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Qfest Program 2017 WED-SUN .ZACK 3224 Locust St. MARCH 29 - APRIL 2 CINEMASTLOUIS.ORG/QFEST 3200 SHENANDOAH HANDCRAFTED COCKTAILS AND CUISINE CRAFTEDSTL.COM • 314.865.3345 QFest uses the art of contemporary gay cinema to spotlight the lives of LGBTQ people and to celebrate queer culture. The event will excite, entertain, and enlighten audiences of all identities. Lovesong VENUE CINEMA ST. LOUIS STAFF .ZACK Chris Clark & Kat Touschner - QFest Programmers 3224 Locust St. St. Louis, MO 63103 Cliff Froehlich - Executive Director Chris Clark - Artistic Director TICKETS Brian Spath - Operations Supervisor General: $13 Kat Touschner - Tech Supervisor Cinema St. Louis Members: $10 Rita Hiscocks - Development Director Students with valid photo ID: $10 CINEMA ST. LOUIS BOARD Purchase through Metrotix, on the QFest website J. Kim Tucci - Chair, Jilanne Barnes - Vice Chair, or at the door. Lovesong and Desert Hearts are free thanks to our generous sponsors. Roy H. Kramer - Treasurer, Joni Tackette - Secretary Executive Committee INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS Delcia Corlew, David Houlle, David Johnson, Andrew Leonard, Jeffrey T. Fort Jon Mendelson, Sharon Tucci, Vince Volpe Cindy Walker Board Members James Agnew & Brad Morris Barry Albrecht, Chris Benson, Kathy Corley, Greg Hoeltzel, Michael Reiser Bree Maniscalco, Paul Randolph, Linda Brown Reed, Mark Utterback Jane Robert, Joan Silber, Jane von Kaenel, David Carl Wilson Robert Pohrer & Donnie Engle LaShana Lewis & Seanna Tucker ORGANIZATIONAL SPONSORS FREE conceal his sexuality from Alan, but this charade doesn't last. After being outed, Michael turns on Alan, accus- es him of being a closeted gay, and forces him to partake in a revealing and cruel party game that has dev- astating consequences. In the years following the film's release, director WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 7 PM Friedkin made the iconic films “The THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 9 PM French Connection,” “The Exorcist,” “Cruising,” and “To Live and Die in LA.” Lovesong Sponsored by Coffee Cartel and Real Boy So Yong Kim, 2016, U.S., 84 min. Dennis Gorg Trust Shaleece Haas, 2016, U.S., 72 min. Neglected by her husband, Sar- This moving, empowering, and time- ah (Riley Keough) embarks on an ly documentary is an intimate story impromptu road trip with her best of a family in transition. As 19-year- friend, Mindy (Jena Malone). What old Bennett Wallace navigates early they hadn’t counted on is an im- sobriety, late adolescence, and the mediate spark between them. But evolution of his gender identity, his before their romantic yearnings can mother makes her own transforma- develop into something more, Mindy tion from resistance to acceptance abruptly returns to the city. Years of her trans son. Along the way, both later, Sarah attempts to rebuild their THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 7 PM mother and son find support in their intimate connection in the days be- communities, reminding us that fore Mindy's wedding. This achingly Suicide Kale families are not only given but cho- beautiful and occasionally heart- Carly Usdin, 2016, U.S., 78 min. sen. “Real Boy” has screened at more breaking story is propelled by the A simple lunch turns into a darkly than 70 festivals worldwide, winning intense, raw performances of the two comedic catastrophe when Jasmine more than 15 awards. lead actresses. The film had its world and Penn, a new couple with an Sponsored by Metro Trans Umbrella premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film uncertain future, find an anonymous Group Festival. suicide note at the home of the hap- Sponsored by Cindy Walker piest couple they know. Punctuated with witty dialogue and performanc- es as fresh as a spring salad, the hilarious and awkward unraveling of who wrote the note is a must-see. First-time feature director Carly Usdin was a producer of Logo Net- work’s lively “NewNowNext” music FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 7 PM series, and writer/co-star Brittani Nichols, who plays Jasmine, has an Women Who Kill WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 9 PM impressive list of credits, including a recurring role on the first season of Ingrid Jungermann, 2016, U.S., 93 min. “Transparent.” In this delightful dark comedy, The Boys in the Band SHOWN WITH: commitment-phobic Morgan and William Friedkin, 1970, U.S., 118 min. With You for Life ex-girlfriend Jean are locally famous At times both outrageously funny Shanelle Riccio, 2017, U.S., 5 min. true-crime podcasters obsessed with and intensely mean-spirited, “The A high-strung woman with sidon- female serial killers. There’s a chance Boys in the Band” — the first of two globophobia faces her fear of cotton they may still have feelings for each queer classics at QFest — is based balls head-on, thanks to her oppor- other, but co-dependence takes a on the groundbreaking play by Mart tunistic (and not-without-her-own- back seat when Morgan meets the Crowley. Tempers fray and true quirks) girlfriend. mysterious Simone at the food co- selves are revealed when a hetero- Sponsored by LaShana Lewis & op. Blinded by infatuation, Morgan sexual man is accidentally invited Seanna Tucker and March for quickly signs up for the relationship, ignoring warnings from friends that to a homosexual party. Michael is Science STL hosting a birthday celebration for a her new love interest is practically a pal when he gets an unexpected visit stranger. When Jean shows Morgan from old friend Alan. The prob- proof that Simone may not be who lem: Alan is straight and extremely she says she is, Morgan accuses Jean straitlaced, while everyone else at of trying to ruin the best thing that’s the party is gay. Michael hopes to ever happened to her. But as she and Simone move into commitment FREE territory, Morgan starts to notice red flags — maybe Jean was right, and Simone isn’t as perfect as Morgan’s made her out to be. When Morgan and Jean investigate Simone as if she were a subject of their podcast, they uncover disturbing clues — a death at the food co-op, a missing SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 3 PM SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 5:15 PM friend, a murder weapon — leading them to suspect her of murder. In Queer Voices the end, Morgan has to examine all Desert Hearts Donna Deitch, 1986, U.S., 96 min. the evidence in front of her: Is she Shorts Program just afraid of what it means to be in a 85 min. QFest’s second queer classic — a new restoration of Donna Deitch’s relationship or is her life actually in A collection of queer shorts from “Desert Hearts” — is an adaptation danger? around the world. Sponsored by Sauce Magazine of the 1964 lesbian-themed novel Alzheimer's: A Love Story “Desert of the Heart” by Jane Rule. In 1959, Vivian Bell (Helen Shaver), a Gabe Schimmel & Monica Petruzzelli, 35-year-old English professor, travels 2015, U.S., 16 min. to Reno to establish residency in A man cares for his partner of more Nevada and obtain a quickie divorce. than 40 years during his descent Staying at a ranch for women wait- into dementia. ing for their divorces to be finalized, Vivian meets Cay Rivvers (Patricia Butterflies Charbonneau), a free-spirited sculp- Angel Villaverde, 2017, Spain, 17 min., tor. When Vivian arrives, Cay notices FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 9 PM Spanish with English subtitles her immediately, and the tightly Tutor Irene shows 17-year-old Sivia controlled and elegant professor is the way to a better understanding of Paris 05:59: Théo & taken aback by the younger woman’s herself. Hugo boldness and lack of concern over Olivier Ducastel & Jacques Martineau, It Gets Better? what others think of her roman- 2016, France, 97 min., French with tic/sexual preferences. After some Stephen Riscica, 2017, U.S., 12 min. English subtitles drunken kisses and confusion, they An older gay man is inspired to In a story told in virtually real time, tentatively start a relationship and record a testimonial after watching a Théo and Hugo meet each other in fall in love. With the impending bisexual teenager's video. an underground sex club. They talk finalization of Vivian's divorce, the and soon lose themselves in the Older Than What? two must make some tough deci- haziness of unbridled desire — a sions. Vivian is afraid of what people Steen Starr, 2017, Canada, 13 min. graphic, no-holds-barred encounter in her academic circle will think of Twelve LGBTQ elders respond to 10 that’s most certainly NSFW. After- her relationship with another wom- questions about aging with humor, wards, the two go outside and drift an, and Cay is unsure of what she frankness, wit, and charm. down the deserted streets of noctur- would do in New York City. nal Paris. When the men confront Souls Sponsored by AARP in St. Louis the fact that they had unprotected Daniel Gage, 2016, U.K., 8 min. sex, the reality of the situation — one When Barrie goes to scatter his hus- of them is HIV-positive — quickly band’s ashes at their favorite moun- spoils the mood. The filmmakers tain peak, he is confronted with the display consummate sensitivity in sight of a man about to jump to his showing two men striving for inti- death from the cliff edge. macy in spite of their insecurities, and the lead actors delight with their You remarkably intuitive performances Felipe Cabral, 2017, Brazil, 19 min., and incredible charm. Portuguese with English subtitles Sponsored by James Agnew & In this touching documentary, a Brad Morris girl tries to understand the death of her best friend, who was a victim of homophobia. Sponsored by Just John Nightclub tary follows Víctor and Fernando, an offers a disarmingly frank look at the unassuming Baja California couple path that took him from the jungles who, in 2013, found themselves in of Vietnam to the bathhouses of ’70s the center of a social firestorm over San Francisco to the front lines of their desire to get married.
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