POUT, POUT, WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT? 1 LGBT SEASON OF DISCOVERY | 5 FEATURE FILMS | 10 SHORT FILMS POUTfest 2015 brings you five brand new LGBT feature films along with a snug anthology of ten gay short films. The theme of the 2015 POUT tour is “family” - all five features celebrate many different forms of family life in the 21st Century. There are four main features; 52 TUESDAYS, SOFT LAD, DRESSED AS A GIRL and A GIRL AT MY DOOR, accompanying these are two additional programmes for cinemas that would like that little bit “extra” - FUTURO BEACH and the short film anthology TRICK & TREAT. This booklet has information on the full line-up, so if you think your local cinema is missing a trick; let them know what you would like to see. POUT isn’t just for cinemas, if you are part of a group or organisation and would like to bring POUT to your members get in touch and we’ll bring POUT to you. And get involved, we’d love to hear from you. Let us know what you want to see in the future, let us know what you think we could do better and above all, let us know what you like. Thoughts and comments will be added to our online blog at poutfest.co.uk Join our online photo gallery by using the hashtag #puckerup Let’s see you POUT!
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Sophie Hyde Sophie makes provocative and intimate drama and documentary work. In 2010 Sophie produced the feature documentary Shut Up Little Man! An Audio Misadventure, which premiered at Sundance 2011, and co-directed the critically acclaimed feature documentary Life in Movement. Sophie was Executive Producer on projects including Stunt Love and I Want to Dance Better At Parties. She is currently a recipient of the Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship.
52 Tuesdays
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Australia / 114 mins / 16:9 / Cert 15 Directed by Sophie Hyde / Starring Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Del Herbert-Jane, Mario Spate, Beau Travis Williams, Imogen Archer Filmed one day, every week, for a year. Billie’s journey to independence is accelerated when her mother reveals plans to gender transition, limiting their time together to Tuesday afternoons. Whatever happens to her mother, Billie will always be his daughter. Winning Best Director at Sundance and the Crystal Bear at Berlin International Film Festival and shot in real time, every Tuesday for one year, exposing both characters’ transformations - 52 TUESDAYS is a groundbreaking and remarkable achievement in storytelling. ‘A groundbreaking new film” Huffington Post
Soft Lad
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United Kingdom / 83 mins / 16:9 / Cert 15 Directed by Leon Lopez / Starring Jonny Labey (Eastenders), Daniel Brocklebank (Coronation Street), Suzanne Collins (Brookside), Craig Stein Twenty-two year old David has it all. He’s young, hot, and he’s just got into the prestigious dance school of his dreams. But he has a secret: for two years he’s been sleeping with his sister’s husband, Jules. After an argument between the two lovers, David throws himself into a one-night stand with Sam, a casual encounter which fast becomes something much stronger. Unable to express his feelings to anyone, Jules is slowly driven mad by his secret desire for David, and jealous of his newfound, public relationship. When David’s sister, Jane, insists he brings his new boyfriend over for dinner, Jules snaps, revealing in turn a secret which none of them can ignore. SOFT LAD is the directorial debut from Leon Lopez, an examination of lust, jealousy and their consequences in contemporary Liverpool.
Leon Lopez Leon, recognisable from TV’s Brookside, studied performing arts at Liverpool Arts Centre, as well as Music Performance at The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. After directing and producing several music videos and short films, Leon decided to make his first feature film, SOFT LAD. Leon is currently developing a TV drama about the tumultuous world of models, escorts and struggling artists, called Trade.
Colin Rothbart Colin is a London-based producer and director of documentary programmes. Over the past 20 years he has worked for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky (amongst others), and some of his projects include Alan Cumming’s Urban Secrets, Unreported World, Make Me A Christian and Weekend Escapes with Warwick Davis. DRESSED AS A GIRL is his feature documentary debut.
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United Kingdom / 96 mins / 16:9 / Cert 18 Directed by Colin Rothbart / Starring Jonny Woo, Scottee, Holestar, Amber, John Sizzle, Pia Colin Rothbart rips off the wigs and wipes away the mascara to find the real people behind the figureheads of East London’s much-hyped alternative drag scene. Following in the tradition of Paris Is Burning and The Cockettes , DRESSED AS A GIRL paints a compelling London portrait that pulls audiences beyond the performances into a mesmerising and previously inaccessible underworld. Filmed over six years and following six cult stars as they swim against the tide (Jonny Woo, Holestar, Scottee, Amber, Pia Arber and John Sizzle), the film follows the literal highs and graphic lows of this popular tribe, revealing the personal struggles of each heroine. DRESSED AS A GIRL demonstrates how the power of friendship can ensure survival against all odds, and how individualism is a group activity. These radical, iconic players come together to form a sturdy house of cards, and no matter how high the tide is – there’s always a laugh to be had.
Director’s Statement – Colin Rothbart I was on holiday with Holestar, one of the stars of the documentary, discussing the vibrancy of the East London scene, when she pointed out there had never been a British ‘Paris is Burning’ - even 25 years later. Why didn’t we make one? Or at least attempt to document the lives of the fabulous performers of East London both on stage and off. And so the idea was born. We decided on six core characters and followed them throughout the next five years and they have all become friends. I was determined not to just make a home video for ‘the scene’. I want this film to appeal to gays, lesbians, trans and straight people everywhere – even my parents – and of course the stars themselves. So it has to be a film full of universal truths – love, desire, insecurity, ambition, community, personal demons, family and familiar life experiences. While performance is a huge part of these people’s lives, I wanted to find stories that everyone could relate to. With the help of a hackneyed cliché, I hope this film delves beneath the wit and banter and unveils the human side behind the glitter spray of East London’s vibrant alternative drag scene. As one of the performers states in a show: ‘Behind the flawless maquillage, a broken facade.’
POUTfest returns to British & Irish cinemas in Spring 2016 featuring XENIA A film by Panos H. Koutras Keep up to date, join the conversation and spread the word POUTfest poutfest.co.uk Get involved, become a POUT ambassador and bring the festival to your local cinema, society or group.
Contact us: POUT c/o Peccadillo Pictures Unit G 81 Curtain Road London EC1A 3AG enquiries@peccapics.com
July Jung July studied film at the School of Art, Sungkyunkwan University, before moving onto the Korea National University of Arts, where she produced A Man Under the Influenza. Her subsequent short film, 11, was invited to the International Women’s Film Festival in Seoul. A GIRL AT MY DOOR marks July’s feature film debut, and was selected to play in the prestigious Un Certain Regard at Cannes Film Festival.
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South Korea / 119 mins / 16:9 / Cert 18 Directed by July Jung / Starring Doona Bae, Sae-ron Kim, Sae-Byeok Song, Hie Jin Jang Young-nam was a top graduate of the Korean police academy, but due to “misconduct” is transferred to a post at a small seaside village. On her first patrol she encounters the mysterious Dohee; a young girl excluded by her local community. As Young-nam adapts to her new life, she witnesses Dohee’s situation and is compelled to protect the girl from her family by letting her move in. All is well with this unconventional arrangement until Dohee’s drunken father decides he wants her back. Premiered in Un Certain Regard Cannes Film Festival, A GIRL AT MY DOOR is a fresh and rare gem, directed and written by July Jung (one of the few female filmmakers to have emerged from South Korea) and produced by Lee Changdong who created masterpieces Poetry and Secret Sunshine.
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Brazil / Germany / 90 mins / 16:9 / Cert 15 Directed by Karim Ainouz / Starring Wagner Moura, Clemens Schick, Jesuíta Barbosa The spectacular but treacherous Futuro Beach provides the backdrop to this vibrant film featuring an electrifying soundtrack including David Bowie’s Heroes and Suicide’s Ghost Rider. When Brazilian lifeguard, Donato saves German biker, Konrad from drowning, the pair immediately form a strong sexual bond. Their passionate affair intensifies, and Donato decides to leave his mother and younger brother Ayrton behind, to start a new life with Konrad in Berlin. Years later, Ayrton arrives in Berlin to demand answers. His unexpected arrival forces all three men to confront their past.
Karim Ainouz Karim rose to international prominence with his controversial feature debut, Madame Sata, which premiered at Cannes Film Festival in 2002 and has since won over 40 prizes at national and international film festivals. He has directed for HBO, Todd Haynes and Wim Wenders’ documentary TV series Cathedrals of Culture. FUTURO BEACH is his fifteenth film.
Talking Masculinity, Love and Utopia with director Karim Ainouz When we imagined the film, we thought of a story about courage and fear, about characters that are brave and cowardly at the same time. We wanted to talk about the times we live in – when trepidation is everywhere. We have immersed ourselves in a conservative moment, a moment where religion, intolerance and a wish for stability are ever present. Adventure, risk-taking, and danger are no longer very welcome, so we pictured a story that could encompass all of that, a story that could be relevant – we imagined a film about passion, voyage and discovery. We envisioned a film in which the characters would love unconditionally, a story of men, but men who make mistakes and who are vulnerable and lack bravery at times. Having the guts to leave everything behind and reinvent your life was the idea at the core of FUTURO BEACH. It’s something that we all desire but are often afraid of. Maybe because we have to leave so much behind in order to actually take the leap. The film is a portrait of characters that have the courage to take this step, to take the plunge to somewhere completely unknown. The sensation of doing this is embedded in the title of the film itself – Futuro, future, moving forward. I come from a generation where taking risks was mandatory – we wanted to change the world. These days I have the sense that this kind of collective utopian thinking is not so present anymore. FUTURO BEACH is in a sense fuelled by that wish to begin anew, to confront things, to engage in unexpected possibilities. The challenge was to develop the main characters as facets of the same idea, we had to achieve a tone that was truthful to these ideals – ultimately to express it all through the characters and their actions, the perils they undertake, the journeys they embark on, and the mistakes they end up making along the way. Besides all the travel and adventure, there was also the wish to draft a male melodrama. A contemporary, intimate melodrama inhabited only by male characters, but without villains.
Peccadillo Short Films Peccadillo Pictures currently distributes 17 volumes of LGBT short films, including 13 editions of BOYS ON FILM, the world’s most successful short film anthology series. The collections proudly showcase a multitude of award winning short films with awards from The Iris Prize in Cardiff to the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, and introduce us to the feature film filmmakers of tomorrow. The collections are available on DVD and On-Demand. For more information visit: peccapics.com/boysonfilm peccapics.com/girlsonfilm
TRICK & TREAT
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Directed by Leslie Bumgarner, Anna Nolskog, Lazlo Tonk, Dylan Tonk, Dan Connolly, Tim Marshall, Philip J. Connell, Casper Andreas, Charlie Francis, Christopher Brown, Neil Ely Time for a trick & a treat! A surprising and delightful collection of 10 new, award winning short films, exploring relationships, dark desires and confronting hidden secrets. An American teenager fantasises over his school bully, a miscommunication threatens to end an entire relationship, at the end of the world the desolate English countryside sets the scene for a group of men trying to cheat death, and an elderly woman sees a vision of Jesus on the swimming shorts of a young African man. Showcasing talent from around the world let TRICK & TREAT entice and astound you.
Surprise Director Leslie Bumgarner
Boygame Director Anna Nolskog
Caged Director Lazlo & Dylan Tonk
(USA) 9 mins 2015
(Sweden) 14 mins 2012
(Netherlands) 13 mins 2014
After misbehaving at school it’s time for young Jack to confess to his mother, but the solution to his “problem” is not like anything he could have imagined.
Best friends John and Nicolas aren’t confident about having sex with girls, so to avoid embarrassment; they decide to get some practice – on each other.
Leslie received her MFA in Cinematography from the American Film Institute Conservatory. Currently she is based in LA, but travels across the world to pursue narrative storytelling. She recently returned from Tanzania after shooting the dramatic feature Going Bongo. Her directorial debut, Surprise, stars Tess Harper and has been shown at festivals across the globe.
Anna is a director, screenwriter, animator and producer at Två Ljus Film & Production, a Swedish film company. Boygame won the award for Best Short Film at The 2013 Oslo Gay & Lesbian Film Festival and the award for Special Recognition for Drama at The San Francisco International Festival of Short Film.
David and Neils spend most of their time working out together on the local sports ground. Meanwhile their gang of friends harass a local boy for being gay. But their tight friendship is about to be thrown off balance by a secret Neils has been keeping. Twin brothers Lazlo and Dylan Tonk started their film company Dyzlo Film in 2004. Based in the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands, Dyzlo Film tells the unique stories of ordinary people, with subjects ranging from healthcare and education to art, music and video games. In choosing the subjects for their films, the brothers focus on socially relevant issues such as human rights, equality and sustainable development.
VIS-À-VIS Director Dan Connolly
Followers Director Tim Marshall
Kissing Drew Director Philip J. Connell
(UK/Australia) 16 mins 2013
(UK/Australia) 8 mins 2014
(Canada) 8 mins 2013
When a government official comes to inspect Richard and Martin’s relationship for Visa approval, it is clear that all is not as it seems. Cue hilarious consequences as the two men will stop at nothing to hide their true identity. Will Martin get Visa approval or will things turn out for the worst?
When an elderly woman sees a vision of Jesus on the swimming trunks of a young African man at her class, she befriends him as she believes God has sent her a sign for him to free her of her loneliness.
A dreary school day in 1992: “Cool kid” Drew is James’ sexual fantasy, but Drew is also James’ bully. In a single moment, James faces off against both Drew the bully and Drew the fantasy, but is it enough to reclaim his dignity?
Dan Connolly is a director, actor and writer who has most recently starred in Roxanne (2014), VIS- à -VIS (2013) and Prick (2009). His film VIS-à-VIS showed at the 2014 Palm Springs International Short Fest as part of the program ‘Cons & Consequences’. It won the award for Best Short Film at the British Independent Film Festival.
Tim Marshall is an award-winning filmmaker from Australia. His short films have screened at numerous notable film festivals including Palm Springs, Frameline and Outfest. Followers was shot in Wales with funds from Iris Prize, which was awarded to his earlier short, Gorilla, in 2013. The feature screenplay earned him a place in the 2014 Outfest Screenwriting Lab and made it to the semi-finals round of the 2014 Academy Nicholl Fellowship.
Phil has been working in film since 2001 through his production companies, Toolkit Productions and Alistair James Films. Kissing Drew has enjoyed a good festival run around the globe with screenings including Sedona International Film Festival and BFI Flare. Phil is currently in development on his feature length project, a suspense family drama called Portrait of a Darling.
A Last Farewell Director Casper Andreas
Middle Man Director Charlie Francis
Remission Director Christopher Brown
(Sweden) 12 mins 2013
(UK) 4 mins 2014
(UK) 18 mins 2013
A Last Farewell looks at an aging author’s sorrow over the death of his long-term partner. Haunted by visions of his late husband, and in conflict with his daughter who is trying to renew the ties between them, how will he move on and find peace?
After a misunderstanding, Nathan tries to get in contact with his hearing impaired boyfriend through a type-to-talk service. Will the middle man be able to fix the situation or will Nathan have to find another way to communicate?
Two young men and a boy roam the overgrown English countryside, seeking to escape a deadly virus. The two men are forced to take a horrific decision after the boy’s behaviour puts them in increasing danger – but is it too late to cheat death?
Casper is a self-taught filmmaker who refined most of his skills from on-the-job work. In addition to writing, he studied Acting & Directing at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York, and learned about film production at IFP in Los Angeles. In December of 2008, Casper was selected as one of the 100 most influential LGBT people by Out Magazine. Casper is currently in production for his latest feature, Kiss Me, Kill Me.
Charlie Francis is a BAFTA nominated director, writer and producer whose most recent short, Middle Man, won the Best British Short at Iris Prize 2014 and the First Prize, Audience Award, Most Creative & Original Award and Best Actor at the Raptor Filmz Short Scottish Film Festival 2015. Middle Man has since gone on to be nominated for the Best New Talent Award at BAFTA Scotland 2015.
Chris is currently developing several feature film projects, including Knock-Out, a story about a young boxer coming to terms with his sexuality, which won Best Screenplay at the 2013 London Independent Film Festival and the Cordelia Award for Best UK Screenplay at the BlueCat competition in Los Angeles. Remission was nominated for the Iris Prize and the Best of British Award at the 2014 Iris Prize Festival.
Short Film Collections on DVD & On-Demand
Mirrors Director Neil Ely (UK) 11 mins 2014 In a toilet of a Manchester nightclub, two young men (Shameless’ Jody Latham and Skins’ Liam Boyle) catch each other’s eye. As they reveal their feelings to one another, they find that their lives mirror each other in more ways than one. The only thing left to do is face the person staring back at them. Neil is a playwright/filmmaker from Manchester. He started his career in fringe theatre and is now making a name for himself in both film and theatre. His credits include Asylum of Grace (Writer), Celluloid (Actor) and Three in a Bed (feature film writer/director).
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