A first look at this year’s Gaze- the five-day cinematic showcase of Irish and International LGBT film taking place from 31st July – August 4th.
GAZE celebrates its 16th birthday with a five-day cinematic showcase of Irish and International LGBT film from 31st July- 4th August in the Irish Film Institute, Project Arts Centre and The Winding Stair.
The full programme for the Festival is now available with GAZE 2008 offering a jam-packed line-up of world, European and Irish premieres, new independent features, documentaries, shorts, award winners and experimental films guest filmmakers and panel discussions over this August bank holiday weekend.
One of the best-loved annual events on the gay cultural calendar GAZE welcomes gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals and gay-friendly people from across Ireland and abroad to the festival this year.
Programme Director Michele Devlin announced the highlights saying ‘In the spirit of ‘sweet sixteen’ we bring you a GAZE bursting with positivity, experimentation and expanding horizons. GAZE has matured into one of the strongest showcases of new LGBT cinema in Europe and we’re excited to be in a new phase of expansion with some friendly help from new venues as well as long term partners, the IFI.’
Some of the programme highlights include:
Oscar-winning short documentary FREEHELD directed by Cynthia Wade, chronicles Detective Lieutenant Laurel Hester’s struggle to transfer her earned pension to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree, as she faces a terminal illness. Watch the trailer below:
It screens alongside SUDDENLY LAST WINTER – a film by Italian film-makers Gustav Hofer & Luca Ragazzi, who will attend the screening of this hilarious and sobering reflection on Italian society as the country grapples with a debate on same-sex partnership legislation. Watch the trailer below:
World premiere of Northern Irish documentary OUT IN AFRICA, directed by Tom Maguire, tells the story of Victor Corrigan from Northern Ireland and Kyle Stuart from South Africa as they get married in a staunch Afrikaaner village.
All timely documentaries in view of our own current debate on gay marriage in Ireland.
The World Premiere of Irish futuristic thriller INSATIABLE, directed by Jessie Kirby, features Jon Kenny (D’Unbelievables), Nora-Jane Noone (The Magdalene Sisters), and Laura Donnelly (Rough Diamond, Sugar Rush) is set in an Ireland where the economy has crashed and food is rapidly running out – leading to a gruesome hunt for a fresh source of meat, while lesbian romance blossoms amid the horror.
LAVENDER LENS, is a new annual event where a well-known gay artist or performer presents a film that inspired their life or career. Acclaimed actor and writer Mark O’Halloran (Garage, Adam & Paul, Prosperity) will introduce Dieterle’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Charles Laughton and Maureen O’Hara. A rare chance to see a classic on the big screen and interpret it with new eyes at the IFI on Sunday 3rd August.
Irish writer Emma’s Donoghue’s documentary, IMMACULATE CONCEPTIONS, is an eye-opening account of a lesbian baby boom in Canada during a period of rapid legal reform and social change.
OTTO; OR, UP WITH DEAD PEOPLE is cult film maker Bruce LaBruce’s (Hustler White and Skin Flick) new film. Fresh from the 2008 Sundance and Berlin Film Festivals, it follows the rise to film stardom of a young zombie named Otto. Watch the trailer below:
The new QUEER HEROES strand celebrates a diverse range of lesbian and gay heroes, artists and activists giving them due recognition on the big screen.
It includes the hugely influential musical genius, Arthur Russell, featured in WILD COMBINATION – a true innovator in everything from modern classical to disco to experimental dance music. A cinematic poem that’s also a treat for the ears.
A WALK INTO THE SEA attempts to unravel the mystery behind a lesser-known Warhol Factory artist, audio innovator and film-maker Danny Williams, who went missing, presumed dead. Winner of Best Documentary, the Teddy Awards in Berlin.
DARLING! THE PIETER DIRK UYS STORY follows the story of South Africa’s Dame Enda – Dame Enda Bezuidenhout, and her alter ego Pieter Dirk UYS on his quest to teach a nation and its schools about contraception, HIV and Aids.
In WITH GILBERT AND GEORGE, filmmaker Julian Cole’s takes us on a journey from their modest beginnings to their current status as beloved Art Stars. It’s featured in another the experimental film strand taking place in Project Arts Centre.
And for pure high-octane entertainment value, the Opening Night film is BREAKFAST WITH SCOT – a simple comedy premise taken to an entertaining extreme, when a gay couple’s world is turned upside down when one of the couple’s tweenaged nephew is suddenly dumped on their doorstep and little Scot reveals himself as too much of a queen to hide. Watch the trailer below:
GAZE Film Festival – brightening up your Summer – from 31st July- 4th August
For more information visit their website: http://www.gaze.ie/