The San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, founded in 1977, is the biggest bestest most spectacular LGBT film event in the entire universe. For example it is the “largest,” “longest-running” and “most widely recognized.” It’s put on by Frameline, an LGBT media/arts non-profit, and it’s happening this week in San Francisco, from June 14th through June 24th. There are so many amazing movies being shown this year, from old classics like Cheryl Dunye’s Watermelon Woman to hotly anticipated debuts like Jeffery Schwarz’s documentary Vito and foreign-lesbian-films-you’ve-been-reading-about-on-AfterEllen like Kiss Me and Bye Bye Blondie.
Of course, not everybody lives in the Bay Area, which is unfortunate as I’m really dying for some nice lesbian to move here and open a convenience store in the abandoned building next to mine, ideally one that sells cream, Teas Tea and quarters. Anyhow, if you’re not in the area, I’ve helpfully included information about where you might be able to see these films some other way before they eventually come out on video. Sidenote did you know that Wolfe Video, the Leaders and Creators Of Lesbian Movie-Land, just started an On-Demand service? You can watch Tomboy tonight! You’re welcome.
10 LBT Movies You’ll Wanna See This Week
1. Mosquita y Mari (Feature) directed by Aurora Guerrero, 2011
Two Chicana teenagers in Huntington Park come of age, discover themselves, get in trouble, fall in love for the first time, etc. Basically this is my favorite plot of all time – shy smart college-bound young lesbian meets wicked hot “bad girl” best friend who smokes, lesbian falls in love with best friend, emotional breakdowns / familial riffs / sexual tension ensues!
Out of Town: Mosquita y Mari comes to Los Angeles on July 19.
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2. I Am A Woman Now (Documentary) – directed by Michiel van Erp, Netherlands, 2011
I know, I know, enough already from the European senior citizen transwomen! Let’s hear somebody else’s story for once, amirite? I swear, every time I turn on the television it’s another French transwoman over the age of 65 talking about growing up trans in the mid-20th-century. JUST KIDDING. I know literally not one thing about the subject of this movie, and chances are good you don’t either, which’s why we all need to go see it.
They are all women of a certain age; blue-haired ladies using canes, well-preserved sixty-year-olds walking small dogs in the park, or aging beauties meeting old beaus for a posh lunch. And they all have one thing in common: Dr. Georges Burou, who in the ’60s and ’70s operated a clinic in Casablanca where he performed groundbreaking sex-change surgeries.
In this beautifully photographed documentary, five transwomen reflect back on their lives as women, and the various paths that led them to surgery. In a mixture of interviews, home-movies, and scenes of their daily lives, we hear their stories.
Out of Town: I Am A Woman Now comes to Los Angeles on July 15 and New York on July 29.
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3. Mommy is Coming (Feature/Erotic), directed by Cheryl Dunye, 2012
Here’s why you want to see this Feminist Porn Award winnter — Papí Coxxx and Jiz Lee are in it and Cheryl Dunye (The Watermelon Woman, The OWLS) directed it. There’s absolutely no way I could say anything about this film not described in this fantastic paragraph:
…Claudia’s search for this personal growth takes her to a magical Berlin queer sex club for an exceptionally submissive encounter with two transguys who help Claude discover gender bending and his true capacity for giving up control. Meanwhile a surprise visit from Dylan’s mother (the divine Maggie Tapert) creates additional dramatic complexities as she escapes her sexless marriage with Dylan’s father and embarks on an out-of-town fling with the handsome and ever attentive hotel clerk, Claude.
Out of Town: Mommy is Coming is coming (!!!!) to Berlin on June 26 and October 24-28.
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4. Face 2 Face (Documentary), directed by Katherine Brooks, 2012
The director of Loving Annabelle was struggling with depression, addiction and years of suppressed trauma — as well as the after-effects of working for years on reality television programs like The Real World and The Simple Life — when she decided to hit the road in search of renewing human interactions, which is when humans talk to other human beings face-to-face in three dimensions. So she posted about her mission on facebook, and the first 50 of her 5,000 Facebook fans to respond made it onto Kat’s Face 2 Face van-trip itinerary, which spanned 11,000 miles around America. Sounds cool, right?
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5. Yes Or No? (Feature), directed by Saratsawadee Wongsomphet, Thailand, 2010
It’s Thailand’s first lesbian romance movie and basically it looks so cute I can hardly stand to not be watching it this moment and all ensuing moments. Ostensibly heterosexual Pie’s new college roommate is a mega-cute ukelele-playing tomboy named Kim, who hasn’t really staked out her own sexuality quite yet. What happens next? GUESS YOU’LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEEEEEE
Out of Town: It’s on youtube!
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I’ve had Yes or No recommended to me a lot. Now that I know it’s on YouTube I’m finally going to get to see it.
Seriously though, this is a great list. Everything on it sounds very interesting (with the exception of the porn maybe, that’s not really my kind of thing). I’ve read a bit of Audre Lorde over the years, so I’m excited to see that documentary. And I’ve heard of All Over Me because of the Leisha Hailey bit, but I guess I really should check it out.
When I rewatched it a few years back I was surprised by how tame it was compared to how much it affected me when I saw it in the theater when I was
15. But I think it’s worth a watch for anyone, just a cute little movie. You can’t not like it
Yes or No is one of the best films I’ve ever watched — watched it three times already and still cry each time!
I love all of these!!
I just had the chance to watch Mosquita y Mari at the Sydney Film Festival this week and it was a really inspiring and cute film. If you have a chance to go see it, then you should. Be aware though that its a coming of age film and is based loosely on the directors own experiences growing up.
I’m very interested in seeing Mosquita y Mari and Children of Srikandi! And even though Jessica Clark is in it, I’m still wary about seeing Perfect Ending. I have hated Nicole Conn’s movies so far. Very good list.
Yeah I made it through about six minutes of Elena undone before undoing my decision to watch it.
Most of these look extremely interesting, but seriously, “Yes or No?” My little, lesbian heart may just explode. “Mississippi I Am” will also be at the very top of my list, that is if I can find it.
My heart exploded too.
Read list -> decided to watch Yes Or No on youtube -> fangirled -> sobbed -> IT’S LIKE TEGAN AND SARA: THE THAI MOVIE -> fell in love with Supanart Jittaleela -> will now text my girlfriend relentlessly until she agrees to watch it too.
You just explained my day, I had to instantly watch it on youtube!
considering i learned basically all the spanish i know from watching the l word on youtube with spanish captions (¡lo siento, puta!) i totally know thai now
LoL. I’ve “learned” Thai from and Jeeja Yanin and Tony Jaa action films.
And Yes or No was successful enough that they had to make a part 2, they already filmed it, I’m pretty sure it’s coming out this year (august, i think). Yay! Trailer is not yet out though..
I just watched “Yes or No.” It is entirely possible I just died of cute.
I tried to watch Yes or No but I only got through half of it. It’s too “cute.” It’s like I’m watching a disney movie with the sweetest cupcake ever with extra filling and sprinkles. I think I would like it more if I were 14.
Thought i’d share this since I know I like it when a video in parts is in a playlist. http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4EF036C04EFA4070 It’s a playlist for “Yes or No” on youtube so you can just go to the link and hit play all so you won’t have to keep starting each part & it’ll just play through.
I’m waiting for Girltrash: All Night Long to come out.
I can’t wait to see these!! Especially the first one.
I watched Loving Anabelle last night and was really dissapointed. I just kept yelling at my lap top being like, this doesn’t make sense! None of this makes sense!
Yes or No? looks so cute. Welp, there goes cleaning my room.
no way jose.
Yes or no was so cute!
Was it just me or did the subtitles mess up the characters names quite a lot? I am 69% sure they called Kim “Pie” several times.
The subtitles definitely messed up a lot. It made me super confused. But then there were adorable lesbians and I stopped noticing.
I met Cheryl Dunye in Calgary last month for her screening of Mommy is Coming at the Fairy Tales film fest. She was the cab driver in the film, such a good time!
I watched yes or no last night and had ALL of the feelings. So cute!
I saw I am a Woman Now yesterday in San Francisco and was blown away. It’s funny, beautiful, a bit sad, and all-round great. Don’t miss it if you get a chance to see it somewhere.
Oh my word, this is so relevant to my interests right now. I see where the recommendation for Yes/No came from now…
Ugh! I wish I lived in San Francisco this film festival looks beyond cool!
Wow! I really want to see “A Perfect Ending.” This film festival looks amazing. I saw “The Watermelon Woman” (Cheryl Dunye) and enjoyed it, although I was disappointed when I figured out that it’s fictional, despite the “documentary” premise. Still, I’d really like to see “Mommy is Coming.” It looks adorable, and holy shit, Lil Harlow? Oh my. So worth it.
“Yes or No” looks so good, SO CUTE. I have to watch it sometime when I’m feeling mopey.
ahhh awesome list!
“yes or no” is a delicious film although uncomfortable at times.. which brings me to.. why are the bulk of lesbian fims about hardship dealth fake-lesbianism and depression? Or the endings are a terrible shit-mess after wasting 2 hours. In response to the lack of feel-good entertainment I have begun writing my own scripts where the characters are attractive women who like eachother and end up dating! yay! I plan to make these scripts into filmed shorts and shooting is going to happen around oct/nov this year if anyone is interested in helping me or acting or whatever/just want more information contact my autostraddle page.
“yes or no” is a delicious film although uncomfortable at times.. which brings me to.. why are the bulk of lesbian fims about hardship dealth fake-lesbianism and depression? Or the endings are a terrible shit-mess after wasting 2 hours. In response to the lack of feel-good entertainment I have begun writing my own scripts where the characters are attractive women who like eachother and end up dating! yay! I plan to make these scripts into filmed shorts and shooting is going to happen around oct/nov this year if anyone is interested in helping me or acting or whatever/just want more information contact my autostraddle page.
^-^ help me shape the media lesbians of tomorrow
I knew about Yes or No, 2 months since it was released. Needless to say I’m happy that it’s gaining massively positive responses. And now most of the straight homophobic women in my country are starting to realize that *gasp* lesbians are still women! And that lesbian relationships is just the same as any other relationship with its ups and downs.
Now, I’ll wait to see Yes or No 2 in english subs. Because it will definitely be delicious. :3
ALL OVER ME OMG I think I first saw that movie when I was 14, and I was a little confused as to why I wanted to make out with Leisha so badly. That was the perfect 90’s teen queer movie, it’s one of my favourites!
Yes or No is worth it, it’s adorable and it’s wholesome