Chen, Mei-Juin

1999

From the rich cultural tapestry of mainland China comes these two empowering documentaries that bring beauty and knowledge to the canon of queer history. THE WORLDS OF MEI LANFANG, a richly textured documentary about the life of China's most internationally known performer of Peking Opera, uses extensive and fascinating archival footage to bring us closer to the life of Mei Langfang. World famous by age 17 for his performances in women's roles, he inspired "Mei Lanfang fever" in both Shanghai and the U.S. during tours in the early 1930s. A remarkably charismatic figure, his sexuality and gender identity have always remained an enigma.

1999

Our 1999 international shorts program offers our most diverse selection ever, opening with the lush Turkish film MAKBUL, which asks who has more power, the Sultan or the slave? ICARUS plays out a tragically complex relationship on a sun drenched Greek Isle, while a small Norwegian island is the setting for two teenagers’ night together in WAVES. MY PAL RACHID has something that would attract any budding queer’s attention. THE OFFERING serenely reveals the relationship between a Japanese monk and a young novice. Thomas hears strange noises each time he sees his schoolmate Quentin in THOMAS TRIPS, and a young boy senses that he is different in LIU AWAITING SPRING.

Crux, Lauren

1999

Doré, Pam!

1999

Neurotic housewife goes mad, in the style of 20's slapstick films

Amano, Juna

1999

We meet a woman who accidentally double-books her dates one night.

Lanteigne, Kat

1999

Surreal-y set in the 1950’s, a tale of young Wilma’s romantic escapades with Christine, a woman from the ‘outside’ world.

Giusti, Stephane

1999

Why Not Me? is a delightful bon-bon of lesbian lust and love served up by a dynamic new dyke director, and sweetened by wonderful performances from a mixed cast of established stars and charming young newcomers.  Camille, Eve, Ariane and Nicolas aren't just partners in "Lovespace," the publishing house that they have launched together, they also share a dependency on Gloria Gaynor, a passion for members of their own sex, and a reluctance to come out to their parents. Josepha, Camille's mom, is the only one who knows. When she decides to organize a weekend at her château so that the truth can be told, nothing goes as planned. Secrets are revealed. Passions are inflamed. Secrets, drama, chases, wild laughter and compromising situations erupt, and even the parents find themselves experiencing love in surprising new ways. According to director Stéphane Giusti, "Why Not Me? is a ‘gay’ comedy in every sense of the word. Contemporary, colorful, glamorous, shocking, funny and sentimental, it’s a film not just for today, but for the next millennium." And like all the best comedies, this one also has a serious moral: "In the end, what matters is not whether you are black, white or homosexual, but whether you are true to yourself."

Giusti, Stephane

1999

Goodman, A. Rosser

1999

Aloof butch finds herself face to face with her fantasy girl in unreal situations until finally fantasy becomes reality

Cummings, Kim

1999

When Katie finds her best friend kissing another girl, her world turns upside down. Best friends forever, Katie and Maura have dreamed of being in a live mermaid show for as long as they can remember. It's the summer of '79, they're 15 and everything is changing; especially when Katie discovers Maura's secret.