Harvey, Alex

1997

the story of one of the most significant and controversial pieces of Britain's post-war social legislation: the Sexual Offences Act, which in 1967 partially decriminalized sexual behaviour between consenting males over 21.

Marking the 30th anniversary of the Sexual Offenses Act of 1967, A Bill Called William presents for the first time the story of one of the most significant and controversial pieces of Britain's post-war social legislation. The Act, which decriminalized sexual behavior between consenting adult males over 21, was preceded by a fierce two year political battle which raged, not only in Parliament, but also in the press and across the whole country. Among the old cotton mills of Manchester, there has sprung a new "gay village", an alternative place to call home for thousands of British lesbians and gay men. Village Voices chronicles the development of this vibrant urban community, which has spawned numerous clubs, restaurants and shops as well as a community center offering much-needed services to a growing gay population. But this is more than just a gay chamber of commerce travelogue: Village Voices also takes a critical look at the insular effect of creating a neighborhood that caters exclusively to one segment of a city's inhabitants.

Constantinou, Sophie

1997

A documentary film that strives to demyystify the phenomenon of cutters, women who self-injure. Local Bay Area filmmaker.

Yu, Jessica

1997

An elderly man prepares to make a marriage proposal to his beloved.

Cowell, Laura

1997

Belly, Femur. Femur, Belly. documents a chance meeting between the supercool, worldly-wise Belly and the awkward, heart-broken Femur.

Ciraulo, Dina

1997

Bayou is about the politics of travel and the power of love.

Mitchell, Allyson

1997

Bad Brownies features dykes telling stories about the bad things they did as Brownie Scouts.

Grian, Hazel

1997

In a fantastic world of darkness and light, baby seeks revenge with her special powers and a supply of jelly beans.

Bednarz, Wendy

1997

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A 15 YEAR OLD GIRL.

Wilson, Jay
Ritchie, Rhonda

1997

Deitch, Donna

1997

When San Francisco-born lesbian director Donna Deitch cast actress Gwen (Nashville) Welles in her breakthrough 1986 feature Desert Hearts, neither suspected that the two women would become best friends and next-door neighbors. When Welles was unexpectedly diagnosed with cancer in 1992 at the age of 42, she asked Deitch to film the progress of her eventually fatal illness. The result of that process is Deitch’s first feature film since Desert Hearts. Angel On My Shoulder offers an excruciatingly intimate portrait of Welles as she confronts the ultimate human fate, and of Deitch herself, as she comes to terms with the death of her dear friend. Dying on camera in Angel On My Shoulder, Welles says, is the greatest role she has ever played on screen. By looking tragedy in the eye without flinching, Welles finally triumphs over a life-long pattern of self-destructive behavior. Though not a film for the emotionally timid – pain, suffering, and death are recorded with the all blunt immediacy of a home video – Angel On My Shoulder is a powerful testament to a true paradox: we can only learn to live fully while in the process of dying.