Dougherty, Cecilia

1995

Cecilia Dougherty's latest video exploration into the conflict between identity and assimilation.

Poselski, Iakov

1995

Moscow Fags looks at the lives of openly gay men in Russia, from those living in the prison system to those working to change that country’s legal stance on homosexuality.

Malkin, Anna

1995

Mom, I Think I'm . . . is an episode in the life of a daughter who has to come out: as bisexual to her lesbian mom.

Camarda, George

1995

An HIV-positive queen cuts through the crap trying to find sex and happiness.

Kehr, Walter

1995

A look at Club Fuck, and the tattoo and piercing culture of Los Angeles.

Siler, Megan

1995

Megan Siler’s The Midwife’s Tale is a refreshing reconstruction of the fairy tale genre. Steeped in romance and fantasy, this winner of the “Emerging Talent Award” from the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, is framed as a bedtime story being told to a young girl by her mother’s new girlfriend. Set in medieval time, it is the story of Lady Eleanor, an impetuous young noblewoman forced to marry and expected to bear a child. Fearing she will die in childbirth as her mother did, she sends for the village midwife in hopes of finding a potion that will keep her from getting pregnant. But the old midwife is on trial for witchcraft, so her apprentice Gwenyth comes in her place. Eleanor is immediately drawn to the apprentice and pleads for her help. Though Gwenyth fears that she too may be accused of witchcraft, she agrees to help Eleanor if the noblewoman will try to free the old midwife.As the two women help and defend one another, their desire for each other develops into a consuming yet unspoken passion. Flirtatious rides through open meadows and wooded streams soon lead to some heated bedside manner in the candlelight of Eleanor’s bedroom chamber.But all is not merry and soon the old midwife is hanged and Gwenyth is imprisoned for having “possessed” the Lady Eleanor. It is now up to Eleanor to find a way to free Gwenyth from the hands of the church and to free herself from the confinement and misery of her forced marriage.

Rinkenberger, Ginger

1995

A girl falls for her wheel-chair bound roommate.

Hick, Jochen

1995

Jochen Hick's engaging new documentary takes an up-close look at the circuit of leatherman contests, making pit stops in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco. Hick's camera captures contestants as they excitedly prepare to compete. Through revealing interviews with not only contestants but S&M porn actors, uniform fetishists, and long-term slaves, the film gives us an unprecedented behind-the-scenes glimpse into this close knit community of sexual radicals. Special attention is paid to Amsterdam-based "Tom of Hamburg," a former "International Mr. Leather" title holder, S&M porn star, and porn producer. His current battle with AIDS is poignantly addressed by the filmmaker. The startling physical transformation we see in Tom is jolting. Yet one is inspired by the openness and courage of this important member of the leather community. We are also treated to several entertaining and informative interviews with San Francisco's own Mr. Marcus. Hick's camera also follows the many men who cruise these events looking for sexual and play partners. They speak with a frankness and humor about their obsessions with boot licking, domination, and submission. We are made privy to the rituals of encounter and seduction in the halls and elevators of the hotels where the men stay for the duration of these leather events. Men Maniacs not only brings us backstage but shows us the erotically charged contests with plenty of fantasy, flesh, and flogging.

Hubbard, Jim

1995

"Memento Mori tells about death, about the death of a friend of the filmmaker's."

Freeman, Marilyn

1995

Marilyn Freeman’s Meeting Magdalene is an enchanting story about an inescapably profound attraction between two strangers. On her way home from a business trip, Sara rests for a few hours at her ex-girlfriend Jane’s house. Little does she know what is in store for her when Jane’s current girlfriend Magdalene puts the mojo on her.