Boston’s WICKED QUEER is the 4th longest running LGBTQ+ Film Festival in North America. and one that QUEERGURU is proud to a be a media sponsor. They have just finsuhed their main annual Fest, and are now planning to celebrate PRIIDE MONTH with a host of queer movie treats .
They include Andrew Ahn‘s 2016 debut SPA NIGHT which was a major hit at Sundance that year. It is a coming of age tale that is a really refreshing look at a young Korean/American man with a foot in two different cultures in which he doesn’t feel he fits, which in a way mirrors his parents own struggle to find their American identities. On top of that however, David has to come to terms with his own sexuality, which looks like it is going to take a great deal longer to resolve.
A few years back , Queerguru had the distinct honor of interviewing the gay activist and icon George Takei about his work and life. Anyone who has met him , knows that he is both charming and generous, and that is exactly what Jennifer M. Kroot captured in her enchanting documentary ‘To Be Takei’. The immensely likable Takei with his admirably whole crusading works is, on the other hand, always the consummate actor who never, even in his downtime moments, will stray from the ‘script’.
Takei has now turned his hand to Social Media and his daily outpouring of jokes and funny pictures has made him an unlikely Facebook phenomenon with some 57K followers. He is a man who seems never to stop laughing, often quite nervously, something that his husband picked up on camera and challenged him on at one point. Takei missed his chance and just laughed it off. It is a pity as it would have been nice just to see him with his guard down just once.
Even more good news is that WICKED QUEER is taking its Celebrating Pride ‘on the road’ with a great series on New Queer Theater at Coolidge Corner in Brookline. Check out the schedule that include some of our all time favs
Poison – Tues, June 4, 7PM
My Own Private Idaho – Sun, June 9, 2PM
Young Soul Rebels & Seminar with Shawn Cotter (they/he) – Tues, June 11, 7PM
Edward II – Tues, June 18, 7PM
Nowhere – Tues, June 25, 7PM
Go Fish – Sun, June 30, 2PM’
Plus WICKED QUEER is working with Nantucket Pride to help to kick of the Pride season on the island with a selection of short films celebrating diversity of experiences and identities of the LGBTQIA+ community with a brief intermission followed by an introduction to The Future Perfect Project. This event is for teens (ages 14+) and all are welcome.
Then on 6/5 there is a special screening of Eliot Page‘s new film CLOSE TO YOU that is getting such excellent reviews. Page, who is also the co-writer and Producer, plays Sam who’s nervously preparing for his first trip back home in four years. He’s off to visit his estranged family back in small-town Cobourg, and it’s the first time they’ve seen him since his transition. He assumes that he’s a disappointment to his family and the ache in the pit of his stomach is palpable.
Director Dominic Savage and Page tell an emotional tale of ‘outsiderness’ that many queer people will relate to. The improvisation adds an authenticity and ‘kitchen-sink’ drama feeling that a fully prepared script might not have achieved. The role of Sam feels very personal to Page, in one of his first major roles since his own real-life transition.
Plus in Salem on MA’s North Shore there will PANORAMA a film festival, of all short films by queer and trans youth. (and there will be drag as well!). For tickets for this and the livestream click HERE
https://www.wickedqueer.org/
Labels: 2024, celebrations, Pride, Wicked Queer
