From ballerinas to roller derby players, rodeo cowboys to surf lifesavers, and everything in between, the 22ndMardi Gras Film Festival is set to deliver the best in LGBTQI cinema. The festival, sponsored by Queer Screen, promises to bring a diverse, thought-provoking and highly entertaining program of films to be screened at Sydney’s Event Cinemas George Street from Thursday 19 February to Thursday 5 March, 2015.
Mardi Gras Film Festival Director, Paul Struthers, says, “This year’s Mardi Gras Film Festival program has such a special selection of films from all over the world. However, I’m especially proud of the really strong Australian talent that features this year. It’s incredibly important to us at MGFF to support the local industry and get Aussie films shown to as wide an audience as we possibly can. And it’s easy to support our filmmaking industry when it produces the incredible films we’ve chosen for our program!”
Lord Mayor Clover Moore says Sydney City is proud to be supporting Queer Screen, “The festival brings together a diverse range of international films, from countries such as the Philippines and the Netherlands, to look at the issues faced by gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people around the world.”
Life Partners
Quite a few famous faces will be seen in this year’s festival program. Legendary Patrick Stewart stars in Match, based on a Tony Award-winning play about an interview with an aging Julliard dance professor. This film also stars Carla Gugino and Matthew Lillard. Another star-studded film is Life Partners, cast in which are Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl) and real-life husband, Adam Brody (The OC), along with Gillian Jacobs (Community). Openly gay actor Ben Whishaw (Bright Star, Skyfall) stars in Lilting, about a man who, in his grief, reaches out to his dead boyfriend’s mother, who is of Cambodian-Chinese heritage and doesn’t speak English.
Lyle
Also spot Patricia Clarkson in Last Weekend, Girls actress Gaby Hoffman in Lyle, and our own Sigrid Thornton in BFFs. BFFs tells the story of Kat and Sam, who are gifted a weekend away to a couple’s retreat, despite being straight and not a couple. This film is arguably the funniest of the festival, and Thornton herself will be coming along to the screening and participating in a Q&A session afterwards.
Highlights of the festival also include a celebration screening on the 45th anniversary of cult Australian film The Set, directed by Frank Brittain. This was the first local production to have homosexuality as its central theme, and depicts the story of Paul (Sean McEuan) who is pursuing his dreams in the Sydney art world when he falls in love with his cousin’s handsome boyfriend, Tony. The screening will also be followed by a Q&A with the cast and crew.
Drown
Amongst the other home-grown highlights is the tense, gripping and terse new drama, Drown, which explores the world of Aussie beach culture through the story of handsome young Sydney surf club champion, Len. Len is on a bender of jealousy and unrequited lust, but he can’t stand the new lifesaver, Phil, who he thinks is gay. Just how far will Len take his rage? The film stars Harry Cook (Accidents Happen) and Matt Levett (Devil’s Playground) and is a world premiere for the festival.
All About E
Next up is the world premiere of All About E. Sexy Sydney DJ, E, always has a world of women at her feet. When she and her gay best friend, Matt, stumble upon a load of cash, they are forced to hit the road on the run from crooks. They soon realise there’s nowhere left to go but into outback Australia, and for E, that means heading back into the arms of ex-girlfriend Trish and a lot of tough memories from her past.
Skin Deep
Shot in and around Newtown, Skin Deep will be making its Australian premiere at the Mardi Gras Film Festival. Troubled university student Caitlin and straight-laced Leah are two lost souls who discover that sometimes a stranger is the best person to open up to. This moving film received an Honourable Mention for Best Narrative Feature at the Austin Film Festival where it had its world premiere. Again, this screening will involve a Q&A and after party following the film.
George Takei in a scene from ‘Do I Sound Gay’.
This year’s program also features an assortment of feature documentaries for every taste. There’s the hilarious Do I Sound Gay? following the journey of David Thorpe, a man who undergoes voice-changing exercises due to his anxiety about sounding gay. Featuring interviews with linguists and celebrities such as Margaret Cho, Tim Gunn, Dan Savage, George Takei and David Sedaris, this doco candidly questions wider cultural issues concerning sexuality and self-esteem. Do I Sound Gay? had its world premiere at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival where it won First Runner-Up, People’s Choice Award for Documentary. The film was also chosen to open the 2014 edition of DOC NYC, the largest documentary festival in the U.S.
Mala Mala celebrates the trans* community in Puerto Rico, through the eyes of nine trans-identifying individuals. Among the group are business owners, sex workers, and even RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant, April Carrión. The screening will be the film’s Australian Premiere.
Out in the Night
Fascinating crime documentary, Out in the Night, tells of a night in a gay-friendly neighbourhood of New York City when four African-American lesbians are violently and sexually threatened by a man on the street. The women defend themselves, the man is stabbed, and all the women are charged and convicted in the courts. Cruelly dubbed a ‘Gang of Killer Lesbians’ by the media, this group of women are finally given voice to share their accounts of what really happened that night.
Peter de Rome: Grandfather of Gay Porn tells the story of pornography art filmmaker, Peter de Rome, who captured the attention of the underground New York art scene from the ‘60s onwards (including Andy Warhol and David Hockney), with his erotic fantasy pornscapes.
She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry
Chronicling the events of the brilliant women who founded the modern women’s movement from 1966 to 1971, She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry examines the evolution of feminism. It includes prominent lesbian figures like Karla Jay, Kate Millett and Rita Mae Brown. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion called Still Angry.
Tiger Orange
Gay pornstar-turned-actor Frankie Valenti (aka Johnny Hazzard) features in Tiger Orange. Valenti stars as a man reunited with his estranged brother after the death of their father. Valenti’s transition from blue movies to the silver screen has been hailed by critics, earning him the Best Actor award at the 2014 LesGaiCineMad Festival.
Ten years has passed since Ang Lee’s three-time Academy Award-winning Brokeback Mountain graced our screens. Mardi Gras Film Festival offers a chance to relive this beautiful film on the big screen. Its perfect pairing is the award-winning documentary, Queens & Cowboys: A Straight Year on the Gay Rodeo, taking us to the unexplored realm of gay rodeos.
Derby Crazy Love
Another fantastic combination is Derby Crazy Love and In the Turn. These two documentaries investigate the adrenaline-fuelled world of roller derby and how femininity and queer culture translate into this badass sport.
There’s also a variety of critically acclaimed queer short films as part of the festival’s program. ‘My Queer Career’ is Australia’s richest prize for queer short films, awarding the winner of this year’s fantastic line-up over $10,000 worth of prizes. Additionally, the always popular sessions of Mixed Shorts and Gay Shorts, a highlight of which is Wham, Bam Mr. Pam, covering the career of Catholic school girl-turned gay porn director, Mr. Pam.
For the kids there will be screenings of Disney’s Frozen Sing-a-long, which is presented by Rainbow Kids and Babies. This popular animation teaches the empowering lesson to ‘let it go!’ and feel proud in your own skin.
The pop-up Festival Bar will be open every day from 6pm until late during MGFF, and will host dance and electro acts as Stereogamous (featuring Paul Mac and Jonny Seymour on the decks), DJs Kitty Glitter, Adam Love, Amanda Louise, Cunningpants, the Heaps Gay DJs and Dandy DJs, Jack Shit, Sveta and James Smithers. Performers include Apocalypstik, Super Showgirl Cosplay, Matt Format and Del Lumanta. There’ll also be a variety of free talks, parties and events in partnership with community groups.
Event Cinemas George Street General Manager Anthony Kierann says “Event Cinemas is proud to be supporting local filmmakers in 2015 as an award partner with My Queer Career, for Best Original Screenplay. The festival films programmed by Queer Screen are a very exciting and fascinating collection of films that will resonate with a rich tapestry of experiences for festival guests.”
Tickets for the Mardi Gras Film Festival can be purchased at www.queerscreen.org.au
Feature image: Patrick Stewart in a scene from Match (image: supplied)
Excerpts from Press Release
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