Nine feature films from the US, France, Canada, Belgium and Spain are included in the programme for the third edition of the 19th Out In Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, which runs from 19 to 28 October in Cape Town and Johannesburg. In addition there is a great line-up of short films from South Africa, Brazil, Morocco / UAE, UK, US and Kenya.
Opening nights for the festival will take place on 17 October in Johannesburg and 18 October in Cape Town.
The Festival will open with Vito, Jeffrey Schwarz’s biodoc on Vito Russo, leading gay activist, film scholar and author of The Celluloid Closet. Through interviews, rare clips and well-chosen archival footage (Russo always at the forefront of gay rallies, protests or celebrations), Schwarz makes his subject a dramatic focal point in the history of gay rights from, the Stonewall riots to the Aids epidemic.
Two international guests will be in attendance at the festival. Director Guy Lee Thys will present his film Mixed Kebab, about a Belgian / Turkish Muslim. This satisfying, sexy romance never belittles the dilemmas facing the unwilling hero of the piece.
Eldar Rapaport will present his award winning film August, set in Los Angeles. August is a thought-provoking and contemporary film dealing with (in)fidelity.
Other highlights include:
Gigola – Laure Charpentier’s melodrama of Paris in the 1960s. Gigola is a woman for hire to older, rich women. Pulpy, racy, delightfully camp, capturing the seediness of the Parisian underworld. Not to be missed.
Bear City 2: The Proposal – A good-humoured, guilt-free, well-packaged celebration of man love.
Elliot Loves – a skilful shift between the boy in the making and his twenty-something result. Delightful and charming, with extraordinary performances from the two Elliots.
Margarita – Directed by Dominique Cardona and Laurie Colbert. Margarita, a live-in nanny is hotly romancing with student lawyer Jane. But then she’s fired and a series of mishaps leads to deportation. A funny lesbian tale neatly warpped up in other contemporary issues. Glorious swaying Latina rhythms warm up snowy Toronto.
Our Paradise directed by Gael Morel – A tour round the pathetic and peculiar of Paris, hot on the hustler heels of murderous Vassilli. Superb performances from Stefane Rideau (Wild Reeds) and Beatrice Dalle (Betty Blue).
The Sex of the Angels directed by Xavier Villaverde is a provocative scenario of where a love triangle might go.. given the willingness of the driehoek. The backdrop and music are very Barcelona. Sexy and fun.
Out In Africa screens at Nu Metro cinemas – V&A Waterfront in Cape Town and Hyde Park, Johannesburg.
To watch the trailers log on to:
August – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSRZmz1-mGM
Bear City 2 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjYZ9KeSRgM
Elliot Loves – http://vimeo.com/38051803
Gigola – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c8Z6PtXqCc
Mixed Kebab – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWooRL_4mEM
Our Paradise – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkTfoXW5vH0
Sex of the Angels, The – http://mubi.com/films/the-sex-of-the-angels
Vito – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxjMj0byLXo
For more information visit www.oia.co.za.
