Lil Miss Hot Mess

For those of you who don’t know, by day I work for Frameline doing communications, outreach, and coordinating an educational program.  (She works hard for the money!)  So, every year I like to put out my list of films to watch out for.  And dish about that.  As I always say, if you don’t trust me, then honey, I don’t trust your taste.

So, without further ado, here’s what I’m excited to see this year, in no particular order (well, actually in the order that they’re in the printed program guide:

Le Tigre: On Tour

This was our last-minute TBA!  Well, it’s been A’ed people, so start lining up.  I’ve heard that this is an excellent doc about the band and I can not wait to see it!

Beautiful Darling: The Life and Times of Candy Darling, Andy Warhol Superstar

Honestly, I hate films with titles that long, but it kind of works, no?  I haven’t seen it yet, but this is one of the ones I’m saving as a special treat for myself during the festival.  I’ve heard so many good things about this film — that it’s not only a great personal profile, but also a great exploration of her identity as a transwoman.  Plus, Holly Woodlawn will be in town for it.

Undertow

I just watched this, and it really is quite beautiful, from the scenery to the mens.  (And I’m not one to see a movie because of the eye candy.)  It’s a compelling story, told well, and with a lot of depth.

Elvis & Madona

Lesbian pizza delivery boy named Elvis.  Trans/drag-queen named Madona.  They get pregnant (and I do mean “they”).  A really charming story, and nice to see queer sexualities that are a little out of the mainstream.

I Killed My Mother

Okay, I have to say it: this is so far my favorite film of the festival, and I have the feeling that it may stay that way.  While it’s not groundbreaking in style or content, I would go so far as to say that it’s close to perfect: a concise, well-told, and emotionally engaging story about a boy’s relationship to his mother.  It’s both gripping and funny, and while it sometimes hits too close to home, their extreme relationship makes me feel both relieved and like I wish we could scream at each other (literally) more often.  Plus, the writer/director/star Xavier Dolan is only 20 (makes me wonder what I’m doing with my life) and gorgeous.  It’s a shame he’s not going to be in town, but probably better for his safety, since he would be eaten alive in the Castro.

The Owls

Cheryl Dunye’s latest, featuring reunion performances by Guinevere Turner and VS Brodie.  Plus, “OWLs” is an acronym for “Older, Wiser Lesbians.”  I’m clearly on board.

The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls

Yodeling lesbian twins who have somehow become national treasures in New Zealand.  What?  I know.

The Adults in the Room

I happened across Andy Blubaugh’s short Hello, Thanks about M4M personals about six months ago and loved it.  This film looks at a relationship between Blubaugh as a teen with an older man, through both narrative and documentary.  From my understanding, it’s an exploration and not a condemnation of younger-older relationships, which really we don’t see enough of.

Open

Heard great things: beautifully shot, trans and intersex cast, artsy, experimental, gay relationships between cis- and trans- gender guys.  Can’t wait!  “Pandrogyny.”  Whoa.

FIT

This is our youth film this year, and I absolutely love it.  It’s like a totally PC version of Gossip Girl (or, really, more like Skins, the British teen drama that’s soooo much better).  Director Rikki Beadle-Blair also plays the teacher and makes you want to take his drama class.  It’s also free for youth 24 and under!

Mädchen in Uniform

I’ve only ever seen the 1931 version, but this is the 1958 version with Romy Schneider!

Plan B

Really lovely film about a guy who tries to get back with his ex-girlfriend by seducing her new boyfriend.  It sounds like it could be a dumb bromance movie, but it’s not.  It’s really about falling in love by accident.   There’s a lot of ambiguity, a lot of not knowing what to believe from the characters, and really good pay-off at the end.  Plus cute boys, one of whom kind of looks like GGB (Gael Garcia Bernal) from certain angles, and one who looks like a soccer-playing hippie, which brings me back to high school crushes (DMB anyone?  Oops.).

Dzi Croquettes

To call these performers the Brazilian Cockettes, doesn’t quite do it justice — really they’re a pastiche of a pastiche and I love every minute of it.  They make you feel like what we’re doing right now has been done a million times before.  It makes you want to work harder.  Every drag queen in this city should see this.  Also, every famous Brazilian is in it, as well as Liza Minelli.  What?!

Arias with a Twist: The Docufantasy

I’ve heard that if you’ve missed the show — Joey Arias and Basil Twist — this almost makes up for it.  I’m hoping that it does!

Stonewall Uprising

This one is already at Rush, so I really shouldn’t even put it on here, but I’ve heard that it answers so many questions you’ve never even thought to ask.  I can’t wait.

We Were Here: Voices from the AIDS Years in San Francisco

Lately I’ve been surprised by how many young queers seem to not know much of anything about the early AIDS crisis.  I even heard of someone I went to college with who didn’t understand why “HIV things” were often “so gay.”  Girl, please!  This film looks at the early AIDS years in San Francisco — mainly through personal stories — and sounds like required viewing for anyone under 30.  (We’re about to mark the “30th anniversary of AIDS” — are you kidding?)

Are You Krazy?

Fun, kooky, edgy, sassy shorts.  Justin Bond.  Drag queens.  Julian Vargas’s Ka.Ka was one of my favorites from screening committee.  Plus Peaches Christ’s new short.  Don’t miss it.

Gayby

It’s rare that we get a whole shorts program about queer families and kids.  Hens & Chicks was also one of my favorites from screening committee as well, about a girl who wants to know who her “rooster” is.  Tears tears tears.  Plus, I love anything with the word “gayby.”

Generations: Youth and Elders Making Movies

This is the program from our workshops where we have LGBT youth and elders make films together.  Last year I was one of the instructors for the workshop.  I always go, and I always love seeing these first-time filmmakers get to talk about their work.  Also, Always My Son is a short film about how much this family works to accept and support their son — even though it may sound cheesy, bring a box of tissues because you will not be able to stop crying.  Literally.

Skinnyfat

I haven’t seen it yet, but so many local friends are in it!  Unfortunately it’s already at Rush, but worth waiting in line for.  And worth wondering if I, too, am Skinnyfat.  Also playing is the latest Falling In Love… With Chris and Greg.  I’ve seen this one, and let me just say this is some of the most meta, edgiest, hilarious, and profound filmmaking these days.  And includes a lovely food spread and Dolly’s “Love is Like a Butterfly.”  Heaven.

Tough Girls

Ben McCoy!  Ben McCoy!  Ben McCoy!

Oh my goodness, there’s so many more films I want to talk about, but I should stop there!  But seriously, read the whole goddam program guide yourself and pick some good stuff!  And honestly, somehow my screening committee got like all of the good shorts this year, so I can pretty much guarantee that there’s something great in all of the shorts programs.