destiny takes a dire turn, but will that change true love that knows no bounds? (PA)

The latest melodrama from Turkish-Italian filmmaker Ferzan Ozpetek (Ignorant Fairies, Haman: The Turkish Bath MQFF 1999) is a heartfelt and emotional melodrama. Thirty-year-old Lorenzo seems to have it all – he’s gorgeous, has a loving partner (successful author Davide) and is surrounded by a group of friends who adore him: married couple Antonio and Angelica; Davide’s former lover Sergio; sharp-witted Neval and her husband Roberto; glamorous cokehead Roberta and bisexual newcomer Paolo. But this all changes when he collapses at dinner with his friends and is rushed to hospital. Helpless in their wait at the bedside of their comatose friend, the group becomes closer, and their own lives and struggles come into sharp focus. Conflicts, both internal and external, rear their heads and the friends are forced to examine their lives to discover what is truly important for each of them. If you are a fan of Almodóvar, especially his most recent films, then you will embrace Saturn In Opposition as Ozpetek’s film shares many of the Spanish master’s traits – heightened melodrama, bright décor, a striking looking cast and above all a deep sense of humanity and love for the characters on the screen. (PT)

Australian premiere SESSIoN 50 MAR

2008

Tuesday 11 March ACMI Cinemas

8.15pm

SESSIoN 58 MAR

2008

Thursday 13 March

8.15pm

ACMI Cinemas

3 7

FEATuRES

SHELTER Dir: Jonah Markowitz, USA, 2007, video, 90 min

THE SHADOWS Dir: Guillermo R Rodriguez, USA, 2007, video, 80 min Wunderkind horror novelist Stephen Grimes is near the end of his rope. He’s feeling the heat from his publisher and editor about his new book, and his exwife is harassing him about their divorce settlement. He’s hard at work coming up with new ways to kill people (on paper) when, on a late-night drive, he hits a young man, Emett, and has to rush him to the hospital. A tentative friendship between the two erupts into a heated affair. Stephen is soon trapped in a dangerous plot, as Emett and Emett’s friends reveal an ominous scheme that could be a storyline from one of his own novels. A sinister twist of fate is lurking in the shadows in this excellent indie flick.

Australian premiere Plus:

Dir: Craig Boreham, Australia, 2008, video, 3 min

Presented by SameSame.com.au SESSIoN 24

Noah and Gus hang out and smoke weed after school. As the munchies kick in Noah feels compelled to share a secret desire that has been tormenting him. SESSIoN 79 2008

MAR

2008

Saturday 8 March

8.15pm

ACMI Cinemas SESSIoN 65

Saturday 15 March ACMI Cinemas

Shelter is, at its core, gently observed and beautifully acted, especially by a wonderfully natural Brad Rowe, who made a splash in Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss, and Trevor Wright as Zach. (PT) Winner of Audience Awards for Best Film, Seattle and Tampa Gay & Lesbian Film Festivals.

LOVE BITE

MAR

A favourite on the GLBTI film festival circuit, Shelter has picked up a swag of awards. Forced to give up his dreams of art school, Zach spends his days working a dead-end cooking job and helping his needy sister, Jeanne, care for her 5-year-old son, Cody. In his free time he surfs, draws and hangs out with his on-andoff again girlfriend, Tori, and also with his best friend, Gabe, who lives on the wealthy side of town. When Gabe’s gay, older brother, Shaun, returns home, Zach begins to surf with him. However, it’s not long before their mutual attraction turns the friendship on its head, and when Zach is encouraged by Shaun to start leading his own life, he’s faced with a struggle to reconcile his own desires with the needs of his family.

10pm

MAR

2008

Friday 14 March ACMI Cinemas

8.15pm

FEATuRES

SHELTER ME (RIPARO) Dir: Marco Simon Puccioni, Italy, 2007, 35mm, 100 min

Italian with English subtitles Gorgeous lovers Anna and Mara travel to Morocco for a well-earned holiday. On their return trip to Italy, they discover a young Moroccan stowaway in the boot of their car. Anis is a young orphaned teen from Maghreb, and after Anis discovers his only surviving relative has disappeared, Anna takes pity and finds him a job in her family business – a shoe factory in the north-east of Italy. At first, Anis struggles to understand the lesbian relationship between Anna and Mara, which is continually tested by their class differences, and by a conservative and homophobic family. It’s not long before Anis becomes smitten with the younger Mara. After a serious stroke, Mara’s father is dying, and the father-daughter duo fail to reconcile their differences before he passes away. Anis takes the time to console the grieving Mara and after a drunken night in a pool hall, Mara’s love for Anna is tested further. Despite the added dramas in their life, the young man has been a blessing – he’s challenged the women to test their outer limits, their sense of trust and their commitment. Sometimes it takes a young stranger to find the depths of true love. Sublime! (PA)

Australian premiere SESSIoN 21 MAR

2008

Saturday 8 March

SONJA Dir: Kirsi Marie Liimatainen, Germany, 2006, video, 75 min

German with English subtitles Sonja is a refreshing and honest portrait of a teenager coming to terms with her sexuality and what that means for the close relationships in her life. In her first screen appearance Sabrina Kruschwitz, as Sonja, radiates conviction and she is matched by the equally inexperienced Julia Kaufmann as the object of her affection. Well played, engaging and, at just 75 minutes, that rare thing in cinema – a film that doesn’t outstay its welcome, but makes it point succinctly and intelligently. (MS) Plus:

FLOWERS AT THE PARK, OR FIRST KISSES (FLORES EN EL PARQUE, O LOS PRIMEROS BESOS) Dir: Mariel Macia, Spain, 2006, video, 10 min

Spanish with English subtitles Easy going Ana and neurotic Lola arrange to meet in the park. Lola will bring flowers and Ana will bring doubt and excuses. SESSIoN 45

6pm

MAR

2008

Monday 10 March

ACMI Cinemas SESSIoN 54 MAR

2008

8.15pm

ACMI Cinemas SESSIoN 59

Wednesday 12 March ACMI Cinemas

8.15pm

MAR

2008

Thursday 13 March

8.30pm

ACMI Cinemas

FEATuRES

SPINNIN’ (6 BILLION DIFFERENT PEOPLE) (6,000 MILLONES DE PERSONAS DIFERENTES) Dir: USE (Eusebio Pastrana), Spain, 2007, 35mm, 110 min

Spanish with English subtitles Spinnin’ is a wonderfully exuberant, multi-layered Spanish drama. Garate and Omar are young, gay and in love, and want to have a child. After failed attempts with their female pals, they befriend Raquel, a pregnant woman whose partner has died of AIDS. Sound conventional? Spinnin’ is anything but. It is a wildly entertaining, inventive and cheeky film that throws the audience in the centre of these friends’ chaotic lives, and celebrates being alive. Garate and Omar are surrounded by myriad colourful characters: from new-born babies to Garate’s 60-plus father who is falling in love… again; to two policemen who list things that are important to them, in the desire that their lists match up; to a couple who are either kissing each other, or fighting – both with equal passion; and many, many others. There’s not a dull minute in this whirlwind of a film. Surrender to the charms of Spinnin’ and you will leave the cinema wanting to embrace each other, dance and throw your arms up in joy. A Festival highlight. (PT) Winner of Audience Award, 2007 Barcelona Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Presented by Fruits in Suits.

2008

Tick tock goes the egg clock. Sasha (writer/director Lisa Gornick), a talented storyboard artist, and Maya, an attorney and recovering alcoholic, are lesbian lovers on the cusp of 40 who are startled to find their biological clocks are ticking – for one of them in particular. They turn their comfortably awkward Generation X lifestyle upside down, discovering there are many ways to conceive, but so few available men. Like gay men, they go cruising for sperm as their quest is juxtaposed with two other conception stories: a straight couple who’s intimacy issues are exposed; and a single female photographer who wants a baby on her own. Sasha eventually decides she prefers the old fashioned way; the needle-less syringe approach seems so unfair. Maya is not so sure. After a few cognacs, the conception and the comedy of errors begins. Gornick’s quirky take on lesbian motherhood is a true delight! (PA) “…a smart and provocative film” SF Chronicle Plus:

JANE BLONDE Dir: Lorna Richards, USA, 2007, video, 22 min Jane Blonde is the kind of action adventure hero you have never seen before. She’s tough, she’s hot, she’s bald and she’s on the case!

MAR

2008

Tuesday 11 March ACMI Cinemas

Dir: Lisa Gornick, UK, 2006, video, 73 min

SESSIoN 20

SESSIoN 51 MAR

TICK TOCK LULLABY

8.15pm

Saturday 8 March ACMI Cinemas

4.15pm

FEATuRES

TIMES HAVE BEEN BETTER (LE CIEL SUR LA TêTE) Dir: Régis Musset, France, 2006, video, 90 min

French with English subtitles

TIED HANDS (YADAIM KSHUROT)

Winner of Best Feature Film Award, 2007 Palm Beach International Film Festival

Times Have Been Better is a thoroughly French coming-out comedy that turns its lens on the intimate entanglements of family dynamics. Jérémy is a highly successful and dashing 30-year-old, casting his younger brother in a shadow of family pressures. When Jérémy comes out to his ostensibly liberal parents, the family bonds quickly dissolve. His father, otherwise enlightened and left-wing, turns sour and self-enclosed after meeting his son’s lover. He alienates everyone once dear to him, lashing out at his wife and wishing his son straight. Meanwhile, Jérémy’s mother (portrayed with aching beauty by Charlotte de Turckheim) races around town taking a crash course in homosexuality, quizzing her gay co-worker, a selfproclaimed bitter old queen. Jérémy’s brother, in the middle of all this, represents a sane lynchpin while feeling the pinch of household tensions. The subject of this liberating comedy is handled with warmth and humour, offering fully rounded character sketches: the father in denial, the accepting but grieving mother, and the son forced to reassess his parental relationships in light of their volatile reactions. (BZ)

Nominee for Best Director (Dan Wolman), 2006 Israel Academy Awards

Winner of Best Foreign Narrative Feature, 2007 New York Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.

Warning: contains scenes which may upset some viewers.

SESSIoN 22

Dir: Dan Wolman, Israel, 2006, 35mm, 90 min

Hebrew with English subtitles Tied Hands tells the moving story of a Tel Aviv mother (Pnina, played by Gila Almagor, an Israeli film icon) who ventures into the night in a desperate search for marijuana to ease the pain of her dancer son Uzi who is dying of AIDS. Her turbulent journey takes her through the late night mean streets of her city, where she is confronted with scenes she is ill-suited to dealing, meets Uzi’s gay friends, and finds her personal safety threatened. Her single-minded focus helps to bring up old truths from her past and threatens to break down a wall of denials behind which she’s been hiding all her life. Extraordinary performances by Almagor and Ido Tadmore depict this sensitive and complex relationship between a mother and her dying son.

MAR

2008

SESSIoN 31 MAR

2008

Sunday 9 March ACMI Cinemas

Saturday 8 March

6.15pm

ACMI Cinemas

2.15pm SESSIoN 41 MAR

2008

Monday 10 March

1pm

ACMI Cinemas

41 4

FEATuRES

VIVERE Dir: Angelina Maccarone, Germany, 2007, 35mm, 102 min

VAMPIRE DIARY

German with English subtitles

Dir: Mark James and Phil O’Shea, UK, 2006, video, 88 min Filmmaker Holly has been recording the lives of a 20something group involved in the ‘weekend vampire culture’ in London’s Goth clubs for a documentary she’s making, when one night she takes note of a particularly fetching young woman across the dance floor. Vicki, as it turns out, looks every bit the pale angst-ridden vampire, but there seems to be something even more intense about her. Holly is reluctant and dubious at first, but she soon becomes fascinated, and the women become lovers. Soon after, members of the group begin to disappear in mysterious circumstances, and Holly soon realises that her new girlfriend isn’t merely playing at being a vampire on the weekends – she’s a bona fide full-time bloodsucker! By now it’s too late for Holly to walk away from Vicki as she’s fallen head over heels in love and will do anything to protect her – even if it means helping her find more and more victims to satisfy her hunger for blood. As the police close in, and Vicki and Holly become more desperate, Vicki reveals she’s also expecting a vampire baby. Will the two women be able to forge a life for their little vampire family, or will the law finally catch their bloodsucking prey? James and O’Shea’s modern day take on the lesbian vampire film is true to the tradition of gorgeous sexy women who don’t shy away from their Sapphic natures, and offers plenty of eye candy for good measure. (LD)

Warning: violent scenes may offend some viewers. SESSIoN 64 MAR

2008

SESSIoN 23 MAR

2008

8pm

Saturday 8 March

8pm

ACMI Cinemas SESSIoN 57 MAR

Friday 14 March ACMI Cinemas

The new film from writer/director Maccarone – best known for 1998’s Everything Will Be Fine (MQFF 1999) and Unveiled (MQFF 2006) – uses a familiar device, made famous in Kurosawa’s 1950 classic Rashomon, taking one story and telling it several times, each time from the different viewpoint of one of the people involved. The bare bones involve the hard-working Francesca, who leaves her father at home in Germany on Christmas Eve, taking his taxi to go and find her sister Antoinetta, who has run off with her musician boyfriend. Along the way she meets Gerlinde, an older woman, distraught at the end of her relationship with a married woman. We see these events through each woman’s eyes – the story building and changing subtly as more is revealed. This is lovely work from Maccarone, who knows how to shift perceptions with just the slightest nuance. And her feeding in of the narrative information is expertly judged. The performances are all excellent and the pacing, soundtrack and cinematography all work well to deliver a film that at times aches with melancholy, but then uplifts in surprising ways. (MS)

2008

Thursday 13 March ACMI Cinemas

6pm

The ALSO Foundation Celebrate Advocate Lead Invest

The ALSO vision is the creation and celebration of a diverse, strong, safe and inclusive GLBTIQ community that contributes to and is respected by broader communities.

Community Op Shop 259 Smith St Fitzroy

Directory

To ďŹ nd out more and to get involved visit

www.also.org.au

FEATuRES

THE WITNESSES (LES TéMOINS) WHIRLWIND

Dir: André Téchiné, France, 2007, 35mm, 115 min

Dir: Richard LeMay, USA, 2007, video, 111 min

French with English subtitles

The lives and friendships of a tight-knit group of gay men in New York City are unexpectedly disrupted when a handsome stranger, with a secret or two, rolls into town. At first the group appear to have it all. They are, in turn, funny, good looking and successful, but when Drake infiltrates their group everything changes. He’s young, hot and charismatic, but he has ulterior motives. What starts out with Drake adding some excitement to the routine of this circle of friends quickly begins to spiral out of control. In equal parts touching, engaging and funny, Whirlwind reveals the consequences of one person’s deliberate attempt to destroy the relationships of five men, all the while letting his own friendships unravel around him. Richard LeMay’s second independent feature film is a surprisingly subtle and honest depiction of 30-something gay men and the crossroads they encounter in their lives. (LD)

Paris 1984. It’s summertime and a young man from the provinces, Manu, arrives in the French capital, sharing a cheap hotel room with his sister, Julie, an opera singer. He begins a chaste friendship with Adrien, a gay, middle-aged doctor, who introduces Manu to his friends, novelist Sara, and policeman Mehdi, a married couple who have just had a child. Whilst Adrien would like to bed his young friend, it is Mehdi who seduces Manu, and they embark on a secret affair, meeting at the bungalow of the holiday camp where Manu now works as a cook. However, the young man soon becomes sick with an untreatable new disease… The Witnesses is a vibrant and sharp portrait of a time when sexual freedom was taken for granted. Bursting with vivid characters who are witnesses to the genesis of the AIDS epidemic, this new film from legendary director André Téchiné (Wild Reeds) is full of life and optimism. Premiering at the Berlin Film Festival, The Witnesses is an instant queer classic. (PT)

Winner of Audience Choice Award for Best Feature, Out on Film Atlanta.

Australian premiere SESSIoN 39 MAR

2008

Sunday 9 March

10pm

ACMI Cinemas

Presented by Thrive. SESSIoN 46

SESSIoN 66 MAR

2008

Friday 14 March ACMI Cinemas

“Téchiné powerfully reasserts his status as one of European cinema’s most adult filmmakers in The Witnesses, a complex, assured evocation of the mid-‘80s... VE RI compelling...” Screen International

10pm

MAR

2008

Monday 10 March

8.15pm

ACMI Cinemas

4 47

FEATuRES

THE WORLD UNSEEN Dir: Shamin Sarif, UK/South Africa, 2007, video, 100 min In the cultural pressure cooker of apartheid South Africa in 1952, two women meet by chance and their worlds are turned upside down. Miriam is a conservative Indian mother – hardworking, noncomplaining and self-effacing. Amina upsets the social and gender order by driving a taxi and operating a cafe with a local black man. Amina is more than tough enough to withstand the conservative demands of her Indian community, but she is also a woman with a lot of love to give. Conventional Miriam is fascinated by her unconventional, free-thinking new friend who shows her far more respect and attention than her husband. Eventually Amina gains the courage to invite Miriam for driving lessons, and once alone together, the two women can only surrender to the inevitable. In the face of outraged disapproval from their families and local community, the relationship between the two flourishes. Slow burning and sensual, The World Unseen contains what must be one of the steamiest screen kisses of this year’s Festival, but it’s much more than that. It’s a moving exploration of forbidden love blended with a fascinating account of a shameful period in modern history. (LD)

2008

Monday 10 March

3pm

SESSIoN 82 2008

Sunday 16 March ACMI Cinemas

While architect Jeffrey may be a great catch, the object of his affections, hunky Rene already has the perfect boyfriend, although he likes to play on the side. Jeffrey is devastated when his attentions are ignored after an erotic one nighter between them. However, determined Jeffrey is not the type to take no for an answer, and after some clever stalking he locates Rene’s home and impulsively rents a vacant room in the very same apartment block. Landlady Gladys takes an instant shine to the young stalker, and in her motherly Anna Madrigal from Tales of the City way, she allows Jeffrey into the secrets of her own private life. Seducing Rene proves more difficult than expected when Jeffrey is sidelined by a series of gruesome discoveries within his seemingly haunted apartment. Zalutsky’s debut feature is sure to delight fans of well-made edgy thrillers. (PA) SESSIoN 60 2008

ACMI Cinemas

MAR

Dir: Sam Zalutsky, USA, 2007, video, 82 min

MAR

SESSIoN 42 MAR

YOU BELONG TO ME

Midday

Thursday 13 March ACMI Cinemas

10.15pm

DOCuMENTARIES

ANGER ME Dir: Elio Gelmini, Canada, 2006, video, 72 min Darling of 1960s avant-garde filmmaking and occasional author (Hollywood Babylon 1 & 2) Kenneth Anger defines himself as a ‘cinematographic magician’ and describes his cinema as a ‘ritualistic’ form. In queer cinema history, Anger is a pioneer, inspiring generations of queer directors such as Todd Haynes, Gregg Araki and Q Allan Brocka. In this fascinating and wide-ranging documentary, Anger reflects on his life, art and his many muses. The interviews with Anger are fleshed out by chats with a veritable who’s who of celebrities who have known and admired him and his work. Luminaries such as the surrealist Jean Cocteau, film directors DW Griffith, Fellini, Pasolini and rock celebrities like Mick Jagger explain their fascination. Anger has the last word about his eccentric life, individualistic approach to creativity and unique vision about homoeroticism in experimental film. Excerpts from rarely seen films such as Fireworks (1947), Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome (1954), Scorpio Rising (1963) and Lucifer Rising (1970-1981) make this documentary compelling viewing. (PA)

Plus:

SCORPIO RISING Dir: Kenneth Anger, USA, 1963, 16mm, 28 min Condemned as obscene upon its initial release, this short documentary-style short contains no dialogue and rapidly inter-cuts images against a score of slyly selected pop tunes, predating the advent of the music video by a decade and a half. Delving into the homoerotic world of bikers, Anger focuses his camera on Scorpio, a leatherwearing, crystal methamphetamine-snorting bad boy who is alternately compared to Jesus Christ, Adolf Hitler and the Devil, depending on his activities. Considered by many to be one of the first post-modern films, it was a controversial hit only on the underground circuit, but its style greatly influenced a generation of popular filmmakers, most notably director Martin Scorsese.

SESSIoN 30 MAR

2008

Sunday 9 March

2pm

ACMI Cinemas

4 4

DOCuMENTARIES

BORN AGAIN Dir: Markie Hancock, USA, 2007, video, 70 min

BEARS Dir: Marc Klasfeld, USA, 2007, video, 90 min Six contestants vie for the title of Mr. International Bear in this engaging and revealing documentary from prolific music video director Marc Klasfeld (Avril Lavigne, Backstreet Boys, Foo Fighters to name a few artists he’s worked with). Klasfeld trains his camera on contestants from around the world as they battle for the world’s most famous bear title in San Francisco. Each February thousands of bears descend on the queerest city for a weekend of partying, fundraising and competition. Klasfeld also offers up a potted history of bears as he delves into the evolution of the cuddly culture from its beginnings in the 1970s in the Castro. But we also learn more about each contestant’s personal story (and a nicer bunch of blokes you’ve rarely seen), making the film touching and accessible even to those not familiar with bear culture. Who will be the crowd favourite? Who will be the next Mr. International Bear? (LD) Plus:

A BEAR, WHERE? Dir: Jeremy Stewart, Australia, 2006, video, 3 min A teddy bear is lost in a bear guy’s world. SESSIoN 61 MAR

2008

Thursday 13 March ACMI Cinemas

10.30pm

Lesbian director Markie Hancock’s powerful documentary deals with the delicate subject of how to survive religious extremism. Markie was indoctrinated into evangelical Christianity as a child. In her 20s the slow and painful break with fundamentalism began. Markie ran away to Berlin, where her conflicted life found a new beginning and the bigger, brighter world beyond fundamentalism was revealed. Returning home years after the split with her family, Hancock looked for reconciliation, only to be shunned. Finally Markie reconciles with her own particular sense of faith and not that imposed by family, church or state. It is here deep within her own soul that Markie, slowly surely, finds peace, wholeness and love. (PA) Plus:

ABOMINATION: HOMOSEXUALITY AND THE EX-GAY MOVEMENT Dir: Dr Alicia Salzer, USA, 2006, video, 30 min Sexual orientation conversion therapies – attempting to turn homosexuals into ‘straights’ – are criticised by mainstream mental health professionals for the harm they cause and for their overstated claims of success. Nevertheless, these ‘treatments’ are increasingly being promoted and practiced by conservative faith communities. Abomination is a sobering counterpoint to the false hopes marketed by the ex-gay movement. Despite the pain chronicled in this film, Abomination is a poignant testament to human resilience and to the sometimes difficult journey to self-acceptance. SESSIoN 14 MAR

2008

Saturday 8 March ACMI Cinemas

Midday

DOCuMENTARIES Plus:

MOMMY MOMMY Dir: Sylvie Rosenthal, Canada, 2007, video, 44 min

Mommy Mommy is an enthralling documentary which follows Linda and Mona, a lesbian couple from Quebec, as they ride a five year long rollercoaster in their quest to create the family they’ve always dreamed about. Along the way they’re confronted with the complications of access to IVF, and bans against samesex couples adopting from overseas. After finding a birth mother in the US who welcomes lesbian parents and offers to be their surrogate, Linda and Mona find a final, devastating roadblock thrown up by the Christian-based adoption agency and their own government. The same one that legalised same-sex adoptions! The couple refuse to give up, and Linda and Mona’s dream finally comes true in the most unexpected way…

DADDY’S LOVE (MIN STOLLE FAR) Dir: Mette Aakerholm, Norway, 2007, video, 48 min

Norwegian with English subtitles Same-sex parenting, surrogacy and marriage are issues at the coalface of activism today. Take solace in this miraculous feature documentary about a 26-yearold single gay man from Askim, Norway. Kenneth is an archetypal pin-up model, a man who could have any man for the choosing. Yet he is happy with his singlehood. After years of soul searching about love, relationships, family and fatherhood, Kenneth decides to parent alone. He finds a compassionate surrogate mother in Kansas and travels with his anxious and supportive mother to the USA to meet newborn son Isaiah. Intelligent, modest and self deprecatory, Kenneth is an unsuspecting herald for gay singles who like to think outside the square. Daddy’s Love is one man’s antidote to the discrimination faced in the world of single parenting. Riveting. Candid. (PA)

Plus:

MARINA AND HER MOMS Dir: Aline Allegra, USA, 2006, video, 6 min 17-year-old Marina Gatto battles to make her family legitimate in the eyes of the law.

SESSIoN 83 MAR

2008

Sunday 16 March

2pm

ACMI Screen Pit, Ground Floor

DOCuMENTARIES HULLABALOO (RABALLDER) Dir: Kenneth Elvebakk, Norway, 2006, video, 52 min

Norwegian with English subtitles Gay handball team Raballder (Hullabaloo) play in the 4th Division of the Norwegian handball competition. The team is made up of refreshingly non-stereotyped gay men who play the game like they mean it. These men constantly challenge our expectations regarding gender and sexuality. We get to know some of the team as they talk about their experiences of being gay men in a straight male dominated sport. We also meet family and friends, follow the boys at work, vacations and parties. And of course we follow the team at matches and tournaments, on their ups and downs during the course of the season. Will Raballder achieve their goal to advance by one division every year? Plus:

BRIGHTON BANDITS Dir: Ian McDonald, UK, 2007, video, 40 min

I KNOW THAT I AM Dir: Peyman Khosravi, Iran/Canada, 2006, video, 74 min

Farsi with English subtitles Despite the fact that much of the footage (shot in secret and smuggled out of Iran) was captured and presumed destroyed by local authorities, I Know That I Am exists thanks to the tenacity of director Peyman Khosravi. It’s a unique and powerful documentary which reveals the little-told story of transgendered queers in Iran. Vilified by society and without support networks outside their small communities, theirs is one of survival against the odds: according to law, sexual ‘deviancy’ is punishable by hanging. Through interviews with government officials, human rights advocates and trans people themselves, the film constructs a telling, important portrait of queer struggles amidst profound cultural restrictions. Plus:

SHAHRAM AND ABBAS Dir: Remy Van Heugsten, The Netherlands, 2006, video, 36 min

Dutch and Farsi with English subtitles Sprinkled with humour and pathos Brighton Bandits follows a UK based gay soccer team as they attempt to recapture the gay football league championship. Not your ordinary sports doco, Brighton Bandits uses the voices of the players and the sounds of the pitch to keep it raw and real. It’s a fascinating insight into the place gay men have in a blokey sports world. SESSIoN 18 MAR

2008

Saturday 8 March

4pm

ACMI Screen Pit, Ground Floor

Two Iranian men pretend to be gay in order to obtain asylum in The Netherlands.

SESSIoN 86 MAR

2008

Sunday 16 March

4pm

ACMI Screen Pit, Ground Floor

DOCuMENTARIES

SEMPER FI: ONE MARINE’S JOURNEY Dir: Vince Di Persio, USA, 2007, video, 77 min Lance Corporal Jeff Key documents his tour of duty in war torn Iraq and his experiences as a gay man serving under the US administration’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in this candid and absorbing documentary derived from his one man stage show. Key relocated from Alabama to California where he found a more accepting circle of friends as he decides to come out publicly - lock, stock and barrel. The film blends personal footage shot in Iraq, an enlightening mix of interviews and raw emotional monologue performances by Key in the soliloquy style of Spalding Gray or William Yang to tell his story. Strident, poetic accounts lifted from his no holds barred Iraq journals flesh out his experiences. Unhappy with the atrocities in Iraq, and the US government’s disavowal of human rights for gays in the military, Key, handsomely resplendent in full military regalia, reads an emotion charged open letter of complaint to the top brass. Not to be missed. (PA)

Winner Audience Award for Best Documentary San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2007. SESSIoN 68 MAR

2008

SHE’S A BOY I KNEW Dir: Gwen Haworth, Canada, 2007, video, 70 min Sublime home movie footage, voice-mail sound bites, frank testimonials and delightful animation co-exist in this unique male-to-female transition tale. Vancouver filmmaker Gwen Haworth has captured her difficult story via the art of interview. She asks direct questions, fearlessly. And her loving family, best mates and significant others deliver illuminating, brutally honest and at times anxious responses. By focusing the camera lens deep into her most intimate relationships Haworth paves the way for new style imaging of the transgendered self, and allows her loved ones access to express their often conflicted feelings. A must see documentary! (PA) Plus:

WHATEVER SUITS YOU Dir: Ashley Altadonna, USA, 2006, video, 7 min The filmmaker parallels the process of transforming a suit into a dress with all the physical, mental, and emotional processes of changing genders. SESSIoN 33 MAR

Saturday 15 March

Midday

2008

Sunday 9 March

4pm

ACMI Cinemas

OZ DOCuMENTARIES Witness the evolution of queer filmmaking in Australia with these two collections of engaging documentaries covering issues such as long distance love, lesbian life in Alice Springs, family relations and Vanessa Wagner.

Oz DOCS 2

Oz DOCS 1

DESTINY IN ALICE Dir: Sonja Dare, Australia, 2007, video, 27 min

SEARCHING 4 SANDEEP Dir: Poppy Stockell, Australia, 2007, video, 56 min Sydney may be a gay Mecca, but for many of its habitués finding true love proves illusive. Twentysomething Poppy Stockell takes fate boldly into her fingertips and connects to the uncertain world of internet chat in this intimate video diary. Online she meets Anglo-Indian Sandeep Virdi, a 31-year-old woman living in the British Midlands. Both women keep candid video diaries leading up to a passionate summer in Thailand. Just before they meet for the first time in person, Poppy gently sways an inexperienced Sandeep into the joys of self-pleasure. As Sandeep’s true identity is awakened, the duo negotiate a painful coming out process for Sandeep. When Poppy arrives in the UK to meet the traditional Sikh family, cultures clash and life becomes more complex for both women. Will true love weave its wondrous way? (PA)

Winner of World Movies Audience Award at the 2007 Sydney Film Festival, documentary category.

LOVE REFUGEES

Dir: Tony Radevski, Australia, 2006, video, 27 min This beautiful documentary explores how first-generation migrant parents have struggled to come to terms with their son’s sexuality. When Ted came out as gay to his parents, his mother Ljubica insisted it was a passing phase and his father Alexo refused to speak to him. Fifteen years passed, with no communication between father and son, until Alexo discovered he was suffering from a serious illness.

UNDRESSING VANESSA Vanessa Wagner (aka Tobin Saunders) is true blue – an Aussie larrikin with a razor sharp wit. Underneath the veneer, all is not what it may appear to be…

This part video diary, part observational documentary and part video essay offers a gentle rhapsody on humanity and our ability to love despite all odds. SESSIoN 27 2008

THE PRODIGAL SON

Dir: Matthew Pond, Australia, 2007, video, 21 min

Dir: Beth Nelsen, Australia, 2007, video, 27min

MAR

Welcome to Alice Springs, the Outback’s lesbian metropolis, a place where black and white women mix and mingle. Satirical and funny, this revealing film asks the question: Is it hard to sustain love when racial and cultural gaps seem insurmountable?

SESSIoN 87

Sunday 9 March ACMI Cinemas

Midday

MAR

2008

Sunday 16 March

4pm

ACMI Cinemas

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21/12/05 10:03:18 AM

20/12/2007 6:02:31

TRANS Don’t miss these documentaries exploring notions of gender in contemporary society from around the world.

BYE BYE BOOBIES Dir: Wednesday & Jez, Australia, 2007, video, 19 min In October 2007, Jeremy had chest surgery, encompassing the female-to-male transition he has been working towards for two years. Jeremy turns the camera on himself during his trip to Brisbane for surgery, giving a revealing insight into the medical and emotional journey of his rite of passage into manhood.

LETTERS FROM HOME Dir: Nat Smith, USA, 2005, video, 17 min This video diary takes a sensitive look at family, identity and willful misperception through letters sent to transman Jayden from his family during his transition.

SWIMSUIT Dir: Lucretia Knapp, USA, 2006, video, 14 min A powerful and evocative experimental documentary about a young person’s conflict between the desire to transition, and a passion for swimming for a women’s college team.

THE PERFECT MAN Dir: Maria Akesson, Sweden/UK, 2007, video, 24 min

Swedish with English subtitles Liam is a 21-yearold transgender man living in Sweden. We meet him as he embarks on months of hormone treatment, and see how his family and friends are coping with the changes.

SESSIoN 73 MAR

2008

Saturday 15 March

4pm

ACMI Screen Pit, Ground Floor

SPECIAL THROUGH THICK AND THIN Dir: Sebastian Cordoba, USA, 2007, video, 77 min

Through Thick and Thin follows the extraordinary stories of seven bi-national gay and lesbian couples whose lives are dramatically affected by the current immigration laws in the United States. Filmmaker Sebastian Cordoba intimately captures integral moments of each of the couples as they struggle to stay together at whatever cost, unfortunately demonstrating that love does not always conquer all. For some couples it means immigrating to a different country, while others try to maintain a semblance of normalcy by commuting between distant places overseas. Also, for some of them where the foreign partner is already illegal, they try to keep things as they are, while they avoid the scrutiny of immigration enforcement.

The MQFF and the Law Institute of Victoria are proud to co-present this session which includes an essential and timely panel that will discuss the current legal situation in Australia for gay and lesbian couples who come from different citizenship backgrounds. Panellists: Jamie Gardiner is a Member of the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission, a vice-president of Liberty Victoria, and a member of the LV’s Human Rights and Charter Committees. Alanna Duffy is a Barrister specialising in employment law, including discrimination. She is a former committee member of the Victorian Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby and the Melbourne Queer Film Festival. Jonathan Wilkinson is an articled clerk at Deacons Lawyers and co-convenor of the Victorian Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby’s ‘Equal Love’ campaign for legal recognition of same-sex relationships. Dominique Saunders is a lawyer working in human rights, health and aged care law. She is a council member of the Law Institute of Victoria. SESSIoN 71 MAR

2008

Saturday 15 March ACMI Cinemas

2pm

SPECIAL

NO MAGIC BULLET Dir: Jaime Sylla, UK, 2007, video, 60 min

INLAWS AND OUTLAWS Dir: Drew Emery, USA, 2007, video, 101 min

Inlaws & Outlaws cleverly weaves together the true stories of couples and singles - both gay and straight - and all into a collective narrative that is as hilarious as it is heartbreaking. At the film’s beginning, we meet a variety of people one-on-one as they talk about their lives and relationships. We don’t know who’s gay or straight or who’s with whom. As their stories unfold and stereotypes fall by the wayside, you won’t care because you’ll be barracking for everybody. With candour, good humor and real heart, Inlaws & Outlaws gets past all the rhetoric to explore what most of us have in common. It’s a truly fascinating collection of stories that will have you reaching for the hanky and laughing out loud in good measure. The MQFF and the Victorian Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby proudly co-present this documentary and panel session which will discuss current partnership legislation as it relates to sexuality in Australia. Panellists:

No Magic Bullet is an independently produced feature documentary that explores some of the factors behind the continuously high number of HIV infection among gay men living in London. Through a range of interviews with medical experts, academics, sexual health professionals and other leading figures of the HIV sector in the capital (such as Peter Tatchell), and the testimony of three participants at different stages of HIV diagnoses, No Magic Bullet analyses how the impact of new anti-HIV treatments, homophobia, the use of alcohol and recreational drugs, stigma, and other aspects, might be influencing, or even impairing, the thinking processes of some gay men regarding HIV infection and prevention. MQFF and the Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men’s Health Centre are proud to co-present this session and panel which will discuss current issues related to HIV prevention in Victoria. Panellists: Colin Batrouney is the Manager of the Health Promotion Program at the Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men’s Health Centre (VAC/GMHC).

Demetra Giannakopoulos is co-convener, Victorian Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby.

Mike Kennedy has been Executive Director of the VAC/GMHC since July 1999.

Doug Pollard is a journalist and radio broadcaster

Dr Jeffrey Grierson is a senior research fellow at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society.

Peter Furness is from Australian Marriage Equality. Moderator Addam Stobbs is a journalist and radio broadcaster.

Sonny Williams is the Executive Officer for People Living with HIV/AIDS Victoria.

SESSIoN 84

SESSIoN 13

MAR

2008

Sunday 16 March ACMI Cinemas

2pm

MAR

2008

Saturday 8 March

Midday

ACMI Cinemas

SPECIAL

PROJECTING THE BODY Dir: Walter McIntosh, Australia, 2007, video, 55 min

Projecting the Body is an intimate look at Australian filmmaker Stephen Cummins who blazed a trail through the tumultuous 1980s, examining oppression, desire, and the politics of sexuality. Reacting against the environment of AIDS paranoia and ensuing homophobia, Stephen created films that are bold in their politics and beautiful in their poetry. Plus:

RESONANCE Dir: Stephen Cummins, Australia, 1992, 16mm, 12 min At a time when there were almost no gay or lesbian characters in Australian film and television, Cummins made Resonance, the first gay-themed film to be funded by the Australian Film Commission. Resonance fuses narrative with dance to tackle the issue of anti-gay violence, and was an Australian voice in the emerging New Queer Cinema.

Director Walter McIntosh and producer Sophie Harper will be in attendance. This session will be introduced by Michael McMahon, independent film producer and a director of production company Big and Little Films Pty Ltd. With thanks to Simon Hunt. SESSIoN 16 MAR

2008

THE EROTIC FILMS OF PETER DE ROME Dir: Peter De Rome, USA, 1969–1974, video, 95 min While access to pornography today is as easy as accessing a website, it hasn’t always been so. In earlier decades, film houses provided one of the only accessible avenues of pornography in the moving image, and director Peter De Rome was a legendary pioneering figure in the industry in the 60s and 70s. He’s perhaps best known for his full-length features Adam and Yves (1974) and The Destroying Angel (1976), but this rarely seen collection features eight short films shot between 1969 and 1974, and includes titles such as The Second Coming, Hot Pants and Double Exposure. De Rome’s shorts collection is a brilliant example of the intersection of artistry and eroticism in early gay pornography, and illustrates his interest in art-house films such as Jean Genet’s Un Chant D’Amour. By his own account, De Rome is just as interested in the full experience of intimacy (the desire, the chase, the passion), than just the sex act itself. MQFF is proud to present De Rome’s collection of shorts, and we thank Chicago’s Bijou Video for helping to make it happen. (LD) SESSIoN 26

Saturday 8 March ACMI Cinemas

2pm

MAR

2008

Saturday 8 March

10.15pm

ACMI Cinemas

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OZ THE CITY OF MELBOURNE EMERGING FILMMAKER AWARD In partnership with the City of Melbourne, the MQFF is proud to present this year’s package of Australian shorts. The City of Melbourne has confirmed their long-standing support of the Festival by generously providing a $2000 cash prize for The City of Melbourne Emerging Filmmaker Award for best Australian short queer film. Only the films listed in the Oz Shorts package are eligible for this Award, which will be voted by a panel of judges. This year’s Oz Shorts judges are: Colin Batrouney has had a varied career in the arts, from directing Judith Lucy’s one-woman shows, writing novels and successful one-man exhibitions of his drawings and photographs. In another life he was the lead in Lawrence Johnston’s award winning short film Night Out. Lisa Watts chairs the Board of the Midsumma Festival, Melbourne’s arts and cultural festival for the GLBTI community. In her day job, she’s the General Manager of online employment for Fairfax Digital and manages the mycareer.com.au and thebigchair.com.au job site businesses. Michael McMahon is an independent film producer and a director of Melbourne based production company Big and Little Films Pty Ltd. His credits include the award winning documentaries Wildness, Thomson of Arnhemland, Two Men and a Baby, its sequel Two Men and Two Babies and Sadness and the feature films The Home Song Stories and Call Me Mum. Stephen Hahn is the CEO/Station Manager JOY 94.9 – Australia’s only full-time GLBTI radio station. Previous to this he worked at Triple R, one of Australia’s best known and most successful community broadcasters. Stephen is strongly motivated by independent and community media and sees the role of JOY as providing a voice for the diverse lesbian and gay communities, enabling freedom of expression, the breaking down of isolation and the celebration of our culture, achievements and pride. Gary Singer is Deputy Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne. Cr Singer holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Law degree, and is a consultant, lawyer and manager of Simon Parsons & Co Lawyers. He is also a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria.

LOOK SHARP

FILLED WITH WATER

Dir: Amy Gebhardt, Australia, 2006, 35mm, 9 min

Dir: Elka Kerkhofs, Australia, 2006, video, 5 min

A woman confronts relationship dynamics with her camera after making a dangerous deal to get the shot she wants.

Anoka’s empty life is transformed by a kiss.

MY LAST TEN HOURS WITH YOU

THE MANUAL

Dir: Sophie Hyde, Australia, 2007, video, 15 min

Dir: Sarah Spillane, Australia, 2006, video, 15 min Sonny is sent away from home at the tender age of eight to ‘cure’ his gay tendencies and returns home twenty years later to finds most things haven’t changed. Stars Jack Thompson.

Two men stay together until the sun rises. At 6am Jeremy is leaving. Mark is staying. Over one hot night they wait it out... screwing, drinking and fighting their way around each other.

MIRROR MIRROR

SNAP Dir: Georgia Versluys, Australia, 2007, 16mm, 11 min Petra’s life is turned upside down when a chance meeting leads her to consider denying her true feelings.

Dir: John Winter, Australia, 2007, video,11 min After so many years together, Joe faces life without Jana. Saying goodbye is never easy… Stars Roy Billing.

ROPE BURN

LOVE BITE

Dir: Melvin Montalbin, Australia, 2008, video, 8 min

Dir: Craig Boreham, Australia, 2008, video, 3 min

A love triangle is precariously set above the stage of a sexy trapeze circus.

Noah and Gus hang out and smoke weed after school. As the munchies kick in Noah feels compelled to share a secret desire that has been tormenting him.

EVERY OTHER WEEKEND Dir: Tim Slade, Australia, 2007, video, 15 min Roger (Damian De Montemas – Secret Life of Us) and his recently ex-boyfriend struggle to negotiate a new parenting reality that will suit both of them, and their daughter Jess. SESSIoN 19 MAR

2008

SESSIoN 75

Saturday 8 March

4pm

MAR

2008

Saturday 15 March

ACMI Cinemas

6pm

ACMI Cinemas

All films are shown at both sessions

63 6

ShORT Lesbians with stubborn hairstyles, a bad case of amnesia, and stressful homecomings – it’s all here in one 90 minute rumination on life for the modern lesbian gal.

FAMILY REUNION (GÓDIR GESTIR) FLOWERS AT THE PARK, OR FIRST KISSES (FLORES EN EL PARQUE, O LOS PRIMEROS BESOS) Dir: Mariel Maciá, Spain, 2006, video, 10 min

Dir: Ísold Uggadóttir, Iceland, 2006, video, 20 min

Icelandic with English subtitles New York lesbian Katrin struggles to come out to her relatives back in Iceland, but revelations at a family reunion challenge all her assumptions.

Spanish with English subtitles Easy going Ana and neurotic Lola arrange to meet in the park. Lola will bring flowers and Ana will bring doubt and excuses.

BACKSTROKE Dir: Amy Bronson, USA, 2007, video, 21 min Rome and Julie end up in the same psychiatric ward a month after their relationship’s sudden end, though Rome’s case of amnesia means that she doesn’t remember the relationship at all.

A MARRIAGE LIKE ANY OTHER Dir: Anne De Lean, Canada, 2007, video, 5 min An argument between a couple takes an unsuspecting twist when the topic turns to the situation with their neighbours.

ShORT

THE LAST VISIT Dir: Bee Sack, Canada, 2007, video, 6 min A young Jewish woman attempts to introduce her new girlfriend to her grandmother in this personal story about the search for a sense of home.

CONGRATULATIONS DAISY GRAHAM Dir: Cassandra Nicolaou, Canada, 2007, video, 15 min 70-year-old Daisy Graham is having a tough time of old age. She’s caring for her long-term partner, and coping with an illness of her own. She’s due to be honoured in a ceremony at her local school, but she’s distracted by a search for bullets.

LONG AGO Dir: Christy Wegener, USA, 2007, video, 13 min A hairstyle that won’t go away mirrors the difficulty of moving on after a romance has ended. SESSIoN 34 MAR

2008

Sunday 9 March

4.15pm

ACMI Cinemas SESSIoN 81 MAR

2008

Sunday 16 March

Midday

ACMI Cinemas

All films are shown at both sessions

6 6

BOOB The latest and greatest in award-winning lesbian short films from around the world.

HAPPENSTANCE Dir: Joyce Draganosky, USA, 2007, 35mm, 8 min Bringing your girlfriend home to meet the parents is usually stressful enough, but what happens when someone in the room has more than a little in common with her?

HEARTCUT (HJERTEKLIPP) Dir: Anne Sewitsky, Norway, 2006, 35mm, 27 min

Norwegian with English subtitles Eva is 16 years old, has recently lost her mother and falls head long in love with her fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new girlfriend, Inger.

THE GENDERCATOR Dir: Catherine Crouch, USA, 2007, video, 15 min Using the Rip van Winkle model to extrapolate from the past into a possible future, The Gendercator is a short, satirical and seemingly controversial take on female body modification and gender.

PAGES OF A GIRL (PAGINAS DE MENINA) Dir: Monica Pallazzo, Brazil, 2007, 35mm, 17 min

Portuguese with English subtitles Ingrid is a young woman whose life opens up to new options when she meets her older, more experienced book store manager, Sylvia.

LAST EXIT Dir: Nicola Marsh, USA, 2006, video, 14 min On a visit to her conservative hometown, Cody is confronted with her first love and reminded that an old flame can still burn you.

VIBRACALL Dir: Esmir Filho, Brazil, 2006, video, 3 min Two young women take a 21st Century approach to sex ed.

SPINNING Dir: Heidi Arnesen, Norway, 2007, video, 8 min

Norwegian with English subtitles Saucy shenanigans transpire when the lights go out in the gym change room. SESSIoN 9 MAR

2008

SESSIoN 69

Friday 7 March

8pm

MAR

2008

Saturday 15 March

ACMI Cinemas

12.15pm

ACMI Cinemas

All films are shown at both sessions

6 67

ShORT Grooming gay men, quirky gay zombies, and a teasing teen neighbour – it’s all here in one 90 minute rumination on life for the modern gay chap.

WET SHAVE (DIE RASUR)

COMMUNICATOR

Dir: Tunçay Kulaoglu & Martina Priessner, Germany, 2006, video, 8 min

Dir: Björn Schürmann, Germany, 2006, video, 11 min

Shaving is a very physical experience where tension and relaxation, pleasure and pain lie very closely together. Sometimes, the experience can be erotically charged…

German with English subtitles

CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE Dir: Jarrah Gurrie, USA/Australia, 2007, video, 13 min Haunted by a past relationship, Oscar embarks on a late night search for intimacy. Unsuccessful, he decides to attend an early morning ‘Cuddle Support Group’ where he meets Aida, a woman determined to solve his problems.

A father shows up at his son’s apartment to give him a birthday present. Dad wants to role-play about their mutual interest in sci-fi but the son has something else on his mind.

ShORT

ROCK GARDEN: A LOVE STORY

DOLLS Dir: Randy Caspersen, USA, 2007, video, 7 min

Dir: Gloria U Y Kim, Canada, 2007, 35mm, 11 min

GROUCHO

Tending to their lonely garden of rocks, farmers Ugg and Mer are surrounded by grey skies, stark fields and the suspicious eyes of one another. It’s not until they stumble upon something out of the ordinary that they discover how things can be delightfully different.

Dir: Angel Almazan & Medardo Amor, Spain, 2006, video, 20 min

GAY ZOMBIE

Spanish with English subtitles

Dir: Michael Simon, USA, 2007, video, 20 min

Sixteen-year-old David approaches his neighbour with the excuse of helping him with his shopping bags, but as it turns out, he has ulterior motives.

Sometimes love means never having to say you’re dead…

SESSIoN 11

SESSIoN 28

When a garage sale turns violent, a mother is forced to come to terms with her teenage son’s sexuality.

MAR

2008

Friday 7 March

10pm

MAR

2008

Sunday 9 March

ACMI Cinemas

12.15pm

ACMI Cinemas

All films are shown at both sessions

6 6

www.itsgoodtobeaman.com.au

COCK The latest and greatest in award-winning gay short films from around the world.

IN THE HIGH SCHOOL (EN EL INSTITUTO)

SYSTOLIC/DIASTOLIC (SISTOLE/DIASTOLE)

Dir: Xavi Sala, Spain, 2006, 35mm, 3 min

Dir: Pelayo Muniz, Spain, 2006, 35mm, 20 min

Spanish with English subtitles

Angel’s education takes in more than the 3 R’s....

Angel and Tono are faced with a situation they can’t avoid – Angel’s fast approaching death.

FIRST FLUSH (YNGLINGE) Dir: Mikkel Munch-Fals, Denmark, 2006, video, 24 min

Danish with English subtitles A sensual story of teenagers struggling to find themselves sexually in an explicitly pornographic world.

41 SECONDS (41 SEKUNDEN) Dir: Rodney Sewell, Germany, 2007, 35mm, 4 min

SOLACE Dir: Michaline Babich, USA, 2007, video, 15 min A lonely young man meets his perfect stranger. But when he heads out for a late night hookup, he gets more than he bargained for.

K Dir: Juan Simons, Spain, 2005, video, 12 min

Spanish with English subtitles K and Nelson’s lives are stifled by a routine-governed city that oppresses their identities in this raw and affecting short.

German with English subtitles What do you do when your girlfriend says your best friend kisses better than you? You find out.

SERENE HUNTER Dir: Jason Bushman, USA, 2007, video, 13 min

French with English subtitles A randy gay Parisian moves in with his new boyfriend just as an old flame from LA comes back into town. SESSIoN 6 MAR

2008

Thursday 6 March

10.15pm

ACMI Cinemas SESSIoN 47 MAR

2008

Monday 10 March

10.15pm

ACMI Cinemas

All films are shown at both sessions

1 7

TRANS The latest and greatest in trans short films from around the world.

EDDIE

ELEVATOR

Dir: Quentin Kruger, USA, 2007, video, 10 min

Dir: Ben Hakim, Israel, 2007, video, 23 min

A young Latina girl who is forced to deal with her body image as a result of an embarrassing mishap during a summer afternoon on the sports field.

Hebrew with English subtitles Two strangers find themselves stuck in a lift, and discover a spark between them. But one of them is more than who she says she is.

BOOKS • MAGAZINES • DVDS • CARDS • GIFTS • MERCHANDISE • PARTY TICKETS • EVENTS

(ORDERS OVER $40 POSTAGE-FREE WITHIN AUST)

MELBOURNE QUEER FILM FESTIVAL TICKET-SELLER FOR 16 YEARS 2

OZ TRANS GENDERPUNK

TRANNYMAL

Dir: Jime Lemoire & Clare Cosco, Canada, 2006, video, 14 min

Dir: Dylan Vade & Chrys Curtis Fawley, USA, 2006, video, 2 min

Explores the policing of gender and gender identity within various Canadian high schools from the perspective of a 16-year-old transboy and his 29year-old queer high school teacher.

Almost everything youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever wanted to know about tranny genitals. And these ones put on a show! Wickedly irreverent and relevant.

UNCLE MIKE

NO BIKINI Dir: Claudia Morgado Escanilla, Canada, 2007, 35mm, 9 min A young girl defies convention during her summer swimming class.

S/HE (TA) Dir: Gina Pei Chi Chen, Canada/Taiwan, 2007, video, 12 min A 12-year-old girl struggles between following her expected gender role and pursuing her masculine nature.

Dir: Julieanne McCartney, USA, 2006, video, 4 min In this animated short, a young girl may not understand why Uncle Mike will soon become Aunt Michelle, but their love for each other stays the same.

THE RED DRESS Dir: Barney Cheng, USA, 2007, video, 7 min A woman honours friendship and life by fulfilling her transgender best friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last wish.

SESSIoN 29 MAR

2008

Sunday 9 March

2pm

ACMI Screen Pit, Ground Floor

3 7

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Level 13, 459 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 Tel: 03 9670 5000 Fax: 03 9642 0409 Email: office@mdlaw.com.au For more information visit our website: www.mdlaw.com.au

The Classic Cinema is a proud supporter of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival

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Come out, come out whoever you are... www.classictheatre.com.au

Providing quality distribution of Posters, Programs, Flyers and more for Melbourneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ar t & Enter tainment Industr y For all your enquiries

03 9534 6833 info@steprightup.com.au www.steprightup.com.au

STEP RIGHT UP proudly supporting the 2008 MELBOURNE QUEER FILM FESTIVAL

QuEERIES Presenting MQFF’s youth program Queeries: Bent on Film, curated by Scott Igoe, Claudia Stapleton and Brad Nguyen. The two sessions explore gender and sexuality issues relevant to younger audiences. You’ll find this great collection of documentaries and shorts from Australia and around the world entertaining as well as enlightening. Please note: The Office of Film & Literature Classification allows patrons aged 15 years and over to attend these sessions.

QUEErIES 1 COMMUNICATOR Dir: Björn Schürmann, Germany, 2005, video, 11 min

German with English subtitles A father shows up at his son’s place to give him a birthday present. Dad wants to role-play about their mutual interest in sci-fi but the son has something else on his mind.

DYKE! Dir: Kelly Carpenter, Australia, 2007, video, 9 min Kate releases Billy’s inner desires, only to abandon her in the crazy world that she lead her into, can Billy survive alone?

KALI MA Dir: Soman Chainani, India/USA, 2007, video, 14 min When an Indian mother finds out her son is the victim of a vicious bully, she delivers her own brand of vigilante justice.

FLATMATES (KOMPISAR) Dir: Magnus Mork, Sweden, 2007, video, 21 min

Swedish with English subtitles Björn and Hampus are flatmates whose friendship survives despite the fact that they are quite different characters. But under the surface something is amiss. This is a film about being in love with your best friend and the dividing line between tenderness and abuse.

WHATEVER SUITS YOU Dir: Ashley Altadonna, USA, 2006, video, 7 min

Whatever Suits You parallels the process of transforming a suit into a dress with all the physical, mental and emotional processes of changing genders.

FAMILY REUNION (GÓDIR GESTIR) Dir: Ísold Uggadóttir, Iceland, 2006, video, 20 min

Icelandic with English subtitles

SWIMSUIT Dir: Lucretia Knapp, USA, 2006, video, 14 min A powerful and evocative experimental documentary about a young person’s conflict between the desire to transition, and passion for swimming on a women’s college team.

New York lesbian Katrin struggles to come out to her relatives back in Iceland, but revelations at a family reunion challenge all her assumptions. SESSIoN 32 MAR

2008

Sunday 9 March

4pm

ACMI Screen Pit, Ground Floor

QuEERIES QUEErIES 2 EDDIE Dir: Quentin Kruger, USA, 2007, video, 9 min A young Latina girl is forced to deal with her sexuality as a result of an embarrassing mishap during a summer afternoon on the sports field.

LLOYD NECK Dir: Benedict Campbell, USA, 2007, video, 16 min Alex has a crush on her brother’s friend, Jesse. But Jesse likes Alex’s brother, Taylor. Alex knows something is up with her brother. Caught in an awkward position, Taylor takes Alex and Jesse to his favorite spot.

OUTLET Dir: Leigh Iacobucci, USA, 2006, video, 19 min

Outlet tells the personal stories of several GLBT teenagers who participate in a support group offered by a US based youth organisation called ‘Outlet’.

SMALLTOWN BOY Dir: Moby Longinotto, UK, 2007, video, 13 min While being in the closet remains a comfortable way of life for many young queers who live in small towns, this fascinating portrait of a 15-year-old in a rural village in England presents an altogether different approach to coming out.

UNCLE MIKE Dir: Julieanne McCartney, USA, 2006, video, 4 min In this animated short, a young girl may not understand why Uncle Mike will soon become Aunt Michelle, but their love for each other stays the same.

ROMEO’S KISS (LE BAISER) Dir: Julien Eger, France, 2007, video, 12 min

French with English subtitles How do we fall in love? While rehearsing the love scene in Romeo and Juliet, Cécile, Thomas and Jérémie, barely 20-years-old, each bring, in their own way, an answer to this question.

HEARTCUT (HJERTEKLIPP) Dir: Anne Sewitsky, Norway, 2006, 35mm, 27 min

Norwegian with English subtitles Eva is 16-years-old, has recently lost her mother and falls madly in love with her father’s new girlfriend, Inger. SESSIoN 70 MAR

2008

Saturday 15 March

2pm

ACMI Screen Pit, Ground Floor

CELLuLOID MQFF and LOOP present an eclectic menu of new Australian shorts. For just a gold coin donation you have the chance to see local titles not screening in the Oz Shorts package. Arrive early as this session is first in, best dressed – standing room also available. This year, the Festival is offering a cash prize for the winner of the MQFF Selectors’ Choice Award, voted by the 2008 MQFF Selection Panel. The Award will be announced and presented on the night. Doors open at 7.30pm for an 8.30pm screening. For info call (03) 9827 2022.

LOG OFF Dir: Michele Lee & Aniko Hazi, Australia, 2006, dvd, 2 min

LOVE IS BLUE Dir: Emily Brindal, Australia, 2007, dvd, 12 min

DUCK SOUP Dir: Kathryn Goldie, Australia, 2007, dvd, 4 min

DYKE!

SEXY SINGLE BILINGUAL

CLOSE TO PERFECT

Dir: Barbara Karpinski, Australia, 2007, dvd, 13 min

BOY TOY STORY: LONGER! HARDER! FASTER!

Dir: Kelly Carpenter, Australia, 2007, dvd, 9 min

Dir: Akit Fong, Australia, 2007, dvd, 17 min

I LIKE TO TAKE OUT THE TRASH Dir: Wednesday, Australia, 2007, dvd, 6 min

Dir: Penny Byrne, Australia, 2007, dvd, 2 min

A BEAR, WHERE? Dir: Jeremy Stewart, Australia, 2006, dvd, 3 min

THE BEAT Dir: Dean Francis, Australia, 2008, dvd, 9 min

Presented by Loop

SESSIoN 53 MAR

2008

Wednesday 12 March

7.30pm

Loop - 23 Meyers Pl, City

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TURTLE COVE one of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best gay and lesbian resorts check out our great deals at www.turtlecove.com ph 1300 727 979

TOuRING Every year the MQFF packs an overnight bag and sends off an excellent selection of queer titles from the Melbourne season to our queer film starved friends in Bendigo, Far North Queensland and, for the first time, Perth. So if you can’t make it to the Melbourne screenings, pop on a bus, train or plane to catch the latest in queer film from Australia and around the world!

BENDIGO QUEER FILM FESTIVAL In 2008, the BQFF celebrates its sixth year. Screening from 4–6 April 2008. For more information visit www.bendigoqueerfilmfestival.info

PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF GREATER BENDIGO

See www.melbournequeerfilm.com.au for full programs and information for each touring location.

TROPICAL ALTERNATIVES: A VERY QUEER FILM FESTIVAL Supported by the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities. Screening at Townsville (13 April), Cairns (18–20 April), Sunshine Coast (19 April) and Rockhampton (26 April).

PHOTO COURTESY TOURISM QUEENSLAND

Presented by GAYinWA Events as part of GlamFest, and screeening at Mount Lawley’s Astor Cinemas from 10–13 April 2008. For more information: www.glamfest.com.au

PHOTO COURTESY TOURISM WA

GLAMFEST: SPERTH GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL

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Untitled-1 1

21/12/07 4:43:40 PM

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McCHEYNE & TUAZON

Civil celebrant | Wedding photographer

Blakes Feast ensures restaurant-quality food, drinks and service at your next event. For further information please call 9821 0669 or visit our website: www.blakesfeast.com.au Proudly supporting the 2008 Melbourne Queer Film Festival

info@mccheynetuazon.com Jason McCheyne Civil Celebrant 0438 352 532 Adrian Tuazon Wedding portraits, Photographer 0402 280 298

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Holding the Man Adapted by Tommy Murphy From the book by Timothy Conigrave

merlyn theatre, The CUB Malthouse 14 March - 19 April Bookings Ticketmaster 1300 723 038 or www.mtc.com.au A Griffin Theatre Company production. Melbourne Theatre Company is a department of the University of Melbourne.

Matt Zeremes Guy Edmonds Supporting Partner

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health care for the rest of us 03 9826 4500 www.prahranmarketclinic.com 131 Commercial Road South Yarra 3141

The total concept caterer and cafĂŠ. A fresh and fashionable approach to food and service. Experts in corporate and private functions, small or large gatherings, in or out of doors, on location, with or without staff; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a stylish and easy way to entertain. Open for breakfast and lunch 7 days a week.

CREDITS Festival office 6 Claremont St, South Yarra Victoria 3141 Australia Ph: 61 3 9827 2022 Fax: 61 3 9827 1622 info@melbournequeerfilm.com.au www.melbournequeerfilm.com.au

2008 Festival Trailer & Concept Design Produced by Cobra Kitten cobrakitten@gmail.com Poster and Program cover: Sari Harris and Cobra Kitten

Open Monday to Friday 10am-6pm

Program Program Editor: Lisa Daniel Production Manager: Paul Clifton Layout: Patrick Marris www.paddywacka.com and Beige www.beige.com.au Program notes: Paul Andrew (PA), Lisa Daniel (LD), Madeleine Swain (MS), Paul Tonta (PT), Ben Zipper (BZ)

Festival Director Lisa Daniel General Manager Rowena Doo Sponsorship & Advertising Manager Kylie Eddy office Intern Jasper Montana Festival Board of Management Claire Jackson, Co-convenor Tony Harding, Co-convenor (from Sept 2007) Leanne Sumpter, Co-convenor (to Sept 2007) Darryl Hall, Treasurer Kris Darmody, Secretary Roberta Armitage Cath Borg Paul Clifton Fiona Kelly (to Sept 2007) Gerard Long Stephen Lucas Aydin Sipaloglu Selection Panel Paul Andrew Carol Christensen David Collins Lisa Daniel Josh Frederick Kirsteene Phelan Kim Montgomery Leanne Sumpter Paul Tonta Queeries Panel Scott Igoe Claudia Stapleton Bradley Nguyen

Website Site development: Rob Alfaro, Rhombus Solutions www.rhombus.com.au Hosting: Connexus www.connexus.net.au Site management: Gerard Long and Paul Clifton

Print Distribution Step Right Up Distribution & Promotion www.steprightup.com.au Program Launch Executive Producer: Roberta Armitage Production Manager: Tony Harding Catering: Alex Catering 9686 9626 opening Night Party Executive Producer: Roberta Armitage Creative Director: Luke Gallagher Production Manager: Tony Harding Catering Manager: Susie Wickes Catering: Alex Catering 9686 9626 Blakes Feast 9821 0669 Ice CafĂŠ Bar 9510 8788 Hampton Foodstore 9521 0255 Crew: Geoff Williams, Mel Nelson, Beth Gibbins, Suzy Green, Adam Moffat, Bianca Past Festival Graphic Design (Admin and Advertising) Sari Harris www.saridesign.com.au Festival Publicist Miranda Brown Publicity www.mbpublicity.com.au Thanks to: Peter Dierks and the team at Volkswagen, Matt Stubbs (Matilda Bay), John Mayall and Barbara Duci (Train Trak), Dean Bell and Richard Watts (MCV), Julieanne Goss, ALSO Foundation, Clare Williamson, Karen Russell, David McCarthy, Jason Ngam, Ayan Dasuarma, Warwick Dew, Lachlan Mulcahy, Adam Moffat, George Florence and Ralphe Neill (Astor Theatre), Richard Sowada, Kristine Bugeja, Elly Bloom, Julia Browne and Tamara Jungwirth (ACMI), Susan Long (Law Institute of Victoria), Alex Green, Simone Ubaldi (Force Video), Jane Crawley, Vicky Guglielmo, Jo Pearson (City of Melbourne), Sandra Marguilis and Fiona Hillary (City of Yarra), David Pearce (Queerscreen), the VAC team, Shaun Miller, Emily Williams (Loop), Catherine Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neil and all our generous and loyal sponsors and advertisers, our ever-patient ticket venues, and hard working volunteers. Life Members Rowland Thomson, Crusader Hillis, Madeleine Swain, Suzie Goodman, miss jan horstman, David McCarthy, Richard Watts, Suzy Green, Rowena Doo, Luke Gallagher, Alex Green.

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INDEX FILMS 41 Seconds 71 A Bear, Where? 50, 79 Abomination: Homosexuality and the Ex-Gay Movement 50 A Four Letter Word 24 A Marriage Like Any Other 64 Anger Me 49 Babysitting Andy 30 Backstroke 64 Bam Bam & Celeste 25 Bears 50 The Beat 79 Before I Forget 25 The Birthday 23 Born Again 50 Boy Toy Story: Longer! Harder! Faster! 79 Breakfast with Scot 16 Brighton Bandits 52 The Bubble 26 Butch Jamie 26 Bye Bye Boobies 57 Center of the Universe 68 The Chinese Botanist’s Daughters 27 Clapham Junction 27 Close to Perfect 79 Communicator 68, 76 Cowboy Forever 33 The Curiosity of Chance 28 Daddy’s Love 51 Destiny in Alice 55 Dolls (Czech Rep) 28 Dolls (USA) 69 Duck Soup 79 Dyke! 76, 79 Eddie 72, 77

Elevator 72 The Erotic Films of Peter De Rome 61 Every Other Weekend 63 Family Reunion 64, 76 Filled With Water 62 Finn’s Girl 29 First Flush 71 Flatmates 76 Flowers at the Park, or First Kisses 39, 64 The Gay Bed & Breakfast of Terror 29 Gay Zombie 69 The Gendercator 67 Genderpunk 73 Give Piece of Ass a Chance 34 Good Dyke Porn 31 Groucho 69 Happenstance 67 Heartcut 67, 77 Holding Trevor 30 The Houseboy 30 Hullabaloo 52 I Know That I Am 52 I Like to Take Out the Trash 79 Inlaws and Outlaws 59 In Search of the Wild Kingdom 31 In the High School 71 Jane Blonde 40 K 71 Kali Ma 76 Kiss the Bride 31 Last Exit 67 Letters From Home 57 Lloyd Neck 77

Log Off 79 Look Sharp 62 Love Bite 38, 63 Love is Blue 79 Love is Love 25 Love My Life 32 55 Love Refugees The Man of My Life 32 The Manual 63 Marina and Her Moms 51 Mirror Mirror 17, 63 Mommy Mommy 51 My Last Ten Hours With You 63 My Super 8 Season 33 The New World 33 No Bikini 73 No Magic Bullet 59 One Night Stand 34 One to Another 34 Out at the Wedding 35 Outing Riley 35 Outlet 77 Pages of a Girl 67 The Perfect Man 57 The Picture of Dorian Gray 36 Poltergay 36 The Prodigal Son 55 Projecting The Body 61 The Red Dress 73 Resonance 61 Rock Garden: A Love Story 69 Rome & Juliet 37 Romeo’s Kiss 77 Rope Burn 63 S/He 73 Saturn in Opposition 37

Scorpio Rising 49 Searching 4 Sandeep 55 Semper Fi: One Marine’s Journey 53 Serene Hunter 71 Sexy Single Bilingual 79 The Shadows 38 Shahram and Abbas 52 She’s a Boy I Knew 53 Shelter 38 Shelter Me 39 Smalltown Boy 77 Snap 63 Solace 71 Sonja 39 Spider Lilies 20 Spinnin’ 40 Spinning 67 Swimsuit 57, 76 Systolic/Diastolic 71 Through Thick and Thin 58 Tick Tock Lullaby 40 Tied Hands 41 Times Have Been Better 41 Trannymal 73 Transvestites Also Cry 23 Uncle Mike 73, 77 Undressing Vanessa 55 Vampire Diary 42 Vibracall 67 Vivere 42 Wet Shave 68 Whatever Suits You 53, 57, 76 Whirlwind 47 The Witnesses 47 The World Unseen 48 XXY 18 You Belong to Me 48

Denmark 71 France 23, 25, 27, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 41, 47, 77 Germany 39, 42, 68, 71, 76 Iceland 64, 76 India 76 Iran 23, 52 Israel 26, 41, 72 Italy 37, 39

Japan 32 Netherlands 23, 52 Norway 51, 52, 67, 77 Philippines 37 South Africa 48 Spain 18, 39, 40, 64, 69, 71 Sweden 57, 76 Taiwan 20, 73 Turkey 37

COUNTRY Argentina 18 Australia 17, 25, 38, 50, 55, 57, 61, 62, 63, 68, 76, 79 Brazil 67 Canada 16, 27, 29, 30, 31, 34, 49, 51, 52, 53, 64, 69, 73 China 20, 27 Czech Republic 28

27, 28, 40, 42, 48, 52, 57, 59, 77 USA 24, 25, 26,29, 30, 31, 35, 36, 38, 40, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 53, 57, 58, 59, 61, 64, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 76, 77

MEMBERShIP Now’s the time to join the Melbourne Queer Film Festival – we’ve got benefits to offer you all year round! Membership benefits include: • Special member prices to all MQFF events. • Drink discounts at Festival Club. • Priority ticket booking service for the annual Festival in advance of non-members.

PHOTO: CATHERINE O’NEIL

MQFF is the biggest and oldest queer film festival in Australia, and screens the best in queer film from Australia and around the world. Becoming a member is an investment in queer film and a show of support for your community.

• MQFF updates and regular e-newsletter. • Advance information on special Festival offers. • The annual Festival Program posted to you. • Invitation to the annual Program Launch and other special events. • Voting rights at the AGM. • Discounts including Melbourne International Film Festival tickets, Kino, Nova and Westgarth Cinemas, De Los Santos restaurant and Hares & Hyenas book stores. • VIP membership to the Classic Cinema. • Great discounts on Festival merchandise. Choose an annual membership, or save time and money with a two year membership: One year membership = $35 full, $30 concession. Two year membership = $65 full, $55 concession. To become a member, fill in form overpage, or join online at www.melbournequeerfilm.com.au

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18th MELBOURNE QUEER FILM FESTIVAL. SCREENING 5 - 16 March 2008

membership form

Use this form to become a member of Melbourne Queer Film Festival, Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest queer film festival, screening the best queer film from Australia and around the world. Becoming a member is an investment in queer film, a show of support for your community, and entitles you to year-round benefits. Join us today!

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Please make cheque payable to: Melbourne Queer Film Festival Inc.

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PLEASE FAX THIS FORM TO: (03) 9827 1622

MQFF, 6 Claremont St, South Yarra VIC 3141 Australia

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MQFF continually strives to bring you a better festival. Please help by completing our survey available at festival events and at www.melbournequeerfilm.com.au Melbourne Queer Film Festival respects your privacy. No information that you provide on this form will be made available to third parties,and will only be used in regard to the Festival and its partners.

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City of Yarra, proudly supporting major festivals & events Celebrating Local People, Practice and Place Melbourne Queer Film Festival The Victoria Street Lunar Festival Johnston Street Fiesta Melbourne International Comedy Festival Moon Lantern Festival Emerge Midsumma Festival Next Wave Festival Overload Poetry Festival Tet Festival NAIDOC Family Day Fairfield Amphitheatre Summer Concert Series

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The City of Melbourne wishes the 2008 Melbourne Queer Film Festival a happy 18th birthday and is proud to support the fabulous festival.