North America 2024 Archives - Page 2 of 3

Mysterious Skin

20th anniversary of the film “Mysterious Skin”

Opening movie of the 1st ever TLVFest, way back in 2006.
“Mysterious Skin” is a heart breaking cinematic art creation directed by Gregg Araki (“Totally F***ed Up”), and is celebrating 20 years to its debut screening at the Venice Film Festival.

“Mysterious Skin” is based on Scott Heim’s book and describes the meeting of two young men in a small town in Kansas. Neil is a hustler and Brian is obsessed with alien abductions. As the paths of the two collide and a shared truth from their past will resurface.
This is a stunning cinematic piece that through its colourful pop beauty describes a horrible and painful reality. This is one of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s best performances.

Sing Sing

A year ago the American actor Colman Domingo became the 2nd out LGBTQ actor to be nominated for best actor at the Academy Awards for his portrayal of a gay man in the film “Rustin”, where he played the gay civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. This year he comes back with a new film “Sing Sing” and his chances for a second nomination look very good.
This film is also based on true events. Director Greg Kwedar’ film follows a theater rehabilitation program for prisoners in the infamous Sing Sing jail.
Every six months a group of inmates gets together to decide on the play they will perform next. The undisputed leader of the group is an educated man with a passion for literature named Divine G (Colman Domingo). Divine G’s leadership wavers when he recruits a new and outspoken member, Divine Eye (Clarence Maclin as himself), and the whole group dynamic changes.
“Sing Sing” is a powerful cinematic piece that brings us the magic of backstage theater behind bars. It is a film about pain, joy and escapism that theater brings to the group. Almost all the actors in the film are real former convicts who participated in the theatre rehabilitation program and the characters in the film are based on their experiences.

This film has rare and powerful sensitivity and a once in a lifetime performance by one of the most impressive actors of our time, Colman Domingo.

Gay International Mix 1

Duration: 75 min

Gay International Mix 2

Duration: 75 min

International Trans Mix 1

Duration: 80 min

International Trans Mix 2

Duration: 70 min

A House is Not a Disco

A documentary that goes behind the scenes of Fire Island Pines, an upscale neighbourhood in the popular queer beach town of Fire Island, that had become an international hot fantasy, when the first gay porn films were filmed on the beach there, back in the 60’s.
Back in the day, when it was still illegal to be gay, men used to come to these beaches to enjoy carnal desires and lives free of inhibitions and conflicts. Half an hour ferry ride from New York, Fire Island is still a sanctuary for gay men, even more than half a century later.
Actor Brian J Smith (“Sense8”) in his debut film captures the joy as well as the tension between the Island’s residents and the frequent visitors from the “Big Apple”. The film follows the social changes that had taken place in the past decades, since gay men began to arrive at the small, quaint seaside town. Global warming also plays its part as the beach is slowly disappearing.
The result is a piece of history, seemingly of a very specific place, but it’s also a reflection of the entire queer culture. This is a film about a true paradise, wild nature, vibrant characters, the AIDS epidemic and its long-lasting effects, social activism and also a few eccentric types.

High Tide

Brazilian tourist Lourenço is left behind when his American boyfriend deserts him in Provincetown at the end of the summer season. Lourenço passes the time with random hookups, talking to the locals who hire him to do maintenance and flirting with a hot tourist named Maurice (James Bland). Lourenço has to decide how to deal with shadows of his past that won’t let go and the harsh reality of being an undocumented immigrant in the USA.
In his debut film, director Marco Calvani puts Brazilian actor Marco Pigossi (“Gen V”, “Invisible City”) at the heart of a sexy and melancholic story about an immigrant after an unexpected breakup. Alongside Pigossi you’ll find Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei, Bill Irwin (“Rustin”) and Mya Taylor (“Tangerine”).
Marco Calvani created a thoughtful and daring film that raises questions on queer life in the modern world.

National Anthem

21yo Dylan is a day laborer and a farm hand who works hard to support his family and be a father figure to his younger brother. Dylan is trying to keep on an appearance of stability but there’s something missing in his life. When he gets a temporary job on a communal queer ranch he feels that for the first time he belongs. He finds friends and falls in love. Sky (trans actress Eve Lindley) is a rodeo performer and the partner of the macho ranch owner Pepe. The two are happy to share their bodies with Dylan, but maybe it won’t be enough.
Charlie Plummer shines as the lead with a very natural, quiet and confident performance. Cinematographer Katelin Arizmendi re-imagines the coming-of-age movie against the stunning backdrop of New Mexico. Director Luke Gilford’s debut film is a hallelujah song to the ultimate queer American dream showcasing the real-life International Gay Rodeo Association.

Jennifer’s Body

Celebrating the 15 year anniversary to the Sapphic cult comedy-horror.
Before the screening, a short lecture by Gili Porat (podcast “TrashTalk”) on queer viewing of “Jennifer’s Body”.

After winning the Oscar for best original script for “Juno”, Diablo Cody wondered what would be her second Oscar-worthy movie? And thus we got “Jennifer’s Body” – a wonderfully bloody teen comedy that flopped in real time but rose to a cult film status over the years.
After a mysterious incident in the woods, the high school’s most popular student (Megan Fox) becomes very hungry. When male students start to disappear one after the other, her nerdy best friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried), who is having a rather unusual relationship with Jennifer, decides to put a stop to the massacre. Will she succeed?
Also, Chris Pratt is literally on fire in the film!

The movie is also available on Disney Plus