Outfest Tagged Articles at Cinematical

The 26th Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, which is also known as Outfest 2008, is wrapping up today, but the cinematic winners of this year's fest have already been announced during an awards ceremony last night in Hollywood. In the list of winners, there are some familiar names, plus some other films that might be worth keeping an eye out for.

The awards were led by Were the World Mine, which won Outstanding US Dramatic Feature. The film focuses on an all-boys school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (and for those Twin Peaks fans out there, the crazy Nadine, Wendy Robie, pops up). On the international side of things is the excellent XXY, which I reviewed from TIFF last year. It is no surprise that this film nabbed the Best International Dramatic Feature prize, to add to its ever-growing list of nominations and wins. It's really, really worth your time.

Other winners include Hamlet 2, Sex Positive, Dream Boy, and Countertransference. To check out more of the winners, head to The Hollywood Reporter for a run-down.

Winner of a Grand Jury Award at the recently-concluded Outfest 2007, 25 Cent Preview will be screened as part of the Outfest Wednesdays film series in Los Angeles on September 5. Preview is a story of two hustlers cruising the Tenderloin district of San Francisco. Variety's Dennis Harvey wrote that it "offers a convincing slice of life" with "the ring of lived-in truth." While Gary Kramer in the San Francisco Bay Times felt "the film is at its best when it is in its fly on the wall/documentary mode," he concluded: "Curious viewers should give this indie film a look, but they may feel hustled when it's over." Cyrus Amini directed and will be in attendance at the screening. He was born in Switzerland and made Chicken Village, his first feature, in 1995 after attending the San Francisco Art Institute. More information is available at the film's official site.

"The only gay and lesbian-themed bi-monthly screening series in the country," Outfest Wednesdays will present two evenings of short films in the coming weeks. The first program, "Favorite Boys' Shorts," will be presented on August 29 and will feature I Hate Musicals, The Saddest Boy in the World, Solace, Heartland, Kali Ma and Serene Hunter. The second program, held on September 26, focuses on "Favorite Girls' Shorts" and includes Pariah, winner of both the Grand Jury Award and the Audience Award at Outfest 2007, as well as Casting Pearls, My First Time Driving, Long Ago, Last Exit and Pitstop. Each program appears to have a good variety of subject matter, so this would be a great way to catch up with films you have missed, and may not be able to see again in a cinema. All screenings take place at the Lloyd Rigler Theatre at the Egyptian in Hollywood. You can find more details at the Outfest site.

We're adding a new feature on Cinematical Indie: The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar. Each week, we'll give you a round-up of what's going on in indie film (and sometimes just cool film news and screenings) in cities near you. If you know of cool stuff happening that's related to film -- a local fest, a series of classic restored films, lectures, workshops, open calls for casting of an indie film -- send your tips to me at kim(at)cinematical(dot)com and we'll add them to the calendar.

Here are this week's happenings in film from New York to LA and points in between ...

New York City: This week at Film Forum, you can check out Live-In Maid (showing through July 31), Woody Allen's Manhattan in its last week, and Fritz Lang's Metropolis in a spandy-new 35mm print of the newly restored version! (Oooh, ahhh....). Special events at Film Forum this week include filmmaker Jorge Gaggaro at the 8:10 screening of Live-In Maid tonight AND (get this on your calendar's pronto, director at the 8PM screenings of his Iraq War doc, No End in Sight, next Friday and Saturday, July 27 and 28. I saw No End in Sight at Sundance, and attended a pretty impressive panel discussion of the film as well. It rocks -- don't miss it.

Over at the Walter Reade Theater, you serious film buffs might want to check out the celebration of Woodfall Film Productions, with Vanessa and Lynn Redgrave and Michael Sheen introducing some of the screenings. Check out the full program, it's a really nice lineup. Also at the Walter Reade, tonight at 7PM they have a screening of the restored print of silent film Way Down East. Sunday at 4:30 is an event you won't want to miss: Film Comment Selects Presents has a Norman Mailer event; tix include the 4:30PM screening of Tough Guys Don't Dance, a conversation with Mailer AND a complimentary pass to the 8PM screening of Maidstone -- what a great way to fill up a Sunday!

Los Angeles: Outfest -- the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival -- is still going on through July 23. There are still lots of films, panels and events going on through the weekend, so check out the schedule on the fest's official website to see what's happening.

Elsewhere in LA, American Cinematheque has the Mods and Rockers Film Fest going on. Friday and Saturday, the Egyptian has an "in-person salute to rock-doc pioneer filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker," with the West Coast premiere of his documentary 65 Revisited, with outtakes from his 1965 classic Don't Look Back. The full schedule can be found right here. Over at the Aero, there's a four-day engagement of David Lynch's Inland Empire, with discussions with "special guests."

Seattle: This weekend at Northwest Film Forum, they're screening June and July, winner of last year's Local Sightings Film Festival. Also, NWFF's Search and Rescue program continues the venue's exploration of 16mm film with a screening of 1964's Nothing But a Man. Coming up July 25 and 26, you can catch a screening of Jacques Tati's 1953 film, Mr. Hulot's holiday. Check out their website for complete schedule of events.

The Seattle International Film Festival may be long over, but the SIFF group is still bringing Seattleites great films all summer long with their SIFF Cinema Summer Series. This weekend through August 2, they're showing Apachatpong Weerasethakul's Syndromes and a Century, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun's Daratt, Bahman Ghobadi's Half Moon, and Tsai Ming-Liang's I Don't Want to Sleep Alone.

Also this weekend in Seattle: On Saturday, July 21 at 2PM, The Film School's Speaker Series, by Warren Etheredge, will host Sandra Nettelbeck, whose film Mostly Martha has been remade into the upcoming No Reservations starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart and Abigail Breslin. Nettlebeck will discuss her film the remake, and what's different between the two. Upcoming on July 28, TFS brings Oscar-nommed director Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) into town to sneak-preview his latest doc, Taxi to the Dark Side, which played at the Tribeca Film Festival. Taxi is about torture practices used by the United States in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, told through the story of an innocent taxi driver who was tortured and killed in 2002. Gibney's a sharp guy and a solid filmmaker -- that one's a must-see for you Seattle film buffs. Tix for both available at Etheredge's website, The Warren Report.


Austin: This weekend at The Alamo Drafthouse at Lake Creek brings you a special midnight screening of one of my fave Hitchcock films, Rear Window, Daft Punk's Electroma, and a screening for the kids (or those of us who haven't quite grown up yet, Dark Crystal. At the South Lamar location Master Pancake Does Conan -- the Barbarian, natch -- on Wednesday. Plus: The Village location has Rocky Horror Saturday night at 11:PM, so break out your corsets and fishnet stockings! Also, the Village and Lamar locations will have Simpson's Feasts, and the Village location

Dallas: Coming up in Dallas, the Dallas Video Fest runs July 31- August 5. The fest is surprisingly affordable -- all-day passes range from $10 weeknights to $25 weekends. Check out the full schedule and start making your plans now.

Oklahoma City: This weekend at the Oklahoma CIty Museum of Art: Parker Posey in Broken English and Oklahoma! Upcoming: Away from Her, Summercamp!, Once and Ten Canoes. Also, a panel discussion on images of Oklahoma in the movies. Full schedule is right here.

Want your city covered? Send your film news and links to me at kim(at)cinematical(dot)com ...

We're adding a new feature on Cinematical Indie: The (Mostly) Indie Film Calendar. Each week, we'll give you a round-up of what's going on in indie film (and sometimes just cool film news and screenings) in cities near you. If you know of cool stuff happening that's related to film -- a local fest, a series of classic restored films, lectures, workshops, open calls for casting of an indie film -- send your tips to me at kim(at)cinematical(dot)com and we'll add them to the calendar.

Here are this week's happenings in film from New York to LA and points in between ...

New York City: Film Forum, a hot spot for all things indie, has some interesting things going on. Filmmaker Jennifer Fox will be on hand for the screenings tonight at 8:15PM and Saturday at 1:15PM and 5PM of her film Flying: Confessions of a Free Woman. The film runs through July 17. Also showing: Woody Allen's Manhattan (through 7/19), and Jean Pierre Melville's Le Doulos (limited time only, so get on over there for that one!). Coming soon at Film Forum: Live-In Maid (7/18-7/31) and Metropolis (7/20-7/26).

Los Angeles: This week in Los Angeles, Outfest -- the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival -- is going on. With six galas and 70 features, there's lots to see, including a screening of a restored copy of Bill Sherwood's Parting Glances, outdoor screenings, panel discussions, and parties, parties, parties! Check out the full schedule for the fest on the official Outfest website, then get your butt off your couch and go see some films.

Seattle: One of the things I'll miss most about Seattle is Northwest Film Forum, which not only shows great movies, but does a lot of work to help make them as well. This weekend, Northwest Film Forum is showing the awesome (albeit deeply depressing) Raise the Red Lantern, Walking to Werner (held over through July 15), and L'Iceberg. Monday they're doing a one-night screening of the films of Seattle filmmaker Barbara Ireland, and Tuesday night they'll host the Filmmaker's Saloon, a "panel discussion and socializing event for the local film and dance community." For filmmakers and filmmaker wannabes, upcoming workshops at NWFF include Introduction to Flash and Garage Band for Directors. Check out their website for complete schedule of events.

Also upcoming in Seattle: On July 21 at 2PM (location TBD), The Film School's Speaker Series, by Warren Etheredge, will host Sandra Nettelbeck, whose film Mostly Martha has been remade into the upcoming No Reservations starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart and Abigail Breslin. Nettlebeck will discuss her film the remake, and what's different between the two. July 28, TFS brings Oscar-nommed director Alex Gibney (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) into town to sneak-preview his latest doc, Taxi to the Dark Side, which played at the Tribeca Film Festival. Taxi is about torture practices used by the United States in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, told through the story of an innocent taxi driver who was tortured and killed in 2002. Gibney's a sharp guy and a solid filmmaker -- that one's a must-see for you Seattle film buffs. Tix for both available at Etheredge's website, The Warren Report.


Austin: Austin's a great town for film, and this weekend at the Alamo Drafthouse is no exception. If you just haven't gotten enough of Michael Moore lately after his appearances on CNN and Larry King Live, you can catch his newest doc, SICKO, at the Drafthouse's Lake Creek location this weekend. Tired of hearing the name Harry Potter? Saturday and Sunday at noon, take the kid(s) in your life to a special screening of The Secret of Nimh, the movie that made rats cute years before Ratatouille. Coming up next weekend: A special midnight screening of one of my fave Hitchcock films, Rear Window, Daft Punk's Electroma, and another screening for the kids (or those of us who haven't quite grown up yet, Dark Crystal.

Dallas: If you live in Dallas, you know that the city has really grown in access to arts over the past decade, and there's a lot more going on with film down there than there used to be. The AFI Dallas Film Fest had great support from locals, but it only comes once a year. What to do the rest of the time? Well, for starters, on July 17 at 7:30PM, you can head over to Victory Park for an outdoor screening of everyone's fave friendly-alien flick, E.T. Bring the kids, a picnic dinner, and a box of tissues for that ending ("I'll be riiiiight heeeeere ...") and have a great time. On July 19, pop over to Studio Movie Grill in Addison for Mr. Weird's Grindhouse Volume 1, featuring a big-screen screening of Night of the Living Dead, preceded by an awesome 45 minute compilation of trailers and commercials from 1968 and trailers from zombie movies!

Oklahoma City: Yeah, Oklahoma City (my hometown, where I just relocated with my family) actually has some indie film happenings these days! Booyah! Every Thursday through Sunday, the museum screens independent, foreign and classic films. This weekend at the Oklahoma CIty Museum of Art, they're showing Alice Neel, a documentary about the painter by her grandson, Andrew Neel. Alice Neel painted portraits of such notables as Andy Warhol, Bella Abzug and Allen Ginsburg; her grandson's film explores her life and her work. Also at the Museum this weekend is John Ford's cheery and uplifting Grapes of Wrath. Coming soon: Broken English, Away from Her, Summercamp! and Once. Excellent selections, all. (Now if only we'd get a Landmark Theater here to give us a little more access to indie films ... nudge nudge ).

Want your city covered? Send your film news and links to me at kim(at)cinematical(dot)com ...

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The Outfest Queer Brunch is one of the hottest parties for actual filmmakers at Sundance. You won't find Paris Hilton getting jiggy in her fur boots there, but you will find a good percentage of the folks actually involved making movies - and lest we forget, that's really what Sundance is all about. Most of the filmmakers at Sundance must have been there yesterday morning, because the Grub Steakhouse was packed wall-to-wall with people schmoozing, networking, and trying to work their way to the buffet lines and the open bar. Our own C.K. Sample came with me to act as photographer, and he must have a vibe about him or something, because he was come onto twice - one guy grabbed C.K.'s rear in the buffet line and told him, "It's so crowded here, you have to just push your way through and be....aggressive". I'm sure C.K. was flattered.

I ran into lots of directors at the brunch, including Quinceañeara director Richard Glatzer, All Aboard! Rosie's Family Cruise director  Shari Cookson, small town gay bar director Malcolm Ingram, and Oscar-award winning director Freida Lee Mock, who is here with her film Wrestling With Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner. Queer film historian Jenni Olson was on hand, as was novelist Armistead Maupin (scoring at the brunch buffet, left), whose novel The Night Listener was made into a film starring Robin Williams and Sandra Oh, which is premiering here at Sundance.

The biggest draw at the brunch was legendary director John Waters, who is so cool and amazing in his natural state, he doesn't even have to put on any pretense.  Waters is practically the messiah of Outfest and of queer film - he was unabashedly taking Hollywood by storm as an openly gay man long before it was cool to do so,  and paving the way for every gay person working in film today. It was fascinating watching people's reaction to Waters - waiting patiently to get a picture taking with him, to shake his hand, to touch his sleeve. C.K. bravely got right up there to introduce himself and give Waters a Cinematical tshirt - Waters was a little startled by C.K. at first, but warmed right up when offered a pumpkin-colored Cine shirt.

Director Maurice Jamal and his crew (pictured, right) had the best tshirts at the Outfest Brunch. Well, except for ours, of course.

 More photos of the Outfest Brunch below the fold.