MQFF 2011 Program

21st MELBOURNE QUEER FILM FESTIVAL It’s in our DNA 17–27 March 2011 www.mqff.com.au

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CONTENTS FESTIVAL INFORMATION Welcome 3

Touring 94

Make the Most of MQFF

5

Membership Form

Ticketing Information

6

Credits 95

Our Sponsors

9

Index 96

Awards 11

Festival Planner, Maps, Raffles

FEATURE PRESENTATIONS

SHORTS PACKAGES

Opening Night FILM & PARTY

94

Pocket Guide

14

Oz Docs

67

16

Oz Shorts City of Melbourne Award

68

Short & Girly

70

Short & Burly

72

Kaboom

Closing Night FILM & PARTy Spork

Centrepiece Presentations

18–20

Heartbeats The Last Summer of La Boyita Undertow

Selectors' Choice

21

Boobtube 74

22–45

Cocktales 76

Postcard To Daddy

Feature FILMS

Femme Fatalities

78

Sex Drives & Videotape

80

Trans Phats

82

Documentaries 52–55

Special Presentations

57–63 Queeries 84

Midnight MOVIES

Ticked Off Trannies With Knives

64–65

Celluloid Casserole

87

BearCity

2011 Melbourne Queer Film Festival Program & Pocket Guide. Published by MQFF ©2011. Design and layout by Beige.

MQFF Office, PO Box 21244, Little Lonsdale St, Victoria 8011 Australia. Email info@mqff.com.au Web www.mqff.com.au

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Stay, play hard then recover in style.

Overnight stays from $189* including recovery pack.

Reservations 1800 278 468 or thecullen.com.au/mqff Commercial Road, Prahran, Melbourne

*Subject to availability.

Terms & conditions apply.

WELCOME Welcome to the 21st Melbourne Queer Film Festival!

It’s often said that film mirrors the moral and cultural realities of our time, and if that’s the case, while a lot has changed in the lives of queers over the past two and a bit decades, we still have some way to go to achieving true equality, both here and internationally.

Likewise, there have been some major changes in queer cinema since the MQFF emerged from the Prahran house of filmmaker Lawrence Johnston back in 1990. With the help of the late lesbian identity Pat Longmore and others, the MQFF premiered at the Dendy Brighton and National Theatre in St Kilda. Apart from our screening venues, (and the fact that we have an office now), the most obvious change since then is the large increase in the availability and quality of queer titles for queer film festivals, as well as the countries they emerge from.

An international feast As we’ll see in this year’s Festival, countries like Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Hong Kong and Spain are emerging as producers of quality queer cinema. And yet in a lot of ways, commercial queer film production is still in its infancy in terms of putting bums on seats in our local multiplexes. Films like Brokeback Mountain are still a rarity, commercial lesbian and trans features virtually non-existent, and for these reasons alone, the MQFF is still as important as it was in 1990.

We’re very proud of the Program we’ve assembled for you this year. It’s a great tribute to the talents of queer filmmakers both locally and overseas, and includes some excellent award winning features from around the world.

Kaboom by famed queer film director Gregg Araki (The Doom Generation, The Living End) is a fitting way to open the Festival – slightly referential to his films of the ‘New Queer Cinema’ of the 1990s, yet firmly entrenched in generation now. Likewise, our closing feature Spork perhaps signals a different wave of new queer cinema for the contemporary queer – gender fluid, non-stereotyped and queer to its core.

Top billing – the best of the Fest The three Centrepiece Presentations – Heartbeats, The Last Summer of La Boyita and Undertow – presented by Festival Cultural Partner, The Australian Centre for the Moving Image, represent the best in queer cinema from Canada, Argentina and Peru, and are not to be missed.

Other fabulous feature films to look out for include gay highlights House of Boys, Violet Tendencies and La Mission; and 4 lesbian highlights Gigola, A Marine Story and The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister. Our trans audience will love international queer film favourites Paulista, The Sea Purple and the unforgettable documentary The Regretters.

Along with our huge selection of feature films, the Festival includes a vast array of international shorts programs that will delight Melbourne’s queers, as well as the popular local shorts packages Oz Shorts (The City of Melbourne Award package), Celluloid Casserole and Oz Docs.

To help celebrate our 21st, we’re screening a Best of the City of Melbourne Oz Shorts package which includes Australian shorts featured at the Festival going back to the mid-90s, with titles from now established filmmakers such as Tony Ayres, Clayton Jacobson and Emma Freeman. Midnight Movies will also feature as part of our birthday celebrations thanks to the support of the City of Melbourne.

MQFF is more than just movies Documentaries, Special Presentations and Festival Lounge parties round up the Festival with great events such as It Came From the Closet! presented by local horror aficionado Lee Gambin, a queer youth panel presented by Minus 18, and sessions presented by the {also} Foundation, Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria and the Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men's Health Centre.

The 21st MQFF offers an extravaganza of entertainment and enlightenment, and there truly is something for everyone. On behalf of everyone who has been involved in bringing the Festival to Melbourne over the past 21 years, we thank our loyal audiences for helping to make the MQFF one of the biggest and best queer film festivals in the world. We look forward to a lot of love in the room in 2011. Enjoy your Festival!

Lisa Daniel, Festival Director

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MAKE THE MOST OF MQFF TAKE THE HARD WORK OUT OF CHOOSING WHAT TO SEE...

We encourage you to dive into our smorgasbord of queer film festival delights by spending some quality time looking through the Program (in your hand, or online). If you need more visual stimulation, view more film images and trailers online at www.mqff.com.au.

Of course, we think every session is worth seeing, but if you don’t have several alter-egos, or that much time on your hands, take note of the Centrepiece Presentations which include the finest in current queer cinema that simply should not be missed. See pages 18–20 for details.

Strapped for time? Take the quick and easy way by purchasing one of our four Lazy Passes: curated packages of the best of the Fest, ready for your viewing pleasure. Choose from the Director's Choice, Lazy Lesbians, Lazy Buggers or Lazy Trans. See page 6 for details.

IS THAT A FESTIVAL IN YOUR POCKET? Keep the Festival at your fingertips with our handy Pocket Guide, sneakily placed as a tear out in the back of this Program. It contains the indispensable Festival Planner, as well Venue location maps and information on Festival Lounge and our fabulous Raffle.

If you’re a progressive type of queer, you'll love our brand new iPhone app expertly provided by Festival sponsors, eFirst. It contains all the essential Festival info to get you on your way, such as session times, ticket information, handy updates and stacks of other features. Rumour has it that it also does your laundry, but that’s just between you and us.

GET THE KEYS TO OUR GALA EVENTS It's our 21st birthday, and we're celebrating big time with our two Gala Events book-ending the Festival: Opening Night film and party at The Astor Theatre with the After Party at Hoo Haa, and our Closing Night film and party at ACMI Cinemas. See pages 14 and 16 for details.

LOUNGE ABOUT WITH US Fabulous films make up just some of what your MQFF experience can include. To make it an allround entertainment extravaganza make sure you get down to our Festival Lounge located on the Flinders Street level of ACMI for food, drinks, and much more! See Pocket Guide for details.

WE'LL STILL LOVE YOU IN THE MORNING The best way to support MQFF, and help to make the best Festival money can buy, is to become an MQFF member. Benefits are many but, more than anything, just think of that warm and fuzzy feeling you get from contributing to one of the best queer events in Melbourne. No more sleepless nights wondering if you could have done more! Join online, or use the form on page 94.

NEED MORE? ASK A VOLLIE! MQFF volunteers rock! Just ask them. No, we mean really ask them. If you’re not sure where the Cinemas, Festival Lounge or Ticket Desk is (or even if there are any hot folk in the Lounge tonight), just look for our roaming, friendly faced, yellow t-shirt wearing vollies.

Think green–the best way to the Festival is by tram! ACMI is serviced by 11 routes, with a tram every minute in peak times and every 3-5 minutes in the evening. Visit yarratrams.com.au for travel information or download the free tramTRACKER® iPhone app from iTunes.

Flat rate $8 parking. Secure Parking Flinders Gate, 172–192 Flinders St (opposite Federation Square) is offering MQFF Patrons evening and weekend parking for an $8 Flat Rate. Parking discount validation is available on request at ACMI Tickets & Information Desk. For full details see p.89

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TICKET INFORMATION GALA EVENTS OPENING NIGHT

Opening Night film and party with free food & drink + entry to After Party at Hoo Haa

CLOSING NIGHT

Closing Night film & party

$70 full, $58 conc, $53 member $28 full, $23 conc, $21 member

SINGLE TICKETS SINGLE SESSION

Any 1 session excluding Galas

QUEERIES

1 Queeries session

CELLULOID CASSEROLE

1 Celluloid Casserole session

$17.50 full, $14.50 conc, $13.50 member $10 full, $8 conc/member Gold coin donation

MULTIPASSES TRIPLE CHOC PASS

Any 3 sessions excluding Galas

STRAWBERRY PASS

Any 5 sessions excluding Galas

MINT PASS

Any 7 sessions excluding Galas

GOLDEN TOFFEE PASS

ALL SESSIONS including Galas

dir.’s CHOICE

Director Lisa Daniel's favourite sessions

LAZY LESBIAN'S PASS

Best girls sessions

LAZY LESBIANS

LAZY BUGGER'S PASS

Best boys sessions

LAZY buggers

LAZY TRAN'S PASS LAZY TRANS

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Best trans sessions

$38 member $83 full, $68 conc, $63 member $116 full, $95 conc, $88 member $380 full, $320 conc, $300 member

Excludes Queeries, see website for full conditions

CURATED PASSES DIRECTOR'S CHOICE

$50 full, $41 conc,

$83 full, $68 conc, $63 member 28 The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister 33 Black Field 37 The Last Summer of La Boyita 45 Heartbeats 52 Undertow

Sun 20 Mar, 6.15pm see p.41

02 Leading Ladies 13 Elena Undone 29 The Sea Purple 56 The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister 61 A Marine Story

Fri 18 Mar, 6.15pm see p.34

14 Sasha 30 House of Boys 45 Heartbeats 52 Undertow 76 La Mission

Sat 19 Mar, 6.15pm see p.39

21 Trans Phats 33 Black Field 75 The Sea Purple 82 The Regretters 86 Paulista

Sun 20 Mar, 2pm see p.83

Mon 21 Mar, 6.15pm see p.23 Tue 22 Mar, 6.15pm see p.19 Wed 23 Mar, 6pm see p.18 Thu 24 Mar, 6pm see p.20 Sat 19 March 6pm see p.26 Sun 20 Mar, 8.15pm see p.40 Thu 24 Mar, 8.30pm see p.41 Fri 25 Mar, 6.15pm see p.35 Sun 20 Mar, 8.15pm see p.31 Wed 23 Mar, 6pm see p.18 Thu 24 Mar, 6pm see p.20 Sat 26 Mar, 8.15pm see p.33 Mon 21 Mar, 6.15pm see p.23 Sat 26 Mar, 8.15pm see p.40 Sun 27 Mar, 2pm see p.54 Sun 27 Mar, 6pm see p.37

TICKET INFORMATION WHERE TO BUY TICKETS

TICKET COLLECTION

www.mqff.com.au Our secure 24/7 online ticketing facility.

Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square, Melbourne.

Open daily 10am–6pm (later during the Festival).

Hares & Hyenas, 63 Johnston St, Fitzroy.

Mon–Fri 9am–7pm, Sat 10am–7pm, Sun 12pm–7pm.

Greater Union, 131 Russell St. Cash door sales only.

Box office open 30 min prior to each day’s first session.

Please note that pre-booked tickets for Greater Union must be picked up from the ACMI Tickets & Information Desk.

All pre-booked Festival tickets must be collected from the ACMI Tickets & Information Desk (including tickets for Greater Union sessions).

Ticket Desk open daily during the Festival, 30 min prior to the start of each day’s first session.

Opening Night tickets are available at the Astor Theatre.

Open 1 hour prior to screening on Thursday 17 March.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

STANDBY TICKETS

Can I buy a multipass and decide on the sessions I want to see later?

Most sessions listed as 'Sold Out' on the MQFF website will actually have a limited number of tickets available for sale. This is due to the necessity of holding seats for Golden Toffee Pass holders. We eventually sell these seats as Standby tickets.

No, you must select the sessions when you buy the pass.

Can I use a multipass to buy more than 1 ticket to the same session?

No, multipasses can only be used once per session.

I’m a member but my partner is not, can I still buy their tickets using my membership card for discounts?

No, membership benefits are not transferable.

Can I print out my tickets at home?

No, just print the order confirmation and present it at the ACMI Tickets & Information Desk.

How soon can I collect my tickets after I book them online?

Within half an hour during ACMI Tickets & Information Desk opening times (from 30 min prior to each day's first session, until 15 min after the beginning of the last session each night).

• 30 minutes prior to the start of a 'Sold Out' session, Festival staff at the ACMI Tickets & Information Desk or Greater Union box office will hand out Standby Reservation Numbers.

Sorry, no. Choose carefully as there are are no refunds or exchanges given unless a session is moved or cancelled.

• When seats become available (usually anywhere from 15 min before the scheduled start of the session), the Standby Reservation Numbers will be called, and tickets can be purchased.

TICKETING RULES & INFORMATION

• Cash sales only, for quick processing of the queue.

What if I change my mind about what I want to see? Or I accidentally chose the wrong film? Can I change my selection?

• Prices include GST & booking fee.

• A ticket or pass is required to enter each film.

• Multipasses can only be used to purchase single tickets to separate sessions, not to purchase multiple tickets to a single session.

• Seating is unreserved. We encourage patrons to arrive early.

• One concession ticket per card holder will apply on presentation of valid card. When picking up pre-booked tickets, please present your concession card. Valid concessions: full time students, healthcare card, Senior’s Card, Melbourne International Film Festival, ACMI and Classic Cinema members.

• City of Melbourne Companion Card holders • Laws governing film festivals mean that all are granted free entry. audience members must be 18 years or • MQFF members receive generous tickets over, with the exception of Queeries (patrons discounts and many other benefits (see p.94 15 years and over permitted). for full details). To become a member, use • No refunds or cancellations unless a session the form on p.94 or join online at is moved or cancelled. www.mqff.com.au.

• We generally get all patrons into the session. However, in busy sessions some patrons may miss the first minute or two of the film. In extremely popular sessions, some people with Standby Reservation Numbers will miss out.

To avoid disappointment, we suggest you book early!

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Discover the artistry behind Disney’s timeless animated films 18 November 2010 – 26 April 2011 Exhibition open daily 10am – 6pm Australian Centre for the Moving Image Federation Square, Melbourne www.acmi.net.au/dreamscometrue

This exhibition was organised by the Walt Disney Animation Research Library

This exhibition is indemnified by the Victorian Government through Arts Victoria

Images: © Disney Enterprises, Inc.

SPONSORS Principal Partner

Cultural Partner

Major Wine Partner

Major Partners

Major Media Partners

Travel Partner

Sponsors prahran market clinic

Northside Clinic

Supporters

magnifymedia C 100 M0 Y 100 K 35

Festival Partners

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Major sponsor and official wine supplier of the 2011 Melbourne Queer Film Festival in association with CJ Pask and River Farm Wines.

Yep, we’re share’n the love!

Get 10% off1 RIGHT NOW when you buy online using the MQFF promocode 6733. Plus, when you register online you will receive your personal discount code – so the more you buy the more you save! Our sponsored screening is on Saturday 19 March followed by a special event and then it’s our exclusive wine tasting with prizes the next day. Check this program for details or visit us online.

1. MQFF promocode offer is valid until Saturday 30 April, 2011 and is not valid with any other offer. Terms and conditions apply. Visit our website for details.

AUTHENTIC, INVENTIVE, SPIRITED

www.monteithsbeer.com.au

AWARDS With over $9,000 in cash to give away to deserving filmmakers across six awards, please take the time to cast your votes for your favourite films in this year’s Festival. Voting forms are available at ACMI Cinemas and Festival Lounge, or you can vote online at www.mqff.com.au.

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS Best Feature Film All feature films in the Festival are eligible.

Best Documentary All documentaries of 45 min and over are eligible.

Best Australian Short Film All films screening in Oz Shorts are eligible.

Best Short Film All short narrative films in the Festival are eligible (except those screening in Celluloid Casserole).

Prize money Sponsored by MQFF and MQFF Members Warwick Eddington & Tony Hillery

$3000

Sponsored by MQFF and MQFF Life Member David McCarthy

$2500

Sponsored by MQFF and Step Right Up

$1000

Sponsored by MQFF and Twenty 21

$500

The Festival's two Jury Awards are for short films produced by Australian directors – those featured in Oz Shorts and Celluloid Casserole.

JURY AWARDS The City of Melbourne Emerging Filmmaker Award for Best Australian Short Queer Film All films screening in Oz Shorts are eligible.

The award will be announced at the Oz Shorts session on Saturday 26 March (Session 74).

See p.68 for this year’s judges.

Selectors’ Choice Award for Best Short Queer Film – Celluloid Casserole All films screening in Celluloid Casserole are eligible. The award will be announced at the second session of Celluloid Casserole at Loop on Wednesday 23 March (Session 47).

Prize money Sponsored by the City of Melbourne

Sponsored by Shaun Miller Lawyers

$2000

$500

The winner of The City of Melbourne Emerging Filmmaker Award for Best Australian Short Queer Film qualifies for automatic inclusion in the Iris Prize, the world’s largest prize for gay and lesbian short film.

The winner of the Iris Prize receives £25,000 to make their next short film in the UK. www.irisprize.org Above: Lisa Daniel, MQFF Festival Director, and Cr Jennifer Kanis, City of Melbourne, with Tony Nikolakopoulos, one of the stars of the 2010 City of Melbourne Emerging Filmmaker Award winning film, Bombshell, directed by Kim Farrant.

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Phone: 9688 0200 www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

Celebrating and proudly supporting festivals and arts in the West Melbourne Queer Film Festival – West Hollywood, Big West Festival, Footscray Community Arts Centre, St Jerome’s Laneway Festival, Quang Minh Tet Festival, Yarraville Arts Festival, Snuff Puppets, Melbourne Food and Wine Festival – Feasting in Footscray, The Women’s Circus, Seddon Festival in the Park, The Dog Theatre, Footscray Flicks, Western Edge

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A taste of Hollywood comes to the West!

A mid-winter smorgasbord of queer film delights, presented by MQFF, Maribyrnong City Council & Hobsons Bay City Council.

Screening at the Sun Theatre, Yarraville, 3–5 June 2011.

See mqff.com.au for full details closer to the date.

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OPENING NIGHT GALA

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OPENING NIGHT GALA

KABOOM Dir: Gregg Araki, USA, 2010, video, 86 min ✰✰Winner, Inaugural Queer Palm, Cannes Film Festival 2010 What better way to celebrate the 21st birthday of the MQFF than with the latest wild and over-the-top film from Gregg Araki, the celebrated filmmaker who helped kickstart the ‘New Queer Cinema’ movement of the early 90s with such classics as The Living End, Totally Fucked Up and The Doom Generation.

Kaboom is a hyper-stylised, sex-drenched, comedy-thriller centred around Smith, a beautiful, ambisexual 18-yearold college kid who stumbles upon a bizarre conspiracy in a seemingly idyllic Southern California seaside town.

Smith’s everyday life in the dorms – hanging out with his arty, sarcastic lesbian best friend Stella, hooking up with a beautiful free spirit named London, lusting after his gorgeous but dim surfer roommate Thor – all gets turned upside down after one fateful, terrifying night. Tripping on some hallucinogenic cookies he ate at a party, Smith is convinced he’s witnessed the gruesome murder of an enigmatic ‘red haired girl’, who has been haunting his dreams. What he discovers as he tries to find out the truth leads him deeper and deeper into a mystery that will forever change not only the course of his young life, but the destiny of the entire world!

Featuring a who’s-who of the most talented and up-and-coming actors of this generation, including Thomas Dekker (TV’s Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Roxane Mesquida (Rubber), Juno Temple, Haley Bennett and James Duval, and with a blistering soundtrack featuring The XX, Cut Copy, Friendly Fires, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kaboom is a riotously entertaining way to start the Festival. Welcome to the end of the world! (PT)

Followed by our Gala Opening Night Party at the Astor.

And then the After Party at Hoo Hah, 105 Chapel St. Just follow our vollies! session

date time VENUE

ON Thu 17 March 7.30pm Astor

gala event

15

CLOSING NIGHT GALA

16

CLOSING NIGHT GALA

SPORK Dir: J.B. Ghuman Jr, USA, 2010, video, 90 min Imagine if you will, an alternative reality where Glee and Mean Girls were placed in a blender, add in an intersex trailer-park-living hero, Spork, her foul-mouthed neighbour, Tootsie Roll, who can bust a move at the drop of a hat, and a group of white-bread skanks led by the very nasty Betsy Byotch, who are all competing in their school’s junior talent show, and you’re only part of the way to discovering the utter joy and unpredictability of Spork.

School sucks, but for Spork it sucks pretty hard. Living in a trailer with her brother, and grieving over her dead mother, Spork finds no solace at school where’s she teased not only for her frizzy hair and ‘uncool’ clothes, but because she’s intersex. With the annual talent show looming, our hero sees a chance to break free of a drab life and provide a little magic. With the help of her next-door neighbour, the sassy Tootsie, and her gang, Spork could just upset the strangehold that the Britney Spears clone Betsy Byotch and her pack of underlings has on the competition. It’s time for Spork to unleash some mind-blowing, booty-poppin’ moves!

Taking its cue from every underdog high-school drama, this inventive debut feature from J.B. Ghuman Jr shrugs off clichés with carefree abandon. Outrageously funny and endearing in equal measure, Spork is a film to embrace and a perfect way to end the Festival – with a smile as you head off to the Festival Lounge after-party to shake it up on the dancefloor! (PT) session

CN

date time VENUE

Sun 27 March 8.30pm ACMI

gala event

17

CENTREPIECE PRESENTATIONS

Presented by

HEARTBEATS les amours imaginaires Dir: Xavier Dolan, Canada/France, 2010, video, 97 min French with English subtitles ✰✰Official Selection, Un Certain Regard, Cannes Film Festival 2010

Francis (played by young and dynamic director Xavier Dolan) and Marie are best friends and seemingly have it all – youth, good looks and style in abundance. One night they meet Nicolas, newly arrived in Montréal from the country, and they both fall instantly for this beautiful young man. As one rendezvous leads to another, from dinners to trips to the countryside, each of the two friends slides deeper into fantasies around the same object of desire. Soon, they find themselves on the precipice of a love duel that threatens the friendship they once thought indestructible.

Heartbeats is the second feature from 21-year-old Xavier Dolan, following his acclaimed 2009 debut, I Killed My Mother. Dolan wrote, directed and starred – amongst a host of other creative roles – in this stunning, awardwinning film celebrating all the joys and follies of young love.

18

session

45

date time VENUE

Wed 23 March

6pm

ACMI

dir.’s CHOICE

LAZY buggers

CENTREPIECE PRESENTATIONS

THE LAST SUMMER OF la BOYITA EL ÚLTIMO VERANO DE LA BOYITA Dir: Julia Solomonoff, Argentina, 2009, 35mm, 93 min Spanish with English subtitles ✰✰Jury Award, Sofia International Film Festival 2010 ✰✰Screenwriting Award, Miami Film Festival 2010 Appearing at more than 70 film festivals worldwide, and scooping over a dozen awards, The Last Summer of La Boyita is a compassionate Argentine drama that recalls MQFF’s 2008 Closing night film, XXY. It’s summer holidays, and for young Jorgelina this means fun on the beach with her family, but this year is different: her parents have split up and her older sister has entered adolescence and has no time for her pesky sister. In Presented by a huff, Jorgelina heads to the countryside to spend her vacation with her father in the hope of adventure and finding new friends. There she meets Mario, a kid her own age, and the two strike up a friendship. Mario works with his parents on a farm, and is a serious-minded child – his only joy seems to be riding his horse and preparing for a race set for later in the summer, a race his father also eagerly anticipates, as it is a test for his son to enter ‘manhood’. When the two friends return from a horse ride, Jorgelina discovers a bloodstain on Mario’s saddle and another one on his trousers. Jorgelina tries to understand, but Mario, confused about the changes his body is undergoing, has no clue of why he is not like the other boys.

This is a film in tune with, and immersed, in nature – the rugged terrain, the changes of seasons, the wild animals to be ‘tamed’– are all suggestive of the transformations that both Mario and Jorgelina are experiencing. Guadalupe Alonso and Nicolás Treise, the young actors who play Jorgelina and Mario, respectively, are extraordinary, inhabiting their roles with such believability and tenderness. (PT) session

37

date time VENUE

Tue 22 March 6.15pm ACMI

dir.’s CHOICE

19

CENTREPIECE PRESENTATIONS

UNDERTOW CONTRACORRIENTE Dir: Javier Fuentes-León, Peru, 2010, 35mm, 100 min Spanish with English subtitles ✰✰Audience Award, Sundance Film Festival 2010 ✰✰Audience Award, Miami Film Festival 2010 Presented by In this beautifully filmed and unique ghost story set on the Peruvian seaside, a married fisherman struggles to reconcile his devotion to his male lover. Miguel, a handsome young fisherman, and his beautiful bride, Mariela, are about to welcome their first child. But Miguel harbours a secret: he's in love with Santiago, a painter, who is ostracised by the town because he's gay.

After a tragic accident occurs, Miguel must choose between sentencing Santiago to eternal torment or doing right by him and, in turn, revealing their relationship to Mariela – and the entire village.

Undertow has already received both critical and audience acclaim for its originality and heartbreaking story. (BZ)

'It is much more than either a ghost story or the tale of a man afraid to come to terms with his sexuality. This small film's accomplishments are many, but not the least is its ability to take a human story and frame it as a parable, without losing a bit of credibility or irresistible heart.' San Francisco Chronicle session

52

20

date time VENUE

Thu 24 March

6pm

ACMI

dir.’s CHOICE

LAZY buggers

SELECTORS’ CHOICE For our 21st Festival, the MQFF Selection Panel has waded through a record number of submissions – more than 500 – and argued about the film that stuck in their minds the most. It’s a purely subjective choice: what one person loves, another might despise. This year (after a near punch up) our panel has selected a documentary that is guaranteed to stay with you for days after viewing. It’s an incredibly personal and powerful piece, and one that’s well worth the price of admission.

Please join the MQFF Selection Panel for an informal chat and a drink in the Festival Lounge immediately following the session. They’ll be happy to answer your questions about the MQFF selection process.

POSTCARD TO DADDY Dir: Michael Stock, Germany, 2010, video, 85 min German with English subtitles ✰✰Jury Award for Best Documentary, Image + Nation 2010 As a child, Michael Stock was sexually abused by his own father. Twenty-five years later he is still looking for inner peace.

In conversations with his family and friends and his own reflections, he paints an ever clearer, if contradictory picture of what happened and of the consequences for each of the family members. Old family films seem to show a happy family - excerpts from Michael’s first feature film hint at his extreme adult life, overshadowed by his lifelong trauma. Yet in spite of the intense drama, the film doesn’t have an atmosphere of anger and hatred but rather a surprising air of hope and love of life.

Michael’s aim is not to accuse the 'perpetrator' but to understand. In the end, he takes his video 'Postcard' to his father. With the camera running, he confronts him with his past...

Australian Premiere session

32

date time VENUE

Mon 21 March

6pm

ACMI

21

FEATURES

AMPHETAMINE 安非他命 Dir: Scud, Hong Kong, 2010, video, 97 min Cantonese and English with English subtitles ✰✰Runner up, Teddy Award 2010, Berlin International Film Festival – Panorama 2010 Gay investment banker Daniel is debating whether to return to Australia or stay in Hong Kong, when he meets Kafka, a straight fitness trainer who’s life is bogged down by his out of control drug addiction, and the need to look after his ailing mother. The relationship becomes sexual very quickly and the men fall in love, believing that their love can bridge all of their problems, despite their difference in sexuality, and Kafka's complicated existence. Even though Kafka’s life is a constant drama, Daniel doesn’t regret their relationship, and in return, Kafka tries to commit to him. Complicating things further is a shocking memory from Kafka's past, which makes it difficult for their relationship to work. Will their addiction to love prove more fatal than the drugs they use to explore the boundaries of their friendship?

Director Scud is making quite a name for himself in the Hong Kong queer filmmaking world, and Amphetamine continues his recent themes of life, death, love, sexuality with liberal dashes of nudity. (LD) session DATE

49

22

TIME VENUE

Wed 23 March 8.30pm Greater Union

FEATURES

BEARCITY Dir: Doug Langway, USA, 2010, video, 104 min BearCity is also showing as one of our Midnight Movies.

See p.65 for full film details. session DATE

31

TIME VENUE

Sun 20 March 10.30pm ACMI

BLACK FIELD MAVRO LIVADI Dir: Vardis Marinakis, Greece, 2010, video, 104 min Greek and Turkish with English subtitles 1654 and Greece is under the occupation of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. A Janissary (a Greek warrior recruited by force at a young age from his Christian family to serve in the Turkish army) arrives heavily wounded at a remote Christian female monastery.

He is nursed by Anthi, a young Greek nun who has taken an oath of silence, but who is smitten by the new arrival. Falling deeper for him, and realising that he may be captured at any time, Anthi plots their escape into the nearby forest, in search of peace, free from the constraints of society. However, Anthi has a secret, one that may threaten the burgeoning friendship she has with the Janissary. Languidly paced, Black Field is a hypnotic film that seduces the eye with its stunning cinematography and poetic depiction of nature. (PT)

“A cross gender love story of two people with mistaken identities... inspired by true events that transcends time, religion and sexual identity.” Vardis Marinakis Australian Premiere session DATE

TIME

VENUE

33 Mon 21 March 6.15pm ACMI

dir.’s CHOICE

LAZY trans

23

FEATURES

BLOOMINGTON

BROTHERHOOD bRODERSKAB

Dir: Fernanda Cardosa, USA, 2010, video, 83 min

Dir: Nicolo Donato, Denmark, 2009, 35mm, 97 min Danish with English subtitles

Female student has crush on professor. Female professor lusts after student. We can probably leave it right there and sell a few tickets, but let me flesh it out a little more for you...

Jackie is a former child actress of some note attending college in search of something outside of the vacuous Hollywood world. Professor of Abnormal Psychology, Catherine Stark is all saturated sexuality and fuck off confidence. When the two meet, naturally sparks fly, and Jackie’s quest for a ‘normal’ college experience goes out the window quicker than you can kick off a pair of kitten heels. Their erotic relationship becomes more serious as the college term progresses, and their initial uneven social, emotional and intellectual status slowly turns towards something more resembling equality. But an inevitable turning point is reached when Jackie is offered the opportunity to audition for a feature film that may revive her acting career, much to the disgust of Catherine who fails to hide her disdain for the acting world. Will Jackie break free from the control of her Professor and make her own way? (LD) session DATE

83

24

Sun 27 March

TIME VENUE

2pm

ACMI

Presented by

Following disillusionment with his career, and rumours about his behaviour around his fellow officers, Lars decides to leave the army, much to his controlling parents’ disgust.

Looking for meaning in his life, he is drawn to a local Neo-Nazi movement and, due to his natural intellect, rapidly rises through the ranks ahead of others in the group. Having moved out of home, Lars finds himself staying with fellow Nazi club member Jimmy, and despite an initial dislike of each, they soon become firm friends. Before long, that friendship becomes an intense sexual attraction, and even though they feel torn between ideology and emotions, they begin a secret relationship. It’s soon obvious that the men need to make a crucial decision and can’t maintain their double lives for much longer.

Brotherhood is a story about dangerous love and the search for identity. (PT)

Warning: contains scenes of violence that may offend some viewers. session DATE

01

Fri 18 March

TIME VENUE

6pm

ACMI

FEATURES

BUFFERING

DIFFERENT FROM WHOM?

Dir: Darren Flaxstone & Christian Martin, UK, 2011, video, 84 min

DIVERSO DA CHI?

A comedy is the last thing you’d expect from the filmmakers behind controversial hits, Shank (MQFF 2009), and Release (MQFF 2010), but Buffering lets it all hang out – literally, and many times – in its aim to please!

Dir: Umberto Carteni, Italy, 2009, 35mm 102 min Italian with English subtitles

Seb and Aaron are a hot young couple who’ve hit dire straits. Recently unemployed, the guys need to come up with a quick way to make cash before their house is repossessed. Aaron secretly films them having sex and posts in on the net and watches the money pour in.

But the amount is not enough! When Seb finds out he is convinced that online sex is the only way to rescue themselves from ruin, and with the help of recently returned roommate, Gem, who persuades the boys that they need to ‘up the stakes’ with sex toys and some, ahem, inventive routines, the future looks rosy. But is it?

Can they keep this up for long? And just who is their hot neighbour, Mitch, who is always busting out his weights and showing off his body all the time? (PT) session DATE

44 85

TIME VENUE

Tue 22 March 10.30pm ACMI Sun 27 March 4pm ACMI

Umberto Carteni’s comedic debut features Piero, an openly homosexual gay rights activist, who runs as a progressive candidate in the Mayoral election in the right-wing town of Udine, Italy. His main opponent is a bigoted right-wing candidate, who builds physical walls around his community to keep foreigners and drug dealers confined to their various neighbourhoods.

Piero (played by Italian sex symbol Luca Argentero,) is more interested in building community – for gays and lesbians, in particular. When he is paired with running mate Adele, a more traditional and family-focused politician, conflict is inevitable. In a shock to both of them, Piero and Adele begin to feel an attraction to one another, despite Piero’s love for his long-term partner, Remo. A full-blown affair ensues with each of them hilariously trying to end the pairing, all the while trying to hide their trysts from family, friends and press.

With a soundtrack of catchy R&B tunes, Different From Whom is a delicious farce about politics and sexuality that never takes itself too seriously. (LD) session DATE

41

TIME VENUE

Tue 22 March 8.15pm ACMI

25

FEATURES

ELENA UNDONE Dir: Nicole Conn, USA, 2010, video, 105 min Peyton and Elena are, on the surface, diametrically opposed – one, a well-known lesbian writer, the other a mother and wife of a pastor – but when their paths cross, several times over, they feel compelled to connect.

What begins as friendship quickly blossoms into something deeper. Peyton tries to extricate herself before her heart wants what it can’t have. Elena can’t imagine not having Peyton in her life. And despite the fact that she has never even considered kissing a woman, Elena is overwhelmed with a desire to do just that. Despite Peyton’s reservations, Elena pushes the relationship into a full-blown affair. The two women fall deeply in love, both keenly aware a future together might be little more than a dream.

Don’t miss this sexy new film from lesbian director Nicole Conn (Claire Of The Moon, Little Man), which contains the longest kiss in cinema history.

“With a healthy dose of captivating drama and passionate sex and romance, Elena Undone combines the enchantment of falling in love for the first time with the reality and responsibilities of long-term commitments.” Alex Chousa

26

session DATE

13 53

TIME VENUE

LAZY Sat 19 March 6pm ACMI lesbians Thu 24 March 6.15pm Greater Union

FEATURES

ELOÏSE'S LOVER ELOÏSE

FAMILY TREE L’ARBrE ET LE FORÊT

Dir: Jesus Garay, Spain, 2009, 35mm, 92 min Catalan with English subtitles

Dir: Olivier Ducastel & Jacques Martineau, France, 2009, 35mm, 95 min Presented by French with English subtitles

Àsia is lying in the hospital in a coma. Her mother and boyfriend, Nathaniel, keep a constant vigil over her, hoping and praying for her to regain consciousness. In flashbacks, we see the events leading up to the accident that put her there... her days of studying architecture at university, her problematic relationship with her domineering mother, her banter with her two best friends, and the boring times she spends with Nathaniel, about whom she obviously cares, but with whom she is just as obviously not in love.

Eloïse is an art student, out and proud and unapologetic, happy with who she is and completely comfortable in her own skin. Àsia's friends mock Eloïse behind her back and sometimes to her face - but Àsia is inexplicably drawn to her, which is why she answers an ad Eloïse posts in search of a model for her art project. Their relationship develops slowly and carefully, and despite the many obstacles facing them, the two young women fall in love, and Àsia must choose between the expectations of her family and following her heart.

Concentration camp survivor Frédéric is an avid tree grower and spends his days listening to Wagner and gazing out the window at the trees he’s planted over the years to honour the suffering he endured under the German occupation during World War II. For nearly sixty years he’s also been cultivating a secret that until now only his wife and eldest son Charles are aware. When Charles dies and three generations of the family gather for the funeral, Frédéric sparks family controversy when he fails to attend. His younger son, Guilliame, whose problems with alcohol have punctuated his life, is outraged by what he sees as his father’s affront to his brother. When he can bear it no more, Frédéric reveals the secret he’s kept for decades and simmering tensions within the family explode at the shock of his revelation.

This is a fine family drama from famed gay writers and co-directors Olivier Duscastel and Jacques Martineau (MQFF 2009's Born in 68, and The Adventures of Funny Felix), and one that illustrates their brilliance in using the film medium to tell fine stories. (LD) session DATE

54

Thu 24 March

TIME VENUE

8pm

ACMI

Eloïse's Lover is a romantic, dreamy story of two collegeage women discovering the beauty of love. session DATE

03 87

Fri 18 March Sun 27 March

TIME VENUE

8pm 6pm

ACMI ACMI

27

FEATURES

FIT

THE FOUR-FACED LIAR

Dir: Rikki Beadle-Blair, UK, 2010, video, 106 min

Dir: Jacob Chase, USA, 2009, video, 87 min

Glee gets a very British makeover when larger than life personality Rikki Beadle-Blair (Metrosexuality, Stonewall) fronts a last chance dance class for teens struggling with sexuality in this loud and proud dance comedy extravaganza. Awash with high energy, colourful characters and positive messages about the importance of self-esteem, Fit focuses on the everyday lives of six diverse British teenagers who are brought together by an enthusiastic dance teacher/mentor, played by BeadleBlair.

Cool lesbian about town Bridget lives in a fabulous New York City apartment with her best friend Trip – an equally cool literature major. Together they’re the typical frat-like best friends – checking out girls together, bragging about their sexual conquests and chugging beers on the roof of their West Village loft. One night while drinking with mutual friend Chloe at their favourite local bar, The Four Faced Liar, they meet small town couple Greg and Molly, who are new to NYC. Despite being a conservative tightly wound type of guy, Greg and Trip hit it off and quickly become best friends, bonding over sports and video games. Meanwhile even brighter sparks fly between Bridget and Molly, who bond over their love for Wuthering Heights. It’s not long before their study sessions begin to drip with sexual tension, and their intellectual attraction becomes physical. Naturally the shit soon hits the fan, and the awesome foursome is forced to make some life-changing decisions.

Karmel likes make-up and trendy clothes, yet she also likes girls.

Does she need to ‘fit’ the lesbian stereotype?

Ryan is one of the lads. Computer games, beer and bullying is the name of his game, yet a secret crush on fellow pupil Tegs threatens to blow his cover. Isaac, meanwhile, uses muscles and a hot head to threaten his schoolmates with violence should they display a gay attitude in his vicinity. It is down to loud and proud drama teacher Loris (Beadle-Blair) and his pink leotard to show these kids that they share a lot more in common than they first thought. While each of the teens struggles to fit in at first, Loris eventually finds a way to make them feel good about themselves no matter who they are.

Fit is the perfect blend of drama, comedy and dance, that’ll make you want to leap out of your seat and dance in the aisles. It’s loud, it’s proud, it’s in your face. Take your mum! (LD) session DATE

28

09

Sat 19 March

TIME VENUE

2pm

ACMI

The Four Faced Liar is a romantic comedy about love, lies, coming-of-age, friendships and heartbreaks for the twenty-something. (LD)

"The script is tight, and the drama feels raw and real, thanks to excellent performances from each lead and spot-on pacing." Afterellen.com. session DATE

38

TIME VENUE

Tue 22 March 6.30pm Greater Union

FEATURES

GIGOLA Dir: Laure Charpentier, France, 2010, 35mm, 102 min French with English subtitles Presented by Paris 1960. Meek teenager Georgia meets the beautiful and glamourous Sybil, and the two become lovers.

Three years later, following Sybil’s suicide, Georgia has reinvented herself as Gigola, an androgynous figure with a love of alcohol and beautiful women, whose domain is the night, and motto is ‘money is blood’.

Gigola’s haunt is the local lesbian bar, a high-class establishment where she meets a wealthy older woman, Odette, who is instantly smitten with the seductive, passionate and controlling female Lothario. However, while Gigola is happy to accept money and expensive gifts, she won’t allow herself to be a ‘kept’ woman.

Meanwhile, her mother is planning on selling their family home to pay for her gambling and opium-addicted husband’s latest business venture, an act that Gigola cannot, and will not abide. However headstrong and (seemingly) untouchable she may be in her nightly haunts, does she hold any sway with her family?

Featuring an all-star European supporting cast including Marisa Berenson (I Am Love), and Pedro Almodóvar regulars Marisa Paredes (All About My Mother) and Rossy De Palma, Gigola is directed by famed French novelist, Laure Charpentier. (PT) session DATE

27 62

TIME VENUE

Sun 20 March 6pm ACMI Fri 25 March 8.15pm ACMI

29

FEATURES

HANDSOME HARRY

HOUSE OF BOYS

Dir: Bette Gordon, USA, 2009, video, 96 min

Dir: Jean-Claude Schlim, Luxembourg, 2009, video, 120 min French, German, Luxembourgish, English with English subtitles

Deserving his nickname ‘Handsome’, Vietnam veteran Harry Sweeney (Jamey Sheridan – The Ice Storm, Law and Order: Criminal Intent) has kept his rugged good looks. In his early 50s, Harry is a popular guy, an electrician by trade who loves to sing, but a guy who nevertheless keeps his cards close to his chest.

He's been divorced for many years, has an awkward relationship with a son he rarely sees, and, although he's engaged in a long-term flirtation with the waitress at his local diner, seems destined to remain alone. Out of the blue, Harry gets a call from a former navy buddy, Tom Kelly (Steve Buscemi), whom he hasn’t seen in thirty years. Tom is on his deathbed, and terrified of going to hell, begs Harry to seek forgiveness on his behalf from David Kagan – a navy colleague a group of them beat and betrayed three decades prior. At first Harry is reluctant to stir up the guilt and bad memories of his past, but he finally relents and embarks on a drive along the East Coast to visit the group of men – along the way observing how each of them has dealt with the fall out over the incident in their pasts.

As the memories unfold, the road traveled both literally and emotionally stretches out before Harry, and the inevitable mystery of what happened to David (and helped shape Harry), is revealed. It’s only through this revelation and by confronting events from his past, can Harry begin to truly live again. (LD)

“Handsome Harry is a well cast and acted psychological mystery about lost love, forgiveness, and the stifling effect the code of silence has over men and their relationships.” session DATE

51

30

Thu 24 March

TIME VENUE

6pm

ACMI

Set in 1984, House of Boys tells the story of Frank, a high-school kid, Presented by who is hot, good-looking, has just come out and is proudly enjoying his burgeoning sexuality. Driven by his adventurous urge for freedom and all-night dancing, Frank runs away to Amsterdam, where he gets swept up in the Bacchanalian delights of the early 80s and quickly finds his place in a male cabaret, surrounded by sex and music. Frank’s world is quickly opened up as he makes friends with his fellow dancers: Angelo who is saving up for gender re-assignment, Dean a graffiti punk, and Jake, Frank’s gorgeous roommate who becomes his best friend. Frank is instantly attracted to Jake, who initially has a girlfriend. But very soon, things fall Frank’s way. However, their romantic euphoria comes to a grinding halt when Jake is diagnosed with a new disease known as the ‘gay cancer’. Cast out from the House of Boys, Frank and Jake struggle on together supported by caring Dr Marsh (Stephen Fry).

The story is really told in two parts – the first a (graphic, explicit) coming out story; the second a compelling revisit to a time when HIV was still a ‘gay cancer’, AIDS activism was in its infancy and the reality of a generation of lives lost still a far-off fiction. The serious messages of the film are offset by a brilliant 80s soundtrack, a backdrop of recognisable clubs, hot sex, terrible fashion and some truly shocking hair. Fans of Angels in America will love House of Boys. session DATE

30 63

TIME VENUE

LAZY Sun 20 March 8.15pm ACMI buggers Fri 25 March 8.15pm ACMI

FEATURES

I LOVE YOU PHILLIP MORRIS Dir: Glenn Ficarra & John Requa, USA, 2010, video, 102 min Hollywood actor Jim Carrey plays his first gay role as Steven Russell, a seemingly happily married Texan police officer who plays organ at church, prays with his wife, and spending his spare time searching for the biological mother who gave him up as a child.

However, Steven keeps a rather large secret – he’s gay.

Told in flashback from his deathbed, Steven’s complicated life is laid out in dramatic and sometimes explicit detail. After eventually finding and being rejected by his birth mother, Steven leaves his life and family behind to go out into the world and be his true, flamboyantly gay self. He moves to Miami, finds a boyfriend and begins living the high life. He realises quickly though, that a life of luxury is expensive, leading this resourceful former cop to turn to a life as a conman.

But when his con work finally catches up with him, Steven is sent to prison where he meets, and instantly falls hopelessly in love with Phillip Morris, played

by Ewan McGregor. The two begin a passionate relationship within the prison walls, and Steven will go to any lengths to keep from being separated from his lover, including breaking out of prison on various occasions, impersonating lawyers, and in a final extraordinary effort, fraudulently becoming CFO of a major corporation.

Based on a true story, and with a decent budget, I Love You Phillip Morris has struggled to find a mainstream cinema release the world over, with distributors struggling to know to market it to audiences (is it a gay film, is it a Jim Carrey film, is it a comedy, is it a drama?), which is a shame. As savvy audiences will discover here – it’s a cracker of a film. (LD)

“The funniest, most subversive movie of the year” Village Voice session DATE

42 77

TIME VENUE

Tue 22 March 8.30pm Greater Union Sat 26 March 10.30pm ACMI

31

FEATURES

IS IT JUST ME?

KILL THE HABIT

Dir: JC Calciano, USA, 2010, video, 93 min ✰✰Best Film, Detroit Independent Film Festival 2010

Dir: Laura Neri, USA, 2010, video, 80 min

Perennially single writer Blaine is on a Presented by quest to find a guy who isn’t entirely concerned with appearances – no easy task in an image-obsessed city like Los Angeles. One night on a chat site he meets naive and hunky cowboy Xander who is new to LA, and who sounds exactly like someone Blaine could connect with on a more personal level – maybe even have a relationship with. After many romantic web chats, they decide to take the plunge and meet in person. But unbeknownst to Blaine he’s been logged on to the web chat using his incredibly hot, but slightly vacuous flat mate Cameron’s profile. Not wanting to lose contact with Xander, and knowing he’s expecting a hottie, Blaine enlists Cameron’s help to pretend to be him in person – a charade that sets in motion a convoluted comedy of errors that may or may not result in Blaine getting his Mr. Right. (LD)

“One of the funniest and sweetest gay romantic comedies in years.” session DATE

04 66

32

TIME VENUE

Fri 18 March 8.30pm ACMI Fri 25 March 10.45pm ACMI

Twenty one-year-old Galia (Lili Mirojnick, Cloverfield) finds herself in a bind after accidentally killing her unscrupulous drug dealer Lyle. She calls on her longsuffering (and secretly pining) best friend Soti to help her out. The two find themselves stuck in Lyle’s apartment with his fiery Latina wife, Cardamosa, who, as it turns out, hated his guts and is more than happy to help them get rid of the body – as long as they get to share his cash. However, getting rid of the corpse is of very little interest to Galia, whose first priority is to get her brother Frank out of police custody following a botched burglary attempt, and to get them both home in time for their baby brother’s bris. Soti’s priority, on the other hand, is to finally reveal her true feelings to Galia and to convince her to quit using drugs.

Kill the Habit is a wacky ride – a black comedy for the gals, that is ‘bound’ to please. session DATE

69

Sat 26 March

TIME VENUE

2pm

ACMI

FEATURES

LA MISSION

Presented by

Dir: Peter Bratt, USA, 2009, 35mm, 117 min ✰✰Official Selection, Sundance 2009 Dare we call it a gay Boyz n the Hood? La Mission reconstructs the ‘tough boy’ attitude from the mean streets of LA to San Francisco’s working-class Mission District. Here, the dynamics and tension pivot around a father–son relationship.

Growing up in the Mission, Mexican-American Che Rivera (Benjamin Bratt) has always had to be tough to survive. A reformed inmate and recovering alcoholic, Che has worked hard to redeem his life and do right by his pride and joy: his only son, Jes, whom he has raised on his own after the death of his wife. Che’s path to redemption is tested, however, when he discovers that Jes is gay. Compounding matters, his son’s boyfriend is white. It’s a classic ‘getting caught out’ story that many relate to, but here the axes of race, class and social marginalisation complicate the unfolding drama. You know that Che will erupt on making the discovery, but the terror of the scene is gripping and utterly believable.

La Mission has screened at a swag of international festivals, including Opening Night at LA Outfest and the San Francisco International Film Festival. (BZ) session DATE

16 76

TIME VENUE

Sat 19 March 8.15pm ACMI LAZY Sat 26 March 8.15pm ACMI buggers

33

FEATURES

LEADING LADIES

LOOSE CANNONS MINE VAGANTI

Dir: Erika Randall Beahm & Daniel Beahm, USA, 2010, video, 102 min

Dir: Ferzan Ozpetek, Italy, 2010, video, 110 min Italian with English subtitles ✰✰Nominated for Best Film and Best Director, David di Donatello (Italian Academy) Awards 2010

The Camparis are a family of women in which everyone knows her place. Sheri is a larger-than-life, overbearing stage mum. Once a young and beautiful ballroom champion, Sheri now lives vicariously through her youngest daughter Tasi, the precocious darling of the local amateur ballroom circuit. Sheri’s eldest daughter, Toni is Tasi’s practice partner, the tomboy wallflower who must quietly support them all. The only consistent man in the life of the Campari women is Cedric, Tasi’s fabulously flamboyant dance partner, Toni’s best friend and the only person with the balls to stand up to Sheri.

The eccentric Campari world is turned upside down when Tasi finds out she’s pregnant while rehearsing for the year’s major ballroom competition, and Toni meets and falls in love with Mona. Can Toni step into the breach left by her pregnant sister and take home the ballroom prize, and how will the Campari’s deal with the sudden change to their dance focused lives?

Equal parts Strictly Ballroom, Glee, Hairspray and Priscilla Queen of the Desert, this impressive first feature with an energetic soundtrack, is a gorgeously campy yet, heartfelt tribute to families, fox-trot and falling in love. Useful trivia piece: Benji Schwimmer (Cedric) was the winner of the 2006 US reality series So You Think You Can Dance. (LD) session DATE

02 72

34

TIME VENUE

LAZY Fri 18 March 6.15pm ACMI lesbians Sat 26 March 4pm ACMI

Ferzan Ozpetek has made some of the most popular queer Italian films of the last 10 years, including Saturn In Opposition (MQFF 2008), Steam: The Turkish Bath (MQFF 1998) and Ignorant Fairies.

Presented by

Tommaso, an aspiring writer, leads a happy life in Rome with his boyfriend, Marco, far from his large, eccentric family, who are unaware of his lifestyle. Returning home for an important dinner, at which his father will hand over the management of the family pasta factory to him and his brother, Tommaso decides to come out, which, he is sure, will avoid any family business obligations. However, just as he asks for silence, his brother drops a bombshell that he is gay, and is instantly ostracised, leaving Tommaso stuck in the town to run the business! (PT)

“With its themes of family secrets, oddball character parts, bittersweet tone and sunny outlook, this is the easily the most Almodóvar-esque of all Ozpetek’s films.” Screen International session DATE

55

TIME VENUE

Thu 24 March 8.30pm ACMI

FEATURES

A MARINE STORY Dir: Ned Farr, USA, 2010, video, 90 min ✰✰Jury Award & Audience Award for Outstanding US Dramatic Feature Film, and Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film, Dreya Weber, LA Outfest 2010 Alex (played by Dreya Weber – The Gymnast MQFF 2007) is a decorated and super fit Marine officer who unexpectedly returns home from Iraq where she’s quickly recruited to help a troubled teen named Saffron prepare for military boot camp. But when the truth outs that she was honourably discharged from the Marines in order to avoid a trial for ‘behaviour unbecoming of an officer’ her mentorship of Saffron is put into question, as well as her own future. While Alex is happy to return home to California after a long time away, she’s restless and unfocused and has no idea what to do with her life from here. Her whole family has been involved in the military, and she knows no other way. She’s consistently put her personal life aside to serve her country, and fights feelings of bitterness at the way she’s been so easily discarded.

The film highlights the effects of having to hide who we are on a daily basis, as well as the sacrifices many in the military have been making for years. In a stroke of good timing, writer/director Ned Farr’s story highlights the absurdity of the recently defunct US military policy of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’.

And besides the serious political theme, it can’t be denied session DATE that there’s plenty of eye candy to be had, with Dreya Sat 19 March Weber and Paris P Pickard (Saffron) proving to be two of Fri 25 March the hottest leads in this year’s lesbian feature selections. (LD)

15 61

TIME VENUE

8.15pm ACMI 6.15pm Greater Union leLAsbZYians 35

FEATURES

MY NORMAL

THE ONE

Dir: Irving Schwartz, USA, 2009, video, 77 min

Dir: Caytha Jentis, USA, 2011, video, 90 min

Natalie is a 20-something lesbian from the Lower East Side in New York City who’s struggling to find a balance between her dreams of becoming a filmmaker, her reality of working as a dominatrix, and her matriarchal Jewish family. Her exotic good looks, kick arse attitude and unconventional methods make her one of the most desirable mistresses in the NYC underground. After making friends with her dope dealer and starting a steamy love affair with a new girl Jasmine, she scores an internship on a movie set. But, all is not smooth sailing as Natalie soon finds that her new girl disapproves of her dominatrix work, and even more so that she actually enjoys it. Her longed for start in the movie industry isn’t all that it promised either, as her new boss proves to be a diabolical arsehole. Soon, her life seems to be unraveling faster than she can crack her whip. Can Natalie draw on her special talents to get what she wants?

Daniel, a young successful Manhattan investment banker seems to have the ideal life – ex-star athlete in college, a six figure pay check, an apartment in Manhattan, and most importantly, the perfect fiancé, Jen. Everything seems to be going sweetly, until one day Daniel stops by his favourite sports bar to grab a beer. Enter Tommy – a charismatic college classmate who idolised Daniel during his lacrosse tenure at school. After hitting it off across the bar and spending an impromtu afternoon together playing lacrosse, Daniel acts on his repressed homosexual desires – that last fling before he’s to embark on the perfect hetero life. But the tryst quickly becomes more serious, and the men find themselves falling in love. With a wedding coming up and a baby on the way, Daniel falls deeper into living a double life.

He’s torn between the woman he loves who can provide his perfect life and the man who’s turned his life upside down. In this journey of self-discovery Daniel, Jen and Tommy must each discover their own truths in order to find true love.

A charming mix of SM, drama and romantic comedy, My Normal provides an antidote to more ‘normal’ lesbian storylines. (LD) session DATE

12

36

TIME VENUE

Sat 19 March 4.15pm ACMI

World Premiere session DATE

26

TIME VENUE

Sun 20 March 4.15pm ACMI

FEATURES

THE OWLS

PAULISTA QUANTO DURA O AMOR?

Dir: Cheryl Dunye, USA, 2010, video, 66 min

Dir: Roberto Moreira, Brazil, 2009, video, 83 min Portuguese with English subtitles ✰✰Best Picture & Best Actress, Hollywood Brazilian Film Festival

Veteran filmmaker Cheryl Dunye’s experimental thriller The Owls (Older Wiser Lesbians, for those old enough to know) toys with the conventions of narrative filmmaking to create a truly original cinematic experience. Dunye uses flashback, split-screen, still photos and assorted documentary-style techniques to tell the story of four middle-aged lesbians who attempt to cover up the murder of a much younger friend. As the film unfolds, Dunye blends meta-commentary into the mix as the actors reflect upon the predicaments of their respective characters, eventually revealing just as much about the narrative as she does about the struggle for acceptance faced by each of the female actresses.

Written, directed, produced and starring Cheryl Dunye (The Watermelon Woman, Stranger Inside), and starring Guinivere Turner, Lisa Gornick, and VS Brodie, The Owls marks the debut film from The Parliament Film Collective, an association of lesbian and queer activistartists whose work unflinchingly documents the messy corners and unlit hallways that constitute the whole of our humanity. Working in Dunye’s signature hybrid style (the ‘Dunyementary’), The Owls explores gender, sexuality and identity like few other movies to date.

Aspiring actress Marina arrives in São Paulo with dreams of independence and success. She moves into an apartment on the bustling ‘Avenida Paulista’ with Suzana, a friend of her boyfriend’s. A few floors up lives Jay, a frustrated author seeking meaning in his life from his poetry and prostitute muse, Michelle. One night Marina and Jay head out to a local nightclub, and on stage is Justine, a fiery singer, with whom Marina is instantly transfixed. The two women begin a torrid affair, but for Suzana it’s just another memento of her rock’n’roll lifestyle – together with her husband, drug problems and drinking – but for Marina, it’s more serious. Meanwhile, Suzana is courted by an office colleague, Gil, and the two begin a relationship, but it’s tempered by details of Suzana’s past.

Paulista takes you a rollercoaster journey of secrets, heartbreak and passion. (PT) session DATE

36 86

Tue 22 March Sun 27 March

TIME VENUE

6pm 6pm

ACMI LAZY ACMI trans

Plus:

SHE LOVES ME, SHE LOVES ME NOT Dir: Linda Mirabilio, Australia, 2010, video, 15 min In a tug of war of love, Milena must choose between her seductive lover and conservative Italian mother. session DATE

84

Sun 27 March

TIME VENUE

4pm

ACMI

37

FEATURES

ROOM IN ROME Habitación en Roma Dir: Julio Medem, Spain, 2010, video, 109 min Spanish, Italian, Russian, Basque, English with English subtitles Room In Rome is a playful, teasing and very sexy film about a one-night stand between two women in a hotel room in Rome. It’s the summer solstice, and Alba and Natasha are strangers from opposite ends of Europe (Spain and Russia) who have chanced upon each other that evening in a bar. We don’t witness that encounter, but somehow Alba, who is a lesbian, has persuaded Natasha, who is straight, to return with her to her hotel room. A game of seduction and resistance then begins, during which the two women spin tales about themselves that may or may not be true – most of the time completely naked. Whilst the pair shed their clothes very quickly, they’re much more reluctant to lay bare their souls. Yet as the night unfolds, they gradually allow glimpses of their true selves – an emotional striptease that is fraught with peril. By opening up to one another they may not be able to contain this encounter to the hotel room. session DATE

34 73

38

TIME VENUE

Mon 21 March 8.15pm ACMI Sat 26 March 6pm ACMI

FEATURES

SASHA SAŠA Dir: Dennis Todorovic, Germany, 2009, video, 101 min German with English subtitles Sasha has a crush on his sexy, Presented by openly gay piano teacher, Gebhard, but when it’s announced that he’s leaving for a job in another city, Sasha is devastated! How will he be able to convince his object of affection to stay? Living at home with his strict parents and rebellious brother, Sasha is still in the closet, and the only person to whom he can confide in is his best friend, Jiao. A plan is hatched to hit the local gay bar in the hopes of ‘meeting’ Gebhard, and for Sasha to offer himself as the reason to stay… Complicating matters is Sasha’s impending piano audition, on which his mother is piling the pressure; plus the blossoming relationship between Sasha’s brother and Jiao; not to mention the deadbeat uncle who spends far too much time in the family’s business – a bar on the ground floor.

Funny, fresh and with a wonderful leading performance by the handsome Sascha Kekez, this is a spirited dramatic comedy from Germany. (PT)

session DATE

14 43

Sat 19 March Tue 22 March

TIME VENUE

LAZY 6pm ACMI buggers 10pm ACMI

39

FEATURES

THE SEA PURPLE VIOLA DI MARE Dir: Donatella Maiorca, Italy, 2009, video, 106 min Italian with English subtitles Set in 19th century Sicily, and based on a true story, The Sea Purple tells the story of Angela, a rebellious young woman who endures brutal beatings from her father, and is considered possessed due to her attraction to stunning local girl Sara. The women are separated when Sara is forced to move to the mainland. After a number of years, Sara returns and their passionate relationship steps up a notch. When Angela’s father demands that she marry a local quarry worker, she rebels claiming she will instead marry Sara.

Angela is immediately imprisoned in a cellar, and only a bribe from her mother can save the situation. In return, Angela must become Angelo and live as a man in order to marry Sara and assume a role working at the quarry.

Maiorca’s film is a sensuous and engaging drama that has the added bonuses of beautiful women and believable love scenes. (LD) session DATE

40

29 75

TIME VENUE

Sun 20 March 8.15pm ACMI LAZY Sat 26 March 8.15pm ACMI trans

FEATURES THE SECRET DIARIES OF MISS ANNE LISTER Dir: James Kent, UK, 2010, video, 90 min Opening and closing queer film festivals the world over, The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister tells the incredible, based-on-a-true-story tale of an early 19th century English gentlewoman who ‘preferred the fairer sex’ and recorded her conquests in a coded diary, later discovered by a local historian. But you can expect more than a restrained, straitlaced Jane Austen costume drama, as saucy Anne (magnificently played by Maxine Peake) and her maiden Mariana are sneaking off into the woods for furtive dalliances at the first opportunity, and Anne cruises girls openly in church of a Sunday.

This outstanding, BBC-produced period romance moves at a cracking pace as Anne juggles erratic lovers, jealous best friends, evil businessmen, major estate renovations – all while practicing her shooting. And so the big question becomes, which lady does Anne have in her sights? Love of her life Mariana? Faithful friend Tib? Or will it be pretty Miss Walker, the wealthiest heiress in the county? (LD)

"Peake is an extraordinary actress – both intensely human in her vulnerability and intensely disquieting, veering between predatory seductiveness and agonised self-pity." John Preston Daily Telegraph. session DATE

28 56

TIME VENUE

Sun 20 March 6.15pm ACMI CHdir.OI’sCE

Thu 24 March 8.30pm Greater Union leLAsbZYians

Don't miss the companion documentary The Real Anne Lister, showing at this year's Festival, see p.54 for details.

41

FEATURES

the SLEEPING BEAUTY OF EAST FINCHLEY

SPRING FEVER

Dir: Seamus Rae, UK, 2010, video, 50 min

Dir: Ye Lou, Hong Kong/France, 2009, 35mm, 115 min Mandarin and Cantonese with English subtitles ✰✰Best Screenplay Award, Cannes Film Festival

Joan's life is passing her by. Her job is dull, she’s committed to looking after her elderly mother, and to her weekly visits to the local Catholic church. There is nothing remarkable about her – apart from an amazing singing voice which no-one ever hears. That is until Pat, a friendly nurse who is looking after Joan's mother, hears Joan singing along to her records one day. Pat sings with a women’s choir called the Friends of Dusty, and she invites Joan to come along and join in. However, Joan has lead a sheltered life, and despite her strong feelings for Pat, she’s horrified when she realises the choir has only lesbian members.

Beautifully shot and edited, this tender drama ambitiously tells its story with openly emotional acting and music and provides a fresh voice in queer cinema.

Australian Premiere Plus

THE TIME IN BETWEEN

A forbidden relationship forms between two young girls – a relationship that is inevitably torn apart by the tension surrounding them, told from the perspective of one of the women many years later.

42

Sun 20 March

Banned in China for its frank depiction of gay sex, Spring Fever is the latest controversial film from Lou Ye, one of China's most celebrated modern filmmakers. It’s an incendiary tale of physical abandon, jealousy and obsessive love. (PT)

35

Dir: Henrik Martin K Dahlbakken, Norway, 2009, video, 24 min Norwegian with English subtitles

22

Nanjing, China, present day. Jian Cheng and Wang Ping are in the throes of a passionate affair, however they must be especially careful, not only because they are men, but due to the fact that Wang Ping is married.

However, his wife already suspects he is cheating, and hires a young man, Luo Hai to trail him and to take photographic evidence. Lou Hai not only follows the couple, he also trails Jian Cheng on his own, to underground drag clubs and rock ‘n’ roll bars. Soon the two meet, and a flirtatious friendship threatens to ignite into something more dangerous, not only for Luo Hai, but also for his unsuspecting girlfriend.

session DATE

TIDEN IMELLOM

session DATE

CHUN FENG CHEN ZUI DE YE WAN

TIME VENUE

2pm

ACMI

TIME VENUE

Mon 21 March 8.30pm ACMI

FEATURES

STRAPPED Dir: Joseph Graham, USA, 2010, video, 95 min A routine trick at a man's apartment propels a cynical hustler into a series of strange and life-changing encounters. Tall and lanky with a mop of unruly dark hair, the young man makes for an attractive hustler – handsome in body, amiable in personality and highly capable at sex. He's just out to make a buck, one guy at a time. But this coldly efficient rent boy begins to look at himself in a different way one stormy night, when he finds himself lost in a maze-like apartment building.

The evening begins with a tryst with a beefy, timid man new to gay sex. The session becomes surprisingly tender for both. But time is money, and he's out of there – that is, if he could find the exit. His unexpected odyssey leads him to a series of encounters: one with a straight guy with issues; a cocaine-fuelled queen; an older man hidden away in a leaky attic apartment; and a lonely young man who thinks he's finally made a real connection. Sex is the commonality, but out of that commodity comes raw, unguarded emotions for all.

Sad, funny, sexy and touching, Strapped is an unforgettable look into one young man’s moving journey to understanding.

“Brilliantly written and shot by Joseph Graham, this film is more ‘Coen Brothers’ than your typical hustler film.” Fresno Reel Pride session DATE

50 64

TIME VENUE

Wed 23 March 10pm ACMI Fri 25 March 8.30pm Greater Union

43

FEATURES

THE STRING LE FIL Dir: Medhi Ben Attia, Tunisia, 2010, 35mm, 93 min French and Arabic with English subtitles ✰✰Audience Choice Award for Best Feature, Frameline Film Festival San Francisco 2010 Handsome Malik has been living Presented by the high life in France, earning a good living as an architect and enjoying his life as an unattached gay man. But when he returns to Tunisia to live with his mother after his father’s death, he can’t bring himself to tell his mother about his sexuality, and leaps quickly back into the closet.

However, all good secrets eventually get revealed, and eventually Malik is sprung in bed with hot handyman Bilal. While his mother struggles to face the truth she’s long ignored, a flashback reveals that Malik’s father was fully aware of his son’s secret all along. It slowly becomes clear to Malik that he must sever the apron strings if he is to find balance in his life, and be true to himself. session DATE

60

44

Fri 25 March

TIME VENUE

6pm

ACMI

FEATURES

VIOLET TENDENCIES Dir: Casper Andreas, USA, 2010, video, 100 min She is Manhattan’s most fabulous Presented by fag hag! At 40, Violet (Mindy Cohn, Facts of Life) is the racy, fun-loving belle of the gay balls. She spends her nights as royalty, but when the party ends she always heads home alone. While her co-worker Riley struggles with his baby-crazy boyfriend Markus, and her roommate Luke tackles monogamy head on, Violet’s romantic life is one big bellyflop. Realising she’s at a certain age and still single, Violet is at a crossroads. In the fast pace of high fashion PR where she works, Riley tells her to seek out a straight male version of herself: the mythical fag stag. But glamorous guru Salome gives her other advice; to nab a man, she insists, Violet must abandon her gay boys. When Violet arrives home from yet another disastrous date to find Luke has organised a gay sex party in her bedroom, she decides Salome may be right. In order to get a prized man of her own, Violet strikes out on an hilarious quest to change the woman she is. Chasing love and lust at all costs, she may find them in the most unlikely of places...

“Moves smartly and delivers outrageous one-liners with rapid-fire efficiency, particularly in the hands of ‘Facts of Life’ veteran Mindy Cohn, who tosses off vulgarisms with seasoned aplomb...” Variety session DATE

46 59

Wed 23 March Fri 25 March

TIME VENUE

6pm 6pm

Greater Union ACMI

Session 59 is an Auslan interpreted film, courtesy of Yarra Trams.

45

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DOCUMENTARIES

LE TIGRE: ON TOUR Dir: Kerthy Fix, USA, 2010, video, 73 min

session DATE

80

TIME VENUE

Sun 27 March Midday ACMI

So called Electroclash band Le Tigre naturally evolved from the ashes of the early-to-mid 90s Riot Grrrl movement – the underground feminist punk movement originally based in Olympia, Washington. Formed in New York City

by Kathleen Hanna (ex-Bikini Kill), Le Tigre featured Sadie Benning, Johanna Fateman and JD Samson in various incarnations during the 1990s, before they took an extended break in 2007. They quickly developed a huge following and became champions of feminist, gender and queer politics and culture.

This often hilarious and always captivating portrait of Le Tigre focuses on their last major tour in 2004 and features brilliant live footage of shows (including at the Big Day Out) as well as intimate and raw interviews. Hanna and Co. talk about their music and their fame, and how what was initially a band assembled to have fun, could still engender their own brand of culture and politics, as well as inspire activism, while never compromising on their personal ideals.

Die-hard fans will love this inside look into the Le Tigre world, while the uninitiated will be instantly converted. (LD)

MAKING THE BOYS Dir: Crayton Robey, USA, 2010, video, 93 min

session DATE

23

TIME VENUE

Sun 20 March 2.15pm ACMI

As the Stonewall riots erupted a few streets away in New York City, prolific Hollywood director William Friedkin (The Exorcist, Cruising, Rules of Engagement) was shooting The Boys In the Band – the first openly gay film made for a wide commercial audience. Forty years later, Making the Boys explores the drama, struggle and enduring legacy of the first-ever gay play and subsequent 1970 Hollywood movie which successfully reached a mainstream audience.

Beloved by some for breaking new ground, and condemned by others for reinforcing gay stereotypes, The Boys in the Band sparked heated controversy that still exists four decades later. This fascinating and sometimes gossipy ‘making of’ documentary features tidbits from insiders such as Dan Savage, Michael Musto, Tony Kushner (Angels in America), the now un-closeted playwright Edward Albee (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) and Carson Kressley. Spread throughout is rarely seen material, including not to be missed footage of the playwright Mart Crowley cavorting at a Malibu beach party with Natalie Wood, Judy Garland, Rock Hudson and many more of Hollywood’s gay glitterati.

Above all, the point to be noted is that The Boys in the Band pre-dates Will and Grace, Milk, Proposition 8, the AIDS epidemic and gay pride parades, so whether you despise it or celebrate it, it’s a major part of our history that can’t be denied. (LD)

Australian Premiere

52

DOCUMENTARIES

OUT FOR THE LONG RUN Dir: Scott Bloom, USA, 2010, video, 80 min

session DATE

70

Sat 26 March

TIME VENUE

4pm

ACMI Studio

This excellent, engaging and intimate documentary explores the lives of openly gay high school Presented by and college athletes in the USA. Inspired by an article in the Los Angeles Times, the film's focus is on a handful of gay teen athletes as they navigate the turbulent waters of their sexuality and lifestyle in an often hyper-straight world. Despite other parts of society making in-roads in the fight against homophobia, the sporting world lags behind. Bullying in and around the sporting arena is still rife, and many talented sportsmen and women tragically turn their back on their sporting talents rather than face a career filled with bullying or closeted living. Utilising footage shot by the filmmakers at various sporting events, and video diaries kept throughout the year by the participants, the documentary highlights a new generation of courage in what could be the most homophobic place on a high school campus: the locker room. (LD) Australian Premiere

PRIMA DONNA: THE STORY OF RUFUS WAINWRIGHT’S DEBUT OPERA

session DATE

48

Wed 23 March

TIME VENUE

8pm

ACMI

Dir: George Scott, UK, 2009, video, 84 min Oozing both talent and looks, Rufus Wainwright is regarded as the quintessential thinking person’s gay icon. The self-taught singer/songwriter carries a lush, theatrical style that harks back to the likes of Edith Piaf, Al Jolson and Judy Garland. The son of folk music luminaries Loudon Wainwright III and the late Kate McGarrigle, and brother to alternative country singer Martha, Rufus spent his childhood absorbed in music. Following his re-creation in 2007 of Judy Garland's most famous concert (dressed identically in her famous short skirt and fishnets, and later filmed as Rufus! Rufus! Rufus! Does Judy! Judy! Judy!), Rufus decided to write Prima Donna, an opera based on the struggles of an ageing opera queen.

The resulting doco elegantly reveals that artistic process, from idea to opening night – whilst also tracing Rufus’s childhood and personal life. Through the lens of interviews with key family members, as well as numerous artistic colleagues, we are exposed to an artist who uses his music as a platform for voicing both the specifics of his homosexual life and broader universal themes. Prima Donna will have instant appeal to existing fans of Rufus’s work.

It will also serve as a perfect entry-point for others into this exceptional musician’s work. (BZ)

53

DOCUMENTARIES

THE REAL ANNE LISTER

session DATE

79

Dir: Matthew Hill, UK, 2010, video, 60 min

If The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister has whet your appetite (see p.41), this documentary is an absolute must-see companion piece to learn more about Anne Lister – ‘the first modern lesbian’ . Presented by lesbian comic Sue Perkins (The Supersizers Go…), the joy of the film comes not just from finding out some of the less palatable truths about Anne Lister’s life and personality but also from meeting some of the folk who have made her story their life’s work. There is something completely delicious about seeing and hearing the oh-so respectable historian Helena Whitbread delicately translating Anne Lister’s code for masturbation, while the details of the diarist’s first relationship will leave most viewers’ mouths agape. (MS)

THE REGRETTERS ÅNGRARNA Dir: Marcus Lindeen, Sweden, 2009, video, 58 min Swedish with English subtitles

THE ARCHIVIST Dir: Katie Scoones, USA, 2010, video, 7 min Angela is a young archivist who spots the beautiful Emerson for the first time. She is forced to ponder: do people meet by fate or by the alignment of random events.

Sun 27 March

Orlando and Mikael embarked on major surgeries in the hope of finding their true selves, only to realise later on that life post-surgery isn’t as they had dreamed of. Now, well into their 60s, the two meet for the first time to talk about their lives as well as the one defining regret they both share: their gender reassignment surgery. Honest and intimate, Orlando and Mikael are engaging and open characters. As interviewers of each other, they are each their own Parkinson, asking probing and incisive questions of each other, as well as giving fascinating answers. A far too simplistic conclusion could be assumed that Mikael and Orlando should never have had their surgeries, but a more pertinent theme arises, and that is that the perennial problem is of society’s continuing obsession with rigid gender boundaries, and not necessarily an individual’s attempts to fit in. The Regretters is a fascinating and rewarding documentary, and not to be missed. (LD) Australian Premiere

54

PLUS:

VENUE

82

TIME VENUE

Sun 27 March Midday ACMI Studio

2pm

ACMI

LAZY trans

PLUS:

LATECOMERS Dir: Olivia Humphreys, UK, 2010, video, 16 min Margaret was a married father of 5 until she had gender reassignment surgery at 58; Peter, 53, just told his family he is gay, but he’s determined to stay with his wife. Latecomers looks at why Margaret and Peter waited so long to come out of the closet, how their families reacted and how their lives are changing. session DATE

TIME

PHOTO creditS: PHOTOFEST

DOCUMENTARIES

ROCK HUDSON: DARK AND HANDSOME STRANGER Dir: Andrew Davies & Andre Schafer, Germany, 2009, video, 96 min

session DATE

40

TIME VENUE

It’s taken 25 years since his death to AIDS-related illnesses for Tue 22 March 8pm ACMI a feature documentary to be made of Rock Hudson’s private life. This, despite the richness of his life away from the demands of the public gaze. In the post-war years, leading man Rock Hudson epitomised both the macho and sensitive sides of manhood in an era that increasingly catered to female audiences. And yet, the secret he carried – his homosexuality – could have no place in the public eye.

Numerous leading female co-stars, with several interviewed in the film, attest that even during kissing scenes they found it hard to accept him as gay. It was for Rock a secret held tight by the studio system – and many of the men in his life, whom he enjoyed entertaining at secluded pool parties. A wealth of anecdotes comes from bestselling author Armistead Maupin, long-time friend and occasional lover, who recounts in detail Hudson’s own sexual explorations.

From matinee idol to his hospitalisation and death to AIDS, Rock Hudson: Dark And Handsome Stranger is ultimately a nuanced portrait of a fragile man living in deeply conservative times. (BZ) Australian Premiere

TOO MUCH PUSSY! FEMINIST SLUTS, A QUEER X SHOW Dir: Emilie Jouvet, France/Germany, 2010, video, 97 min French, Dutch, English with English subtitles

session DATE

18

TIME VENUE

Sat 19 March 10.30pm ACMI

Emilie Jouvet’s (One Night Stand) latest film is a saucy and sex positive road movie with a difference. It’s a sexually explicit film documenting the adventures of seven US and European activists, writers, artists, sex workers, porn stars and self-proclaimed feminist sluts, as they take their Queer X show via cramped tour bus across Europe in 2009. Highlighting every intimate moment from live action footage of their sex shows, to revealing back of the bus shenanigans, the girls go through euphoria and frustration as they negotiate the intersections between their personal lives and bodies to the inevitable discussion of pornography and art, and the difference between the personal and political. Nothing is left to the imagination as the girls encounter offended audiences, battles with exhaustion and personality issues. Don’t miss this celebration of feminist performance art. Annie Sprinkle – eat your heart out! (LD)

Warning: contains sex scenes and nudity that may offend some viewers.

55

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

9 Gordon St Elsternwick Ph 9524 7900

Flash your MQFF membership card at the box office for a concession ticket!

www.classictheatre.com.au

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

IT CAME FROM THE CLOSET! Presented by

GEN SILENT Dir: Stu Maddox, USA, 2009, video, 63 min

Award winning documentary filmmaker Stu Maddox (Bob and Jack’s 52- Year Adventure, MQFF 2007), explores the complex issue of LGBT seniors who are sometimes forced back into the closet to obtain long-term health care in the USA. Maddox asks six LGBT seniors if they would hide their sexuality and lifestyle to survive. Their surprising decisions are captured through intimate access to their day-to-day lives over the course of a year in Boston, Massachusetts. It’s an issue that is relevant to Australia’s LGBT seniors in light of recent changes to legislation.

Australian Premiere The MQFF and Val’s Café are pleased to co-present this documentary alongside the official launch of Val’s Café: a collaboration between Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria and the {also} Foundation, established to resource people providing services to older GLBTI Victorians. Along with the documentary, the launch will include an overview of issues facing older GLBTI Victorians, a summary of the work being done by Val’s Café and the opportunity for the community to become Café members and support older GLBTI people. session DATE

08

Sat 19 March

TIME VENUE

2pm

ACMI

An exploration of queer subtext in classic and modern horror films Presented by Lee Gambin, 90 min From The Bride of Frankenstein to A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, gay subtext and representation in the classic and modern horror film has always existed both implicitly and explicitly like a frightening but also frightened monstrous figure lurking in the shadows.

The 2011 Melbourne Queer Film Festival opens the closet doors and brings these misunderstood monsters and celluloid menaces to your attention. From mad scientists with ulterior motives to seductively luscious lesbian vampires to knife wielding cross dressers; this sentimental walk down memory lane will examine how the movie monster has always been an honest allegory for an alienated and invisible generation of gay people who have at one point felt alien, different and as the outsider.

It Came From The Closet! lecture and clip presentation promises to be a fun and insightful love letter to those horror movie greats that we have all come to know and love.

Lee Gambin is a Melbourne based screenwriter, playwright and film essayist. He is a contributing writer for famed horror film magazine Fangoria and a devotee to movie monsters. session

10

DATE

Sat 19 March

TIME VENUE

4pm ACMI Studio 57

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

OUT IN THE SILENCE Dir: Joe Wilson & Dean Hamer, USA, 2010, video, 65 min When a popular 16-year-old jock is brutally attacked for coming out at his small town high school, his mother reaches out for help to the only person she feels she can trust – native son and filmmaker Joe Wilson, whose same sex wedding announcement ignited a firestorm of controversy in the local paper. Returning home with camera in hand, Wilson documents the harrowing, but ultimately successful battle waged by the teen and his mother against recalcitrant school authorities.

Out In The Silence is a documentary about coming out in a small regional town and dealing with the homophobia that comes with it. But just how difficult is to come out in a regional location, compared to the city, and what do both have in common?

Australian Premiere Followed by a panel discussion hosted by Minus 18 session DATE

81

Sun 27 March

TIME VENUE

2pm

ACMI Studio

Coming out: urban vs rural

Presented by

Our Metro and Regional Minus18 panellists are busting to share their personal coming out stories, and get to the bottom of who really has it tougher.

Panellists: Nathaniel Smith is a 17-year-old who has lived in Geelong his whole life. At age 14 he came to terms with his sexuality and in recent years so has his family. He loves working with Minus18 in its many endeavours, and can't wait to get more involved in the queer community.

Shivaun Haverkamp is also 17, spending her life a couple of hours out of Melbourne. At 14, she came out to her friends, and had their help in coming out to her mother a year later. She is now comfortable and open about her sexuality, and enjoys filming and helping with MinusTV and the Minus18 dance parties.

Kyle Minall is a Generation Next youth show presenter on JOY 94.9, and grew up in Camberwell. Coming out to his friends at 17, followed by his family at 20, Kyle is now living with his long-term partner.

Edward McAndrew grew up in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, even attending a high school renowned for their progressive policies on sexuality and homophobia.

Edward's current involvement in Minus18 and MQFF Queeries selection panel have sparked his enthusiasm for continued involvement in the community.

59

QUEER FILM OPT 201210 REV.pdf

1

20/12/10

6:06 PM

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

TOTALLY FxxKED! queer as fxxk, season 1–3 highlights Dir: Colin Batrouney, Australia, 2010, video

SISTAGIRL Dir: Donna McCrum & Andy Canny, Australia, 2010, video, 55 min Award-winning Indigenous photographer Bindi Cole travels from her Melbourne home to the far north of Australia to document the beautiful transgender ‘Sistagirls’ of the Tiwi Islands.

Presented by

Sistagirl is a journey that defies existing stereotypes of what it means to be an indigenous Australian today. It’s also the story of Cole’s next attempt to artistically question what constitutes an Aboriginal identity.

Plus:

SALLY’S STORY Dir: Mark Andersson, Australia, 2011, video, 25 min Self-proclaimed bi-sexual transgender Jewish cowgirl, Sally Goldner tells her story of self-discovery, as she navigates the gender path on the way to her 45th birthday. A coming-of-age tale and personal portrait of inspiring Melbourne transgendered woman Sally Goldner: activist, drummer, singer/songwriter, stand-up comic and radio DJ. session DATE

25

Sun 20 March

Four gay men, one household. Brendan is from North Queensland, Peter is from the 80s, Davo is from a parallel universe and Aaron is up his own arse.

Presented by

Over the past year in the gay soap Queer as Fxxk, we’ve watched these four guys come to terms with sex, relationships, drugs, coming out, homophobic mothers, wellmeaning counsellors, sexual health testing, Kylie, the Rubic’s Cube and what it means to have sex with a chicken. Watch highlights from the first three seasons of Queer as Fxxk on the big screen and get a sneak peek at where we are going in the next series.

Followed by cast and crew Q&A session.

Written by Colin Batrouney & Roger Monk, produced by X-Machine. session

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DATE

Sat 26 March

TIME VENUE

2pm ACMI

TIME VENUE

4pm

ACMI

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SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS THE BEST OF CITY OF MELBOURNE OZ SHORTS

Presented by

The City of Melbourne Oz Shorts package has featured some excellent Australian talent over the years. As part of MQFF's 21st birthday celebrations, enjoy this highlights package of shorts that featured in the City of Melbourne package over the past 15 years. Of course, it’s a session almost impossible to curate – there’s been many incredible titles included over the past 21 years, and we’ve definitely had to leave out some very deserving titles. But, what we hope we have here is a good representation of titles and filmmakers who have developed strong profiles in the Australian filmmaking scene.

Please join us for celebratory drinks with the filmmakers in the Festival Lounge after the session.

MARGARET STAR: A FALL FROM GRACE Dir: Annabelle Murphy, Australia, 1995, video, 7 min ✰✰Best short film, Frameline International San Francisco 1995 Margaret breaks up with her lover and decides to become a wrestler. She's beginning to wonder whether physical contact is over-rated.

Annabelle Murphy has gone on to mentor some of Australia’s finest filmmaking talents through her role as a Senior Lecturer (Screenwriting) at the VCAM at University of Melbourne.

MARGARET STAR: A FALL FROM GRACE

EXPOSED Dir: Tony Ayres, Australia, 1996, 16mm, 8 min A filmmaker makes a documentary about photographer David Edwards, who had taken photographs of naked gay men for over a decade. But who is the voyeur and who is the exhibitionist?

Tony is one of Australia’s busiest filmmakers, most notable for his award-winning features Walking on Water and The Home Song Stories, as well as Sadness and China Dolls to name a few. He is currently shooting the Christos Tsiolkas best seller, The Slap.

EXPOSED

DAPHNE AND OLLIE Dir: Emma Freeman, Australia, 1998, video, 5 min Daphne and Ollie have met at the same boathouse every year for the past 45 years. Today they will say goodbye.

Emma has become one of Australia’s most in-demand directors with a recent AFI Award for Best Direction in Television (Hawke), and countless other awards including Tropfest 2002 for her short film, Lamb. Emma has been busy working in TV for a number of years directing shows such as Tangle, Rush, Love My Way, The Alice and The Secret Life of Us. Daphne & Ollie was her first year VCA film.

BARE

DAPHNE AND OLLIE

Dir: Deborah Strutt, Australia, 2000, 16mm, 9 min Tea or coffee? Scrambled eggs? Sex on toast? Erotic forces explode when two gay boys perve on their gay girl neighbours doing it for breakfast. Stylish and sexy, Bare is sensuously filmed in sunny afterglow hues with a spunky cast. From the makers of My Cunt and Elizabeth Taylor Sometimes.

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MQFF 2000 held the world premiere screening of Bare, which gained international distribution and won awards at Festivals around the world. Deb and her producer partner Liz Baulch are still involved in film, with Liz lecturing in Film and Video at Deakin University and Deb an occasional mentor to local up-and-coming filmmakers.

BARE

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS TANAKA Dir: Clayton Jacobson, Australia, 2001, video, 24 min ✰✰City of Melbourne Award, MQFF 2003 ✰✰Best Achievement in Video, St Kilda Film Festival 2002 Mori Tanaka is sent to Australia from Japan to oversee his uncle’s funeral and retrieve the ashes from his uncle’s spouse. When the spouse turns out to be a man, Tanaka is torn between cultures and customs.

Clayton has been working consistently in film and television since the '80s. He is of course the award-winning director of one of Australia’s most successful and awarded feature films, Kenny (2006).

TANAKA

LAYOVER Dir: Ashlee Page, Australia, 2004, video, 7 min ✰✰Audience Choice Award, MQFF 2006 Sexy flight attendant Kate has been looking forward to a night of passion with her girlfriend. An overnight stay goes horribly wrong when Grandma turns up on the doorstep after leaving Grandpa.

In between seeing the world, Ashlee has been busily working in film since making the multi award-winning Layover in 2004. Her latest film The Kiss (see this year’s City of Melbourne Oz Shorts package) recently won an AFI for Best Short Fiction as well as the Emerging Filmmaker Award at the 2010 Melbourne International Film Festival.

LAYOVER

TRANSIENT Dir: Craig Boreham, Australia, 2004, video, 10 min ✰✰City of Melbourne & Audience Choice Award, MQFF 2005 A beautiful meditation about gay relationships and two men who have become distant and estranged. It follows one man’s quest to rekindle the love he has lost to the spectre of fast sex and disposable men.

Craig is a Sydney based writer and director who’s had many titles screen at the MQFF over the years, as well of course at many other festivals worldwide. He was recently nominated for an IF Award for Rising Talent 2010. He is currently working on two feature film projects.

A WONDERFUL DAY Dir: Robbie Baldwin, Australia, 2005, video, 13 min ✰✰City of Melbourne Award, MQFF 2004

TRANSIENT

As the nation stands still to watch Cathy Freeman run for Olympic Gold, a young man has a race of his own. Stephen is informed during his drag act that his mother is dying. As he races to her bedside, he recalls his own ‘Olympic event’ from his childhood.

Robbie has been a prolific filmmaker over the years, with several films screening at the MQFF, including Bloody Homos (2003) and Show Me Your Pic (2001). session DATE

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Sat 19 March

TIME VENUE

4pm

ACMI

A WONDERFUL DAY

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MIDNIGHT MOVIES MQFF presents Midnight Movies, supported by the City of Melbourne’s Late Night Programming Initiative.

We’re not the sorts to head off to beddies early during the Festival, and neither should you!

Join us for two fabulous sessions of late night fun, film and frivolity!

TICKED OFF TRANNIES WITH KNIVES Dir: Israel Luna, USA, 2010, video, 95 min There are some gals who just shouldn’t be messed with. And it applies in stiletto loads to our ticked off heroines Bubbles Cliquot, Tipper Sommore, Rachel Slurr, and Emma Grashun. One night after working at Pinky La Trimm’s nightclub, the girls become victims of shocking violence from a random sociopath who is deeply disturbed by his lust for Bubbles. Not the types to let sleeping bogans lie, the furious gals transform into deadly vixens and vow revenge; affording said bogan some of his own violent slice-and-dice medicine.

Gay director Israel Luna has thrown in equal parts hilarity and violence in this homage to exploitation films of the 70s and 80s, which borrows heavily from the camp and slasher genres but ultimately gives birth to its very own genre – transploitation. While screenings of Ticked Off Trannies With Knives have been picketed by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and criticised in some of the US gay media, here at the MQFF we figured you’re well old enough to make up your own minds. (LD)

“It’s quite funny. And GLAAD came out against that...lighten up! What the fuck!?” John Waters Director Israel Luna will be in attendance Warning: contains scenes of extreme violence and political incorrectness that WILL offend some viewers. session DATE

19

TIME VENUE

Sat 19 March Midnight

ACMI

Come dressed as your favourite horror/exploitation character or Ticked Off Trannie to win great prizes!

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MIDNIGHT MOVIES

BEARCITY Dir: Doug Langway, USA, 2010, video, 104 min Summer in New York City and the bears are coming out to play. Closet ‘admirer’ Tyler is in his early 20s and fantasises about snagging a daddy bear. For the first time he heads off to a bear bar where he meets a group of furry friends: Brent and Fred, a couple who’re thinking of opening up their relationship; and Michael, who’s impending surgery to reduce his weight causes problems with his hot Latino boyfriend, Carlos. The one essential member of the group who’s missing that night is Roger, a sexy silver daddy bear, who just could be the man of Tyler’s dreams. However, when these two meet, obstacles and other men get in their way; but when the chemistry is this right, it’s only a matter of time…

While dealing with some serious issues – weight-loss, monogamy, settling down – BearCity is above all stacks of fun, with a cast that’s very easy on the eye and a script with zinging one-liners! Sexy, funny and romantic, it’s an utter joy – and it doesn’t matter if you’re a member of the bear community or not, this is a film for everyone who loves having a fun time at the movies! Let the fur fly! (PT)

“A sweet tale worth a ‘Woof’!” Time Out New York Also screening Sun 20 March, 10.30pm. See page 23 for details. session DATE

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Sat 26 March Midnight

ACMI

Prizes offered for best bear in attendance – human or otherwise. Use your imagination!

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OZ DOCS This year’s excellent collection of Oz Docs covers diverse explorations of gender and how it intersects with life, family and career. Representatives from the films will be in attendance for a Q&A in the Festival Lounge following the session.

ORCHIDS: MY INTERSEX ADVENTURE Dir: Phoebe Hart, Australia, 2010, video, 60 min ✰✰Best Documentary, ATOM Awards Documentary filmmaker, Phoebe Hart, takes us on her journey of self-discovery to embrace her future and reconcile the past shame and family secrecy surrounding her intersex condition. She embarks on an ambitious quest to resolve her life story and connect with other intersex people on camera. With the help of her sister Bonnie and support from her partner James, she hits the open road and reflects on her youth.

ORCHIDS: MY INTERSEX ADVENTURE

Phoebe’s happy and carefree childhood came to an abrupt end at puberty when she was told she would never menstruate nor have children. But the reasons why were never discussed and the topic was taboo.

At the age of 17, Phoebe’s mother felt she was old enough to understand the true nature of her body and the family secret was finally revealed. Phoebe then faced an orchidectomy, invasive surgery to remove her undescended testes, the emotional scars of which are still raw today. Phoebe’s road trip around Australia exposes her to the stories of other intersex people and holds a mirror to her own experience. She learns valuable lessons in resilience and healing but also sees the pervasive impact her condition has on all her relationships.

PLUS:

MIND Dir: Emma Crimmings, Australia, 2010, video, 27 min

MIND

Mind is a visually imaginative exploration of the nature of identity. From an early age, award-winning Melbourne writer Tom Cho thought he was different and knew he didn’t match his Chinese mother’s expectations of a good daughter.

Plus:

ALIYAH’S ASCENT Dir: Rad Young, Australia, 2010, video, 4 min Today he works as a male nurse, but tonight he will risk it all to sing on stage as the woman she’s always been. session DATE ALIYAH'S ASCENT

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Sat 26 March

TIME VENUE

4pm

ACMI

67

OZ SHORTS In partnership with the City of Melbourne, the MQFF is proud to present the 2011 package of excellent Australian shorts. The City of Melbourne continues 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 films 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: Tom Ballard at just the age of 21 is one of Australia’s busiest young comedians. He has performed stand-up in comedy rooms and at festivals all over the country as well as overseas at the Edinburgh Fringe and Montreal Just For Laughs Festivals – he even won the Best Newcomer Award at the Melbourne Comedy Festival in 2009. You can see Tom on your screens as a regular guest on Good News Week and The 7PM Project, and hear him every morning nationally as co-host of Triple J Breakfast.

Adam Bandt MP grew up in Western Australia and has now made Melbourne his home. He has dedicated years to public interest campaigning and workplace rights, as a barrister and now as the Federal Member for Melbourne he is advocating for Melbourne residents' real values on issues like refugees, health, water, public transport and marriage equality.

Cr Jennifer Kanis (City of Melbourne) is an Employment and Industrial Relations lawyer and is the Convenor of Victorian

Women Lawyers. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Jennifer was a secondary school teacher and communications consultant.

Jennifer is also a long time resident of the Flemington and Kensington area.

Presented by

George Negus is one of Australia’s best-known broad-casters with over 40 years experience in the industry. He was one of the original correspondents on 60 Minutes, and has had long involvements in news media with shows such as Foreign Correspondent, Dateline, and more recently with The 7PM Project. In 2011, George began anchoring the news and public affairs program, 6PM With George Negus.

Kim Yutani is a feature film programmer for the Sundance Film Festival, where she also oversees short film programming. She is also the Director of Programming of Outfest: the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, as well as overseeing programming of Fusion: the Los Angeles LGBT People of Colour Film Festival, and its Access LA program, which includes the Outfest Screenwriting Lab.

UNDER PRESSURE

UNDER PRESSURE Dir: Kate Lefoe, Australia, 2010, video, 6 min When gun-shots ring out in the quadrangle, library geek Alex finds herself hiding with the popular girl Ruby, her secret crush. Will Alex find the courage to reveal her true desire amidst the prevailing fear and confusion?

THE KISS Dir: Ashlee Page, Australia, 2010, video, 16 min

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THE KISS

Returning home through the scrub after a night out, two teenage girls seek respite from the stifling heat. Fuelled by cheap alcohol and teenage hormones they make their way to an isolated fire-water tank, lured by the promise of cool water. Once inside the tank the intimate mood takes a dangerous turn when they discover they are trapped with no way out.

OZ SHORTS SHEER Dir: Hope Collins, Australia, 2011, video, 3 min This lyrical visual poem illustrates the impact that the passing of time has had on the experience of being queer in our community.

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN Dir: Michael Fahd, Australia, 2009, video, 24 min SHEER

A twisted coming of age tale about a 14-year-old boy, who obtains intimacy at a hefty price.

SHE LOVES ME, SHE LOVES ME NOT Dir: Linda Mirabilio, Australia, 2010, video, 15 min In a tug of war of love, Milena must choose between her seductive lover and conservative Italian mother.

DROWNING Dir: Craig Boreham, Australia, 2009, video, 20 min

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN

Drowning is a journey through the final moments of childhood as two friends are dragged toward their adult lives. Realisations of their place in the world, their familial responsibilities and awakening sexualities shape the men they will become and their changing relationship with each other.

SLASHED Dir: Rebecca Thomson, Australia, 2010, video, 11 min Worlds will collide when Renata and Frieda’s erotic fantasies cross the digital frontier. session DATE

74

TIME VENUE

Sat 26 March 6.15pm ACMI

SHE LOVES ME, SHE LOVES ME NOT

drowning

SLASHED

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SHORT & GIRLY There’s more than sauce on the boil in the kitchen, in this most excellent package of lesbian shorts from around the world.

DINNER AT LUCY’S Dir Stephanie Markowitz, Canada, 2009, video, 7 min During a dinner party, a gesture between two men suggests that their wives are not the only ones keeping a secret in this Mad Men-esque comedy.

DINNER AT LUCY'S

THE ARCHIVIST Dir: Katie Scoones, USA, 2010, video, 7 min Angela is a young archivist who one day spots the beautiful Emerson. She is forced to ponder: do people meet by fate or by the alignment of random events.

HENS AND CHICKS Dir: Becky Lane, USA, 2009, video, 20 min

THE ARCHIVIST

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HENS AND CHICKS

An innocent conversation about hens and chicks compels a young girl to question the identity of her father and the meaning of family and self.

SHORT & GIRLY VALENTIN Dir: Quinn B Huguet, France, 2010, video, 5 min No dialogue Gorgeous animation celebrating the love of two women on Valentine’s Day. VALENTIN

PUBLIC RELATIONS Dir: Gianna Sobol, USA, 2009, video, 17 min A miserable Hollywood assistant finds romance and a reason for being when her sexy New York counterpart arrives in town.

VIGILANT! HEALTHY! WHOLESOME! Dir: Lauren Anderson, Australia, 2009, video, 14 min PUBLIC RELATIONS

Fear. Love. A hungry wedding dress.

YOU MOVE ME Dir: Gina Hirsch, USA, 2010, video, 12 min Tru’s BFF Dex turns up with a rented truck to help her move after a break up with her girlfriend, but things don't go quite as planned, and hilarity ensues. session DATE VIGILANT! HEALTHY! WHOLESOME!

YOU MOVE ME

20

TIME VENUE

Sun 20 March Midday ACMI

71

SHORT & BURLY From the angst of emerging sexuality, to gay bed death, and the minefield of dating – this package of international gay shorts runs the gamut of modern queer life.

OSTIA: THE FINAL NIGHT

OSTIA: THE FINAL NIGHT OSTIA: LA NOTTE FINALE Dir: Craig Boreham, Australia, 2010, video, 15 min On 2 November 1975, the body of Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini, was found badly beaten and run over in a deserted lot near the port town of Ostia. His car was found being driven by a 17-year-old street hustler. This film is inspired by the events of the the murder of Pasolini.

DINNER AT LUCY'S

DINNER AT LUCY’S Dir: Stephanie Markowitz, Canada, 2009, video, 7 min During a dinner party, a gesture between two men suggests that their wives are not the only ones keeping a secret in this Mad Men-esque comedy.

HE, SHE, WE Dir: Branden Blinn, USA, 2010, video, 10 min

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HE, SHE, WE

Two dads recount for their young son how he came to be.

SHORT & BURLY THE IN-BETWEEN Dir: Alain Hain, USA, 2010, video, 10 min Can true love survive the world of online sex sites? Two gay men in a committed relationship navigate the waters of contemporary coupledom.

CAKES AND SAND TORTEM IM SAND THE IN-BETWEEN

Dir: Christoph Scheermann, Germany, 2010, video, 16 min German with English subtitles Tim and Julian are deeply in love, but can’t find happiness with another between the sheets. When you can’t sexually satisfy the person you love is this enough reason to quit a long relationship?

LITTLE LOVE Dir: Quentin Lee, USA, 2010, video, 10 min

CAKES AND SAND

When desires for the future become entangled, friendships and a relationship are torn apart among a group of friends.

GAYBY Dir: Jonathan Lisecki, USA, 2010, video, 12 min Jenn and Matt are best friends from university about to hit their 30s. When Jenn decides she wants to have a baby, all sorts of awkward hilarity ensues. session DATE

LITTLE LOVE

GAYBY

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TIME VENUE

Sat 19 March 10.15pm ACMI Thu 24 March 10pm ACMI

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BOOBTUBE From serious, through saucy, to surreal and everything in between – this package of lesbian shorts has something for everyone.

CRIED SUICIDE

CRIED SUICIDE Dir: Lauren Palmigiano, USA, 2010, video, 14 min A faked suicide attempt brings insincere condolences, tears, food, and even porn in this wacky comedy.

BIRTHDAY Födelsedag Dir: Jenifer Malmqvist, Sweden/Poland, 2010, 35mm, 18 min Swedish with English subtitles BIRTHDAY

Sara prepares a surprise for her wife Katarina's birthday, but Katarina reveals a secret before the guests arrive.

Sara must handle the unexpected news while taking care of the birthday party, and controlling her growing feelings of isolation and frustration.

I’VE GOT A SECRET TENGO UN SECRETO Dir: Carlos Val, Spain, 2008, 35mm, 15 min Spanish with English subtitles A young girl has a secret, but when she tries to tell the one person she trusts, something gets in the way.

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I'VE GOT A SECRET

BOOBTUBE MOSA Dir: Ana Moreno, UK, 2010, video, 15 min Mosa explores a young woman’s internal struggle after being a victim of ‘corrective rape’. A common practice in South Africa, lesbian women are raped with the belief that they will be cured of their lesbianism.

ORGANISM Dir: Nina Reyes Rosenberg, USA, 2009, video, 14 min

MOSA

When teens Jen and Carmen lock eyes, they hesitate, not quite sure of their own evolving bodies and minds.

Only if they navigate the crass minefield of high school can they move their attraction from their individual bedrooms to the outside world, one still not quite ready for a relationship.

CHEEKY YA TE VALE Dir: Martin Crespo, Spain, 2009, video, 12 min Spanish with English subtitles Gym bunnies Ana and Jose work out everyday, but today’s gym activities take on a rather saucy and comical turn. session DATE ORGANISM

CHEEKY

67

Sat 26 March

TIME VENUE

Midday ACMI

75

COCKTALES The latest and greatest in international gay shorts.

LORIMER

LORIMER Dir: Michael Lannan, USA, 2009, video, 8 min Patrick doesn't know if he should be involved with Richie, an affectionate guy who doesn't fit into his world. His snobby friends aren’t much help either.

SAMARITAN SAMARITANEN

SAMARITAN

Dir: Magnus Mork, Norway, 2010, 35mm, 29 min Norwegian with English subtitles ✰✰Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Short Film, LA Outfest 2010 ✰✰Best Short Film, Iris Prize 2010 Knut is middle-aged, lonely and in desperate need of company. When Mirza (an illegal immigrant), enters his life in need of help, an unequal relationship develops.

FIREWORKS LOS FUEGOS Dir: Daniel Cortazar, Spain, 2009, video, 7 min Spanish with English subtitles Relationship problems are played out under a night sky filled with fireworks. When the situation escalates, a split second action will change everything.

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FIREWORKS

COCKTALES CURIOUS THING Dir: Alain Hain, USA, 2010, video, 9 min This blend of love story, coming out story and documentary explores the emerging romance between Jared, a closeted gay man and Sam, the straight object of his desire.

TRIPLE STANDARD Dir: Branden Blinn, USA, 2010, video, 20 min CURIOUS THING

When the man he’s shared his life with for three years threatens to leave him for homophobic behaviour, comments and innuendo, a former professional athlete is forced to face the reality that he himself is gay.

TO THE MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDS Dir: Andrew Steggall, UK, 2010, video, 12 min Arabic with English subtitles

TRIPLE STANDARD

Hayder and Falah, two young Iraqi men, are discovered in a cargo vessel attempting to seek asylum in London from Baghdad. Uncertain of their fates during the perilous journey, Falah recites lines from Shakespearean love sonnets, whispered in Arabic, as they await an unknown reception.

IF YOU EXCUSE SI NOS DEJAN Dir: Alejandro Murillo Martinez, Mexico, 2009, video, 4 min Spanish with English subtitles A spate of kissing in a café has an unexpected effect on two gents of an older generation. session DATE

TO THE MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDS

IF YOU EXCUSE

05 65

TIME VENUE

Fri 18 March 10pm ACMI Fri 25 March 10.30pm ACMI

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FEMME FATALITIES From super sexy, super charged biker grrrls and lesbian zombie musicals, to a celebration of butches and their tits – this eclectic package of quirky tales is not to be missed.

HELL ON WHEELS: GANG GIRLS FOREVER

HELL ON WHEELS: GANG GIRLS FOREVER Dir: Katrina Del Mar, USA, 2010, video, 36 min

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When Brooklyn girl gang member Krank arrives home from hospital in a wheelchair after being shot in a guinea pig lab rescue, she finds her cats are missing, her insane mother as crazy as ever, and even worse - she’s been kicked out of her gang. She turns to her BFF Mechanic, who offers to turn her hospital issue wheelchair into a head-turning hot rod. This leaves her free to join the Outcasts – a gang of misfit NYC wheel riders with a difference, including Krash, a dyslexic cyclist who only rides backwards, and Flip – and upside down skateboarder. Meanwhile, a violent roller derby gang called the E.V.Ills tear up the track and dance the night away to a soundtrack of poprockin’ bliss.

Not to be missed!

FEMME FATALITIES

ROCKIN' THE RAINBOW

ROCKIN’ THE RAINBOW Dir: Sonia Hosko, Canada, 2009, video, 6 min Abby has just had her first sexual experience with a woman and confides in her older, outspokenly lesbian sister Emma, expecting some kind of sound advice...

SLIP AWAY Dir: T.M. Scorzafava, USA, 2010, video, 19 min Selena and Jane are caught in a web of desire, deception and untruths. The question is–who is lying to whom?

SLIP AWAY

CUPCAKE: A ZOMBIE LESBIAN MUSICAL Dir: Rebecca Thompson, Australia, 2010, video, 17 min A gruesome, glittering, lesbian zombie love story!

Hobart never rocked so hard.

BUTCH TITS Dir: Jen Crothers, Canada, 2010, video, 4 min Even butch gals love their tits. Thanks for the mammaries! session DATE CUPCAKE:A ZOMBIE LESBIAN MUSICAL

BUTCH TITS

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Sat 19 March

TIME VENUE

Midday ACMI

79

SEX DRIVES & VIDEOTAPE This eclectic gay shorts package explores the bright and dark side of male sexuality.

ALL THAT SHELTERING EMPTINESS Dir: Gina Carducci & Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore, Canada, 2010, video, 7 min

ALL THAT SHELTERING EMPTINESS

A meditation on elevators, hotel lobbies, $100 bills, a bathroom, a cab, chandeliers, cocktails, a receptionist, arousal, and other routines in the life of a New York City callboy.

Fucked Dir: Jack O’Dowd, UK, 2011, video, 12 min A young gay man enjoys the support of his mother, but a messy night at the club results in a life change he never expected.

GALACTIC DOCKING COMPANY Dir: Clark Nikolai, Canada, 2009, video, 13 min A most intimate encounter of the galactic kind.

FUCKED

I WANT YOUR LOVE Dir: Travis Mathews, USA, 2010, video, 14 min Two best friends negotiate their way toward having sex together for the first time. It's a familiar scenario that many gay men can relate to, and one not as uncomplicated as these two friends would prefer.

INFLATABLE SWAMP Dir: William Feroldi, USA, 2010, video, 13 min GALACTIC DOCKING COMPANY

Matt, a gay man in his late twenties, navigates the lonely intersection of carnal sex and human closeness.

title

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I WANT YOUR LOVE

INFLATABLE SWAMP

SEX DRIVES & VIDEOTAPE WATCH OVER ME SHMOR ALAI ‫שמור עלי‬ Dir: Mysh Rozanov, Israel, 2010, video, 15 min Hebrew with English subtitles During his night out in the city, Eitan, a fighter in a shady elite army unit, gets a chance for a whole different life and learns the true price of the choices he made, in this sexy nod to True Blood.

A LACK OF GRAVITY WATCH OVER ME

Dir: Alain Hain, USA, 2010, video, 14 min A fascinating and brutal exploration of how gay men are pressured to conform to straight stereotypes in American society.

WILD HORSES CAVALOS SELVAGENS Dir: Andre Santos & Marco Leau, Portugal, 2010, video, 11 min No dialogue Two young lovers live in a tiny apartment, struggling everyday to find reasons to stay together. As they’re incapable of living apart, they choose to live silently.

A LACK OF GRAVITY

NAKENLEKAR Dir: Victor Danell, Sweden, 2009, video, 3 min Swedish with English subtitles A night of action movie viewing between two friends takes an unusual turn with an unexpected announcement. session DATE

WILD HORSES

NAKENLEKAR

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TIME VENUE

Fri 18 March 10.30pm ACMI Thu 24 March 10.45pm ACMI

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TRANS PHATS This eclectic package of great trans shorts and docos is guaranteed to entertain and enlighten.

GENDERBUSTERS Dir: Sam Berliner, USA, 2010, video, 6 min In their fight for the Gender Evolution Revolution, the Genderbusters drive around town resolving the genderbinary dilemmas of folks all over San Francisco.

REMEMBER ME IN RED Dir: Hector Ceballos, USA, 2010, video, 15 min genderbusters

After Latina transgender community leader Alma Flora dies, her best friend Fidelia arranges her funeral, and has a battle on her hands when Alma’s conservative parents arrive from Mexico. Will Alma get the send-off she deserves?

LOOP PLANES Dir: Robin Wilby, USA, 2010, video, 11 min remember me in red

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13-year-old Nick lives with his dad at an amusement park.But today, with the arrival of his mother and a pink haired girl, Nick is in for the time of his life in this brilliant short produced by Christine Vachon (Infamous, Hedwig And The Angry Inch, Boys Don’t Cry, Go Fish).

LOOP PLANES

TRANS PHATS

SPIRAL TRANSITION

I'M JUST ANNEKE

SPIRAL TRANSITION Dir: Ewan Duarte, USA, 2010, video, 6 min A poignant documentary portrait of the transitions that manifest in a parent-child relationship when that parent’s child undertakes gender transition.

I’M JUST ANNEKE Dir: Jonathan Skurnik, USA, 2010, video, 11 min ✰✰Audience Award for Outstanding Achievement, LA Outfest 2010

KADEN LATER

Anneke, a gender non-conforming 12-year-old girl, has just started taking a hormone blocker so she can decide if she wants to be a boy, girl or something in between when she grows up.

KADEN LATER Dir: Harriet Storm, USA, 2009, video, 9 min This sequel to Kaden (MQFF 2007) follows Kaden and his partner, Monika, as they explore life after Kaden’s top surgery. For Kaden, a trans guy in his early 30s, top surgery gave him the body he wanted. Now, as he and his partner plan their wedding, he must figure out how he fits into society, not as female or male but in a space in between.

LATECOMERS

LATECOMERS Dir: Olivia Humphreys, UK, 2010, video, 16 min Margaret was a married father of five until she had gender reassignment surgery at the age of 58; Peter, 53, just told his family he is gay, but he’s determined to stay with his wife.

DEAR DAD, LOVE MARIA

DEAR DAD, LOVE MARIA

Presented by

Dir: Vince Mascoli, USA, 2009, video, 5 min Maria writes a letter to her disapproving father the night before her gender reassignment surgery.

T4-2 Dir: Allegra Hirschman, USA, 2009, video, 6 min What seems to be a heterosexual marriage is revealed to have more than a queer bent in this comedy short.

T4-2 session DATE

21

Sun 20 March

TIME

2pm

VENUE

ACMI Studio

LAZY trans

83

QUEERIES This collection of international shorts explores gender and sexuality issues relevant to younger audiences.

Curated by Michael Quach, Madeleine Paulson, Micah Scott and Edward McAndrew.

SLUT THE MUSICAL

Patrons 15 years and over may attend this session.

SLUT THE MUSICAL Dir: Tonnette Stanford, Australia, 2010, video, 16 min Outrageous musical story of one boy’s triumph over his fear of telling his peers about his sexuality, filled with glorious 80s fashion, high-energy dance numbers, glitter and fun.

ROCKIN' THE RAINBOW

ROCKIN’ THE RAINBOW Dir: Sonia Hosko, Canada, 2009, video, 5 min Abby has just had her first sexual experience with a woman and confides in her older, outspokenly lesbian sister Emma, expecting some kind of sound advice...

LOOP PLANES Dir Robin Wilby, USA, 2010, video, 11 min LOOP PLANES

13-year-old Nick lives with his Dad at an amusement park. But today, with the arrival of his mother and a pink haired girl, Nick is in for the time of his life. This brilliant short is produced by Christine Vachon (Infamous, Hedwig And The Angry Inch, Boys Don’t Cry, Go Fish).

SNAPSHOT Dir: Miranda Sajdak & Savannah Dooley, USA, 2010, video, 6 min A suburban mother meets her daughter’s date, a punk girl, on the night of the school dance.

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SNAPSHOT

QUEERIES

CAPPUCINO

CAPPUCINO Dir Tamer Ruggli, Switzerland, 2010, video, 15 min German with English subtitles Despite his good looks, Jeremie is a shy teenager who keeps a heavy secret: his homosexuality. He tries to negotiate his feelings for classmate and sexual fantasy Damien, at the same time as appeasing his very generous but protective mother Gina.

THINKING STRAIGHT Dir: Ric Forster, UK, 2010, video, 9 min

THINKING STRAIGHT

Things are looking up for Sam when he hooks up with a beautiful girl in a nightclub. But how will Sam break the news that he’s actually a she.

I DON’T WANT TO GO BACK ALONE EU NAO QUERO VOLTAR SOZINHO Dir: Daniel Ribeiro, Brazil, 2010, 35mm, 17 min Portuguese with English subtitles Blind student Leo makes friends with Gabriel the new guy in class. A close friendship develops between the two and Leo’s best friend, Giovanna. But what will Leo do with his burgeoning desire for Gabriel? session DATE

24

I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK ALONE

Sun 20 March

TIME VENUE

4pm

ACMI Studio

85

design sponsor MQFF www.beige.com.au

DO NOT ADJUST YOUR SET. info@looponline.com.au www.looponline.com.au

CELLULOID CASSEROLE MQFF and LOOP present an eclectic menu of new Australian shorts. For just a gold coin donation you can catch these new local titles. Now over 2 nights by popular demand – easier to get to the bar!

Award presentation on Wednesday 23 March, following the screening.

VALMAY THE VISITOR FROM BEEP BEEP BEEP BLEETLEBOX 967 Dir: Susan Earl, Australia, 2010, video, 16 min

Alien beauty queen Valmay crashlands into the Mardi Gras parade.

BABY CAKE Dir: Pearl Tan, Australia, 2010, video, 6 min

A gay couple and a lesbian couple attempt to conceive a baby ‘naturally’.

VALMAY THE VISITOR FROM BEEP BEEP BEEP...

BABY CAKE

HANGING AT PICNIC ROCK Dir: Clint Cure, Australia, 2010, video, 13 min

A women’s prison gang battle for their lives against zombie schoolgirls.

CONCRETE BED Dir: Simon Trevorrow, Australia, 2011, video, 6 min

16-year-old prostitute Alex hopes to save enough money to one day fulfill his dreams.

HANGING AT PICNIC ROCK

CONCRETE BED

WHAT SETS US APART Dir: Rob Frewin, Australia, 2010, video, 6 min

Josh fears intimacy, yet Cam yearns for nothing else.

SLUT THE MUSICAL Dir: Tonnette Stanford, Australia, 2010, video, 16 min

One boy’s triumph over his fear of telling his peers about his sexuality.

WHAT SETS US APART

SLUT THE MUSICAL

HEALING WATERS Dir: Nickolas Bird, Australia, 2011, video, 10 min

Wendall is gay and a Christian, and really doesn’t want to be either.

HONEYPOT Dir: Julien Leyre, Australia, 2010, video, 6 min

A remote beach, a public toilet, a cowboy. Two men dance the tango. session date time VENUE

HEALING WATERS

HONEY POT

39 47

Tue 22 March 7.30pm Loop Wed 23 March 7.30pm Loop 87

BOOKSHOP CAFE ART EVENTS CAFE ● BOOKS ● MAGAZINES ● DVDS ● ZINES ● CARDS ● GIFTS ● MERCHADISE TICKETS ● FREE RESOURCES ● EVENTS ● VENUE FOR HIRE SERVING: DELICIOUS COFFEE, TEAS, PROTEIN SHAKES, COLD DRINKS & TREATS

63 Johnston Street Fitzroy t: (03) 9495 6589 e: hares-hyenas.com.au www.hares-hyenas.com.au Orders over $50 postage free within Australia

eFirst is proud to supply the MQFF iPhone app Ticketing • eCommerce • Apps iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

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eFirst.com.au

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Visit kitd.com for more information or a free demostration

TOURING Every year, the MQFF sends off an excellent selection of queer titles that screen during the Melbourne season to our queer film starved friends around the nation. This year, highlights can be found in Bendigo and several locations in Far North Queensland. 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

Tropical Alternatives: A Very Queer Film Festival

Screening 8–10 April 2011 in Bendigo, Victoria.

Screening on various dates in April and May 2011 throughout Far North Queensland.

Supported by the QAHC

For information visit www.bendigoqueerfilmfestival.com.au

MQFF MEMBERSHIP

Becoming an MQFF member is an investment in queer film and a show of support for your community, plus you get a huge range of benefits at the Festival and all year round: • MQFF ticket discounts.

• Drink discounts at Festival Lounge.

• Priority ticket booking service in advance of non-members.

• Invitation to the Program Launch.

• Updates, newsletters and advance information on special offers.

• Voting rights at the AGM. • Discounts at Melbourne International Film Festival, Cinema Nova,

Kino Cinema, De Los Santos restaurant, and Hares & Hyenas.

• Classic Cinema VIP membership.

Join online at www.mqff.com.au, or use the form below.

PERSONAL DETAILS Name

Address

Telephone

Email

State Postcode

MEMBERSHIP DECLARATION 5 I am a New Member 5 I am a Renewing Member Membership No:

Membership is for 12 or 24 months

I desire to become a member of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival. In the event of my admission, I agree to be bound by the rules of the Association for the time being in force.

Signature of Applicant

Date

NEW MEMBER NOMINATION If you cannot find anyone to nominate or second you, leave this blank: the Festival can supply members who can.

I , _____________________ a member of the Association, second the nomination of the application, who is personally known to me, for membership of the Association.

Signature of Proposer

Date

I , _____________________ a member of the Association, second the nomination of the application, who is personally known to me, for membership of the Association.

Signature of Seconder

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PAYMENT DETAILS 1 Year membership 5 Full $45 5 Concession $40 2 Year membership 5 Full $80 5 Concession $75 Please attach proof of any concession entitlement 5 I also wish to add a one-off donation of $_______________ Thank you!

Please accept my total payment of: $_______________ 5 Cash Do not send cash in the post

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

Credit Card 5 Visa Card No. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Expiry Date __ __ / __ __ Security Code ______ 5 MasterCard Signature PLEASE FAX THIS FORM TO: (03) 9660 3950 OR POST TO: MQFF, PO BOX 21244, Little Lonsdale Street, Victoria MQFF 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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CREDITS Festival Office Level 8, 225 Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia Phone: 61 3 9662 4147 Fax: 61 3 9660 3950 Email: info@mqff.com.au Web: www.mqff.com.au Festival Director Lisa Daniel General Manager Rowena Doo Sponsorship & Marketing Ben Walkenhorst to Jan 11 Festival Assistant Alex Edwards Marketing Interns Matt Atkins, Nicki Russell

2011 Festival Key Art Design Chris Orr, Beige www.beige.com.au 2011 Festival Trailer Alex Edwards www.randommoment.com.au Sound Design & Music: Martine Wengrow Look for the MQFF trailer on the big screen at Federation Square throughout March.

Program Program Editor: Lisa Daniel Production Manager: Paul Clifton Program Layout & Design: Beige Notes: Lisa Daniel (LD), Madeleine Swain (MS), Paul Tonta (PT), Ben Zipper (BZ) Website Site creation: Rhombus Digital www.rhombus.com.au Hosting: Connexus www.connexus.com.au Management & Design: Gerard Long Digital Inserters: Steven Lucas and Claire Jackson iPhone app eFirst www.efirst.com.au

Festival Intern Martin Gladman

Print Distribution Step Right Up www.steprightup.com.au

Finance Manager Non-Executive Steve Boxshall

Festival Publicist Limelight PR www.limelightpr.com.au

Festival Board of Management Claire Jackson Co-convenor Paul Clifton Co-convenor Antony Jarvis Treasurer & Secretary Cath Borg Scott Herron Fiona Kelly Stephen Lucas Gerard Long Fiona McCord Aydin Sipaloglu Susie Wickes Selection Panel David Collins Lisa Daniel Kim Montgomery Stuart Richards Leanne Sumpter Paul Tonta Mark Pace Elizabeth Robinson-Griffith Queeries Panel Michael Quach Micah Scott Madeleine Paulson Edward Mc Andrew Trans Panel Jonathan R. Williams Teague Leigh

Festival Graphic Design Beige www.beige.com.au Festival Photographer Ross Brownsdon Program Launch Production Team: Susie Wickes and Rowena Doo Catering: Alex Catering 03 9686 9626, Winestore www.winestore.net.au Opening Night Party Production Manager: Susie Wickes Creative Team: John Knap, Damien Rundell, Susie Wickes Event Team: Suzy Green, Geoff Williams, Mel Nelson, Jeremy Schluter, Beth Gibbins, Bianca Pask Catering: Hoo Haa www.hoohaa.net.au Thanks to: Dean Bell and the MCV Crew, Danae Gibson, Conrad Browne and the team at JOY 94.9, Julieanne Goss, Crusader Hillis, The {also} Foundation, Karen Russell, David McCarthy, Jeffrey Winter & Orly Ravid (Film Collaborative), Kim Yutani, Jason Ngam, Ayan Dasuarma, Warwick Dew, Scott Young, Eli Pelletier, Leo Heimburger, George Florence (Astor Theatre), Richard Sowada, Richard Zimmerman, Alison Milfull and Jo O’Hara (ACMI), Alex Green, Simone Ubaldi and Anthony McCarthy (Love Films), Jane Crawley and Vicky Guglielmo (City of Melbourne), Sandra Marguilis (City of Yarra), Lex Lindsay (Queerscreen), Sarah Neal (Brisbane Powerhouse), the VAC team, Kristy Bacon (Loop) 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, Paul Tonta, Leanne Sumpter, Colin Billing.

Festival Patrons Gary Singer, Geoffrey Smith, Duncan Hewitt, Dominic Moawad.

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INDEX COUNTRies Argentina............... 19 Australia... 37, 61, 62, 63, 67, 68, 71, 72, 79, 84, 87 Brazil.............. 37, 85 Canada.... 18, 70, 72, 79, 80, 84 Denmark............... 24 France.18, 27, 29, 42, 55, 71 Germany.. 21, 39, 55, 73 Greece.................. 23 Hong Kong...... 22, 42 Israel.................... 81 Italy.......... 25, 34, 40 Luxembourg........... 31 Mexico.................. 77 Norway........... 42, 76 Peru..................... 20 Poland.................. 74 Portugal................ 81 Spain. 27, 38, 74, 75, 76 Sweden..... 54, 74, 81 Switzerland........... 85 Tunisia.................. 44 UK..... 25, 28, 41, 42, 54, 75, 77, 80, 83, 85 USA......... 15, 17, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 33–37, 43, 45, 52, 53, 54, 57, 59, 64, 65, 70–84

FILMS

96

Aliyah’s Ascent....... 67 All That Sheltering Emptiness.......... 80 Amphetamine......... 22 Archivist, The.... 54, 70 Baby Cake............. 87 Bare..................... 62 BearCity.......... 23, 65 Birthday................ 74 Black Field............. 23 Bloomington.......... 24 Brotherhood........... 24 Buffering............... 25 Butch Tits.............. 79 Cakes And Sand..... 73 Cappucino.............. 85

Cheeky................. 75 Concrete Bed......... 87 Cried Suicide.......... 74 Cupcake: A Zombie Lesbian Musical... 79 Curious Thing......... 77 Daphne And Ollie.... 62 Dear Dad, Love Maria...

83 Different From Whom?.

25 Dinner At Lucy’s.70, 72 Distance Between, The. 69 Drowning............... 69 Elena Undone......... 26 Eloïse's Lover......... 27 Exposed................ 62 Family Tree............ 27 Fireworks.............. 76 Fit ......................... 28 Four-Faced Liar, The. 28 Fucked.................. 80 Galactic Docking Company........... 80 Gayby................... 73 Genderbusters........ 82 Gen Silent............. 57 Gigola................... 29 Handsome Harry..... 30 Hanging At Picnic Rock.

87 Healing Waters....... 87 Heartbeats............. 18 Hell On Wheels: Gang Girls Forever....... 78 Hens And Chicks..... 70 He, She, We.......... 72 Honeypot.............. 87 House of Boys........ 30 I Don’t Want To Go Back Alone......... 85 If You Excuse......... 77 I Love You Phillip Morris 31 I’m Just Anneke..... 83 In-Between, The..... 73 Inflatable Swamp... 80 Is It Just Me?......... 32 It Came From The Closet!.............. 57 I’ve Got A Secret.... 74 I Want Your Love.... 80 Kaboom................ 15

Kaden Later........... 83 Kill The Habit......... 32 Kiss, The............... 68 Lack of Gravity, A... 81 La Mission............. 33 Last Summer of La Boyita, The........ 19 Latecomers...... 54, 83 Layover................. 63 Leading Ladies....... 34 Le Tigre: On Tour.... 52 Little Love.............. 73 Loop Planes..... 82, 84 Loose Cannons....... 34 Lorimer................. 76 Making The Boys.... 52 Margaret Star: A Fall From Grace........ 62 Marine Story, A...... 35 Mind..................... 67 Mosa.................... 75 My Normal............ 36 Nakenlekar............ 81 One, The............... 36 Orchids: My Intersex Adventure.......... 67 Organism............... 75 Ostia: The Final Night...

72 Out For The Long Run...

53 Out In The Silence.. 59 Owls, The.............. 37 Paulista................. 37 Postcard To Daddy.. 21 Prima Donna.......... 53 Public Relations...... 71 Real Anne Lister, The....

54 Regretters, The....... 54 Remember Me In Red...

82 Rock Hudson: Dark And Handsome Stranger..

55 Rockin’ The Rainbow....

79, 84 Room In Rome....... 38 Sally’s Story.......... 61 Samaritan............. 76 Sasha................... 39 Sea Purple, The...... 40 Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister, The.. 41

Sheer.................... 69 She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not.... 37, 69 Sistagirl................. 61 Slashed................. 69 Sleeping Beauty of East Finchley, The...... 42 Slip Away.............. 79 Slut The Musical.... 84, 87 Snapshot............... 84 Spiral Transition...... 83 Spork.................... 17 Spring Fever.......... 42 Strapped............... 43 T4-2..................... 83 Tanaka.................. 63 The String.............. 44 Thinking Straight.... 85 Ticked Off Trannies With Knives........ 64 Time In Between, The..

42 Too Much Pussy! ... 55

Totally Fxxked!...... 61 To The Marriage of True Minds................ 77 Transient............... 63 Triple Standard....... 77 Under Pressure....... 68 Undertow.............. 20 Valentin................ 71 Valmay The Visitor From Beep Beep Beep Bleetlebox 967 87 Vigilant! Healthy!

Wholesome!...... 71 Violet Tendencies.... 45 Watch Over Me...... 81 What Sets Us Apart. 87 Wild Horses........... 81 Wonderful Day, A... 63 You Move Me........ 71

PANEL Coming Out:: Urban vs Rural................. 59

SPONSORED SESSIONS ACMI........ 18, 19, 20 {also} Foundation .. 57, 61 City of Melbourne.. 62, 68 GLHV.................... 57 Gay & Lesbian Switchboard....... 29 Joy 94.9............... 32 Kit Digital.............. 44 Love Films............. 24 MCV..................... 31 Minus 18.............. 59 QSAM................... 53 Same Same........... 32 ST. Style............... 34 VAC...................... 61 Victorian Multicultural Commission........ 27 Winestore.............. 39 Yarra Trams............ 45 Zoe Belle Gender Centre 82

City of Yarra, proudly supporting major festivals & events

Celebrating Local People, Practice & Place Melbourne Queer Film Festival The Victoria Street Lunar Festival Johnston Street Fiesta The Village Moon Lantern Festival Emerge Midsumma Festival Next Wave Festival Overload Poetry Festival Tet Festival The Melbourne Stencil Festival NAIDOC Family Day Fairfield Amphitheatre Summer Concert Series For more information on City of Yarra Community Grants t. (03) 9205 5555 w. www.yarracity.vic.gov.au

21st Melbourne Queer Film Festival The City of Melbourne is proud to support the 21st Melbourne Queer Film Festival in 2011.

Happy 21st Season! This glorious season brings the best of local and international feature films, shorts, documentaries and forums presenting queer culture to the heart of our city. Congratulations to the Festival on reaching this important milestone. Join in the celebration and be amazed at what you discover on the silver screen.

To find out more visit www.melbourne.vic.gov.au