Lesvia

Since the 70’s lesbians from all over the world have been drawn to the island of Lesbos, the birthplace of the famous ancient Greek poet Sappho. They find refuge on the wild beaches that are void of tourists, next to small traditional fishermen villages. The women create their own environment that does not align with the conservative mind set of the nearby villagers and brings forth tensions. Some lesbians decide to relocate to the village and start a new community, hotels and businesses that cater to the lesbian crowd, which makes the locals feel like their home had been invaded and turned upside down.
Filmmaker Tzeli Hadjidimitriou, a Lesbos native and a lesbian herself, directed an immersive experience about 40 years of love, community, conflict and gentrification.


1.11 – An introduction by Dr. Amal Ziv 


In association with the European Union

Opening Ceremony & “The Belle from Gaza

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Opening Ceremony of the 19th TLVFest: The Tel-Aviv International LGBTQ+ Film Festival

19:30 – Cocktail sponsored by

20:30 – Opening Ceremony with performance by Galina Port de Bras
& TLVFest Honorary Awards.
Afterwards, screening with the Lead Actresses in attendance.


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During the filming of her previous movie, director Yolande Zauberman heard a story of a young transgender woman who fled from Gazza after death threats based on her gender identity and came to Tel Aviv to live as her true self. Several years later Yolande Zauberman returns to Tel Aviv to look for her. While searching for the mysterious young woman she meets several Palestinian and Israeli trans women, some doing sex work and some other temp jobs, all of them reaching for their dreams in their own way.
The film “The Belle from Gaza” is a celebratory hymn to women who fight daily on that ever so dangerous line between Gaza and Tel Aviv just so that they could be themselves. “The Belle from Gaza” is a brave cinematic piece that puts a mirror in front of reality and offers images of struggles for self acceptance in a sad reality that is all conflict and oppression.


Two more movies by Yolande Zauberman are screened at the festival.


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!Love & Revolution

אהבה ומהפכה

The year is 1977 and Miguel is going to be the first one in his family to go to university. But Miguel has different dreams: to become a singer and take part in a popular TV competition. He’s exposed to social activists, finds himself doing drag in underground clubs and becomes an activist himself, all this in secret and against the will of his mother Reme, a 50 year-old woman, who works as a seamstress in a luxury suits shop.
In the 70’s homosexuality was still taboo in Spain, the police regularly used violence against the LGBTQ community and being associated with the gay community was an offence that could get you in jail. When Miguel is caught in drag by the police, his conservative mother decides to step up and join Miguel’s friends – other activists from the gay community, to fight the police, the court and the government in order to make Spain a better place.
In his debut film, director Alejandro Marín manages to get into the hearts of his audience with a thrilling and sweeping dramedy on the right to love. A film that is a salute to all those who fought and are still fighting to live in a liberal country with equal rights and no fear.
The film’s original name, “Te estoy amando locamente” (“I love you madly”), refers to the power of mother’s love to her son, and therefore it is also a film that honors all the mothers that support their LGBTQ children, and even if sometimes it’s hard for them, they would fight for their sons and daughters till the end.
The film is based on real events.


In association with the Embassy of Spain & PrideTV

Woman Of…

Set against the landscape of the Polish transformation from communism to capitalism, “Woman Of…” spans 45 years of the life of Aniela Wesoły, who lived more than half of her adult life in a provincial Polish town as a man. Aniela’s journey to find personal liberty as a trans woman reveals hardships in marriage and parenthood, strained family relations and complicated attitudes in her environment, which constantly place her in impossible situations. What choices will Aniela have to make? Will she be ready to sacrifice all to become who she truly is?
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Courtesy of

 

Silver Haze

A breathtaking drama by director/screenwriter Sacha Polak that had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival.

23 years old Franky was badly injured as a child in a fire, which left marks and not only on her body. For fifteen years she’s been trying to bring those responsible for the fire to justice. She now works in the same hospital where her life was saved and she always finds the right words for every patient, even for moody Florence. The two fall in love and Franky runs away from her oppressive, LGBTphobic middle class family to find a safe haven with Florence and her family. But the past won’t let her rest.

Silver Haze” is the second cooperation between director Sacha Polak and actress Vicky Knight. The script is based on memories of real events from Knight’s life. Tibor Dingelstad’s sensual cinematography creates raw realism but also tenderness. Joris Oonke and Ella Van Der Woude’s original soundtrack completes the atmosphere and drama of this powerful film.