South Africa Blog

Johannesburg Thursday 4th - Sunday 14th September 2008: At Nu Metro - Killarney Mall
Cape Town Thursday 11th – Sunday 21st September 2008: Nu Metro - V&A Waterfront

The Out In Africa SA Gay & Lesbian Film Festival has its 15th birthday outing this September, screening at Nu Metro in Johannesburg and Cape Town for 11 days in each city. Gay cinema is undergoing a quiet revolution – where stereotypes have been ousted and reality is being truly reflected. The Festival has something to suit all tastes and moods! The films? Silly, serious, sweet and sexy by turns, something for everyone… and from countries all over the world - Argentina, Australia, France, Germany, Hungary, South Africa, Spain, UK and USA. .

And the cherries on top are the fabulous filmmaker guests, among them Bennett Singer (Director of Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin). Justice Edwin Cameron selected this multiple award-winning documentary which reveals the life of the gay man who mentored Martin Luther King. Cameron will attend some of the screenings and engage with director Bennett Singer and Rustin’s life partner Walter Naegle.

Lisa Thrasher (Producer of Itty Titty Bitty Committee) is an Independent Film Producer and serves as the President of Film Production & Distribution for POWER UP (Professional Organisation of Women in Entertainment Reaching UP) – she will be running a Producer’s Seminar in Johannesburg and Cape Town – see the printed programme and website for further details.

Also in attendance will be Jamie Babbit, the Director of Itty Titty Bitty Committee. Babbit has enjoyed success as a television producer/director, serving as both for the WB television series Popular, as well as directing episodes of such critically acclaimed shows as Ugly Betty, the L Word, Alias, Nip/Tuck, Malcolm in the Middle and The Gilmore Girls.

Must see movies
Compact and feisty, this year’s programme of award winning films has something for everyone. The films, all with strong LGBTI themes, range from searing documentaries to a surf’s up flick and an apartment block suspense thriller. For the boys, we recommend:

25 Cent Preview
A gritty, ‘in the moment’ gallop through the red-light district of San Francisco, this is a journey into the uncensored life, loves and tricks of its street hustlers. Honest, riveting performances and a fast pace ensures compelling viewing that reveals far more humanity and understanding than you would expect.

The Bubble
Hottie Iraelli Noam and gorgeous Palestinian Ashraf drive this captivating ode to transcendental love – sexual, familial, and platonic – that encapsulates the surreal lives lived by young gays and straights, Jews and Arabs, men and women in Israel today. From the director of Yossi and Jagger.

Outing Riley
Laid-back and cleverly crafted, this light amusing coming-out family comedy disarms stereotypes and expectations of what a gay man is meant to be and how he is meant to act.

Times Have Been Better
In imitable quirky French style, the proud liberal parents of thirty-something banker Jeremy descend into crisis when he celebrates moving into a new house with his older, long-term boyfriend by finally announcing to the family that he is gay.

Saturn in Opposition
Gorgeous Lorenzo and older author Davide are the central loving couple of a close-knit sophisticated group of friends who loyally weather each other’s imperfections, insecurities and secrets with sensitivity and joviality. From the director of Hamam and Ignorant Faries.

Savage Grace
Careening from New York in 1946 to London in 1972, via Paris and Spain, this true story with a stellar cast (Julianne Moore, Eddie Redmayne) charts one family’s descent from decadence into a dysfunction that would make Jerry Springer proud.

Shelter
Young, talented artist Zach has sacrificed his dreams of going to art school in order to look after adorable nephew, Cody, which his self-centred sister seems incapable of doing. Then along comes his best friend’s studly older brother. With great surf scenes and sensitive lensing, this summer coming-out and falling-in-love romance elegantly sidesteps clichés.

Out in Africa has developed a new partnership with Cape Town Pride. There is a Gala event at the first screening of Shelter in Cape Town. Tickets will be more expensive (R50 instead of R25), but it is for a good cause – the CTP Shelter Trust. In addition, Out in Africa will have a presence at Cape Town Pride in February 2009 with more films for your delectation.

Were the World Mine
This fun, dazzling and amusing musical-of-errors with a first rate ensemble cast and delicious lead is a magical modern interpretation of Shakespeare set amidst the familiar scenarios of high school angst and adolescent crushes.

You Belong to Me
In the vein of all suspense movies, this uneasy thriller follows the misfortunes of rookie-architect Jeffery who transforms from stalker into victim when he moves into a sinister building and its characters provoke a creeping paranoia.

Documentaries:
The Quest for the Missing Piece
A religious rite of passage; a hidden badge of cultural identity; how can cutting a piece of genital skin encapsulate so much and evoke so many conflicting thoughts, feelings and emotions?

For The Bible Tells Me So
In this thorough, positive and ultimately hopeful documentary, the filmmaker presents the complex subject of homosexuality and religion through personal and intellectual arguments that encourages people to examine their beliefs rather than mindlessly accept the preaching of others.

Panel discussions will be held after screenings in both JHB and CT – see printed programme and website for details.

Rampant – How a City Stopped a Plague
How a City Stopped a Plague tells the story of how “poofters, junkies and whores contained the AIDS virus.” and champions Australia’s early response to HIV.

Panel discussions will be held after screenings in both JHB and CT – see printed programme and website for details.

Tickets are R25
Exclusive Books Fanatics earn 200 bonus points for each ticket purchased so please remember to bring your Fanatics card.

We look forward to seeing you at the Festival!

Info
www.oia.co.za ▪ 021 461 40 27 ▪ info@oia.co.za