Where will you be during Pride Week? I think it’s good to feel proud all year long, but it is also good to take all those good feelings and share them in the public sphere, at least once a year! Happily, TLVFest – The Tel Aviv LGBT International Film Festival – will be taking place from June 7 – 16, 2014, so you can show your pride in the comfortable air-conditioned space of the Tel Aviv Cinematheque and the Q Hotel, the party venue!
But really, you should come for the movies! Founder and Artistic Director Yair Hochner has put together a diverse program of intriguing films, guests, workshops and lectures. Hochner says that of 250 films shown in Israeli cinemas in 2013, only six dealt with LGBT issues, which really seems far from representative. The festival seeks to foster the development of LGBT content and fair representation of LGBT issues onscreen, and encourage an environment of tolerance and empowerment all around, all while having a good time.
Opening night is a tribute to Amos Guttman, with a special film project composed of 5 short films, each by a different director, all inspired by Guttman’s life and films. Thanks to the generosity of Guttman’s family, Guttman’s films will be screened at the festival – FREE and open to the public. Tickets are necessary for admission, free tickets may be picked up at the box office. The films to be screened: Drifted (1983) on June 8th; Bar 51 (1985) with Juliano Mer-Khamis on June 9th; Himmo, King of Jerusalem on June 10th; and Amazing Grace (1992) on June 11th – all films will be shown at 16:00.
This is an excellent opportunity to catch up on Israeli LGBT films, both fiction and documentary. Of the ones to be screened, I’ve seen Probation Time, directed by Avigail Sperber, a film that explores the myriad interconnected issues of parenting, intimacy, trust and responsibility. A moving, honest, film that doesn’t go for platitudes and leaves you with more questions than answers.
Mostly, I’m curious about the films I haven’t seen. The full program is available in English (YAY!) online. These are some that caught my eye:
52 Tuesdays, directed by Sophie Hyde.
It’s hard to ignore a film that won Best Director at Sundance 2014 and Crystal Bear at the Berlin Film Festival 2014, but even more compelling is the look at gender reassignment from the perspective of the individual’s teenage daughter. Whatever we may think about a person’s right to make choices about every aspect of her/his life and body, it sparks a whole new conversation when we stop to think about those who are affected by that choice, and have no choice in the matter.
French thriller Eastern Boys, directed by Robin Campillo, brings together 50ish Daniel with Marek, an attractive and very young Eastern European who hangs out at the Gare du Nord station with other such young men. The encounter leads to far more than Daniel expects. The film won the Horizons Award for Best Picture at the Venice Film Festival 2013, and Best Picture at the Festival of Santa Barbara 2014.
The title of this film is irresistible: Vulva 3.0. Directed by Claudia Richarz, Ulrike Zimmermann the German documentary (English and Hebrew subtitles) relies on extensive research to tell you the latest scoop on the female body.
I’m also curious about Pedro Marum’s (Curator of the Queer Focus section in the International Queer Film Festival of Lisbon) lecture Beyond Queer, on films that extend the meaning of Queer Cinema. Happy that the lecture will be in English, on Thursday, June 12th at 16:30. Get your free tickets at the Cinematheque box office.
The TLVFest Award 2014 will go to Jamie Babbit and Zazie de Paris. Jamie Babbit’s new thriller Breaking the Girls will be shown at the festival as well as the cult hit But I’m a Cheerleader, and Itty Bitty Titty Committee. Ms. Babbit will conduct a master class where she will present her short films and talk about her work in film and television (Gilmore Girls, Ugly Betty, Gossip Girl and many more). Sunday, June 8th at 18:30 – admission to the master class is free and open to the public, tickets required -pick up free tickets at the Cinematheque box office.
See you at the movies!
