Out in Africa South African Gay and Lesbian Film Festival 2007

The Out in Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival comes back to Town! The Festival will be in Johannesburg from 1 March 2007 to 18 March 2007 and in Cape Town from 15 March 2007 to 1 April 2007. Good Hope MCC supports this Festival and we urge you to watch at least some of this wonderful movies the OIA Team has packed into this festival.  

Bookings

For the first time, Nu Metro Theatres hosts South Africa's largest film festival, the annual Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. The festival takes place at Hyde Park from 2 - 18 March and at V&A Waterfront from 16 March - 1 April.

For a full list of what's on, please check the menu on the right, pick up a booklet at select Nu Metro cinemas and Exclusive Books stores or visit the festival's website at http://www.oia.co.za.  

If you want to catch the whole Festival, there are excellent value packages this year. There's an R800 Festival Card which offers a 30% discount - 26 tickets for the price of 20. There's also a R400 Festival Card which offers a 20% discount - 12 tickets for the price of 10. You can buy the Festival cards at Nu Metro Hyde Park from Monday 12 February, and from Nu Metro V&A Waterfront from Monday 26 February.

The Festival Cards are only valid for the March 2007 edition of the Gay & Lesbian Film Festival - not for any other movies or festival. The Festival Card allows two tickets per movie, so is not valid for large groups of people wishing to see the same film. Bookings for Hyde Park open 12 February and for V&A Waterfront 26 February.

But that's not all - if you're an Exclusive Books Fanatics member, you can get 200 points on your Fanatics card for every movie you see at the Festival!

Volunteers needed....

Want to get as close as possible to the festival? Out in Africa is looking for volunteers. Please contact Kim Gunning on 072 4797642, Maureen Levenberg on 084 6949953 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Support the Festival

Support the festival by watching the movies and if you feel you can give more, please check here. Out in Africa produces a fabulous clip explaining why it's so hard to get sponsors.

Johannesburg Schedule

Movies for the Out in Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival are screened in Johannesburg at Nu Metro Hyde Park.

For latest updates for the below schedule, please check Out in Africa's website at http://www.oia.co.za or directly with NuMetro. E&OE. 

CapeTown Schedule

Movies for the Out in Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival are screened in Cape Town at Nu Metro V&A Watefront.

For latest updates for the below schedule, please check Out in Africa's website at http://www.oia.co.za or directly with NuMetro. E&OE. 

Beautiful Boxer

Dir: Ekachai Uekrongtham • Thailand • 116 min • 35mm • 2003
Website: http://www.beautifulboxer.com

This lushly beautiful, fabulously choreographed, and sensitive film follows the seemingly contradictory, incredibly true life and transformation of prize Muaythai (kick boxer) and transsexual Parinya Charoenphol. From the first time he attends the temple fair at the age of six and sees a beauty pageant, Toom Parinya aches to be a woman.

After a stint as a novice monk a few years later, Toom finds out that he has a particular, and financially successful, talent when it comes to kicking people. If he succeeds in the ring, he can support his family and pay for his sex change. But first he must survive the rigours of kick boxing camp, and the reactions of enraged opponents when they realise they are fighting (and being beaten by) a transvestite. 

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Thu 1 March 7pm (Invite Only)
  Fri 9 March 8.30pm
• Cape Town
  Thu 15 March 7pm (Invite Only)
  Sun 25 March 8pm

Awards

• GLAAD Media Awards, 2006 Nominated GLAAD Media Award Outstanding Film - Limited Release
• L.A. Outfest, 2004 Won Achievement Award Outstanding Emerging Talent
• Milan International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, 2004 Won Best Film
• San Sebastián International Film Festival, 2004 Won Sebastian Award
• Torino International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, 2004 Won Best Feature Film

Thailand National Film Association Awards

• 2004 Won National Film Association Award Best Actor, Asanee Suwan
• Best Makeup Kraisorn Sampethchareon

Coffee Date

Dir: Stewart Wade • USA • 93 min • 35mm • 2006
Website: http://www.coffeedatethemovie.com

A seemingly innocuous blind date becomes an eye-opening experience for quiet, recently divorced Todd, in this light, amusing and thoroughly engaging comedy that blurs sexual boundaries. Todd arrives at a café expecting to meet the attractive Kelly. He does, but Kelly is male and gay.

Despite Todd’s immediate ‘gay panic’ an obvious spark exists between the two dedicated movie buffs and they tentatively begin a friendship. But when Todd’s deadbeat brother misinterprets their friendship, his life spins out of control. Soon, his loving yet overbearing mother and ecstatic work colleagues (even his vindictive ex-wife) are convinced that Todd is gay and promptly smother him with acceptance. But he is absolutely certain that he is straight … isn’t he?

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Fri 2 March 6.45pm
  Wed 7 March 6.45pm
  Thu 15 March 6.45pm
• Cape Town
  Fri 16 March 6.45pm
  Mon 19 March 8.45pm
  Sun 1 April 6.15pm 

Awards

• Audience award at Breckenridge Film Festival

Boy Culture

Dir: Q. Allan Brocka • USA • 85 min • Digital • 2006

Always professional and detached, X is a high-end hustler who keeps his clientele down to a trim, well-heeled 12, and his feelings close to his chest. He lives with two incredibly sizzling gay roommates - recently out Andrew (over whom X silently obsesses) and party boy Joey (whose puppy dog attentions X deftly avoids). When one of X’s clients dies, the 79-year-old, sophisticated Gregory steps into the breach.

But Gregory insists on talking. He demands that, for any sexual engagement, X must desire him equally. While they get to know each other, Gregory’s mind games slowly unravel X’s tightly coiled defenses. Narrated with wry honesty and self-depreciation, Boy Culture is a well-crafted, intelligent, a-typical film that explores one of life’s emotional conundrums – to take a risk and fail, or to never risk and never know.

Director Q. Allan Brocka and Darryl Stephens (who plays Andrew in Boy Culture, and Noah in Noah’s Arc) are guests of the Festival.

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Fri 2 March 9pm
  Mon 12 March 8.45pm + Guests
  Thu 15 March 9pm
• Cape Town
  Sat 17 March 8.45pm + Guests
  Fri 23 March 6.45pm
  Sun 1 April 8.30pm

Awards

• Audience Award - Best Feature (Male), Long Island GLFF
• Jury Award, Best Film, Philadelphia GLFF
• Best Narrative Feature - Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival
• Audience Award, Best Men's Feature - Pikes Peak Lavender FF, Colorado Springs
• Best Feature Film, Audience Award, Fairy Tales Calgary Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
• Best Feature Film, Audience Award, Diversa - Argentina Festival of Sexual Diversity, Buenos Aires
• Special Jury Award, Best Comedy, Milan GLFF
• Jury Award, Best Screenplay, Outfest
• Jury Prize for Alternative Vision, Rhode Island International Film Festival
• Best Actor, Derek Magyar, Festival Del Mar, Ibiza
• Best Film, Festival Del Mar, Mallorca 
• Best of the Fest, London International LGFF
• Best Director, LesGaiCineMad, Madrid

20 Centimetres (20 Centimetros)

Dir: Ramón Salazar • Spain • 113 min • 35mm • 2005 • English Subtitles
Website: http://www.20centimeters.com/

Marieta, née Adolph, is a gentle, loving, narcoleptic, pre-op transsexual. Eternally optimistic, she believes that her one true shot at a happy, normal life is having the ‘equipment’ removed from between her legs. And so she supports a dwarf, looks after a neighbour’s son and tries to stay awake while working the streets of Madrid for the op money.

Her goal is almost within her financial sites when, as the ironies of life would have it, she is pursued by peach-cheeked Raul who is attracted to the one thing about her that she hates: her 20 cm ‘pekker’.

This bawdy, yet compassionate and affectionate drama, that delves deep into the marginalised edge of Madrid society, is interspersed with lively musical interludes of popular songs from Spanish stars, Queen, Madonna and Dusty Springfield.

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Fri 2 March 6.30pm
  Wed 7 March 6.30pm
  Wed 14 March 6.30pm
• Cape Town
  Mon 19 March 6.30pm
  Fri 23 March 8.30pm
  Fri 30 March 6.30pm 

Awards

• YearResultAwardCategory/Recipient(s) 2005 2nd place Youth Jury Award 
• Málaga Spanish Film Festival YearResultAwardCategory/Recipient(s) 2005 Won Best Make-Up 
• Critics Award 
• Silver Biznaga Best Music (Mejor Música)
• Verzaubert - International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival YearResultAwardCategory/Recipient(s)
• 2006 Won Rosebud Best Film

The Gymnast

Dir: Ned Farr • USA • 98 min • Digital • 2006
Website: http://www.thegymnastfilm.com/

Ex-Olympic gymnast, Jane Hawkins pours all her professionally-honed energy into maintaining her loveless and childless marriage, serving her clients as a massage therapist and keeping her body in shape. But Jane is teetering on the edge of severe depression and yearns for the freedom and discipline of gymnastics.

She joins up with new friend and graceful Asian beauty Serena (a closet lesbian unable to come out to her adoptive Jewish parents) to perform elegant and gravity-defying Cirque Du Soleil-esque aerial acrobatics. As the two troubled women prepare for an audition for Las Vegas, they are inexorably drawn towards each other. This gentle and visually compelling film with truly magnificent acrobatic sequences, explores the notion that personal risk is essential in order to unwrap your true, unfettered self.

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Fri 2 March 8.45pm
  Fri 9 March 8.45pm
  Fri 16 March 8.45pm
• Cape Town
  Wed 21 March 8.30pm
  Sun 25 March 8.30pm
  Fri 30 March 8.45pm 

Awards

• L.A. Outfest, Audience Award HBO Outstanding First Narrative Feature
• Grand Jury Award Outstanding American Narrative Feature
• Outstanding American Narrative Feature
• New York Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, 2006 Won Best Feature 
• Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, 2006 Won Audience Award First Feature
• San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, 2006 Won Audience Award Best Feature

The Sex Movie

Dir: Calton Lawrence • USA • 83 min • Digital • 2006
Website: http://www.thesexmovie.com

Breast-phobic gay Rafe, male-bashing lesbian Heidi, rampant bisexual Kris and homophobic jock JD are four, self-assured long term work colleagues who decide to spend an evening together at Kris’ apartment after a hard day’s grind at a porn film shoot. The four soon become involved in a gloves-off discussion on sexual identity, behaviour and control.

As the heated debate strips away defences to reveal deep-rooted misconceptions, insecurities, lies and hidden longings of each person, the evening escalates into a sexual and emotional cat and mouse game that challenges the security of their self-established roles. With the action contained within the manipulative hostess’ claustrophobic apartment, this is a fascinating, revealing and fresh approach to the issues surrounding social perception and stereotypes

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Sat 3 March 6.45pm
  Thu 8 March 6.45pm
  Sun 18 March 8.45pm
• Cape Town
  Mon 19 March 9pm
  Sun 25 March 6pm
  Thu 29 March 8.30pm

A Love to Hide (Un amor à taire)

Dir: Christian Faure • France • 103 min • Digital • 2005 • English Subtitles

Elegant, nuanced and deeply moving, this remarkable wartime epic of love and loss, set in Nazi-occupied Paris, revels a little known, yet horrifyingly true aspect of Nazi persecution. Jean is a dutiful son who helps to run his parent’s laundry. He and Philippe are desperately in love, but must hide their love due to the Vichy persecution of the ‘Third Sex’. Then, Jean’s childhood friend Sara arrives, having survived her Jewish family’s murder.

The two boys risk everything to hide her and their cleverly crafted deception and fragile family holds strong until Jean’s slippery, brother, Jacques, is released from prison. Jacques’ attempts to redeem himself in the eyes of all, and his dangerous collaboration with the Nazis, puts everyone’s lives in jeopardy. Bring tissues.

Courtesy of the French Embassy
 

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Sat 3 March 8.30pm
  Wed 7 March 9pm
  Wed 14 March 6.45pm
• Cape Town
  Wed 21 March 8.45pm
  Mon 26 March 9pm
  Sun 1 April 6pm

Awards

• Audience Award Best Feature Narrative, Outfest Los Angeles
• Best Feature Narrative, Reeling Chicago Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
• Audience Award Best Feature, Reel Affirmations Washington DC Film Festival
• Audience Award Best Feature Narrative, Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
• Best Independent Feature Film, Rochester Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

2 Sides of the Bed (Los 2 lados de la cama)

Dir: Emilio Martínez Lázaro • Spain • 104 min • 35mm • 2005 • English Subtitles

Javier and Marta are celebrating on the eve of their wedding with best friends and couple Pedro and Raquel. Javier is excited about his next phase of life, but Marta has cold feet. When Raquel and Marta canoodle in the ladies, we can see why. Next morning, the fear of married life spurs Marta leaves Javier at the altar, and she pressures Raquel to leave Pedro.

As Marta and Raquel begin their new life together, the two men adjust to desertion, constant companions they jostle through a rivalry over the sassy and independent Carlota. This Spanish musical is a vivid and amusing sexual farce filled with jealousy, paranoia, betrayal, confused emotions and bed swapping. And has a sweet, surprise at the end, ‘specially for the boys!

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Sat 3 March 6.30pm
  Thu 8 March 8.45pm
  Tue 13 March 6.45pm
• Cape Town
  Tue 20 March 8.30pm
  Sun 25 March 6.15pm
  Wed 28 March 8.15pm

The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros (Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros)

Dir: Auraeus Solito • Philippines • 100 min • 35mm • 2005 • English Subtitles
Website: http://www.widemanagement.com/fiche.php?id=54

Eleven-year-old Maximo grows up taking the community’s bets and sashaying up and down the alley-ways of Manila with his gaggle of girlfriends. The youngest of three mother-less boys, Maximo is the homemaker, living a relatively carefree life protected by his rough, loving father, his eldest hoodlum brother, Boy, and his hustler brother, Bogs. Life is simply dandy. Then Victor, an incorruptible, young and good-looking policeman, rescues Maximo from an encounter with local troublemakers.

Maximo has found his hero and sets out with a mixture of awkward confidence to woo him. But Victor’s inflexible principles are on a collision course with Maximo’s family’s shady business and battle lines are soon drawn. This keenly observed, quietly radical debut feature presents an intriguing slice of Filipino family life.

Auraeus Solito is a guest of our Festival

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Sat 3 March 8.45pm
  Tue 6 March 8.45pm
  Tue 13 March 8.45pm + Guest
• Cape Town
  Fri 16 March 9pm + Guest
  Tue 22 March 6.45pm
  Tue 27 March 6.45pm

Awards

• Has won 14 international awards and was screened in more than 40 film festivals
  including 3 awards at the 2006 Berlin International Film Festival
  (Teddy award for Best Film and two awards at the Kinder fest)
• Golden Zenith award for Best First Fiction Feature Film at the 2005 Montreal World Film Festival
• It was also the first Philippine film at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival
• Opening Film at the New Directors/ New Films in MOMA, New York 
• The Message Sticks Indigenous Festival at the Sydney Opera House in Australia
• Won Best Director (Digital division) at the Star Awards in the Philippines 
• Won Best Picture at the Urian (Philippine critic's awards) and Star Awards (Digital division)

Noah's Arc - Season 2

Dir: Patrick Ian Polk • USA • 176 min • Digital • 2005
Website: http://www.noahsarc.net/ 

Cute Noah, slutty Ricky, sassy Alex and sober Chance are back! In this, the second, season of the groundbreaking black gay TV series, Noah is deliriously happy with new delectable hot-bod Malik – the earth literally moves when they kiss.

But when Wade casually saunters back into his life, Noah is not only determined to get him back, but must also dodge the earnest attentions of both outlandish British Rap artist, Baby Gat, and culture-vulture Quincy. Meanwhile, supposedly straight Guy is going all out to snag Alex’s hunky Trey by any means necessary, delicious HIV-positive Junito is challenging Ricky’s crippling fear of commitment, and Chance is finding it hard to balance fatherhood with Eddie. Noah’s Arc is an amusing, sexy, sometimes slap-stick and very soapy, but a none-the-less remarkable series for it.

Darryl Stephens, who plays Noah (and Andrew in Q. Allan Brocka’s Boy Culture) is a guest of the Festival.

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Sun 4 March 5.30pm - Double Bill
  Sun 11 March 6pm - Double Bill + Guest
  Sun 17 March 5.30pm - Double Bill
• Cape Town
  Sun 18 March 5.30pm - Double Bill + Guest
  Sat 24 March 5.30pm - Double Bill
  Sat 31 March 5.30pm - Double Bill

Sugar Rush - Season 1

Dir: Various • UK • 110 min • Digital • 2005
Website: http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/S/sugar_rush/

This riotously amusing, thoughtful and glossy Channel 4 TV series chronicles the life and love of fifteen-year-old Kim. Having just moved from London to Brighton, Kim’s hormones are raging in the direction of her new fun loving, man-mad best friend, Sugar.

Although now living in the gay capital of Britain where anything goes, Kim’s world is anything but peachy: her sweet, understanding father, Nathan, is being cuckolded by their hunky handyman Dale; her mother Stella is emotionally black-mailing Kim’s silence; her brother Matt thinks that he is an alien; while her Sugar buddy remains irrevocably straight … and that’s just for starters. Kim is plagued by self-doubt (you’ve gotta use it to loose it), but is rational enough to, just, stop herself from acting out her deepest desires.

Courtesy of the British Council.

Tickets for this these screenings are free and may be drawn at the box-office on the day of the screening only.

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Sun 4 March 5pm + Double Bill
  Sat 10 March 5pm + Double Bill
  Sat 17 March 5pm + Double Bill
• Cape Town
  Sun 18 March 5pm + Double Bill
  Sat 24 March 5pm + Double Bill
  Sat 31 March 5pm + Double Bill

Creature

Dir: Parris Patton • USA • 76 min • Digital • 2002 

Stacy is the drag queen diva at Hollywood’s Club Arena. A blonde bombshell, her expert nightly MC-ministrations pump partygoers into an energetic dancing frenzy. Off the stage, her lifestyle is uncertain and love is fleeting and often dangerous. But the one thing Stacy is certain of is her identity (even when no one else is) and is determined to go the whole hog.

Part of this conviction comes from the unexpected support of her deeply religious, North Carolina farmer parents. Indeed, the unexpected gem in this film is Stacy's ex-con father who admits that he "don't agree with what Stacy's a doing, but she's ma son an' I ain't gonna stop lovin’ her”. This touching and compassionate treatise presents Stacy’s four-year odyssey from bullied North Carolina farm boy to fully-fledged womanhood.

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Mon 5 March 6.30pm
  Mon 12 March 6.45pm
• Cape Town
  Tue 22 March 6.30pm
  Thu 29 March 6.30pm

Awards

• 2001 Nominated GLAAD Media Award Outstanding Film (Documentary)

The Boet

Dir: Robert A. Hamblin • SA • 7 min • Digital • 2005

The maelstrom of insecurities and emotions that confront transgender individuals is reduced to a simple black and white question by Hamblin’s brash and gruff, yet supportive, brother. 

Screens with: Creature and Paris is Burning

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Mon 5 March 6.30pm - Creature
  Mon 12 March 6.45pm - Creature
  Tue 6 March 6.30pm - Paris is Burning
  Sat 10 March 6pm - Paris is Burning + Guests and Panel
• Cape Town
  Tue 22 March 6.30pm - Creature
  Thu 29 March 6.30pm - Creature
  Sat 17 March 6pm - Paris is Burning + Guests and Panel
  Tue 27 March 6.30pm - Paris is Burning

Father

Dir: Robert A. Hamblin • SA • 4 min • Digital • 2006

In this gentle exploration into the emotional and physical garb used to cloak true identity, Hamblin uses his father’s life experiences as a precursor for his own passage into manhood.

Screens with: Creature and Paris is Burning

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Mon 5 March 6.30pm - Creature
  Mon 12 March 6.45pm - Creature
  Tue 6 March 6.30pm - Paris is Burning
  Sat 10 March 6pm - Paris is Burning + Guests and Panel
• Cape Town
  Tue 22 March 6.30pm - Creature
  Thu 29 March 6.30pm - Creature
  Sat 17 March 6pm - Paris is Burning + Guests and Panel
  Tue 27 March 6.30pm - Paris is Burning

Cycles of Pron: Sex/life in LA Part 2

Dir: Jochen Hick • Germany • 104 min • Digital • 2005

Documentarian Hick revisits LA to find out how the gay porn and sex industry has adapted to the new challenges of commercialisation, technology and HIV / Aids. He catches up with ‘retired’ old friends Kevin Kramer, Cole Tucker and Matt Bradshaw, and then leads us through an altered, but no less extreme, industry where Big Brother porn houses exist for paying online customers, internet sex chat rooms set up liaisons, private sex parties are peopled entirely with porn stars, and the contentious ‘bareback’ industry is flourishing.

While the explicit footage doesn’t shy away from any of the physical realities of each person’s working life, it also presents the deeper issues of exploitation and drug abuse, as well of the emotions, dreams and financial choices of each hunky ‘star’. 

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Mon 5 March 9pm
  Fri 9 March 6.45pm
  Tue 13 March 9pm
• Cape Town
  Tue 20 March 6.30pm
  Tue 27 March 9pm
  Fri 30 March 6.45pm

Mom

Dir: Erin Greenwall • USA • 70 min • Digital • 2006
Website: http://www.momthemovie.com/

In this light and charming character comedy, driven, pretty, uptight Kelly is an interviewer for a video market research company. At long last her dreams of being a field reporter for a local network station might be within her grasp. But before it is, she must go on assignment with laid back, butch camerawoman Linda who only dreams of opening a tattoo parlour.

Kelly believes that interviewing the odd-ball residents of the provincial town of New Hope (currently consumed by its annual Chilli Cook-Off) is far beneath her, but Linda is just happy to make the money – and is especially delighted when she happens upon the sexy, but now married and straight, old flame, Natalie. Kelly and Linda are polar opposites and sparks inevitably fly.

Screens with: Hung and Who’s the Top?

Festival guest Jennie Livingston will introduce her film Who’s the Top?

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Mon 5 March 6.45pm
  Mon 12 March 6.30pm + Guest
  Thu 15 March 6.30pm
• Cape Town
  Sat 17 March 9pm + Guest
  Mon 26 March 6.30pm
  Thu 29 March 8.15pm 

Awards

• YearResultAwardCategory/Recipient(s) 2005 2nd place Youth Jury Award 
• Málaga Spanish Film Festival YearResultAwardCategory/Recipient(s) 2005 Won Best Make-Up 
•  Critics Award 
•  Silver Biznaga Best Music (Mejor Música)
• Verzaubert - International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival YearResultAwardCategory/Recipient(s) 2006 Won Rosebud Best Film

Hung

Dir: Guievere Turner • USA • 12 min • Digital • 2005

Ruby’s had a rough year; she’s seen penises everywhere, in everything. Mostly, she can’t help wondering what it would be like to have one, temporarily. So, she and her four friends, with a potion procured from Prague, find out just what it is like. This entertaining short film lightly explores the perceptions, expectations and boundaries of gender roles.

Screens with: Mom

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Mon 5 March 6.45pm
  Mon 12 March 6.30pm + Guest
  Thu 15 March 6.30pm
• Cape Town
  Sat 17 March 9pm + Guest
  Mon 26 March 6.30pm
  Thu 29 March 8.15pm 

Who's the Top ?

Dir: Jennie Livingston • USA • 22 min • Digital • 2005
Website: http://www.whosthetop.org

In this classy modern fairytale, struggling poet and sexual fantasist Alixe is a in a committed relationship with prudish Gwen. Yet Alixe still yearns for a sexual tsunami to sweep her away, and when she journeys to San Francisco, she bites off a little more of the dominatrix, Marz, than she can chew.

Screens with: Mom

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Mon 5 March 6.45pm
  Mon 12 March 6.30pm + Guest
  Thu 15 March 6.30pm
• Cape Town
  Sat 17 March 9pm + Guest
  Mon 26 March 6.30pm
  Thu 29 March 8.15pm 

Awards

• Official Selection - Berlin Film Festival 2005
• Official Selection - Frameline 2005
• Official Selecion - Outfest 2005
• Best Short Sapphie Awards 2006, Girlfriends Magazine Feb 2006 
• Best Women's Short Philadelphia Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2005
• Best Short Female Long Island Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2005
• Best Comedic Short Qcinema - Fort Worth Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2006

Go West (Ideme na Zapad)

Dir: Ahmed Imamovic • Bosnia/ Herzegovina/ Croatia • 97 min • 35mm • 2005 • English Subtitles
Website: www.gowest.ba 

Sparking a furious debate in Bosnia, this fabulously gutsy ‘western’ uses the backdrop of the country’s brutal inter-ethnic war to question one of the greatest taboos of Eastern European society. Muslim cellist, Kenan, and Serbian student, Milan, are lovers. When life in Sarajevo is no longer tenable, they flee West to the country.

On the journey Kenan’s faith makes him a prime target and so he dons a dress and poses as Milan’s wife. When they arrive in Milan’s eccentric hometown, his gun-totting father embraces Milan’s new wife. When Milan receives his call up papers, Kenan must stay behind as the dutiful daughter in law, despite agonising over the fate of his family and fellow Muslims. In dealing with serious issues by alternating comedy and pathos, this profound film displays humanity and warmth.

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Mon 5 March 8.45pm
  Fri 9 March 6.30pm
  Thu 15 March 8.45pm
• Cape Town
  Tue 20 March 8.45pm
  Mon 26 March 6.45pm
  Wed 28 March 8.45pm

Awards

• Best Actress Award- Pecs Film Celebration, Hungary
• Critic Award-Festival du Cinema Montpellier, France
• Audience Award-Festival du Cinema Montpellier, France
• The “Don Kihot” prize of FICC jury ( International Federation of Film Society) Kyiv International Film Festival, Ucraina
• Special mention of jury for the feature film from the main jury of the festival, Kyiv International Film Festival, Ucraina
• Audience Award, 46th International Thessaloniki Film Festival “Balcan Survey“ section
• Speciall mention of jury for the feature film from the main jury of the festival, Turin International Film Festival, Italy
• Best Eropean director- Indianapolis International Film Festival
• Audience award for the Best Short of Feature film- Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film Festival-New York
• Best Foreign Narrative Feature- NewFest, New York
• “Art. 2” Award in “Night Of The Living Shorts” Festival 2006, Campobasso, Italy
• Main award for the best feature film at 3rd International Festival of Young Filmmakers, Miskolc, Hungary

Paris is Bunning

Dir: Jennie Livingston • USA • 71 min • Digital • 1990

Regarded as the definitive documentary on the "Golden Age" of New York City’s notorious drag ball scene, this is a rich and insightful exploration of projected aspirations and personal pride, as well as race, class and gender. Shot in the late 80s (and overflowing with enough big hair, fur, gold lamé and shoulder pads to inspire immediate nostalgia), this considered documentary presents the social and emotional bonds that tie the larger-than-life drag Legendaries to their Legendary Children in the various Houses.

Offering succour for poor, gay and transgendered African Americans and Latinos, the underground subculture is portrayed through the desires and yearning of the fashion-obsessed contestants, explores the slang that defines them, and chronicles the rise of “voguing”, the dance that they invented, but which soon grows more famous than its creators.

Jennie Livingston is a guest of the Festival.

She will take part in a panel discussion, organised by Gender DynamiX, after the March 10 (Jhb) and March 17 (CT) screenings of her film. 

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Tue 6 March 6.30pm
  Sat 10 March 6pm + Guest + Panel
• Cape Town
  Sat 17 March 6pm + Guest + Panel
  Tue 27 March 6.30pm

Awards

• Awards for Paris include The Sundance Grand Jury Prize, LA Critics' 
• Association, NY Critics' Association, IFP Gotham Award, Toronto Intl FF Audience Award, 
• Berlin Teddy Bear, Seattle Intl FF Audience Award, Gay and Lesbian Alliance
  Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Award, Women in Film Crystal Award
• 1990 IDA Award, International Documentary Association
• 1990 LAFCA Award Best Documentary, Los Angeles Film Critics Association
• 1990 Audience Award Best Documentary, San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
• 1991 Grand Jury Prize Documentary, Sundance Film Festival
• 1991 Teddy for Best Documentary Film, Berlin International Film Festival
• 1991 Boston Society of Film Critics Awards (BSFC) Best Documentary
• 1991 Open Palm Award, Gotham Awards
• 1991 NYFCC Award Best Documentary, New York Film Critics Circle Awards
• 1991 Golden Space Needle Award Best Documentary, Seattle International Film Festival
• 1992 Outstanding Film (Documentary), GLAAD Media Awards
• 1992 NSFC Award Best Documentary, National Society of Film Critics

Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds

Dir: Phillip J.Bartell • USA • 85 min • Digital • 2006
Website: http://arztical.com/press_room.html 

Eating Out, written and directed by Q. Allan Brocka, was one of the Festival hits last year. And so we are back for Sloppy Seconds! College days are filled with emotional insecurity and sexual discovery. At least they are for four college friends: paranoid Kyle; self-centred Marc; loose Tiffani; and arty Gwen, who fantasises about gay sex.

When new nude model and sexually undecided Troy arrives on campus, Kyle and the girls formulate a dastardly plan – Kyle will play it straight as a reformed-homo with Tiffani as his girlfriend, and lure Troy to the ex-gay support group Coming In. Kyle’s ex, Marc, has other plans and decides to pursue Troy with aggressive gay abandon. Who will win Troy’s attentions? In this snappy, playful College sex romp, boy eats boy and boy eats girl with amusing results.

Q. Allan Brocka is a guest of the Festival.

Screens with The Matchmaker.

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Tue 6 March 8.30pm
  Tue 13 March 6.30pm + Guest
  Fri 16 March 6.45pm
• Cape Town
  Fri 16 March 6.30pm + Guest
  Fri 23 March 8.45pm
  Wed 28 March 6.45pm

The Matchmaker 

Dir: Cinzia Puspita Rini • Indonesia • 10 min • Digital • 2006 • English Subtitles

Beautiful Kay notices Darren at the bookstore. She cultivates their friendship, perhaps thinking of a romance. But, even if she can’t see it, we can – Darren is gay….

Screens with: Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds 

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Tue 6 March 8.30pm
  Tue 13 March 6.30pm + Guest
  Fri 16 March 6.45pm
• Cape Town
  Fri 16 March 6.30pm + Guest
  Fri 23 March 8.45pm
  Wed 28 March 6.45pm

Unveiled

Dir: Angelina Maccarone • Germany • 97 min • 35mm • 2005 • English Subtitles

Fleeing the threat of Iran’s death penalty after the vice squad exposed her affair with a married woman, translator Fariba Tabrizi is detained at Frankfurt Airport pending an inquiry. Fariba’s application for asylum is turned down, but on the eve of her deportation she steals the identity and temporary permit of another detainee. Re-located to a cramped and restricted refugee dormitory in the town of Sielmingen she seeks temporary, illegal employment at a sauerkraut-processing factory and becomes attracted to blonde fellow-worker, Anne.

This sensitive, fascinating and passionate statement with remarkable performances deftly presents Fariba’s frustrations, fears and hopes, whilst vividly exploring the physical and psychological consequences of religious oppression and the impersonal asylum lottery. 

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Tue 6 March 6.45pm
  Wed 14 March 8.45pm
  Sun 18 March 8.30pm
• Cape Town
  Tue 22 March 8.30pm
  Tue 27 March 8.30pm
  Sun 1 April 8.15pm

Awards

• Best Feature Film – Hessischer Filmpreis” 2005
• “Jury Grand Prize” at image+nation Int. LGBT Festival Montréal 2005
• Jury Award “Best Narrative Feature” at Seattle L&G FilmFestival 2005
• “Best Film” and “Best Direction” at the Cyprus Int. Film Festival 2006

Just a Little Comfort (Juste un peu de réconfort)

Dir: Ramón Salazar • France • 34 min • 35mm • 2004 • English Subtitles

It is summer and buffed high-school best friends, Arnaud and Guillaume, are hanging out, playing tennis, going to clubs, drinking, smoking, chasing girls and having sex. But sweet, conflicted Arnaud, despite snagging an equally sweet girlfriend, is becoming increasingly infatuated and frustrated by fickle Guillaume who’s every move is fuelled by a desire to escape the emotional stress of his mother’s mental breakdown.

When Guillaume’s mother is hospitalized again, he moves in with Arnaud rather than go into a foster home. Is this the summer of love that Arnaud has been dreaming of … A gentle, engaging, well-told story of a boy coming-of-age, whilst flinging open those closet doors.

Courtesy of the French Embassy

Screens with: Kissing Tigers and My Cat’s Balls

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Wed 7 March 8.45pm
  Sun 11 March 6.15pm
  Fri 16 March 6.30pm
• Cape Town
  Wed 21 March 6.30pm
  Mon 26 March 8.45pm
  Tue 29 March 6.45pm

Awards

• 2004 Won Acting Award Best Actor Arthur Moncla

Kissing Tigers (Embrasser les Tigres)

Dir: Teddy Lussi Modeste • France • 20 min • Digital • 2004 • English Subtitles

In his moody and fabulously shot short, Mario is a young, tough, aggressive member of the kickboxing clique. But he feels that his victories amount to nothing, and his family is shamed when he finds that his beloved older brother, Gary, is unrepentantly cruising the local park for partners.

Courtesy of the French Embassy

Screens with: Just a little Comfort

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Wed 7 March 8.45pm
  Sun 11 March 6.15pm
  Fri 16 March 6.30pm
• Cape Town
  Wed 21 March 6.30pm
  Mon 26 March 8.45pm
  Tue 29 March 6.45pm

My Cat's Balls

Dir: Didier Bénureau • France • 22 min • Digital • 2004 • English Subtitles

Laugh-out-loud funny, this sweet and beguiling French comedy focuses on innocent, bumbling Remi who must castrate his cat. Remi obviously has a deep abiding fear of emasculation and so does a thorough field research into both the operation and the alternative life style that his cat can look forward to. This places him in several unexpected, eye-opening situations.

Courtesy of the French Embassy

Screens with: Just a Little Comfort

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Wed 7 March 8.45pm
  Sun 11 March 6.15pm
  Fri 16 March 6.30pm
• Cape Town
  Wed 21 March 6.30pm
  Mon 26 March 8.45pm
  Thu 29 March 6.45pm

Mr. Leather

Dir: Jason Garrett • USA • 95 min • Digital • 2004
Website: http://www.mrleather-themovie.com

Mr. Leather portrays the unforgettable journey of nine determined, leather jockstrap and chaps-bedecked contestants as they battle it out for the ultimate accolade – to be crowned (a tiara on a bikers hat) Mr Los Angeles Leather 2003.

Portraying the thrilling, sexy and often hilarious world of the leathermen community, the film begins from when the nine are selected to represent their leather bars (Mr. Bullet Bar, Mr. Sister Leather, etc.). During their tense, nervous preparation for the ‘pageant’, we meet the macho, buffed, hide-clad, likable contestants, are introduced to the full spectrum of the leathermen’s sexual fetishes and kinkiest desires, discuss their tactics and speeches and find out just how much, and what type of, leather they are going to don to winning effect.

Director Jason Garrett is a guest of the Festival.

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Thu 8 March 8.30pm
  Wed 14 March 9pm + Guest
• Cape Town
  Sat 17 March 6.15pm + Guest
  Wed 21 March 6.45pm

Testosterone

Dir: David Moreton • USA • 105 min • Digital • 2003

Marieta, née Adolph, is a gentle, loving, narcoleptic, pre-op transsexual. Eternally optimistic, she believes that her one true shot at a happy, normal life is having the ‘equipment’ removed from between her legs. And so she supports a dwarf, looks after a neighbour’s son and tries to stay awake while working the streets of Madrid for the op money.
Her goal is almost within her financial sites when, as the ironies of life would have it, she is pursued by peach-cheeked Raul who is attracted to the one thing about her that she hates: her 20 cm ‘pekker’.

This bawdy, yet compassionate and affectionate drama, that delves deep into the marginalised edge of Madrid society, is interspersed with lively musical interludes of popular songs from Spanish stars, Queen, Madonna and Dusty Springfield.

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Thu 8 March 6.30pm
  Mon 12 March 9.15pm
  Fri 16 March 8.15pm
• Cape Town
  Mon 19 March 6.45pm
  Thu 22 March 8.45pm
  Fri 30 March 9pm

Black Beaulahs

Dir: Fanney Tsimong • South Africa • 48 min • Digital • 2005

After ten years of democratic drag queens, this ground-breaking local documentary looks at the reality of being successful, black, gay and out in conservative Soweto. Shimmering Somizi / Gigi is a performer, dancer and talkshow host, hunky Chix is a body builder, and suave DK is a funeral director.

As the camera follows each strong, proud and delectable role model in the run up to Gay Pride 2006, what was initially a simple film brief becomes increasingly complex as the conflicted lives, feelings, loves and perceptions of the men are exposed. Tensions and inconsistencies are revealed within the community that perseveres and holds together despite the judgements that they make about each other and external pressures from family and society.

Fanney Tsimong will introduce screenings of his film.

Screens with Behind the Boerewors Curtain.

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Sat 10 March 9pm
  Sun 18 March 6.45pm
• Cape Town
  Tue 20 March 6.45pm
  Wed 28 March 6.30pm

A Peek behind the Boerewors Curtain

Dir: Paige Brown • USA / SA • 13 min • Digital • 2006

As seen from an outsider’s perspective, this amusing yet sensitive exposé looks into the dogged determination of a sector Cape Town’s gay and lesbian community to uphold the Afrikaans cultural tradition in the form of the langarm sakkie or boere jol.

Littered with definitions, as well as the concerns of the regular attendees, this film is a great introduction to the diversity of South Africa.

Screens with: Black Beulahs

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Sat 10 March 9pm
  Sun 18 March 6.45pm
• Cape Town
  Tue 20 March 6.45pm
  Wed 28 March 6.30pm

Left Lane - on the road with folk poet Alix Olson

Dir: Samantha Farinella • USA • 93 min • Digital • 2005

Alix Olson is an American lesbian activist spoken word poet. A self-proclaimed global patriot, Alix is talented, widely read, aggressive, progressive, and deadly serious about her role as a poet, artist and revolutionary. But Alix is also a fun, wildly amusing humanitarian with a searing sharp wit. Syncopated with profound instrumental pieces, her riveting performances are angrily optimistic and passionate protests against the system.

This film is the chronicle of Alix’ belief that an alternative message must be personally broadcast to little known, rarely reached sections of American society by extensively touring the country’s vast landscape, visiting festivals, high schools, poetry competitions and feminist marches. Behind the scenes, we meet her parents, gran, mentor, and idols, but mostly we spend time with her tour team and hear her performances explode on the stage.

Left Lane is the winner of multiple awards, among them Alix Olson and Samantha Farinella are both guests of the Festival. Olson travels courtesy of both Behind the Mask and the Triangle Project she will perform live at Con Hill on Saturday 10 March.

Screening

• Johannesburg
  Sun 11 March 8pm + Guests
  Sun 18 March 6.30pm
• Cape Town
  Fri 16 March 8.45pm + Guests
  Fri 23 March 6.30pm

Awards

• Public’s Choice for Best Feature Documentary Award 
• Feminist and Lesbian Film Festival 2006
• Newfest 2005 Audience Award for Best Feature Film
• Audience award best feature film, NY LGBT Festival 2005
• Audience award best documentary Kansas City & Lesbian Film + Video Festival 2005

Constitution Hill

Constitution Hill Public Programmes, in partnership with Out in Africa’s community outreach programme, will be hosting a discussion on the Civil Union Act and an Open Day Fête. Constitution Hill is an extraordinary heritage site and home to the Constitutional Court wherein many landmark rulings affecting the gay & lesbian community have been made.

Organisations and businesses catering for the LGBTI community will have stalls, many with items of interest for sale. There will also be short film screenings and live performers, among them the dynamic Alix Olson, a spoken word poet and a guest of the Festival.

After the braai there will be a Discussion on the Civil Union Act.

Dr. David Bilchitz (Jewish OutLook), Melanie Judge (OUT LGBT Well-being) and Fikile Vilakazi (Coalition of African Lesbians), who were instrumental in leading both the legal and strategic elements of the campaign for gay marriage in parliament, with the executive and in the media, will lead the discussion and answer questions.

Date: Saturday 10 March 10am – 3pm
Venue: Slovo Courtyard, Constitution Hill, Kotze Street, Braamfontein
10am: Fête opens
11am: Live performances
12pm: Braai
1.30pm: Civil Union Act discussion.

• Behind the Mask • Gay & Lesbian Archives • OUT LGBT Well-being •
• Forum for the Empowerment of Women • Jewish OutLook •
• Equality Project • Gender DynamiX •
• Good Hope Metropolitan Christian Church •
• UNISA Centre for Applied Psychology •
• Centre for the Study of AIDS, University of Pretoria •
• Exit • Jacana Books • Gay Goodies •

2006 saw the passing of the Civil Union legislation, which legalises gay marriage, making South Africa the
first country in Africa and only the fifth in the world to recognise same sex marriages, granting them legal equality with heterosexual marriage. Perhaps more important than the passing of the Civil Union Act, was what it revealed about the attitudes of our elites toward gays and lesbians in general. Jacob Zuma described same-sex marriages as “a disgrace to the nation and to God” at a public meeting to celebrate Heritage Day. He added for good measure: “When I was growing up, unqingili [‘homosexuals’] could not stand in front of me.”

The ANC immediately distanced itself from Zuma’s comments with spokesman Smuts Ngonyama saying: “We stand by our resolution in support of same-sex marriages and the bill”. He emphasised that “someone has to show the way and shape the thinking of the continent. We have to keep up globally; we just need to educate our people”. The ANC rolled out the big guns, issuing an order that all MPs had to be present to vote for the legislation. Among those who were allowed to be absent was the traditional leader representative Phatekile Holomisa who described the Civil Union bill as “unacceptable”, saying “we are definitely not ready for this – people reacted with anger and indignation at the public hearings on the bill.” The conservative section of parliament had “reluctantly” supported the bill. He added that while the DA allowed its MPs to vote according to conscience, the ACDP and the IFP opposed the bill.

The struggle for the values enshrined in the South African Constitution is not over. While it has been won at the top of society, there are many others who, driven by poverty, lack of access to education, poor health and social services, can and will seize on issues such as gay and lesbian equality to discredit the constitution and the values it supports. The Out in Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival remains a signal event which each year provides the opportunity to reaffirm the right to equality and non-discrimination of gays and lesbians in South Africa. Without this Festival, we would be just that bit more reliant on others to speak for us, rather than speaking for ourselves. Buy that ticket! Your support for the Festival and all it stands for remains a crucial affirmation of our right to a place in the South African sun.

Jack Lewis OIA Board member

SABC

As part of the SABC’s commitment to broadcasting engaging and groundbreaking / edgy content, we are proud to be associated with the Out in Africa Film Festival.

As the national broadcaster, the SABC’s support of the Festival is in line with the pillars of SABC’s vision for broadcasting for total citizen empowerment as well as promoting the Content Hub’s vision of weaving Universal dreams and celebrating all African stories.

The special screening of After Nine (the first episode broadcasts on Thursday 17th April at 9pm on S1), will be followed by a discussion led by senior SABC Content Hub Heads of Genre and Commissioning Editors, as well industry creatives involved in the production.

Panelists will include:

• Kethiwe Ngcobo – Head of Genre, Content Hub, Drama
• Palesa Letlaka-Nkosi – Acting Head of Genre, Content Hub, Entertainment
• Busi Chaane – Head of Genre, Content Hub, Factual
• Beathur Baker – Commissioning Editor, Factual
• Sechaba Morojele – Director, After Nine
• Vincent Moloi – Director, Society

Dates:

• Johannesburg
  Monday 12 March at 6.30pm
• Cape Town
  Thursday 22 March at 6.30pm

ENTRANCE IS FREE. Book and collect tickets at cinema box office only

Panel Discussion: What's Love got to do with it?

• Is being Gay, Lesbian or Bi only about who you love?
• Or, is it also about BODY and SOCIAL IDENTITY, as it is for Transgender people?
• Why should GLB people be in alliance with Transgender people?

These, and other questions, will be tackled by the Panellists...

• Johannesburg
  Saturday 10 March after the screening of Paris Is Burning
  Jennie Livingston, Liesl Theron, Robert Hamblin, Vania Rozarios
• Cape Town
  Saturday 17 March after screening of Paris Is Burning
  Jennie Livingston, Liesl Theron, Robert Hamblin, Sharntel Ontong

Guests

A passionate, workaholic, hands-on gender activist, Liesl Theron founded Gender DynamiX in July 2005 in response to the unique characteristics and challenges of transgenderism in South Africa. She shares her expertise by serving on the Cape Town Pride Planning Committee, the Council of Good Hope MCC, and the Joint Working Group (JWG), and for programmes like Health24.

She consults, gives radio interviews regularly, writes articles for magazines, presents workshops and utilizes Gender DynamiX to facilitate interactions in the community. Gender DynamiX serves also on the International Resources Network’s African Editorial Board. She escapes to a small country cottage with a pile of books and to hike in order to remain sane. 

Robert A. Hamblin, 37, is a transman. In his photography and art he creates narratives of the human state and explores gender issues to increase awareness and transform gender relations. He began as the only woman in the Beeld photographic team, and went freelance at 21. A successful career as a conceptual artist and commercial photographer followed. While living in the US, with his Texan partner, Robert discovered that his lifelong discomfort with his body and the identity imposed on him at birth, actually had a name.

He met other transgender and transsexual people, decided to face his demons and embarked on a journey towards a truer version of himself. His films are part of a body of work exploring these issues and have been shown locally and internationally at art festivals.

Sharntel Ontong is a 29 year old Capetonian transwoman. Sharntel describes herself as someone who always knew she was going to be succesfull but the utter discomfort she felt with her body from a very young age made her feel trapped. As a teenager and young adult she felt attracted to men but felt that the identity of a gay man just did not fit.

Today Sharntell is an independent woman working for the Department of Health, living full time as a woman. She says she has come along way from being an unhappy boy who was afraid of life and who had no idea that one could transcend the gender boundaries. Today she is a very positive woman that knows what she wants out of life and who will never give up until she has it.

Vania Rozarios is a 22 year old Johannesburg Trans woman who knew that her sex did not match her gender, and expressed her true gender from a young age. She excelled academically, and in athletics, at Barnato Park High. Outspoken about her femininity, she was tolerated because of her achievements and was elected school president for two years running.

She liked the title ‘President’, a genderless word, but for her it still meant head-girl! Vania won a prestigious bursary from Deloitte & Touche and studies at the Forbes Lever Baker Training Institute for Accountants. Vania loves advocating for self acceptance. She says "when you accept yourself it makes it hard for others not to". In her free time Vania does modelling work and activism for Trans issues.

Paris Is Burning was one of the most-seen American independent films of the 1990s; it won a Sundance Grand Jury Prize, a Teddy Bear at the Berlinale, and an audience award from the Toronto International Film Festival. Jennie Livingston's Who's the Top? premièred at the 2005 Berlinale and has played at 80 festivals worldwide. Upcoming works include Earth Camp One, a personal documentary about grief and loss; and The Room in the Mountain, a feature set in the art worlds, in 1989, of East Berlin and New York. Completed works include Through the Ice (festival première, Sundance, 2006), commissioned by WNET-New York; and Hotheads (1994), commissioned by the Red Hot Organization, whose proceeds benefit AIDS research and treatment. Livingston grew up in Los Angeles, was educated at Yale, and lives in Brooklyn, New York.