OUTshine Film Festival in Fort Lauderdale is the younger sibling of the Miami Edition, and this is its 15th Edition. Like most of South Florida, the city is very diverse and that’s reflected in the very compelling program that appeals to not only everyone on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, but also the Latino and Hispanic queer communities.
This 10-day Festival has both in-person screenings plus also the opportunity to screen most of the program anywhere in Florida. Whilst most queer film fests always spoil all the peeps that sign up to be members (giving them essential revenue) OUTshine goes one step further. As well as the two annual Festivals they have regular screenings throughout the rest of the year which often are sneak previews of movies that have not been released yet. https://outshinefilm.com/member-benefits
Queerguru is thrilled to be a MEDIA SPONSOR of OUTshine once again and our Team has been through the entire program, to come up with our :
TOP PICKS OF MUST SEE MOVIES
We warmed to ALL KINDS OF LOVE as it is a delightful feel-good comedy about people trying to follow their hearts. It’s 2015 and whilst we are all celebrating the Supreme Court’s upholding of Marriage Equality, this one longtime gay couple are getting a divorce. It propels Max, a stuck-in-his-ways gay man who tries to start over, and he is like a fish out of water and is so unprepared for all the scenarios that lie ahead
(The Blue Caftan) is director Maryam Touzani’s beautifully poetic drama about the relationship between a closeted Moroccan tailor, Halim, (Saleh Bakri), his dying wife Mina (Lubna Azabal), and their gay male apprentice Youssef (Ayoub Missioui). Beautifully shot and lit by cinematographer Virginie Surdej, with excellent, very tender, performances by the three main actors, Touzani’s intimate, authentic film is paced to reflect the slow-burn of the lives and relationships she is exploring. Her film is a great close-up study of the combinations of despondency, laughter, grief and joy life can entail. BEG, STEAL OR BORROW TO GET A TICKET FOR THIS ONE!
Chrissy Judy takes a poignant dive into what our friendships do for us – in particular those that involve our queer chosen families. Chrissy (Wyatt Fenner) and Judy (Todd Flaherty) are best friends and have been performing drag together for a while, mostly to rather disinterested audiences in New York City and Fire Island. They’ve both recently turned thirty years old and this milestone has triggered Chrissy into reevaluating his life and priorities. He decides to quit performing drag and to move in with his boyfriend Shawn (Kiyon Spencer) who lives in Philadelphia, and transfer his day job there too.
Todd Flaherty has written, directed, and stars in this film, which is beautifully shot in black and white. Strong art direction, cinematography, and good casting with some handsome men complement an often witty script. The overall message here is that our chosen families, although very important, alone usually won’t give us the full life we want. We need to search out and create relationships, careers, housing opportunities, and all the other elements that make up a nourishing life ourselves.
PS, You may also want to check out Queerguru’s interview with director Todd Flaherty https://queerguru.com/todd-flaherty-talks-about-his-directing-debut-chrissy-judy-that-everyone-else-is-now-talking-about-too/
El Houb (The Love) is a tense family melodrama set within the Dutch-Moroccan community in Holland. Successful young businessman Karim (Fahd Larhzaoui) and his Ghanian boyfriend Kofi (Emmanuel Boafo) are in a state of undress at Karim’s smart apartment when Karim’s father Abbas (Slimane Dazi), a postman, delivers a package and sees Karim in Kofi’s bed. Karim’s conservative, religious, family don’t know that he is gay and his father’s sight prompts Karim to decide to come out to them.
The film shows that, however tough it may seem at times, there can be an alternative to suffering in silence within a family. A genuine love story, in all senses of the word. Highly recommended.
In From The Side is a rare genre of queer movies. It’s a love story set in a gay rugby club. Brit filmmaker Matt Carter’s story is about winning and losing …… on the rugby field and in the bedroom, and it is an enchanting compelling tale that will have you transfixed until the ‘final score”
This is Carter’s debut feature film but as well as directing and co-writing, he also edited, produced, composed the soundtrack, and was also the cinematographer.
As a gay man, I managed to avoid team sports at school so seeing the passion that these men invest in such a potentially dangerous game is beyond me, but I could relate to the close-knit camaraderie both on and off the field……Ive seen it three times already
P.S. Yoy may also like to check out Queerguru’s interview with filmmaker Matt Carter https://queerguru.com/matt-carter-talks-about-his-feature-film-in-from-the-side-a-queer-romance-about-winning-and-losing/
The opening scene of Lonesome resembles a Hollywood Western as our protagonist Casey (Josh Lavery) keeps pace with the sun while running away from his reality. He dons a cowboy hat and the classic blue jeans and white T-shirt combo that immediately endow him with an eye-candy-cum-rebellious persona. His face has the sharpness as well as the vulnerability of youth. Staying true to his young age, he doesn’t miss a chance to sleep with men, even at his lowest moments. His story is that of a rural gay man making his way into the big city. However, what he lacks is hope. His only redeeming quality is his libido. Lonesome treads familiar territory but is boosted by the decadent charm of Josh Lavery and the director’s reluctance to hold back during the ‘depraved’ moments of the narrative. DL.
Nelly and Nadine is the unlikely love story between two women falling in love on Christmas Eve, 1944 The film captured me from the beginning; a sequence of a newsreel from April 28th, 1945 shot at Malmö Harbor, Sweden, in which a large group of women reaches freedom after German concentration camps. We see them smile and say hello to the camera, there is Nadine with her white scarf, striped uniform, and that mysterious gaze.
The film has been made with exquisite delicacy to tell a story of survival in the 20th Century. It is also a tale of profound love and intimacy that portrays moments in Nelly & Nadine´s apartment in Caracas, Venezuela, and Sylvie´s home, a place sweeter than home in the French countryside. Magnus Gertten, the director, invites us to a rendezvous as in a family talking about people we know and love deeply.
Queer Arab love stories are brought to life in Egyptian film director Mohammad Shawky Hassan’s colorful new film, Bashtaalak Sa’at (Shall I Compare You to a Summer’s Day?). A lively, handsome group of young queer Arab men, mostly Egyptian and Lebanese, and clad just in their underwear or less, recount their tales of love and lust amongst each other using a variety of inspired means including Arabic poetry, animation, beautiful vocal harmonies, and naked re-enactments. The result is an entertaining, playful portrayal of modern queer life and love in the eastern Mediterranean – contemporary pop culture presented with a nod to traditional Arabic storytelling.
“The Return of Tanya Tucker,” captures the production of Tucker’s 2019 comeback While I’m Livin’, Brandi Carlile, wants to celebrate the art of her icon, Tanya Tucker, who hadn’t recorded new material in 17 years when she was approached to do this one by what was basically a total stranger. Filmmaker Kathlyn Horan sets a wonderful stage for Carlise’s passionate admiration for the groundbreaking Tucker that I actually ended up liking country music. (Will I lose my gay card for this? )
Unconventional is the new queer comedy-drama series from super talented actor/writer/producer/director Kit Williamson who brought us the fantastic Eastsiders drama series. We follow queer siblings Noah (Kit Williamson) and Margot Guillory (Aubrey Peeples) and their partners Dan Charles and Elisa Slate (James Bland (also co-director and writer) and Briana Venskus) and the challenges they have to overcome as they try to start a family as thirty-somethings in today’s insecure world.
On-screen chemistry between the cast is great and combines with an excellent, very modern, thought-provoking script, sharp dialogue, good sex scenes, colorful cinematography and a great soundtrack. Plus lots of hot bodies – including Williamson who is looking super buff, and Drag Race star William Belli. What’s not to like! Highly recommended.
Ft Lauderdale's OUTshine Film Fest will begin on 10/13 and end on 10/23 To see the whole program and book tickets check out https://outshinefilm.com/
For the full reviews of these films and over 1500 other queer movies check out https://queerguru.com/ and whilst you are there be sure to subscribe to get all the latest raves and rants on queer cinema….. even better IT’s FREE
