A set of unique and colorful short films celebrating the art of drag and the artists behind the make-up.
This mix contains films from Argentina, USA, Taiwan, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium.
Duration: 80 minutes
International Drag Shorts
Femme
Jules (or Afrodita Banks, by his stage name), is a glamorous drag queen known for her thrilling performances on the best stages of London. Jules lives with two roommates who happen to be his best friends and it seems as if his life is wrapped in a particularly bright and shiny cellophane.
One night after a show, when he steps out to buy some cigarettes in full drag, Jules is brutally attacked by Preston and his gang. After months of shutting himself out from the world, in order to recuperate both physically and emotionally from the trauma, Jules decides to go to the local sauna. There, without make-up, wearing only a towel, he meets his attacker – Preston. The random encounter will turn into an unexpected opportunity for revenge.
Directors/Screenwriters duo Sam H. Freeman and Ng Choon Ping provide the viewers with a psychological vengeance drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
George MacKey, who was discovered in the film “Pride”, as a youth fresh out of the closet that joins a group of LGBTQ activists, provides a complex portrait of a violent young man, filled with self hatred and internalised homophobia. Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, who is known for his work in theatre, television and films (especially TV series “Misfits”), is taking on just as challenging a role as Jules.
Viewing is 18+ due to violence and explicit sexual content.
Norwegian Dream
Director Leiv Igor Devold’s debut film is a surprising and heartwarming romantic drama that comes from the frozen shores of Scandinavia.
Robert is a young tough Polish immigrant. Ivar is the black and lively adopted son of a business owner. Along the lush coast of Norway these two young men are navigating issues of cultural displacement, economic inequality and sexual identity. In an effort to save his mother from debt, Robert takes on a taxing physical job in a salmon processing factory in the midst of a small immigrant community. Ivar, the owner’s son, is in charge of showing him around. Ivar is forced to devote his time to the family business, but has several other dreams – such as developing his talent as a drag artist. The two young men are so different from each other, but opposites attract and their friendship slowly turns into something more.
In association with the Embassy of Norway
Courtesy of
Three Nights A Week
The surprising funny and romantic drama of the year brings to the big screen a refreshing and stigma breaking character.
Cookie Kunty is a talented Parisian drag queen. Everyone who is familiar with the world of drag knows how hard it is for drag queens to find love. Therefore, when Cookie meets 29 years old Baptiste, she finds it hard to believe that he’s interested in her, but Baptiste is immediately mesmerized by Cookie. At first he’s driven by the idea of creating a photography project with Cookie and sinks into her world, but eventually starts to develop a relationship with Quentin, the young man behind the drag queen. The problem is, Baptiste has never been in a relationship with a man before and he is in a long term relationship with Samia, a hospital nurse, who also works at the HIV clinic.
In his debut film director Florent Gouëlou provides the audience a cinematic experience rich in colors and music, and featuring a different and surprising love story, which is also a coming out story, the likes of which was never before seen on the big screen. Actor Pablo Pauly is wonderful as Baptiste and Romain Eck as Cookie/Quentin builds a moving and complex character.
The result is pure enjoyment and it is certainly no surprise that “Three Nights a Week” was chosen as the opening film of the 2022 Critics’ Week of the Venice Film Festival.
