Creators in attendance. Q&A session after the screening.
TLVFest 2024 Short Winners
Gondola
In the mountains of west Georgia, a rural community relies on a pair of cable cars that connect two sides of a steep valley. Iva returns to her home village following the death of a relative and takes up a job operating one of the cable car gondolas. She forms a long distance friendship with Nina, the operator of the other gondola. In time, those aerial meetings turn to naughty flirting between the two young women and then deepen into love.
This strange romance is wordless, but has a very unique and original cinematic vision from writer/director Veit Helmer. It is a delightful piece, very visually pleasing, full of fun and charming cinematic ideas. 82 minutes with no dialogue but with a lot of love for the art of cinema as well as its two wonderful heroines. In “Gondola” love truly floats between heaven and earth, and it is simply a film of pure fun.
Additional screening: Haifa Cinematheque, 8.11, 18:00
In association with the Embassy of Germany
“מדברות קולנוע” – מיכל ויניק ולי גילת בשיחה עם גילי פורת
אנחנו שמחים לארח בפסטיבל שתיים מבמאיות הקולנוע המובילות בישראל:
מיכל ויניק – סרטי הקולנוע זוכי הפרסים “ברש”, “ולריה מתחתנת” וגם הסדרה “מי נתן לך רישיון” (יחד עם דניאלה דורון וטליה לביא).)
לי גילת – במאית הסרט זוכה פרסי האופיר “בנות כמונו”, תסריטאית ובמאית של הסרט “הקפות”. תסריטאית בסדרות “טהרן”, “מנייאכ” ועוד.
כניסה חינם בהרשמה מראש בטופס (כאן)
Fragments of a Life Loved
For over thirty years, both in Rome and in Paris, Chloé Barreau filmed her relationships. When she’d enter a relationship she made sure to shape her memory with videos, stills and writing. But how do her exes remember her and their experience from the relationship with her? How close is their version to Chloé’s version?
“Fragments of a Life Loved” builds up a mosaic of a woman’s life, the film’s creator, based on interviews with those who loved her. Intimate memories and private materials are woven together to expose the universal sides of relationships and the way we experience love stories through the years’ perspective.
Nelly and Nadine
The voice of Nelly, an opera singer, is ringing out in the middle of Ravensbruck concentration camp. Nelly and Nadine first met
on Christmas 1944 in the hell of the concentration camp and there started a relationship that would change their world. Nelly Mousset-Vos, was an opera singer in Paris, who used to frequent Natalie Clifford Barney’s literary salon in the 30’s. Nadine Hwang was the rebellious daughter of the Chinese ambassador to Spain. Sylvie, Nelly’s granddaughter, discovers a diary, 8mm film clips and audio tapes in a locked box belonging to her grandmother. She pieces together the unbelievable, bigger-than-life love story of Nelly and Nadine. For a whole year, Swedish acclaimed director Magnus Gertten (“Only the Devil Lives without Hope”) accompanies Sylvie in her search for the untold stories of her grandmother Nelly and her lover Nadine. The result is a moving documentary about a deep, loving relationship.
This is an unforgettable memoir of two women who were determined to be truly free, as well as a reminder of the need for individual and collective remembrance.
Girl Picture
Best friends Mimmi and Ronkko work at a local shakes bar after school. They exchange honest stories about their frustrations and expectations of love and sex. Rebellious Mimmi is swept into a thrilling and unexpected romance with Emma, a professional figure skater practicing for the European Championship. Both girls struggle to find the trust and compromise needed to sustain a long term relationship. Meanwhile Ronkko is hopping from one party to another and from one sexual encounter to the next in order to find the One that would make her feel sexual satisfaction and give her the long sought after orgasm she craves.
“Girl Picture” is a delicate and funny exploration of the fears and confusions that come with discovering one’s sexual identity and female sexuality. Director Alli Haapasalo brings to life the three main characters’ unbridled young spirit in a very intelligent and contemporary way. The three main actresses are very impressive in creating the characters of young and complicated individuals. “Girl Picture” is a film which gives us a positive and refreshing view of the power of female friendship.
Go Fish” & introduction by Shir Reuven”
Celebrating 30 years anniversary of the sapphic cult film with a short lecture by Shir Reuven.
~30 minutes long opening before the screening.
A romantic comedy set in Chicago that shakes all the conventions of that period about the way lesbians and bisexual women were shown on screen.
Five friends in their early 30’s are living and loving in Chicago. Max is looking for a meaningful relationship. Kia is in love with Evy, who lives with her mother and tries to get rid of her ex-husband. Ely is ready for an adventure that might come her way and shares an apartment with Daria – “The” Lesbian of Chicago, who had every girl in Chicago pass through her bed.
Rose Troche’s debut film is a witty and fast-paced comedy about women who are very comfortable with their sexual identity and who are trying to fulfill themselves emotionally as well.
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Blue Lights
In the grand tradition of “Perfect Strangers”, the dramedy “Blue Lights” takes place almost entirely during a dinner party with friends.
During a birthday celebration with seven close friends and family, secrets are exposed, emotions and conflicts awake after many years. This is a heartwarming comedic drama with a wonderful Argentinian cast that manages to shed light on the complexities and layers of being LGBTQ in a wide range of ages.
“Blue Lights” deals with subjects that are universal: love, loss, partnership, friendship and also the ability to forgive. This is a dramedy that is set to touch the viewers’ hearts, make them laugh and feel, and the film certainly delivers.
“Chuck Chuck Baby” & Stand-up by Talya Bartfeld
Before the screening: short Stand-up show by Talya Bartfeld
Northern Wales, a chicken packing factory, in the background are the inspiring tunes of Neil Diamond, Janis Ian, Minnie Riperton and others. Helen is in her late 30’s and spends most of her time either at the factory or taking care of her ex’s dying mother.
A surprising twist comes in the shape of Joan, her former neighbor who returns to the godforsaken town. The two women renew their friendship, Helen regains her joie-de-vivre as well as some hidden desires. The two begin a playful courtship – but will they have the courage to let go of the painful past and let their love win?
Oh, and did we mention that the whole thing is an uplifting, full of life, lesbian kind-of musical?
Please note: part of the movie takes place in a meatpacking factory. No animals were hurt during the filming.
Additional screening: 8.11, 20:00, without a show.
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All Shall Be Well
Angie and Pat have been together for over four decades, but after Pat’s unexpected death, Angie finds herself at the mercy of Pat’s family as she struggles to retain her dignity and the home that both had shared, due to the unfairness of the Hong Kong laws that discriminate against the LGBTQ community.
“All Shall be Well” is the 4th film by queer director Ray Yeung, who previously won a commendation here at the 2020 TLVFest for his amazing film “Suk Suk”. Now he returns with a delicate and moving drama that has already won the Teddy Award at 2024 Berlinale and is being screened at film festivals all over the world.
