QSaltLake Magazine - Issue 313 - July 2020

The 17th Damn These Heels Queer Film Festival is on for 2020, virtually, from July 10 through 19. Produced by the Utah Film Center, the Festival showcases fiction and non-fiction films from around the world that explore LGBTQ issues, ideas, and art.

Though this year’s festival is being presented online, the festival will continue to provide a selection of short and feature films, filmmaker Q&As and opportunities for group conversations, organizers say. “The dramatic events of the past few months have forced us to re-imagine how we operate and offer our programs,” Patrick Hubley, executive director for Utah Film Center, said. “For us, not presenting the Festival wasn’t an option, and based on the feedback we received directly from past Festival attendees, our community agreed with us. Though we aren’t able to

gather in person, we hope that this year’s festival will help us understand, heal, and celebrate the human capacity for innovation and perseverance, together.”

Hubley says that the Festival is the longest-running LGBTQ Film Festival in the Mountain West and has presented more than 248 thought-provoking and entertaining films over the years.

Festival info: utahfilmcenter.org/damntheseheels/dth2020/

Ahead of the Curve

USA | DIRECTED BY JEN RAININ

The story of one of the most influential women in lesbian history you’ve never heard of and the impact her work continues to have today.

Breaking Fast

USA | DIRECTED BY MIKE MOSALLAM Mo, a practicing Muslim living in West Hollywood, is learning to navigate life post heartbreak. Enter Kal, an All-American guy who surprises Mo by offering to break fast with him during the holy month of Ramadan.

Dog Valley

USA | Directed by Dave Lindsay In 1988, two ex-convicts kidnapped, beat, raped, tortured and murdered Gordon Church, a gay college student from a rural Mormon community in southern Utah.

Ema

CHILE | DIRECTED BY PABLO LARRAÍN SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES

A couple deals with the aftermath of an adoption that goes awry as their household falls apart.

Holy Trinity

USA | DIRECTED BY MOLLY HEWITT

When Trinity, an independent, sex-positive Dominatrix in Chicago, discovers a newfound (and drug-induced) talent for speaking to the dead, she consults a colorful series of spiritual advisers to harness ability.

Jules of Light and Dark

USA | DIRECTED BY DANIEL LAABS

A young woman develops a bond with the man who rescued her from a car accident. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Outfest.

Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glen-Copeland Story

USA | DIRECTED BY POSY DIXON

After his 1986 album is rediscovered, a black trans musician recounts his life, from the lonely 60s to the joy of witnessing the present.

Making Sweet Tea

USA | DIRECTED BY JOHN L. JACKSON, JR. & NORA GROSS

Chronicles the journey of southern-born, black gay researcher and performer, E. Patrick Johnson, as he travels home to North Carolina to come to terms with his past, and to Georgia, New Orleans, and Washington, D.C. to reconnect with six black gay men he interviewed.

One Taxi Ride

MEXICO / SINGAPORE | DIRECTED BY MAK CK

An observational documentary that tells the intimate story of a male rape survivor. Erick’s innermost thoughts, fears, struggles.

Pier Kids: The Life

USA | DIRECTED BY ELEGANCE BRATTON

Three gay and transgender youth of color who have become, like the director once was, homeless on the same street the Gay Rights Movement began so long ago.

The Prince

CHILE | DIRECTED BY SEBASTIÁN MUÑOZ A ’70s-set homoerotic prison drama based on a low-circulated pulp novel, tracking the sexual, often-violent and eventually murderous experiences of 20-something narcissist Jaime.

The Queen of Lapa

BRAZIL | DIRECTED BY THEODORE COLLATOS, CAROLINA MONNERAT

Larger-than-life actress, cabaret performer, activist, and proud sex professional since the age of eleven, Luana Muniz — one of Brazil’s most recognizable transgender personalities.

Queer Japan

JAPAN | DIRECTED BY GRAHAM KOLBEINS JAPANESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES

Trailblazing artists, activists, and everyday people from across the spectrum of gender and sexuality defy social norms and dare to shine in this kaleidoscopic view of LGBTQ+ culture in contemporary Japan.

Same Sex Attracted

USA, BRAZIL, MEXICO | DIRECTED BY MADDY PURVES AND ZOIE YOUNG

Same-Sex Attracted follows a handful of LGBT & SSA students over the course of an academic year at LDS-owned Brigham Young University as they live and grow at “the Lord’s University.” These incredible individuals experience not only the regular day-to-day of being college kids, but also the unique trials that come with being LGBT at a Mormon school, grappling with questions of faith, sexuality, gender, family, love, and life. Combined, the students’ stories paint an elaborate picture of what is going on in the trenches of the “Mormon and Gay” conversation.

Song Lang

VIETNAM | DIRECTED BY LEON LE An unlikely bond forms between an underground debt collector and a cai luong “Vietnamese opera” performer against the backdrop of Saigon in the 90s.

The Surrogate

USA | DIRECTED BY JEREMY HERSH Jess is thrilled to be the surrogate for her best friend and his husband, but when a prenatal test comes back positive, it creates a moral dilemma that threatens their friendship.

Thirst

ICELAND | DIRECTED BY STEINÞÓR HRÓAR STEINÞÓRSSON AND GAUKUR ÚLFARSSON

The drug addict Hulda is arrested and accused of murdering her brother. After she is let go because of insufficient evidence, she meets Hjörtur, a thousand-year-old gay vampire.

Transkids

ISRAEL | DIRECTED BY HILLA MEDALIA HEBREW W/ ENGLISH SUBTITLES

Transkids’ follows four Israeli teenagers who go through transition in a militaristic society in which teenagers go to the army right after high-school, and religion plays a very strong role in people’s identity.

Unsound

AUSTRALIA | DIRECTED BY IAN WATSON

Falling in love is the easy part. A disillusioned musician’s romantic spark is ignited by a young trans man as they work together to save his community nightclub for the deaf.

Variações: Guardian Angel

PORTUGAL | DIRECTED BY JOÃO MAIA

A biopic about António Variações, a famous Portuguese pop rock singer from the 80s who died from AIDS-related complications.