The line-up for the 24th annual Reeling 2005: Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival has been announced and it's a doozy. This year the fest, which runs Nov. 3-12, will present more than 130 independent films and videos from 16 countries. Screenings will be held at Landmark's Century Cinema, Chicago Filmmakers, Columbia College's Film Row Cinema and Columbia's Third Floor theater, and the Music Box.
Organizers of the festival have gathered an impressive list of films that touch on all aspects of GLBT life. Filmmakers are increasingly breaking down the straight movie genre barrier and the fest will highlight gay thrillers, gay horror, and gay sports movies that reflect this. A selection of well chosen international titles—from France to Hong Kong—will also add insight into the global GLBT experience. As the opening date draws closer, I'll focus more in-depth on several of the offerings. For now, a few highlights:
— Summer Storm, a German film by Marco Keruzpainter will kick off the fest on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Music Box followed by an after-party up the street at Strega Nona. The film's described as a coming of age/coming out drama focusing on two members of a rowing team gearing up for a big regatta.
— Unveiled, another German film ( this one directed by Angelina Maccarone ) , is the Women's Centerpiece Screening of the fest ( it's scheduled for Monday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. at Film Row Cinema at Columbia College ) . The movie focuses on the journey of Fariba, a lesbian fleeing Iran for asylum in Germany who's forced to assume a male identity in order to escape detection. A reception follows.
— Say Uncle, the directorial and writing debut of Peter 'Queer as Folk' Paige is the Men's Centerpiece Screening and is scheduled for 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 9 at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema. Paige, who co-stars in the comedy-drama with Kathy Najimy, will attend a reception in his honor following the screening. Location TBA.
— Likewise, Adam and Steve is the feature writing/directing debut of out actor Craig Chester, memorable for his leading performance in Swoon. The relationship comedy co-stars Parker Posey and Craig Kattan.
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— Desperate Housewives Emmy winner Felicity Huffman stars as a male-to-female transgender person in the drama Transamerica that's getting a lot of buzz on the festival circuit.
— Scab, an entry in the suddenly hot gay horror genre is about a gay vampire loose in Las Vegas. The film features several gay porn stars as victims!
— Hate Crime, featuring Susan Blakley, Bruce Davison, and Cindy Pickett and Strange Fruit are two entries in the gay suspense thriller genre.
— Guys and Balls, from Germany, is just one of several sports related films. Take the Flame, a documentary by David Secter on the Gay Games movement, screens Nov. 10.
— A few documentary highlights would include Little Man, Gay Republicans, Fag Hag: Women Who Love Gay Men, and Bad Girls Behind Bars. This last is Chicago filmmaker Sharon Zurek's camp reedit of four women-in-prison films and features lesbian icons Barbara Stanwyck, Pam Grier and Anne Heche.
— The closing night entry, The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green, stars David Letterle, the teenage heartthrob from out director Todd Graff's Camp. Based on the gay comic strip, the film's a comedy in which Letterle plays a 'gay everyman.' Meredith Baxter plays Letterle's mom. This will screen on Nov. 12 at 8:45 at the Film Row Cinema at Columbia College with a party at the college.
Complete list of film titles, screening schedule, ticket information ( they go on sale Oct. 22 ) , and related festival events are available by phoning 773-293-1447 or online at www.reelingfilmfestival.org .
