Young, John G.

1995

Set in a sleepy upstate New York town, where a cup of coffee is still thirty-five cents and cross burning is a mundane weekend pastime, Parallel Sons follows the chance meeting of Seth (Gabriel Mick), an aspiring young white artist, and Knowledge (Lawrence Mason), an African-American correctional-facility escapee. Despite the brutal circumstances of their introduction—the wounded Knowledge attempts to rob the diner where Seth works nights—their lives become irreversibly entangled when Seth hides Knowledge in the woods, safe from the racist sheriff, and nurses him back to health. But Seth’s act of kindness goes beyond compassion, for Seth’s personal world is fueled by the romanticized notion of what it is to be young and black from the inner city. His art is heavily influenced by graffiti. He can lip synch to rap without missing a beat. He wears gangsta clothes and his hair in dreads, albeit blond. Knowledge becomes more than a patient as they both tentatively discover a far deeper commonality drawing them closer together. When a sudden accident drives them further away from the law, they embark on a desperate journey in search of freedom. Strung taut with dramatic and sexual tension, Parallel Sons proves first-time feature director John G. Young a skilled master of cinematic storytelling. Speaking to anyone who has longed to escape from where they came but fears where they might go, Parallel Sons is more about kindness, compassion, and the need to be loved than it is about the differences that make one man white and the other black.  Winner of the 1995 San Francisco International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival Audience Award for Best Feature.

Ainouz, Karim

1995

Paixao Nacional takes a somber look at the life one man has lived in Brazil and the U.S.

Gaulke, Cheri

1995

Out Loud shows that young queers find many different ways to express their queer selves. A strong Latina, two homeless Goth dykes, a cyber fag and a flamboyant gayboy who aspires to the presidency--these are just some of the people who speak up for themselves and others like them.

Mosbacher, Dee

1995

This probing documentary on homophobia in women's sports interviews many of the top names in women's sports, including Martina Navratilova.

Olavarria, Juliette

1995

Three daughters reflect back on their lives since their mother came out to them eleven years ago in Juliette Olavarria's video Our Mom's a Dyke. They very touchingly share with us the love they have for their mother while honestly telling us about the difficulties they have had with others and with themselves in coming to accept their mother's sexuality.

Sasagawa, Narusa

1995

One Shadowless Hour celebrates the diversity of Japanese lesbian lifestyles. This documentary mixes footage of the 2nd Tokyo Lesbian & Gay Parade with interviews with five women who challenge the lesbian stereotypes found in Japanese society.

McDowell, Peter

1995

Two tourist couples are captivated by queer San Francisco.

Ravich, Rand

1995

Ravich, Randy

1995

Mau, Heidi

1995

A couple of dykes reflect on their childhood experiences with nuns in Novices.