This Thursday, the annual Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival opens for the nineteenth time. It features an impressive 51 feature films, 112 short films, and from 32 different countries and runs through Sunday, October 19. The opening night film is Back on Board, a documentary about Greg Louganis, the Olympic diving champion, who is scheduled to attend (see review below). Movies will be screened at Pacific Place, the Harvard Exit, Northwest Film Forum, and the newly-reopened Egyptian.
Other highlights include appearances from Louganis, Matthew Lillard, Ronnie Sanlo, Mario Diaz, and several other directors and producers of films playing throughout the festival.
Of the films we’ve seen thus far:
Back on Board (dir. Cheryl Furjanic, 87 minutes; screens on Thursday, October 9 at 7:30pm at the Egyptian)
The opening night film for SLGFF is a look in the life of Greg Louganis, the impossible-to-dislike Olympic diving champion (Louganis has won four gold medals). It goes in depth in through Louganis’s life, but its most important contribution to cinema is that it shows the real-life implications of homophobia as Louganis strives for acceptance in diving after coming out of the closet and revealing himself to be HIV+ and wonders if he’ll even be hired by anyone after his revelations. Back on Board also succeeds in humanizing one of the great Olympic heroes as the film details Louganis’s struggle to hold on to his house, powerless to the mighty (and 100% evil) Bank of America. And Larry King can really ask some assholish questions.
{Director Cheryl Furjanic and Greg Louganis scheduled to be in attendance at the screening.}
Limited Partnership (dir: Thomas G. Miller, 77 minutes; screens on Saturday, October 11 at 12:30pm at the Egyptian)
A documentary that looks at the forty-year relationship between Australian-born Tony Sullivan and Filipino American Richard Adams, the first couple to be issued a same sex marriage license in the United States. It was in Boulder, CO in 1975. It shows the history between then and now, reminding us that a time when the government could actually send a letter denying their legally-issued marriage license by saying they “have failed to establish that a bona fide marital relationship can exist between two faggots.” The callousness from the government is staggering, but thankfully love continues to win out in courthouses and ballot boxes throughout the nation. It took long enough. One “Donahue” audience member warns of dangers like if gay marriage is allowed, next thing you know, they’ll want to file their taxes together and take out insurance polices together. Heaven forbid!
Out in the Night (dir. Blair Dorosh-Walther, 75 minutes; screens on Saturday, October 11 at 4:45pm at the Egyptian)
It was an August night in 2006 in New Jersey. Four friends fought back against a man who was harassing them and it led to a media sensation. Out in the Night aims to set the record straight for how much misinformation for how the incident was covered. Bill O’Reilly and others couldn’t resist the appeal of a “killer lesbian gang.” They were convicted of the assault even though they proclaimed their innocence. The documentary feels a little uneven and awkwardly paced, but it point it makes about the unfairness of the justice system to queer, black women is a strong one. I just hope that people who are unsympathetic or unaware of the film’s thesis see it.
Regarding Susan Sontag (dir: Nancy Kates, 100 minutes; screens on Sunday, October 12 at 2:30pm at the Northwest Film Forum)
The SIFF 2014 favorite, and Golden SunBreak Award winner, returns to Seattle for an encore screening at the SLGFF. It succeeds in making the impenetrable author and cultural critic accessible to an audience, exploring Sontag’s personal life and such famous essays as “Notes on Camp” and “On Photography.” Read my interview with director Nancy Kates here.
In the Turn (World premiere; dir. Erica Tremblay, 90 minutes; screens on Saturday, October 18 at Pacific Place at 7:15; free reception at Gordon Biersch following the screening)
Part of roller derby’s greatness is that it’s where you can see a bout that has the Vagine Regime pitted against the Caulksuckers. The other part of roller derby’s greatness is explored in this movie: its inclusiveness. In the Turn shows several stories of queer and trans people who were accepted by the Vagine Regime when they were not welcome in other sports. It’s touching to see how each story is told; the personal detail that director Erica Tremblay gets for each participant is engrossing. Some tales are romantic, others (including a young trans girl) feeling accepted for the first time because of roller derby. It’s a wonderful thing that the benefits attributed to sports can be found in roller derby participants. Via la Vagine Regime!
Here is more official news for SLGFF events that you should know about, directly from SLGFF:
GALAS
Opening Night Gala
BACK ON BOARD: GREG LOUGANIS (Director: Cheryl Furjanic)
Thursday, October 9 at 7:30 PM at SIFF CINEMA Egyptian
With preternatural talent and grace, Greg Louganis became a legendary Olympic diver, even as homophobic teammates refused to bunk with him and sponsors denied him lucrative endorsements. And while his victory after being injured at the 1988 Olympics is cemented in public consciousness and his name is now a household word, few know the real, remarkable behind-the-scenes story. BACK ON BOARD won the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature at Outfest 2014.
Closing Night Gala
LIFE PARTNERS (Director: Susanna Fogel)
Sunday, October 19 at 6:30 PM at AMC Pacific Place
Sasha (Leighton Meester) and her straight friend Paige (Gillian Jacobs) share everything. Both date now and then, with little luck-until Paige meets Tim (Adam Brody) and starts to fall for him. That’s when the trouble begins: Sasha goes for late-night snacks at the local drive-through and starts dating a collection of girls, including the quirky Trace (Kate McKinnon).
Centerpiece Gala
BLACKBIRD (Director: Patrik-Ian Polk)
Sunday, October 12 at 7:30 PM at SIFF CINEMA Egyptian
Director Patrik-Ian Polk, who has thrilled packed houses at our festival with premieres of NOAH’S ARC (SLGFF 2004) and NOAH’S ARC: JUMPING THE BROOM (SLGFF 2008), returns with a heartfelt and hopeful drama that boasts a vibrant soundtrack and a gifted cast, including newcomer Julian Walker and Academy Award-winner Mo’nique. Randy (Walker) is a model high school student and a dutiful son who prays, behaves, and sings in the choir. But he’s unable to abate his frequent and increasingly sexy fantasies about other boys.
Centerpiece Gala
APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR (Director: Desiree Akhavan)
Wednesday, October 15 at 7:00 PM at SIFF Cinema EgyptianAttractive twentysomething Shirin (Desiree Akhavan) is seriously on the rebound after her difficult breakup with Maxine (Rebecca Henderson), whom she is still pining after. In an attempt to forget her and move on, Shirin dives into the world of casual sex in NYC. Between a threesome, one-night stands, and the limitless OkCupid dating pool, she’s got a lot of options for distraction. But it’s going to be difficult hiding her pansexual adventures from her Persian parents, who are accustomed to Shirin being their straight, rule-abiding daughter. APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR won the Emerging Female Filmmaker Award at the Provincetown International Film Festival and the Grand Jury Prize for Best Screenwriting at the 2014 Outfest. Desiree Akhavan will be appearing in the series GIRLS in 2015.
Centerpiece Gala
MATCH (Director: Stephen Belber)
Friday, October 17 at 7:15 PM at AMC Pacific PlaceTobi (Patrick Stewart) has always been a dancer. Now a ballet instructor, he lives his life as a gay man in his cozy apartment in NYC. He is single and likes it that way. Tobi’s solitary world is suddenly disrupted when a young Seattle-based couple (Carla Gugino and Matthew Lillard) visit his home with the pretense of interviewing him about his life in the dance world during the ’60s. Brilliantly acted (with a true star turn for Patrick Stewart) and based on the Tony-nominated play, MATCH is a thought-provoking, intense, and brilliant conversation about art, family, and life’s divergent paths.
FILMS WITH PARTIES
52 TUESDAYS
Thursday, October 16 at 7:00 PM
Free reception at Wildrose 9:00 PM – 11:00 PMWhile young Billie watches her mum transition into James, she decides to film her own sexual awakening with her pals Jasmine and Josh.
CLUB KING
Saturday, October 11 at 9:15 PMParty to follow at Rebar 10:30 PM – 2:00 AM. Ticket or Pass required.
Meet Mario Diaz, the Seattle native who’s behind the hottest, sexiest, most outrageous parties on the queer nightlife circuit!BROKEN GARDENIAS
Monday, October 13 at 7:15 PM
Free reception at Pony 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Street hustler Sam takes awkward Jenni’s hand, and they embark on a road trip to LA to find out what’s happened to Jenni’s father.GERONTOPHILIA
Friday, October 10 at 7:00 PM
Free reception at True Love Art Gallery and Tattoo 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Handsome 18-year-old Lake and nursing home resident Melvin Peabody escape on a romantic seaside adventure. Love and sexuality have no bounds in Bruce LaBruce’s touching and sensitive award-winning film.
I FEEL LIKE DISCO
Tuesday, October 14 at 7:00 PM
Free reception at Diesel 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
As a pudgy teen who loves disco and struggles with his sexuality, Flori’s overbearing dad just doesn’t get him at all. When Flori’s mom is suddenly gone, father and son must reconcile their relationship in this stellar coming-of-age dramatic comedy.IN THE TURN
Saturday, October 18 at 7:15 PM
Free reception at Gordon Biersch 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Bring your pack and your tissues. Get ready for the raw excitement of roller derby as seen through the eyes of the Vagine Regime!ROSIE
Monday, October 13 at 7:00 PM
Free reception at Pony 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Lorenz is a gay writer in Berlin. When Rosie, his independent firecracker of a mother, suddenly collapses, and he moves back to his Swiss hometown.
TRU LOVE
Friday, October 10 at 7:00 PM
Free reception at True Love Art Gallery and Tattoo 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Winner of numerous audience awards from LGBT film festivals in Toronto, India, and New Zealand, TRU LOVE is a passionate story of love and redemption.
XENIA
Saturday, October 18 at 7:00 PM
Free reception at Gordon Biersch 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Dany and his older brother Ody go on a surreal cross-country road trip in Greece to reunite with their supposedly wealthy father.
CHANCE ENCOUNTERS (SHORTS PROGRAM)
Thursday, October 16 at 7:00 PM
Free reception at Wildrose 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
One-night stands, love (and lust) at first sight, cruising in the park, and that moment when you realize you’ve finally met The One are what happens when you have a chance encounter.
TOUGH LOVE (SHORTS PROGRAM)
Wednesday, October 15 at 7:00 PM
Free reception at Purr 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Certain truths can seem impossible to accept, even if acceptance is the only way toward healing. These films explore the hard truths of love and loss.
TRANSCENDENT: TRANS SHORTS
Tuesday, October 14 at 7:00 PM
Free reception at Diesel 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Living stealth as a person of color, parenting, taking on the legal system, and dealing with Asperger’s syndrome are some of the issues addressed in this collection of films that chronicle the diverse experiences of those in the transgender community.
SPECIAL GUESTS
BACK ON BOARD: GREG LOUGANIS
Thursday, October 9 at 7:30 PM
Director Cheryl Furjanic and Greg Louganis in attendance
A richly textured, and poignant journey through Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis’ life with personal interviews of the story behind the scenes and thrilling footage of his breathtaking dives.
APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR
Wednesday, October 15 at 7:00 PM
Special guest in attendance
Breaking up is hard. One-night stands and the endless pool of online dates can keep Shirin busy but what about real connections?
BLACKBIRD
Sunday, October 12 at 7:00 PM
Director, Patrik-Ian Polk and actor, Julian Walker in attendance
Randy’s a model Southern boy, a dutiful son who prays and sings in the choir, but he’s unable to abate his fantasies about other boys.
CLUB KING
Saturday, October 11 at 9:15 PM
Director, Jon Bush, Subject, Mario Diaz in attendance
Meet Mario Diaz, the Seattle native who’s behind the hottest, sexiest, most outrageous parties on the queer nightlife circuit!IN THE TURN
Saturday, October 18 at 7:15 PM
Director, Erica Tremblay and Producer, Brandon Delgado in attendance
Bring your pack and your tissues. Get ready for the raw excitement of roller derby as seen through the eyes of the Vagine Regime!LIFE PARTNERS
Sunday, October 19 at 6:30 PM
Director Susanna Fogel in attendance
Sasha (Leighton Meester) and Paige (Gillian Jacobs) are BFFs. When Paige falls for Tim, Sasha starts dating a array of girls to fill the void.
MATCH
Friday, October 17 at 7:15 PM
Director Stephen Belber and actor Matthew Lillard in attendance
Retired dancer Tobi’s (Patrick Stewart) life is suddenly disrupted when a young couple (Carla Gugino and Matthew Lillard) visit his home.LYLE
Saturday, October 11 at 11:30 PM
Director Stewart Thorndike in attendance
A sharp and scary lesbian homage to ROSEMARY’S BABY starring Gaby Hoffman and Ingrid Jungermann.
BROKEN GARDENIAS
Monday, October 13 at 7:15 PM
Director Kai Alexander and writer and actor Alma S. Grey
Street hustler Sam takes awkward Jenni’s hand, and they embark on a road trip to LA to find out what’s happened to Jenni’s father.TIGER ORANGE
Saturday, October 11 at 7:00 PM
Director Wade Gasque and actor Mark Strano in attendanceTIGER ORANGE is a drama about the ties that bind. When Todd shows up at his estranged brother Chet’s door disruption ensues!
STATES OF GRACE
Saturday, October 11 at 12:30 PM
Directors Helen Cohen and Mark Lipman in attendance
This moving documentary follows Dalai Lama honoured Dr. Grace Dammann after a terrible accident on the Golden Gate Bridge as she regains her life.
A REUNION
Thursday, October 16 at 9:30PM
Director Hernando Bansuelo and main actors Michael Lovan and Josh Watson in attendance
A REUNION sees Michael returns to LA, where he reconnects with Josh for a road trip to their ten-year college reunion.
LETTER TO ANITA
Saturday, October 11 at 7:30 PM
Director Andrea Meyerson, Subject Ronni Sanlo in attendance
A moving and intimate portrait of a mother who lost custody of her children thanks to Anita Bryant’s infamous anti-gay campaign.
THE DARK PLACE
Saturday, October 18 at 9:45 PM
Producer Carlos Pedraza in attendance
A young man finds himself going back to live with his estranged mother and having to deal with his sinister stepbrother.
ALEC MAPA: BABY DADDY
Thursday, October 16 at 5:00 PM
Director Andrea James, Subject Alec Mapa in attendance
Alec Mapa shines in this biographical documentary focusing on his one-man show and featuring his husband and adopted son.
TRANSCENDENT: TRANS SHORTS
Tuesday, October 14 at 7:00 PM
Sam Berliner, Curator
Living stealth as a person of color, parenting, taking on the legal system, and dealing with Asperger’s syndrome are some of the issues addressed in this collection of films that chronicle the diverse experiences of those in the transgender community.
REEL QUEER YOUTH
Saturday, October 18 at 3:00 PM
Special guests in attendance
Young people are telling their stories. Four short Reel Queer Youth films with other youth-made short films.
OUT (SHORTS PROGRAM)
Sunday, October 12 at 5:00 PM
Leandro Tadashi director of TOMORROW, in attendance
Young love, first heartbreaks, taking chances, coming out: these films take you inside the stories of young people as they navigate growing up queer.
INFRARED V: NEW VISIONS FROM THE QUEER AVANT-GARDE
Saturday, October 11 at 4:45 PM
Malic Amaya curator/ filmmaker in attendance
From the depths of the underground come new works that defy standards of narrative cinema and normative desire-embracing queer culture.
GIRLS SHORTS
Saturday, October 11 at 2:30 PM
Local director Calvin Gimpelevich and Tarnish in attendance
Funny ha-ha or funny queer? These ladies are both! From a road trip to a hotel bar smile, giggle, and maybe even howl with laughter.
DYNAMIC LIVES: QUEER WOMEN OF COLOR (SHORTS PROGRAM)
Saturday, October 18 at 5:00 PM
Gregorio Davila, director of NANCY FROM EASTSIDE CLOVER, in attendance
This collection of documentary shorts presents the histories, achievements, struggles, & everyday lives of several queer women of color.BOYS SHORTS
Sunday, October 12 at 2:30 PM
Glenn Gaylord, director of IF I TOOK A HOLIDAY; Scott Membry, director of WORD OF THE DAY; Wes Hurley local director of ZOLUSHKA in attendance
Sometimes funny things happen, like dinner interrupted by an ex, singing Madonna impersonators, and queer fairy tales filmed at Pony.
HAPPY END?!
Friday, October 17 at 9:30 PM
Lindy Boustedt and Kris Boustedt, directors of short TOGETHER FOREVER, in attendance
A future lawyer, a secretive singer-songwriter and a road trip. A celebration of life, love and all the quirks in between.
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
THE MUPPET MOVIE
Saturday, October 18 at 12:15 PM
Experience the ultimate “Rainbow Connection” at our family screening of THE MUPPET MOVIE! It’s been 35 years since Kermit, Fozzie, Miss Piggy, and the gang first leapt onto the big screen. “Never Before, Never Again” has there been such an eclectic and colorful menagerie of animals and monsters in one adventure. The muppets will have you “Movin’ Right Along” from the swamps of Florida to the bright lights of Hollywood, with hilarious cameos along the way by Madeline Kahn, Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, Carol Kane, Mel Brooks, Cloris Leachman, and more. Comedy, charming music, and fun for folks of all ages…”Can You Picture That?”
REEL QUEER YOUTH
Saturday, October 18 at 3:00 PM
Young people are telling their stories through filmmaking in powerful ways. Three Dollar Bill Cinema, in partnership with Reel Grrls, supports these voices every summer by producing Reel Queer Youth, a weeklong filmmaking and media literacy training program for LGBTQ youth and allies aged 13-20. Four short films made during the 2014 Reel Queer Youth program will be shown before a collection of other youth-made short films. Stay tuned afterward for a Q&A session with the filmmakers.
