Reel Affirmations: The Nation's LGBT Film Festival 2008

Children 8 and under free. When Dottie's partner Mary leaves to take their son Oliver to his first day of school, Dottie (the amazing Jen Plante) becomes lonely. Luckily, Oliver gave his mom enchanted glitter, which she sprinkles around the house, making objects come alive! Their living room is transformed into a world with a colorful cast of puppets (Randal the Beaver, James the Flower, Uncanny the Singing Can, Matilda the Mouse and the singing Couch Cushions), animation and music. A wacky and playful lesbian mom, Dottie leads her gaggle of friends as they sing, dance, and play the day away!

FREE AT FIVE - PRESENTED BY SMYAL Sakia Gunn was a young and charismatic aggressive whose brutal murder led to public outcry over the lenient sentences imposed on her killers. In this earth-shattering documentary, the many issues surrounding her death are examined: A bright young star at Newark, NJ's West Side High, Sakia and a group of friends were accosted by two men after an evening in Greenwich Village. Rebuffing the two men's sexual advances, Sakia was stabbed and died in her best friend's arms. At her killers' sentencing, an unbelievably light sentence was given, prompting cries of outrage in the community. Depicting the homophobia that allowed such a crime to happen, and the lack of media coverage the murder of a young Black lesbian, Dreams Deferred is a sobering look at justice in the 21st century. Despite the tragic tone of the film, an inspiring sense of hope imbues this story of marginalized youth finally confronting a justice system that seems heavily stacked against them. The young filmmaker Chas Brack, hoping to foster a sense of empowerment in young Black LGBT youth, has created a film that serves as both cautionary tale and a primer on justice for the African American community. After the screening, please join us for a youth-led panel discussion featuring members of SMYAL, local GSAs and youth activists.

Piao Lang Qing Chun Originally translated as The Drifting Flowers of Youth, Zero Chou's (Spider Lilies) third feature is her most gloriously crafted yet. Eloquently old in three parts, focusing on a different character each time, Drifting Flowers opens with the story of 8 yr. old May, who befriends an androgynous accordion player, Diego. Both May and Jing soon fall for this suave butch dyke, and the bittersweet love causes friction for all. The second scenario is a beautiful story of loss and rekindled friendship. Lily quietly struggles alone with Alzheimer's, longing for the day when her missing girlfriend Ocean will walk through the door. Instead, her long lost cross-dressing pseudo-husband -- reminiscent of her lover -- shows up on Lily's doorstep. Their fragmented friendship grows beautifully into an inseparable bond that tugs at the heart. Coming full circle, the third segment features Diego during her teen years, fighting her traditional family, binding her breasts and falling in love for the first time. Mandarin & Taiwanese with English subtitles

Follow the crazy, yearlong journey of gay Project Runway winner Jay McCarroll (Season 1) as he prepares his first independent runway show for New York's Fashion Week - in a bid to sell his his clothing line. Told in verité style, Eleven Minutes exposes us not only to the bitchy (and sometimes tender) inner workings of the fashion industry and McCarroll's love/hate relationship with it, but to the creative process that must withstand the weighty concerns of money, image, and PR. In his real-world bid for fashion fame and fortune, the charismatic McCarroll needs to prove himself more than a boob-tube character, particularly in a tough industry notoriously resistant to outsiders. With little money, endless expenditures, no business experience and a motley crew of talented friends, McCarroll manages to cobble together a collection for his moment in the spotlight, retaining his sense of humor as numerous actual and potential disasters parade by. The result is a painfully raw and humorous exploration of the fashion business and the constant conflict of balancing commerce with art, fame with talent, and reality-TV with actual reality.

Operated By Invisible Hands A French doll regrets a night of passion with another female doll. Dir: Nicole Brending, USA, 2007, English/French, English subtitles, 7min. Backstroke A girl loses her most precious memories after an accident, but runs into them when confined to a psych ward. But will she realize it? Dir: Amy Bronson, USA, 2007, English, 20min. Ma Rainey’s Lesbian Licks Ma Rainey is an inspiration not only musically, but for her unabashed embrace of her sexuality. A look at one of the legendary blues singers in times less accepting than today. Dir: Robert Philipson, USA, 2006, English, 4min. In Twilight’s Shadow Don’t touch that light switch! A supernatural thriller in which an immortal has until sunrise to save the woman she loves. Dir: T.M. Scorzafava, USA, 2007, English, 11min. The Insomniacs A butch dyke, Skyler Cooper, meets the girl of her dreams at an Insomniacs Anonymous meeting. Dir: Kami Chisholm, USA, 2008, English, 11min. Mars The violent leader of a girl gang falls for a beautiful loner, with results that you’d NEVER expect. Dir. Marcus Richardt, Germany, 2007, English subtitles, 17min. Pages of a Girl (Paginas de Menina) In this short film inspired by the love of all things literary, a young woman falls for her first: the older, more experienced woman who manages the bookstore where she works. Dir: Monica Pallazzo, Brazil, 2007, English subtitles, 17min. The Touch The story, based on the poem The Touch, is set in 1906 and captures a romance in Paris between a lesbian poet, Renee Vivien, and a Muslim woman, Kerime, as the two women meet in a Paris park, maybe for the last time . Dir: Jane Clark, USA, 2007, English, 7min. Night Star Two pubescent Zulu girls find love in ritual, during Ukuya Enyangeni, the time of isolation and contemplation that occurs during menstration. Dir: Kekeletso Khena, South Africa, 2007, English subtitles, 13min.

Delight in this cluster of sexy, funny men’s shorts! Fabulosity A conservative couple learn what to expect after they discover that their son will be born with “fabulousity.” Don Newcomb, US, 2007, 5 mins Dolls An unexpected find, while preparing for a yard sale, forces a mother to come to terms with her teenage son’s sexuality. Randy Casperson, US, 2008, 10 mins. Romeo’s Kiss As if there isn’t enough drama in the drama class already! When Juliet leaves the room, rehearsal continues with a male stand-in, and Romeo’s kisses become much more passionate. Julien Eger, FRANCE, 2007, 12 mins Something Like That Boy meets girl. Girl takes boy to club. Boy meets boy. Boy takes girl to grocery store. Touching Brazilian tale about lights, laughter, and lust. Or could it be love? Esmir Filho, BRAZIL, 2006, 15 mins. Neurotica Picture this: you are standing alone in a club and everyone is looking at you. Are you sexy? Is your hair standing on end? Or are you just gay?! Nick Wauters, US, 2007, 14 mins. Herzhaft No matter how often the story makes the headlines.. some people never learn. A coach and his underage player are having a passionate affair , one that everyone knows won't end well. Martin Busker, GERMANY, 2007, 15 mins. Sweat To prove to his boyfriend that he’s open minded, Simon heads to a London bathhouse where he finds two potential replacements. Can either one give him what he came for? John Lochland, UK, 2007, 15 mins. Just After meeting for a casual hook-up, two men learn more about each other and, in a moment of vulnerability, share their views on fidelity and monogamy in the modern world. David Maurice, US, 2007, 12 mins. Mirror Mirror Are you the fairest of them all? He used to think so. Now who are you without him? John Winter, AUSTRALIA, 2007, 10 mins. The Red Dress A wily woman escapes suspicious dress shop clerks and breaks into a church morgue in a heroic attempt to honor Lily’s true identity and final request. Her efforts and eulogy pay tribute to a friend who knew herself more than most. Barney Cheng, US, 2008, 7 mins.

What begins as an homage to a celebrated local Irish poet takes a dark turn when the director uncovers suspicions regarding the poet's support of teenage boys in Nepal. Director Neasa Ni Chianáin accompanies openly gay poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh on one of his annual spiritual journeys to Nepal, where he provides financial support to a community of young Nepalese men and boys. Welcomed into their inner circle, the young men, treat him like a member of their family. The film provides a unique glimpse into the lives of the young Nepali men and their families and demonstrates how the poet has created an extended family and second home in the country. During the course of filming the documentary, however, the director begins to suspect that all is not what is seems and eventually feels compelled to confront the poet about allegations that his relationships with some of the young men may be inappropriate. The powerful discussion and confrontation are captured on film as the director unexpectedly becomes a critical part of her own documentary. English, Gaelic, Nepalese (English subtitles) 60 minutes Preceded by: Escrito Filmmaker Monica Enriquez poetically describes her identity as a lesbian immigrant living in the US. ...a controversial and brave documentary..."Fairytale of Kathmandu" is a film you will want to see, for a wider variety of reasons than with almost any other documentary. Seattle Film Festival Review For years, Cathal Ó Searcaigh's trips to Nepal have attracted bemused praise and admiration. People love the idea of an eccentric poet traveling from his hillside cottage in Donegal to the Far East on journeys...in the end, the portrait of him that emerges is of a lonely man...bewildered, as ever, by the rules and mores of civil society and the ways in which they inhibit him. Sunday Independent

Dottie’s Magic Pockets Buddy G: My Two Moms and Me Tomboy Children 8 and under free. Finally – an afternoon program that reflects the diversity of LGBT families – families just like yours! Bring the kids for a slate of family friendly films with an LGBT focus, then stay for a fun crafts activity at the Pyramid Atlantic Community Art Store. In the delightful short film Tomboy, enjoy the animated adventures of Alex (short for Alejandra), a mischievous 9 year old girl who loves to play soccer. Based on the book Are You a Boy or a Girl by Karleen Pendleton Jimenez, Tomboy takes a light-hearted look at the ways in which children learn to love themselves – despite their obvious differences. Buddy G, My Two Moms and Me is an animated series about a five-year-old with two moms who loves science and uses a computer strapped to his arms to solve problems. In this episode, "Lost Rings," Buddy G and his best friend Owen learn the value of being truthful while picking up some facts about the science of metal detectors. Join in for a sparkly session with Dottie's Magic Pockets. When Dottie's partner Mary leaves to take their son Oliver to his first day of school, Dottie (the amazing Jen Plante) becomes lonely. Luckily, Oliver gave his mom enchanted glitter, which she sprinkles around the house, making objects come alive! Their living room is transformed into a world with a colorful cast of puppets (Randal the Beaver, James the Flower, Uncanny the Singing Can, Matilda the Mouse and the singing Couch Cushions), animation and music. A wacky and playful lesbian mom, Dottie leads her gaggle of friends as they sing, dance, and play the day away! BuddyG: Margaux Towne-Colley, US, 2008 Tomboy, Barb Taylor, CANADA, 2007 Dottie’s Magic Pockets: Tammy Stoner, US, 2008 Total running time: 68 mins. Showing at: Pyramid Atlantic Community Art Store 924 Ellsworth Drive (near the fountain behind the AFI Silver Theatre!)