One of queerguru’s very favorite Film Festivals kicks open tomorrow Wednesday 7th October in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The centerpiece of the Festival is the Iris Prize, known to film aficionados as the Gay Short Film Oscars, as it is the world’s largest short film prize with a whopping £30,000. Funded by the Michael Bishop Foundation, it is presented annually to the Best LGBT short film as decided by an independent jury, chaired this year by actress Lynn Hunter.
The purpose of this prestigious Award is to fund young filmmakers next short movie. Past winners include Brazilian filmmaker Daniel Ribeiro with his ‘I Don’t Want To Go Back Alone’ who used his prize as seed money to make his first ever feature film ‘The Way He Looks’ that went on to win the coveted Teddy Award at the Berlin Film Festival and then became his country’s official submission to the Oscars.
This year there are 40 amazing stories representing the diversity of LGBT life from 18 countries competing for an Iris Prize, plus a whole sprinkling of international features that play throughout the five days of the Festival. From the latter we have chosen queerguru’s four top must-see picks for those of you who still haven’t made your mind up.
Scrum: a new documentary film about last year’s huge Bingham Cup (named after Mark Bingham the gay hero of 9/11 tragedy) gay and inclusive rugby tournament involving teams from around the world competing in Sydney is premiering next month. Director Poppy Stockwell follows the journey of the tournament’s winning team and the personal stories of three gay men whose lives are changed under the tutelage of a determined coach as they vie for the honor of playing for the Sydney Convicts team at the gay rugby World Cup. With the trickle of Rugby players ‘coming out’ increasing slowly each week, the movie hits a very topical issue and goes towards helping us understanding the inbred homophobia that all sportsmen must deal with.
How To Win At Checkers (Every Time) : is a refreshing coming-of-age drama debut movie from American/Korean filmmaker Josh Kim about two orphaned brothers who have to deal with the reality of social inequality which he does without sinking into melodrama or dragging out any of the usual cliched stereotypes. The compassionate fraternal relationship is particular touching and makes this heartbreaking story such a sheer joy to watch. Check out the full review from Queertiques. It has recently been selected as Thailand’s Official Submission for a Best Foreign Picture Oscar.
Portrait of A Serial Monogamist: we have a weakness for smart romantic comedies that tackle commitment issues with a real sense of humor. This one from Canada is the story of Elsie, a forty-something television producer and serial monogamist with a long history of broken hearts. When she breaks up with her long-term girlfriend to pursue a younger woman, Elsie is faced with pressure from her friends and family, and the growing realization that she may have made a mistake.
Those People : We discovered this movie at its US East Coast Premiere this summer and have not stopped raving out it since. We think that Joey Kuhn the writer/director of this movie that he made for his Degree, is a remarkable fresh new talent who is destined for big things, In this delightful story about the consequences of young unrequited love, Kuhn focuses on friendships and relationships, and for a refreshing change not on the men’s sexuality. He did however imbue the scenes between Charlie and and his never-to-be Sebastian with such a sensuality that comes with any connection which teeters around being almost physical, and when Charlie does have a beau and consummates their relationship, the emphasis was on being both tender and erotic rather than just explicit. Click here for our full review.
P.S. The people behind the scenes at The Iris have the most perfect mantra for enjoying their Festival. ‘Watch films. Party nightly. Repeat.’
