Inspired by Parliament-Funkadelic, Prince and Liberace, SADO OPERA hail from St. Petersburg, offering a mix of disco, Chicago house and electro-funk fused into a high-energy, live show experience. Based in Berlin since 2012, the queer collective has become one of the city’s most provocative and eccentric musical imports. The legendary US talk show host Conan O’Brien selected SADO OPERA as a musical symbol of Berlin and joined them onstage for his TV special about the German capital. Although the band has made its name as resident of Wilde Renate – one of Berlin’s most notorious nightclubs – SADO OPERA also play shows across Europe, passionately spreading their message of unrestrained, gender-fluid love, queer visibility and inclusivity. For them, serious political action and serious fun can and should co-exist. No surprise, then, that there’s been a whole lot of attention from various corners of the press, with interviews ranging from BBC Music to Gay Times and Pink News, exploring the band’s critical views on Russian chauvinism, repressed sexuality and beyond.
Opening Party
Queer Script ~ Discussion Panel
In association with Scriptwriters Guild of Israel
Master Class with Alan Siegel
Will-o’-the-Wisp
Renowned Portuguese director João Pedro Rodrigues’ new film was screened this year during the Director’s Fortnight event at the Cannes Film Festival. It is a queer musical full of humor, camp, sex and nudity.
In the not-so-near future (the year 2069), King Alfredo of Portugal, is reminiscing on his deathbed about his youthful, rebellious experience. It was a tough summer, the kingdom was consumed by massive wildfires and in those days Alfredo was a young, strong headed prince. He decides to join the fire brigade, to help with the national crisis, despite his family’s objections. In the field he has to deal with a tough commander who isn’t exactly welcoming, hunky firefighters who aren’t too thrilled with the royal addition – but Alfredo will also meet the love of his life and experiment with his most secret desires.
This is no doubt this year’s most fresh and light-hearted film by one of our time most intellectual and intelligent queer filmmakers.
The unique Portuguese filmmaker João Pedro Rodrigues was TLVFest’s guest in 2010 when we screened his films, amongst them the ground breaking “O Fortuna”(2000) and “To die like a man” (2009).
Viewing is 18+ due to nudity.
In association with the Embassy of Portugal
Shabbos Story Time with Drag Queen Kay Long
Shabbos Story Time with Drag Queen Kay Long
Reading books, telling stories and conversing with children .
Duration: 60 minutes.
Hebrew without translation.
Pitching Competition
7 finalists will compete for the 140,000 NIS grant for production of a short Israeli movie that will premiere at TLVfest 2023.
Duration 60 minutes. Hebrew without translation.
Free entry after registration through the ticket link.
Master Class with Jeffrey Winter
Film Festival Strategy and Execution – Master Class with Jeffrey Winter of The Film Collaborative.
Film Festivals have always been an important part of the distribution strategy of independent film, but the dramatic decline of traditional theatrical release opportunities in recent years have made Festivals more important than ever. For MOST independent films, the global Festival circuit is now the single best opportunity to have your film seen in public and on the big screen. Jeffrey Winter, co ED of the Film Collaborative, presents a working seminar to help filmmakers re-envision the global film festival circuit as its own form of “hybrid theatrical release” — using the vast worldwide circuit as a way to promote sales, marketing, press, word-of-mouth, buzz, and, of course….generate revenue.
Jeffrey Winter has been co-executive director at The Film Collaborative since 2010, an LA-based 501c3 non-profit independent film distribution company with specialties in human rights, social justice, environmental issues, and LGBT cinema. During this period, Jeffrey has executed festival strategy and distribution for many hundreds of films, including such Sundance highlight titles as FRAMING AGNES, I DIDN’T SEE YOU THERE, SIRENS, FREE CHOL SOO LEE, SON OF MONARCHS, WELCOME TO CHECHNYA, DISCLOSURE, TRY HARDER, ALWAYS IN SEASON, THE INVISIBLE WAR, MAYA ANGELOU AND STILL I RISE, APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR, TO BE TAKEI, HOOLIGAN SPARROW, CAMERAPERSON, RACING EXTINCTION, WERE HERE, PITSTOP, UNDERTOW, CODEPENDENT LESBIAN SPACE ALIEN SEEKS SAME, MOSQUITA Y MARI and many others.
Free entry after registration through the ticket link.
Master Class with Cosimo Santoro
Cosimo Santoro, the owner of The Open Reel (Italy) – Sales Agency and Production Company.
Among the films they represent and that are showcased at TLVfest this year: Israeli feature Like Me , Colombian Petit Mal (from Tribeca festival 2022) and 8 Years.
Duration: 60 minutes. English without translation.
Free entry after registration through the ticket link.
My Gay Stand-Up Show
Daniel Franzese – Actor, Writer, Director, Comedian & Activist
Best known for his roles as Damian in Tina Fey’s “Mean Girls” and Eddie in the HBO series “Looking”.
Danny is the creator of several live comedy shows (including rock opera) and his one-man stand-up performances.
Introducing young and talented artists: Drag Queen Yosle and stand-up comedian Talia Bertfeld.
And – surprise show by Daniel Ryan Spaulding!
Yosle and Talia shows are in Hebrew, the others are in English.