It’s apparent to Queerguru that when they slimmed down the 38th Edition of the Miami Film Festival Virtual Online Edition, the LGBTQ movie section of the program suffered. What was once a very respectable showing of some new cutting-edge queer movies is now down to a solitary feature film. Plus two shorts.
The Poppy Field is the one queer film that made the cut. It’s a very impressive debut feature from newbie openly gay Bulgarian filmmaker Eugen Jebeleanu. It is possibly the first-ever LGBTQ film from that part of Eastern Europe.
It is the story of Cristi a young closeted gendarme stationed in Bucharest. He is in a long-term long-distance relationship with Hadi, and the very same day he is in town for a conjugal visit, Cristi is called out to sort a disturbance in a movie theater. Inside an ultra-nationalist homophobic group has sabotaged the screening of a queer film.. When one of the protesters recognizes Cristi and threatens to disclose the secret about his sexuality, Cristi is faced with the danger of losing everything he has gained so far
Click HERE for details on How to View Carlton Daniel Jr is a Black indie filmmaker from Cleveland Ohio who seeks to challenge misconceptions of contemporary Black life through his critical lens. Homecoming is his most recent short film.
A mortician’s son balances the expectations of working at his father’s funeral home and a night out with friends. When grief intrudes on his closest relationships, he must face the full circle of life, forcing him to see the world as it truly is.
.Click HERE for details of how to view This wee gem is for all of us still waiting to let put inner drag queen out. In this 13 mins short film THe CORONATION from queer Brooklyn filmmaker Dhruv Sud, a young boy sneaks out from his parents’ home in New Jersey to see his drag queen friends in New York City. While there, he is encouraged to try drag for the first time and he is crowned queen for a night. It’s’ what dreams are made of.
Click HERE for details on how to viewThat may be the complete sum of the LGBTQ movies this Fest, but all is not totally lost for filmgoers who have a queer sensibility. There are three very firm contenders on Queerguru’s Movies Not To Be Missed.
Firstly the legendary Spanish auteur Pedro Almodovar has outdone himself with his new short film The Human Voice. It’s his first movie in English, but much more important his first with Tilda Swinton. They are made for each other, and Swinton soars in this chic stylized melodrama that is very loosely based on a Jean Cocteau play. We’ve seen it four times already, and you’ll want to do the same.
Click HERE for details on how To view Unquestionably one of Queerguru’s favorite films at this year’s Sundance Film Festival was Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It.
From the opening credits of Mariem Perez’s excellent documentary on the legendary award-laden actress RITA MORENO you are immediately hit by her infectious exuberance and good humor. She was a mere 87 years old when this was filmed two years but was still working in the profession in which she loves (and that loves her). It is also her frankness and honesty that sets this doc apart from the usual actor profile. The film (and she) are a sheer joy.
Click HERE for details on how to view We will confess that anyone who stands up against the inequities of the Catholic Church is all right in our book. So we really warmed to Rebel Hearts that also just premiered at Sundance Film Festival. It’s the story of how a tight-knit group of progressive nuns in Hollywood literally changed all their ‘habits’ and started radical women’s college grounded in social activism.
That wasn’t all they did as they completely transformed an outdated education system, but it was probably the fact they joined the March in Selma that finally made the Archbishop lose it
Sadly this ground-beaking religious showdown which pitted a delightfully non-conforming group of feminist nuns against powerful patriarchy is little known. Hopefully, this uplifting and joyous documentary from gay Brazilian catholic filmmaker Pedro Kos will now change all that
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