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.

Also, just such great uses of pop music.  Really charming.

Sunday, April 18
4-8pm
SOMArts
943 Brannan St. near 8th St., SF
$20-60 sliding scale, nobody turned away

Join CUAV and El/La Program Para TransLatinas to wrap up SAFETYFEST 2010 with a fierce and tender afternoon of music, food, dancing, community, and runway.

• Las Krudas Cubensi, Cuban hip hop powerhouse
• Lil Miss Hot Mess, local glamor sensation
• Model Minority Revolt, showing Gwen Stefani a thing or two
• Jamaesori (“Sister Sound”), traditional Korean drumming
• DJ Rosa La Rumorosa, playing everything you want to hear
• MC MamaDora, bringing the fierceness
• El/La’s amazing performers
• Delicious edible food, wine, and beer!
• Glamorous raffle prizes, including bike tune-up, cruise, sex toys, and more!
• All-ages Family Space complete with dress-up, inspiring games, and art-making!
• Queer craft fair with t-shirts, acupuncture, art-making, and more!
• A chance to strut your stuff on the catwalk and dance floor!
• And more!

Don’t miss this chance to party with your people! Bring your friends!

Be sure to RSVP on Facebook! See you there!

Safetyfest is CUAV’s annual celebration of all the ways queer and trans folks stay safe and strut our stuff in the Bay Area. Visit safetyfest.blogspot.com for the full calendar, updates, and report-backs! Visit www.cuav.org for more information about CUAV’s work.

Some inspiration:

Those sleeves!

Don’t you love how it kind of looks like an actual Bat Mitzvah video, what with the Horah and everything?

Sorry it’s belated.  I was sick last week, so I canceled and then canceled the cancel.  And I’m excited to perform with Sweetcheeks!!!

Friday, February 26th 6pm-10pm
UC Berkeley Multicultural Community Center
(near Bancroft & Telegraph)

With the 10th anniversary of our Night of Cultural Resistance, we remember the struggle endured by the third world Liberation Front and their fight to secure our right to exist and thrive on this campus. In the face of budget cuts that overwhelmingly threaten underrepresented minority communities, we gather for this year’s NoCR to make it known that WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED. As we celebrate and experience our Night of Cultural Resistance with music, dance, art, poetry and prose from our various cultures, religions, identities, and intersectionalities, we claim the existence of a space that allows our differing worlds to come together as one within the haven of our very own Multicultural Community Center. NoCR is not only a celebration, but a declaration of our solidarity and resistance. We will plant the roots of our resistance and raise our voices like branches far into the skies and into the night. Join us in this year’s Night of Cultural Resistance.

With performances by:

DJ Jose Arias
Kane Aku
Berkerkeley B-Boys and Girls
Lil Miss Hot Mess
Youth Speaks
Yining Chou
Tavae Samuelu
iDub Collective
Night of Cultural Resistance (NoCR) Alums and more!

Food Vendors!: Fried Bread (from UCB Native American Recruitment & Retention Center) and Tamales (Lucha)

Brought to you by: The Multicultural Community Center and Multicultural Student Development offices (APASD, NAAC, CLSD, Cross-Cultural Student Development, and AASD)

The backstory is that I sent him an invitation since I knew he was in town doing Fiddler on the Roof at the Golden Gate Theatre.  I thought, if I can’t get Fran Drescher, I might as well have Harvey!  I was a little last-minute about it, and I sent two, but one got returned to sender.  But lo and behold!

Who knows (and who cares) if it was him or an assistant or whatever.  File this under hilarious.  Also, looks like the photo was taken by his brother Ronald (thanks internet research).

One question: would it be too much to ask for a Mazel Tov?!?

I actually had this link saved as a draft, but never got to write a post about it, so here’s a quick hit: The Under The Influence: Masters of the Universe Tribute Art Show.

Wow.  This may be the dorkiest post I’ve ever done.  But as a kid I had two toy obsessions: My Little Pony and He-Man.  I’m not kidding — sometimes I played with the together.  This may explain things.

Anyway, just wanted to share some highlights from their online catalog that I think are absolutely genius:

Johnny Sampson, “Cosmo Skeletor,” screenprint on archival paper
Based on the hottest photo ever, obvi.

Interestingly, many of these are by women, but very few deal with the not-so-subtle queerness going on in He-Man.  I don’t really feel like getting into any feminist or queer critiques right now, but seriously, y’all, tell me some of this isn’t genius.

More after the jump.

Nicole Gustafsson, “Evil-Lyn’s Quiet Time,” gouache and ink on wood

ghostpatrol, “He-Man (spirit)” and “Skeletor (spirit),” homemade plush, one-of-a-kind

Sae Soh, “Zora,” poster color on bristol board

Scott Scheidly, “Skeleton In His Closet,” acrylic on wood

John Rozum, “Master Of His Universe,” cut paper and collage, layered in 3-D

Kiersten Essenpreis, “Trimming The Bowl Cut,” flashe paint on wood, sealed in resin