This is just a reminder that the Indiana Cares Campaign to End Homophobia (ICC) will kick off its 9th annual LGBT Film Festival on Sunday, October 7th with a 6 PM showing of the gay drama Cloudburst.
Director
Thom Fitzgerald evokes virtuoso performances from Oscar-winning
actresses Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker in this uproarious dramedy
about two women – lovers for 31 years – who must go on the run in order
to stay together. The festival is being held on each of the four Sunday evenings in October at 6 PM. The location, once again, is Beard Auditorium in Stouffer Hall at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP.)
This
film was selected for screening the night before the IUP Six O’Clock
Series presents Christian Contemporary singer, and out lesbian, Jennifer
Knapp to campus on Monday, October 8th as part of our activities for National Coming Out Week.
On October 14th, the feature film will be a thriller titledSpeechless.
A mysterious, young man is found by a river in a small town in southern
China. Although seemingly Western European, he is unable or unwilling
to speak. The slow unfolding of memories and events reveals a traumatic
secret and a devastating denouement in this dramatic thriller as the two
principals uncover a troubled past of sex, revenge, love and betrayal.
This is an assured thriller which builds slowly to gain a strong
momentum and offers a fascinating view of gay life in contemporary
China.
On the third Sunday, October 21st, the feature film will be a documentary titled Trans.
Trans
is an extraordinary documentary feature about men and women, and all
the variations in between. It is about the Transgender Community,
perhaps the most misunderstood and mistreated minority in America and
around the world. Inspired by the incredible story of Dr. Christine
McGinn and her work as a transgender surgeon, TRANS provides an up-close
and very personal vision into the lives, loves, and challenges of a
remarkable cast of characters of all ages and from all walks of life.
Stories of confusion and courage, excitement and emotion that have never
been told, until now. To anyone who has ever looked in a mirror and
wondered, “who they really are?” TRANS ask another question, “are you
brave enough to find out?” One of the top films of the year!
On the final night, October 28th, the festival will offer a double feature: Naked as We Came and Men to Kiss. The
first film is a story about letting go of the past and recreating
family relationships. After an unexpected phone call, Laura and her
brother Elliot rush to their family’s country estate to find their
mother, Lilly, gravely ill and living with a handsome young stranger
named Ted. Their mother’s condition sets Laura and Elliot on a path to
realizing where their own lives have gone wrong. Love, loss and hope are
all explored in this powerful drama, which asks the question: What is
your dream?
The
2011 LGBT Film Festival closes with the chaotic relationship of the
unequal couple of Ernst and Tobias. Though opposites attract,
respectable banker Ernst is often unsure, whether bubbly and always
cheerful Tobias takes their relationship as seriously as he does. Soon
they rise to a challenge of every relationship: everyday living together
and mutual trust. The sudden appearance of Uta, Ernst’s eccentric
school friend, fundamentally changes their relationship. Uta forges out a
scheming plan, which Ernst completely falls for. Together with his
friends, Tobias spares no efforts to checkmate the unwelcome guest as
soon as possible – and sets events in motion that increasingly get out
of control.
Selected short films, including Teens like Phil, Lunchtime, Something Blue, Croquembouche and Crush will be shown before the feature film each of the first three weeks.
There
is no admission charge; donations are accepted. The Indiana LBGT Film
Festival is made possible with funding from various departments and
organizations at IUP, PFLAG of Indiana, the First Unitarian Universalist
Church of Indiana, and ICC, and with the support of individual donors.
IUP organizations co-sponsoring the festival include Pride Alliance, The
GLBT Commission, The Lively Arts at IUP, Women’s Studies, The Honors
College, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the
Departments of English, Political Science, and Sociology.
Beard Auditorium is located in Stouffer Hall at 175 Maple Streeton the IUP campus. For directions and a map, go tohttps://iup.edu/mapanddirections/default.aspx. For additional information about the Film Festival and other ICC events, write to ICC at indianacarescampaign@yahoo.com or go towww.indianacarescampaign.org
Dr. Lynne Alvine