Akeret, Julie

1999

Looking For Common Ground, a 1997 Frameline Completion Fund winner, documents the process of struggling for and achieving gay rights at a typical suburban school, and serves as a vivid model for empowering students nationwide. In 1993, Massachusetts passed an anti-discrimination law that established the rights of gay and lesbian students. Looking For Common Ground traces the history of how one controversial high school refused to enforce the law, and how some students empowered themselves and fought back.

Hernández, Julían

1999

A story of romance, without love being required.

This grainy, disjointed film beautifully places the conflict of sexual identity and unrequited love inside the smoggy borders of Mexico City. Using dramatic expressionistic lighting, black and white film stock, and a minimalist sound track, Hernández creates a moody portrait of Bruno, a young prostitute on the streets of the largest city in the world. While tricking for cash professionally, Bruno spends his personal time pursuing the love of his presumably straight friend Umberto. Violently, Umberto severs ties with him, which leads Bruno to his own violent and misguided expression of anger and rejection. The film's experimental structure — prophetic intertitles, dependence on gesture over dialogue, brooding music — creates a broken sense of time and a feeling of displacement within Mexico City's dark alleys, carnival midways, and sketchy movie houses. This displacement mirrors Bruno's anguish over lost love and his manhood.

Julien, Isaac

1999

De Bisschop, Sarah

1999

Flanders, 2004. Lena Stromans is 27. She's handsome, intelligent and single; but not for long. For Lena has a plan that is so secret it will not be made public before the year 2031. Thanks to "the website of love" she will be able to realize her near-perfect utopia. A film about new families, new love and old fashioned passion.

Welbon, Yvonne

1999

Documentary about the life and times of Ruth C. Ellis, an African American lesbian born in 1899. Yvonne Welbon’s newest film documents the life and times of Ruth C. Ellis, the world's oldest "out" African American lesbian. Born July 23, 1899, in Springfield, Illinois, Ellis reveals on screen that she is not only out now, she's always been out. In fact, she had her first crush (on her high school gym teacher!) in 1917. Through recreations, Welbon and her viewers follow Ruth and her companion of 34 years, Ceciline "Babe" Franklin, as they move to Detroit in 1937. There Ruth becomes the first woman to own her own printing business – Ellis and Franklin Printing. Throughout the 1940s, 50s and 60s, Ruth and Babe’s home, known as the "Gay Spot," provided an alternative to the bar scene that discriminated against blacks. Today, Ruth devotes much of her time to advocating for senior and lesbian rights. Living With Pride: Ruth C. Ellis @ 100 offers a rare opportunity to experience a century-long history of African American gays and lesbians as seen through the life lived by one inspiring woman. By example, she shows us what is possible and what can be realized, if one not only lives long and ages well, but also lives with pride.

Harmon, Nikki

1999

A teenage girl must decide between love, adventure, community service and the chance to meet her idol. A Frameline Completion Fund winner.

Martinez, Vanessa

1999

Gentile, Jennifer M.

1999

A singing Supernova beats a path to the entertainment Milky Way of Hollywood. Three people go on a magical road trip.

Taylor, Mark

1999

Lesson 9 will lure you into a labyrinth of love, loss and insanity. Experimental short.

Kuppenbender, Kirsten
Marcus, Sarah

1999

Toying with the traditional Hollywood movie trailer, this film proposes the concept of an all girl cast. Shot on vintage Super8 film stocks, it creatively transforms old-school Hollywood to a modern girl's world.