KC Gay & Lesbian Film Fest Announces Lineup
By Robert W. Butler, The Kansas City Star, Mo.
Jun. 3–The 2008 K.C. Gay & Lesbian Film + Video Festival has announced this year’s lineup at the Tivoli Theatre in Westport.
The schedule:
“Ask Not” (7 p.m. June 27): This documentary explores the effects of the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Featuring interviews with gay soldiers and veterans, the movie examines how the policy affects them as they struggle to maintain a double life. A pre-screening reception is included free with your opening night ticket. Presented by the City of Kansas City Human Rights Department Gay & Lesbian Task Force. A pre-screening reception is free with ticket.
“Save Me” (8:45 p.m. June 27): Openly gay actors Chad Allen and Robert Gant star in this story of a man hooked on anonymous sex and drugs who finally hits bottom and finds himself in Genesis House, an ex-gay Christian ministry overseen by a compassionate couple (played by Judith Light and Stephen Lang). The addict moves from rebellion and suspicion to a friendship with a mentor that eventually becomes love.
“The New World” (4:45 p.m. June 28): In this French comedy, a lesbian couple realize just how unprepared they are when they announce their intention to have a baby.
“Tru Loved” (7 p.m. June 28): In this atypical high school comedy, a 16-year-old lesbian fits in at her new school by pretending to be the girlfriend of the closeted gay quarterback. It seems to be working…until she finds herself falling for a guy.
“Boystown” (9:15 p.m. June 28): In this black comedy from Spain a real estate agent comes up with a scheme to murder elderly women, buy their property and resell it to upwardly mobile gay couples. It works well until one of his victims leaves her property to the working-class bear couple who live next door.
“A Jihad for Love” (4:45 p.m. June 29): Filmed in 12 countries, “Jihad” is a feature documentary exploring Muslim homosexuals attempting to live as believers in a world where they are unwelcome. Producer Sandi DuBowski is the director/producer of “Trembling Before G-d” (about Hasidic gays); director Parvez Sharma is a gay Muslim).
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Star religion columnist Rev. Vern Barnet, Ahmed El-Sharif of the American Muslim Council, CRES community chaplain Josef Walker and Lynn Barnett.
“The Edge of Heaven” (7 p.m. June 29): The latest feature from German-Turkish director Fatih Akin (“Head-On”) has been getting rave reviews. It’s a border-hopping, gender-bopping, culture-clashing drama of sneaky power and uncommon grace interweaving six characters and three stories. Winner of the Best Screenplay award at Cannes.
“The Houseboy” (9:15 p.m. June 30): A young man who has maintained a threesome with a couple learns while housesitting for them over Christmas that they plan on dumping him. Seeking human connections, he tries anonymous hookups but feels empty…until salvation appears in the form of a friendly neighbor.
“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (7 p.m. July 1): Yes, it’s the classic 1953 musical (one of the gayest ever) starring Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell as two girls determined to marry wealth. UMKC film professor Thom Poe will discuss what make it great.
“Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon” (9:15 p.m. July 1): This doc focuses on Jack Wrangler, a gay porn star of the early ’70s who became an icon and role model.
“Chris & Don: A Love Story” (2 and 9:15 p.m. July 2): This documentary examines the love affair of 18-year-old Don Bachardy and 49-year-old writer Christopher Isherwood, who met in California in the 1950s and remained a couple for 30 years. Open about their relationship at a time when homosexuality wasn’t discussed in polite company, they were groundbreakers. The film combines interviews, journal entries, rare home movies and archival footage to tell their story.
“When Did You Know” (6 p.m. July 3): The festival commissioned local director Lisa Marie Evans (“The Same But Different”) to make a documentary asking gay people when they realized they were attracted to the same sex.
“Were the World Mine” (8 p.m. July 3): A gay outcast at an all-male prep school spends his time daydreaming of romance…and his fantasies come to life as full-blown musical numbers with show-stopping songs, beautiful sets and costumes and a chorus of rugby players. This all unfolds against a high school production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
For tickets and trailers go to KCGayFilmFest.com or call the fest hotline at (816) 931-0738.
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