Frameline 32 - Preview

Frameline 32 (aka the San Francisco LGBT Film Festival) opens June 19. Yep! It's only one week away! Due to the generosity of Frameline (namely Laura McGinnis) and Larsen Associates (thank you, Karen and Chris!), I am able to "virtually" attend via screeners! I have also been fortunate that living in Atlanta has allowed me to see a few of the entries at the festivals down here. I am also grateful to the fabulous Ms. Xanna Don't for leading me to what could be two of the best documentaries that will screen at this year's festival, as well as Diane Wilkins and that twisted gang of the Mickee Faust Club in Florida for the collection of their shorts.

PANSY DIVISION: Life in a Gay Rock Band was screened in Atlanta as part of Mondo Homo Dirty South 2008 (due to the efforts of Xanna Don't, who had a working relationship with the band at one point). It provided a great set of flashbacks to living in San Francisco in the 90's and the band itself is a fun group of guys who interview quite well. The screening in San Francisco should be something of an event, as the band is expected to be present, as is the director, I am sure. Also, since it is screening at the Victoria on June 26th, it is guaranteed to sell out, so get your tickets NOW!!

The second documentary that Xanna urged me to see is A JIHAD FOR LOVE, which she had screened at a festival in Prague. (Yes, yes, PRAGUE! Which was an ever conspicuous topic of conversation during the Atlanta Film Festival, but who can blame her?) Well, she is correct! It is a striking testimony of the gay Muslim diaspora, where their religion has forced them into being refugees. This is screening at the Victoria on Saturday, June 28th. It is an early evening screening, at 6:00 pm, so the Pink Saturday Party would be a great way to celebrate the appreciation the San Francisco audience should have for the social and political climate that they live in.

This year's Centerpiece Screening on Tuesday, June 24, is the 2007 Argentinian submission for the Academy Awards, and one of the highlights at this year's Atlanta Film Festival, XXY. It is probably NOT a coincidence that for the "Centerpiece Screening" that Frameline would schedule a film about an intersexual (the politically correct term for hermaphrodism) reaching puberty. I do not have a confirmation about who, if any guests will arrive with the film. However, Ines Flores' performance should bring the audience to its feet! And if she were present, I would guarantee that the film would win the Audience Award, even without seeing any of the other entries. She is that amazing.

Of the fifteen short subject programs, which will screen over 150 films, I have only seen two, at this time. One of them is from one of my FAVORITE directors: Diane Wilkins of the Mickee Faust Club! Ms. Wilkins is responsible for ANNIE DEAREST: THE REAL MIRACLE WORKER, which was a HUGE Cult hit at Frameline in 2002! She was also present with CREMMATE MUFFY here at Frameline two years ago. (I really need to post my personal retrospective of the Mickee Faust Club work, here, soon!) This year, she has submitted MENOPAUSAL GALS GONE WILD, which will screen as part of the DYKE DELIGHTS program on Saturday, June 28, 3:30 PM. This program is the second most popular lesbian shorts program (next to FUN IN GIRLS SHORTS), as it screens right before the annual Dyke March kicks off. Also, it is the shorts program that Wilkins and the Mickee Faust Club OWNS, as far as I am concerned, since it is the program that their past entries have screened in. Diane and her beautiful partner will be present at the screening. Be there and welcome them!

Also, this is Michael Lumpkin's last year as Co-Executive Director of Frameline. To celebrate his 28 years of involvement with the San Francisco LGBT Film Festival, Frameline will screen seven matinees of festival favorites at the Castro Theatre, including: Gus Van Sant’s MALA NOCHE (1986), Pedro Almodovar’s LAW OF DESIRE (1987), Andy and Larry Wachowski’s BOUND (1996), John Greyson’s LILIES (1997), Thomas Bezucha’s BIG EDEN (2000), Joseph Gaï Ramaka’s KARMEN GEÏ (2002), and Pieter Kramer’s YES NURSE! NO NURSE! (2003). (Thank you and Good Luck, Mr. Lumpkin!!!)

I'll be posting full capsule reviews (a contradiction in terms?) starting on Monday next week (June 16th), with a daily screening posting that is three days in advance of the actual screenings.

Maxxxxx says
re FRAMELINE: "I love you!"