OUT ON FILM

CAPE TOWN PRIDE 2023 IS FEATURING TWO MOVIE NIGHTS DURING THIS YEAR’S PRIDE CALENDAR.

THE FIRST IS ON THE 16TH FEBRUARY WHERE THERE WILL BE A SCREENING OF THE HBO SERIES EQUAL WHICH CHRONICLES THE LANDMARK EVENTS & FORGOTTEN HEROES OF THE LGBTQ+ CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

THE SECOND MOVIE NIGHT IS ON THE 1ST MARCH AT THE LABIA THEATRE WHERE THERE WILL BE A SCEENING OF THE AWARD WINNING SWEDISH FILM MY FATHER MARIANNE ...

BOTH SCREENINGS ARE FREE TO THOSE OF YOU WHO WANT TO ATTEND, HOWEVER IS IS IMPORTANT TO GET YOUR TICKETS ON QUICKET.COM ...

Equal is an American docuseries in four-parts which chronicles landmark events and leaders in LGBTQ history and consists of a mixture of archival footage and scripted re-enactments.

The gripping and true backstories of the leaders and unsung heroes, who, pre-Stonewall, bravely challenged the laws, social discrimination changing attitudes and consequently the path of America’s future, and consequently ours as well, through their tireless activism.

“By day we were ordinary people,” says one founding member of 1950s gay group the Mattachine Society, “but by night we became wild radicals, determined to change the world.”

For those viewers who may feel that the Americans were not the be-all and end-all when it comes to LGBT+ liberation, as there were movements afoot in Europe and elsewhere, we must agree that the LGBTQ+ liberation movement started making real change across the world once the United States got on board in the fight for LGBT+ equality.

Gay icon, actor Billy Porter, narrates the documentary series paying tribute to the founders of the modern LGBTQ+ movement.

The 4-part series was nominated for the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Documentary in 2021, and as such is a fascinating and important record of the movements and people who worked tirelessly, against seemingly overwhelming odds to win us the rights we enjoy today.

There is a belief that Stonewall was the start of the LGBT+ liberation movement, but before Stonewall there was Compton’s Cafeteria, and before Harvey Milk there was José Sarria. Portrayed by Cheyenne Jackson, Shannon Purser, Jamie Clayton, Jai Rodriguez, Samira Wiley, and other actors, each episode captures the origin stories of trailblazers who changed the course of American history, giving a voice to millions of people yearning to be out, proud and equal.

Equal tells the stories of a very diverse set of people from the standpoint of race, ethnicity, gender and sexual expression and identity, and socioeconomic status; all are given due respect and dignity. Significant themes of courage and integrity are visible. Viewers will definitely learn more about LGBTQ+ history and are likely to feel more empathetic with those who struggle and the struggle itself.

Above: Jai Rodriguez as José Sarria. In 1961 José became the first openly gay candidate for public office in the United States, running for a seat on the SF Board of Supervisors 16 years before Harvey Milk. He is also remembered as a beloved and inspiring drag performer at SF’s Black Cat Bar, with his rousing anthem “God Save Us Nelly Queens”!

For those viewers who are interested in and acknowledging the history of those activists who came before us, this docu-series is essential viewing.

Directed by Mårten Klingberg, and starring Rolf Lassgård, Hedda Stiernstedt, Lena Endre, the film is the story of newly single, twenty something aspiring journalist Hanna who leaves Stockholm to move back in with her parents in her small hometown. Already feeling adrift after breaking up with her boyfriend, her world is turned upside-down when her father, a respected priest, informs his family that he wants to come out as Marianne. From this point on there is no going back for father Marianne, who insists on being her true self.

How can Hanna, who hardly believes in herself, accept her father for who she really is? It’s a tumultuous journey for Hanna, who didn’t know herself or her father as well as she thought she did.

Charming and heartbreaking, the film is inspired by awardwinning writer Ester Roxberg’s 2014 autobiographical novel. Lena Endre (Hanna) was awarded a Best Actress in a Suporting Role at the Guldbagge Awards, Sweden’s leading film awards presented since 1964 for outstanding contributions to Swedish film.

The film is in Swedish with subtitles and will be screened at the Labia Theatre in Gardens on the 1st March at 18:00. Tickets are free and available online at Quicket.com ...

The Queer Reading Room is a brand new nude literary event celebrating performance art, queer bodies, queer literature and the intimacy of being read to. A small cast of unclad readers will saunter through a literary landscape of all things queer, sharing readings curated to be magical, funny and sometimes heart wrenching. We invite you to experience this alchemy of vulnerability and storytelling.

(And yes, the readers are completely naked!)

There will be 2 sessions, one at 7,00pm and the next at 9.30pm

Tickets: R100 Pre -Sold Early Birds(Very Limited), R200

Pre-Sold available at Quicket: https://www.quicket.co.za/events/204996-queerreading-room/?ref=events-list#/