Zaynab is a thirty-something Pakistani, Muslim, lesbian lawyer living in Chicago who begins a new romance with Alma, a confident and vivacious Mexican-American woman. What could get in the way of true love? Just her mom’s endless search for the right pre-arranged marriage for Zaynab. Oh, and Alma’s pro-wrestling family. A sexy comedy, SIGNATURE MOVE celebrates the differences that make us interesting when opposites attract.… “Signature Move”
After a death in her family, struggling LA-based comedian Emily Martin (writer/director Noël Wells, Netflix’s “Master of None”) returns home to Austin, Texas. There she finds herself in the awkward position of staying with her ex and his new girlfriend until the funeral, where she’s forced to confront the life and relationships she left behind as well as the life she’s now living. MR. ROOSEVELT… “Mr. Roosevelt”
Creatively visualized through 3-D printing, two elderly Latinos embark on a resonating he said/she said account of the events that led them to live separately after more than 50 quirky and stressful years together. Precedes: SIGNATURE MOVE, 2017, USA, 82 minutes, Directed by Jennifer Reeder.
A small town in Tuscany may be the best example of the power of theater. Almost wiped out during World War II, the town started an annual tradition of putting on a play, with everyone playing themselves. Each year the subject came from current issues — the war, the women’s movement, the struggles of the town’s independent farmers — every major event has been debated… “Spettacolo”
Set in New Delhi, a closeted lesbian risks family and social boundaries as she pursues her household maid, Devi.
A personal documentary essay explores the connection between Christianity and homophobia in the wake of the shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
Cat visits her parents for the weekend and is confronted with her mother’s inability to remember one key detail.
Growing up in 1950s England in an intolerant and uninformed world, young Chris Winters struggles to fit into the gender roles dictated by wider society.
Amanda struggles to keep something inside as she spends the day taking pictures of her best friend.
Three friends gather for a potluck just as the world falls into apocalyptic ruin.
Theater troupe Split Britches debuted a performance that went on to influence a generation of lesbian feminists in New York’s downtown theater community during the Reagan era.
On Josh and Greg’s first date, they quickly realize that the generational divide between them is the least of their worries.
Portrait photographer Elsa Dorfman found her medium in 1980: the larger-than-life Polaroid Land 20×24 camera. For the next thirty-five years she captured the “surfaces” of those who visited her Cambridge, Massachusetts studio: families, Beat poets, rock stars, and Harvard notables. As pictures begin to fade and her retirement looms, Dorfman gives Errol Morris an inside tour of her backyard archive. In turn, he crafts a… “The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman’s Portrait Photography”
Martin, an introverted teen, meets Dominique, a handsome teacher’s aid who works at his high school.
As the night cleaner in Canada’s busiest gay bathhouse, Travis takes us on an amusing and sometimes harrowing tour through his nightly duties.
Two strangers form an unlikely bond when they meet at the singles table of a lesbian wedding.
Pedro gets home at dawn and before he can fall asleep, his lonely mother drags him to the beach.
An autobiographical tale of growing up gay in Soviet Union Russia, Wes escapes with his mother, a mail order bride, to Seattle to face a whole new oppression in his new Christian fundamentalist American dad.
In a remote forest, an aspiring actress immerses herself in the mythical world of the “Yowie” to scare others–and herself into living.
A woman in a fertility clinic is asked to give up her seat for a pregnant man.
Based on the Paul Bowles’s short story, a young girl finds herself transforming into a kitten as she grows up and slips away from her family.
STRANGE WEATHER follows the uncompromising Darcy (Holly Hunter), as she embarks on a road trip through the Deep South with her best friend (Carrie Coon), a lesbian in an interracial relationship, to uncover the truth about the death of her son. Hunter gives a powerhouse performance reminding us of her supreme talent. This lyrical, emotionally rich drama is a compelling story about how to be… “Strange Weather”
Two friends stumble upon the mother lode of movie memorabilia.
Raised in a secluded, off-the-grid bunker tucked into the hills of Utah, James faces numerous challenges once he begins to integrate into the larger world. His biggest surprise comes when he discovers his favorite TV show, Brigsby Bear Adventures, was produced for an audience of only him. With James’ life in turmoil, he sets out to try to make sense of things by finishing the… “Brigsby Bear”
In the Quebec countryside during a brutal winter, a woman and her adult daughter await the death of their family’s matriarch.
Oscar and his best friend, Hedgehog, just got dropped off at summer camp. Once the parents leave the island, the strangeness lurking beneath the surface is revealed.
When his ailing grandmother can no longer attend Meeting, a Quaker teenager raises his voice in a surprising act of thoughtful compassion.
A symbol of science, fear and mazes – the rat may be more intertwined with people than any other animal, as scary as that sounds to us humans. The aptly named RAT FILM focuses on the people and the rats in Baltimore, MD, from hunting grounds on the streets to pets in homes. The documentary is getting at a fascinating, larger picture – the intricate… “Rat Film”
A solitary — and hunky — ornithologist is kayaking, looking for birds in Northern Portugal, when he gets swept away by rapids. His truly surreal journey is just starting as he wakes up in a dark forest, runs into some strange Chinese pilgrims and then an even stranger forest cult and a lone man among them. Humor balances the bizarre as the film takes a… “The Ornithologist”
THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN examines the life and work of one of the world’s most beloved storytellers, following his evolution from a conservative son of the Old South into a gay rights pioneer. Jennifer Kroot’s documentary about the creator of Tales of the City moves nimbly between playful and poignant and laugh-out-loud funny. With help from his friends (including Neil Gaiman, Laura Linney,… “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin”
A violent assault forces a 30-year-old bartender to reexamine her life and place in the world.
A documentary portrait of Provincetown in its wintertime off-season.
Larry Dapsis, an entomologist, leads the fight against a persistent health crisis of tick bites on Cape Cod.
In the remote hippie communes of California in 1974, 13-year-old Lane drifts from place to place with her single mom Hallelujah. Finding food is hard, and making friends is even harder at this delicate point of childhood. The notions of freedom around her aren’t quite enough and Lane sets off on her own to find stability. Director SJ Chiro also grew up on a commune… “Lane 1974”
Haunted by the movie Jaws since childhood, a filmmaker discovers why the movie affected him so deeply.
In a poem written by 93-year-old Provincetown resident, Hilde Oleson perfectly captures Provincetown’s beauty.
Lemon: a person or thing that proves to be defective, imperfect, or unsatisfactory. Isaac can not get a break. He tries hard but his blind girlfriend is dumping him, his family hates him and his career has stalled. This can’t be his life. So he decides to take a chance and date a new girl. What could go awkwardly wrong? Director Janicza Bravo put her… “Lemon”
The days of summer are calling as high school is ending and the dreams of sun and breeze and freedom are inspiring the already anxious teenagers in a tiny town in Austria. We follow 17 year-old Paula who secretly loves Charlotte. Being gay isn’t the problem, it’s that Charlotte has a boyfriend. So Paula tries hanging out with a boy too, while dealing with come-ons… “Seventeen”
When Sarah accidentally proposes to her girlfriend in Provincetown, she finds herself at odds with her partner’s expectations of their future. The mix-up sends both women on different journeys of marital exploration. Sarah, a documentary filmmaker, begins interviewing same-sex couples in an attempt to overcome her fear of divorce. Her partner, Kristen, who’s ready to tie the knot, starts to pull away from Sarah by… “The Ring Thing”
1885 England. Lady Katherine is trapped, figuratively in a high society marriage and literally in a sprawling estate. Her loveless husband plays mind games while his father torments her with harsh criticism and abuse. When a rough, ill-mannered worker arrives at the estate, she takes the opportunity to break free with a romance laced with intense vengeance. Florence Pugh explodes onto the film scene in… “Lady Macbeth”
Musical pioneer, hard-drinking rebel, and queer icon, Chavela Vargas captured the heart of Frida Kahlo and the imagination of Pedro Almodovar, who frequently used her vocals in his films. Her scandalous reputation saw her blacklisted from the largest performance venues in Mexico for much of her career until she rightfully, and triumphantly, took the world by storm in her 70s, enjoying sold out shows in… “Chavela”
An exploration of Shakespeare’s intentions when writing Othello delves into the play’s racial themes in historical and contemporary settings, while drawing wider parallels between immigration and blackness in the UK today. Precedes: LADY MACBETH 2016, United Kingdom, 89 minutes Directed by William Oldroyd
On a chance encounter, a disenchanted architect bumps into his long-lost elephant along the streets of Bangkok. Inspired by their reunion, he takes his elephant on a journey across Thailand, in search of the farm where they grew up together – only to discover the truth about himself and others around him. Kirsten Tan’s elegant and profound debut is an enchanting work of discovery filmmaking.… “Pop Aye”
A portrait of legendary artist Robert Irwin, a pioneer of the “Light and Space” movement in the 1960s, exploring perception as the fundamental issue of art. Precedes: COLUMBUS 2016, USA, 104 minutes Directed by Kogonada
In a Midwestern town known for its extraordinary modernist buildings, out-of-towner Jin is taking care of his father. After meeting local girl Casey at the library job that is beneath her, the two realize they have much in common stemming from their parents, their futures staring back at them with a heavy weight. So begins a beautiful, drifting journey of getting to know each other,… “Columbus”
2007 Excellence in Acting honoree Alan Cumming gives a standout performance as Sam, a NYC-based artist and AIDS epidemic survivor. Still struggling with survivor’s guilt, he is bewildered by a younger generation of seemingly carefree and politically indifferent gay men. When he meets the seductive, young Braeden (Zachary Booth), their pants quickly come down and, eventually, so does Sam’s guard. As the pair become increasingly… “After Louie”
MAUDIE tells the true story of folk artist Maud Lewis (Sally Hawkins) and her unlikely romance with a hardened reclusive bachelor, Everett Lewis (Ethan Hawke) in Nova Scotia. An intelligent woman hunched with crippled hands from arthritis, Maud yearns to be independent. She escapes her solitary existence through her art, and in her 30s she answers an advertisement for a housekeeper posted by Everett. Maud’s… “Maudie”
THE LAST PIG is a deeply immersive contemplation on life and personal ethics as it follows a compassionate pig farmer grappling with his conscience. Bob Comis has come to a crossroads as we glimpse him through his final year of raising pigs for food. Against the stunning backdrop of upstate New York, THE LAST PIG offers an entirely new view of small-scale livestock farming, strikingly… “The Last Pig”
A blind adventure writer and a sustainable sushi chef form a bond while searching for enlightenment in the murky depths off the New England coast. Precedes: THE LAST PIG 2017, USA, 54 minutes Directed by Allison Argo
TOM OF FINLAND explores the life of artist Touko Laaksonen (aka Tom of Finland), revealing the creative genius behind the famous homoerotic illustrations. Shot across three countries, the film presents nearly 50 years of the life of Laaksonen, from his time in World War II until his death in 1991. More a story about the artist than the art, director Dome Karukoski and screenwriter Aleksi… “Tom of Finland”
Told by the activists and leaders who live and breathe this movement for justice, WHOSE STREETS? is an unflinching look at the Ferguson uprising. When unarmed teenager Michael Brown was killed by police and left lying in the street for hours, it marked a breaking point for the residents of St. Louis, Missouri. Grief, long-standing racial tensions and renewed anger bring residents together to hold… “Whose Streets?”
Bill Nye is on a quest to change the world through science! Using advocacy, education, and his charming personality, Nye makes a strong argument for why science matters more than ever in a culture increasingly indifferent to evidence. He is leading by example, and speaking out against those who deny its value. With exclusive access, this behind-the-scenes portrait of “the Science guy” inspires both young… “Bill Nye: Science Guy”
ANATOMY OF A MALE BALLET DANCER offers a unique behind-the-scenes portrait of Brazilian ballet star Marcelo Gomes. Widely considered the greatest partner of his generation, every ballerina desires to dance with him. From his struggle to reach the top of the ballet world, to his complicated relationship with his father, the film takes us on Marcelo’s journey across international stages around the world. Currently celebrating… “Anatomy of a Male Ballet Dancer”
Picking up where Warhol left off, Susanne Bartsch has been throwing unforgettable New York parties for over 30 years and is still going strong. On the eve of an exhibition of her iconic and outrageous wardrobe collection at the Fashion Institute of Technology, directing team Anthony&Alex explore Bartsch’s previously overlooked impact and influence—on everything from fashion and pop culture to AIDS fundraising—along with her unconventional… “Susanne Bartsch: On Top”
Salma Hayek plays Beatriz, a Los Angeles massage therapist and holistic healer living a life of quiet solitude. While at the home of a client, Beatriz’s car breaks down and she finds herself included in a business dinner—the guest of honor being legendary real-estate mogul Doug Strutt (John Lithgow). In the hands of screenwriter Mike White and director Miguel Arteta, what follows is a Trump-tweaking,… “Beatriz At Dinner”
Every important activist movement has an unsung hero. Few activists have affected as many lives as Dolores Huerta. The equal co-founder of the first farm workers’ union in America alongside Cesar Chavez, the mother of 11 became a feminist, grassroots organizer, non-violent protester and civil rights icon. Her landmark battles have been unfairly diminished over time. With unprecedented access to both Dolores and her children,… “Dolores”
A famous civil rights activist adopts his boyfriend for legal protection – a love story in a time when gay marriage was inconceivable. Precedes: DOLORES 2017, USA, 95 minutes Directed by Peter Bratt
In a remote part of South Africa, teenage boys go through a traditional Xhola rite of passage. Twenty-something factory worker Xolani is hired by a wealthy father to mentor his son through the ritual and into manhood. Xolani works hard as class struggle rears up, the rich teenager from the modern city clashing with the old world. But Xolani really uses this yearly event to… “The Wound”
An autobiographical tale of growing up gay in Soviet Union Russia, Wes escapes with his mother, a mail order bride, to Seattle to face a whole new oppression in his new Christian fundamentalist American dad.
Fiona is used to Canada’s frigid winters — barely batting an eye as she’s battered by the wind and snow (how her elegantly gangly body reacts is another matter). But when she’s summoned to visit Paris by her elderly aunt Martha, she jumps at the chance for adventure and, perhaps, love. Loaded up with her huge backpack, she lands in Paris only to find Martha… “Lost in Paris”
Pedro gets home at dawn and before he can fall asleep, his lonely mother drags him to the beach.
Two strangers form an unlikely bond when they meet at the singles table of a lesbian wedding.
On Josh and Greg’s first date, they quickly realize that the generational divide between them is the least of their worries.
As the night cleaner in Canada’s busiest gay bathhouse, Travis takes us on an amusing and sometimes harrowing tour through his nightly duties.
Martin, an introverted teen, meets Dominique, a handsome teacher’s aid who works at his high school.
Bill Nye is on a quest to change the world through science! Using advocacy, education, and his charming personality, Nye makes a strong argument for why science matters more than ever in a culture increasingly indifferent to evidence. He is leading by example, and speaking out against those who deny its value. With exclusive access, this behind-the-scenes portrait of “the Science guy” inspires both young… “Bill Nye: Science Guy”
A blind adventure writer and a sustainable sushi chef form a bond while searching for enlightenment in the murky depths off the New England coast. Precedes: THE LAST PIG 2017, USA, 54 minutes Directed by Allison Argo
After a death in her family, struggling LA-based comedian Emily Martin (writer/director Noël Wells, Netflix’s “Master of None”) returns home to Austin, Texas. There she finds herself in the awkward position of staying with her ex and his new girlfriend until the funeral, where she’s forced to confront the life and relationships she left behind as well as the life she’s now living. MR. ROOSEVELT… “Mr. Roosevelt”
THE LAST PIG is a deeply immersive contemplation on life and personal ethics as it follows a compassionate pig farmer grappling with his conscience. Bob Comis has come to a crossroads as we glimpse him through his final year of raising pigs for food. Against the stunning backdrop of upstate New York, THE LAST PIG offers an entirely new view of small-scale livestock farming, strikingly… “The Last Pig”
Set in 1995 Manhattan, LANDLINE follows three uncompromising women within a family navigating monogamy, honesty and familial bonds. When rebellious younger sister Ali (Abby Quinn) discovers that their father (John Turturro) may be having an affair, newly engaged older sister Dana (Jenny Slate) uncovers her own wild side while trying to keep the news from their mother (Edie Falco). Gillian Robespierre (Obvious Child, PIFF 2014)… “Landline”
A portrait of legendary artist Robert Irwin, a pioneer of the “Light and Space” movement in the 1960s, exploring perception as the fundamental issue of art. Precedes: COLUMBUS 2016, USA, 104 minutes Directed by Kogonada
I AM EVIDENCE exposes the alarming number of untested rape kits in the United States and brings much needed attention to the disturbing pattern of how law enforcement has historically treated sexual assault victims. Behind each of these kits lies an individual and this intimate telling provides insightful access to their stories. Produced by and featuring actress Mariska Hargitay, I AM EVIDENCE tells the powerful… “I Am Evidence”
In a Midwestern town known for its extraordinary modernist buildings, out-of-towner Jin is taking care of his father. After meeting local girl Casey at the library job that is beneath her, the two realize they have much in common stemming from their parents, their futures staring back at them with a heavy weight. So begins a beautiful, drifting journey of getting to know each other,… “Columbus”
Creatively visualized through 3-D printing, two elderly Latinos embark on a resonating he said/she said account of the events that led them to live separately after more than 50 quirky and stressful years together. Precedes: SIGNATURE MOVE, 2017, USA, 82 minutes, Directed by Jennifer Reeder.
Zaynab is a thirty-something Pakistani, Muslim, lesbian lawyer living in Chicago who begins a new romance with Alma, a confident and vivacious Mexican-American woman. What could get in the way of true love? Just her mom’s endless search for the right pre-arranged marriage for Zaynab. Oh, and Alma’s pro-wrestling family. A sexy comedy, SIGNATURE MOVE celebrates the differences that make us interesting when opposites attract.… “Signature Move”
Writer/performer Okwui Okpokwasili has won awards and acclaim in New York with her one-woman show, Bronx Gothic. Okwui – who’s worked with conceptual artists like Ralph Lemon and Julie Taymor – personally takes the audience on a roller coaster through teenage years as an outsider in America, using dance, song, drama and comedy to fantastic effect. Director Andrew Rossi captures Okpokwasili’s life, thoughts and the… “Bronx Gothic”
Betrayed by her sleazy husband (played by Dylan McDermott) when he gets caught for insider trading, Suzanne (Demi Moore) must take a plea bargain and community service. After reaching great success as a novelist, Bill (Alec Baldwin) has it all taken away, losing both his wife and his eyesight in a car crash. But his life may find new meaning when Suzanne shows up to… “Blind”
Academy Award® nominee Catherine Keener portrays nurse Susette Kelo in this notable true story about political and corporate interests bent on seizing residential land and handing it over to the Pfizer Corporation. Susette emerges as the reluctant leader of her working-class neighbors in their struggle to save their homes in New London, CT. Her battle went all the way to the US Supreme Court where… “Little Pink House”
Democracy prevails when a nuclear engineer turned whistle-blower, a 93-year old grandmother, and a scrappy new governor join forces with an array of activists to score a rare grassroots environmental victory in shuttering an aging nuclear reactor in Vermont. A timely, inspiring story of real democracy in action; about whether citizens’ voices will be heard against big moneyed interests, and what people are doing locally… “Power Struggle”
Cat visits her parents for the weekend and is confronted with her mother’s inability to remember one key detail.
Three friends gather for a potluck just as the world falls into apocalyptic ruin.
Theater troupe Split Britches debuted a performance that went on to influence a generation of lesbian feminists in New York’s downtown theater community during the Reagan era.
Amanda struggles to keep something inside as she spends the day taking pictures of her best friend.
MANSFIELD 66/67 focuses on the fascinating later years of “blonde bombshell” and “Hollywood Babylon” covergirl Jayne Mansfield’s life and career, when she scandalously befriended San Francisco’s Church of Satan founder Anton LeVay. Less concerned with the facts of Mansfield’s life, directors P. David Ebersole and Todd Hughes instead focus on the Mansfield image and mystique — securing interviews from a wide and, at times, wonderfully… “Mansfield 66/67”
Set in New Delhi, a closeted lesbian risks family and social boundaries as she pursues her household maid, Devi.
A personal documentary essay explores the connection between Christianity and homophobia in the wake of the shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
Growing up in 1950s England in an intolerant and uninformed world, young Chris Winters struggles to fit into the gender roles dictated by wider society.
Every important activist movement has an unsung hero. Few activists have affected as many lives as Dolores Huerta. The equal co-founder of the first farm workers’ union in America alongside Cesar Chavez, the mother of 11 became a feminist, grassroots organizer, non-violent protester and civil rights icon. Her landmark battles have been unfairly diminished over time. With unprecedented access to both Dolores and her children,… “Dolores”
A famous civil rights activist adopts his boyfriend for legal protection – a love story in a time when gay marriage was inconceivable. Precedes: DOLORES 2017, USA, 95 minutes Directed by Peter Bratt
THE BEGUILED is an atmospheric thriller that unfolds during the Civil War, at a Southern girls’ boarding school. Its sheltered young women take in an injured enemy soldier. As they provide refuge and tend to his wounds, the house is taken over with sexual tension and dangerous rivalries, and taboos are broken in an unexpected turn of events. Written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker and… “The Beguiled”
A young sheep farmer in Yorkshire has his life turned upside down when a migrant worker from Romania arrives to assist with lambing season. Emotionally shut off and prone to long nights at the local pub, Johnny Saxby is barely holding on after his father suffers a debilitating stroke. When the hunky Gheorghe is hired to lend a hand, their sexual tension is palpable in… “God’s Own Country”
A small town in Tuscany may be the best example of the power of theater. Almost wiped out during World War II, the town started an annual tradition of putting on a play, with everyone playing themselves. Each year the subject came from current issues — the war, the women’s movement, the struggles of the town’s independent farmers — every major event has been debated… “Spettacolo”
In their third culinary road trip, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon take on Spain. After their hilarious, and surprisingly touching, trips through their homeland England and then Italy, the format is established. Hired to travel a country and review a different restaurant each day, the two eat amazing-looking meals, trade deadpan quips and celebrity impressions, and explore historical writers and poets from the country. Not… “The Trip to Spain”
In a remote part of South Africa, teenage boys go through a traditional Xhola rite of passage. Twenty-something factory worker Xolani is hired by a wealthy father to mentor his son through the ritual and into manhood. Xolani works hard as class struggle rears up, the rich teenager from the modern city clashing with the old world. But Xolani really uses this yearly event to… “The Wound”
THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN examines the life and work of one of the world’s most beloved storytellers, following his evolution from a conservative son of the Old South into a gay rights pioneer. Jennifer Kroot’s documentary about the creator of Tales of the City moves nimbly between playful and poignant and laugh-out-loud funny. With help from his friends (including Neil Gaiman, Laura Linney,… “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin”
A solitary — and hunky — ornithologist is kayaking, looking for birds in Northern Portugal, when he gets swept away by rapids. His truly surreal journey is just starting as he wakes up in a dark forest, runs into some strange Chinese pilgrims and then an even stranger forest cult and a lone man among them. Humor balances the bizarre as the film takes a… “The Ornithologist”
Everyone in town loves the 90-year-old atheist Lucky (Harry Dean Stanton). His daily routine is like clockwork, from morning rituals to visiting his local haunts in the desert town. Lucky smokes, drinks and hangs out. But when age starts to mess up the routine, the search for enlightenment is on. Acclaimed character actor John Carroll Lynch directs a beautiful character portrait that is also a… “Lucky”
Harris Dickinson gives a breakout performance as Frankie, a bored teenager living in South Brooklyn, struggling to escape his stifling home life. By day he hangs out with his equally directionless friends on the Coney Island boardwalk — trying to score weed and pick up girls. By night he surfs online cruising sites from the safe and darkened confines of his basement bedroom, exploring the… “Beach Rats”
Two men are on the road: the good-looking Nick, firmly in charge, and his younger brother Sam, a troubled and alienated youth. They have left a troubled situation for sure, now looking for a safe place to stay. When they find a cabin in the woods that might finally bring stability and comfort to the men on the run, an undeniable eerie atmosphere still follows them. THE STRANGE ONES is a coming-of-age tale that removes clichés in favor of mystery, exploring the power of the human bond.
Picking up where Warhol left off, Susanne Bartsch has been throwing unforgettable New York parties for over 30 years and is still going strong. On the eve of an exhibition of her iconic and outrageous wardrobe collection at the Fashion Institute of Technology, directing team Anthony&Alex explore Bartsch’s previously overlooked impact and influence—on everything from fashion and pop culture to AIDS fundraising—along with her unconventional… “Susanne Bartsch: On Top”
THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN examines the life and work of one of the world’s most beloved storytellers, following his evolution from a conservative son of the Old South into a gay rights pioneer. Jennifer Kroot’s documentary about the creator of Tales of the City moves nimbly between playful and poignant and laugh-out-loud funny. With help from his friends (including Neil Gaiman, Laura Linney,… “The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin”
Musical pioneer, hard-drinking rebel, and queer icon, Chavela Vargas captured the heart of Frida Kahlo and the imagination of Pedro Almodovar, who frequently used her vocals in his films. Her scandalous reputation saw her blacklisted from the largest performance venues in Mexico for much of her career until she rightfully, and triumphantly, took the world by storm in her 70s, enjoying sold out shows in… “Chavela”
After director Hope Litoff’s sister Ruth committed suicide in 2008, her belongings were kept locked away in a storage unit in New York City. Hope reopens the deep wounds of her loss as she meticulously sifts through her sister’s exquisite photography and her personal items in an attempt to make sense of Ruth’s tragic life and death. Through the experience of revealing her sister’s complicated… “32 Pills: My Sister’s Suicide”
When Sarah accidentally proposes to her girlfriend in Provincetown, she finds herself at odds with her partner’s expectations of their future. The mix-up sends both women on different journeys of marital exploration. Sarah, a documentary filmmaker, begins interviewing same-sex couples in an attempt to overcome her fear of divorce. Her partner, Kristen, who’s ready to tie the knot, starts to pull away from Sarah by… “The Ring Thing”
Bill Nye is on a quest to change the world through science! Using advocacy, education, and his charming personality, Nye makes a strong argument for why science matters more than ever in a culture increasingly indifferent to evidence. He is leading by example, and speaking out against those who deny its value. With exclusive access, this behind-the-scenes portrait of “the Science guy” inspires both young… “Bill Nye: Science Guy”
2007 Excellence in Acting honoree Alan Cumming gives a standout performance as Sam, a NYC-based artist and AIDS epidemic survivor. Still struggling with survivor’s guilt, he is bewildered by a younger generation of seemingly carefree and politically indifferent gay men. When he meets the seductive, young Braeden (Zachary Booth), their pants quickly come down and, eventually, so does Sam’s guard. As the pair become increasingly… “After Louie”
Elegant in its simplicity and animated in a whimsical style that at times evokes the work of Faith and Emily Hubley, WINDOW HORSES follows the story of Rosie Ming (voice of Sandra Oh), a young Canadian poet in search of her place in the world. Accepted into a poetry festival in Shiraz, Iran, Rosie bids adieu to her grandparents and begins an unwitting journey of… “Window Horses: The Poetic Persian Epiphany of Rosie Ming”
Academy Award® nominee Catherine Keener portrays nurse Susette Kelo in this notable true story about political and corporate interests bent on seizing residential land and handing it over to the Pfizer Corporation. Susette emerges as the reluctant leader of her working-class neighbors in their struggle to save their homes in New London, CT. Her battle went all the way to the US Supreme Court where… “Little Pink House”
A famous civil rights activist adopts his boyfriend for legal protection – a love story in a time when gay marriage was inconceivable. Precedes: DOLORES 2017, USA, 95 minutes Directed by Peter Bratt
Every important activist movement has an unsung hero. Few activists have affected as many lives as Dolores Huerta. The equal co-founder of the first farm workers’ union in America alongside Cesar Chavez, the mother of 11 became a feminist, grassroots organizer, non-violent protester and civil rights icon. Her landmark battles have been unfairly diminished over time. With unprecedented access to both Dolores and her children,… “Dolores”
A blind adventure writer and a sustainable sushi chef form a bond while searching for enlightenment in the murky depths off the New England coast. Precedes: THE LAST PIG 2017, USA, 54 minutes Directed by Allison Argo
THE LAST PIG is a deeply immersive contemplation on life and personal ethics as it follows a compassionate pig farmer grappling with his conscience. Bob Comis has come to a crossroads as we glimpse him through his final year of raising pigs for food. Against the stunning backdrop of upstate New York, THE LAST PIG offers an entirely new view of small-scale livestock farming, strikingly… “The Last Pig”
A violent assault forces a 30-year-old bartender to reexamine her life and place in the world.
A documentary portrait of Provincetown in its wintertime off-season.
Larry Dapsis, an entomologist, leads the fight against a persistent health crisis of tick bites on Cape Cod.
Haunted by the movie Jaws since childhood, a filmmaker discovers why the movie affected him so deeply.
In a poem written by 93-year-old Provincetown resident, Hilde Oleson perfectly captures Provincetown’s beauty.
MAUDIE tells the true story of folk artist Maud Lewis (Sally Hawkins) and her unlikely romance with a hardened reclusive bachelor, Everett Lewis (Ethan Hawke) in Nova Scotia. An intelligent woman hunched with crippled hands from arthritis, Maud yearns to be independent. She escapes her solitary existence through her art, and in her 30s she answers an advertisement for a housekeeper posted by Everett. Maud’s… “Maudie”
STRANGE WEATHER follows the uncompromising Darcy (Holly Hunter), as she embarks on a road trip through the Deep South with her best friend (Carrie Coon), a lesbian in an interracial relationship, to uncover the truth about the death of her son. Hunter gives a powerhouse performance reminding us of her supreme talent. This lyrical, emotionally rich drama is a compelling story about how to be… “Strange Weather”
A symbol of science, fear and mazes – the rat may be more intertwined with people than any other animal, as scary as that sounds to us humans. The aptly named RAT FILM focuses on the people and the rats in Baltimore, MD, from hunting grounds on the streets to pets in homes. The documentary is getting at a fascinating, larger picture – the intricate… “Rat Film”
Democracy prevails when a nuclear engineer turned whistle-blower, a 93-year old grandmother, and a scrappy new governor join forces with an array of activists to score a rare grassroots environmental victory in shuttering an aging nuclear reactor in Vermont. A timely, inspiring story of real democracy in action; about whether citizens’ voices will be heard against big moneyed interests, and what people are doing locally… “Power Struggle”
Two men are on the road: the good-looking Nick, firmly in charge, and his younger brother Sam, a troubled and alienated youth. They have left a troubled situation for sure, now looking for a safe place to stay. When they find a cabin in the woods that might finally bring stability and comfort to the men on the run, an undeniable eerie atmosphere still follows them. THE STRANGE ONES is a coming-of-age tale that removes clichés in favor of mystery, exploring the power of the human bond.
Lemon: a person or thing that proves to be defective, imperfect, or unsatisfactory. Isaac can not get a break. He tries hard but his blind girlfriend is dumping him, his family hates him and his career has stalled. This can’t be his life. So he decides to take a chance and date a new girl. What could go awkwardly wrong? Director Janicza Bravo put her… “Lemon”
The quest to unravel the final days of transgender icon and self-described “street queen” Marsha P. Johnson is at the heart of Academy Award® nominated director David France’s acclaimed new documentary. Found floating in the Hudson River under mysterious circumstances in 1992, the NYPD quickly ruled her death as a suicide — a claim that Marsha’s friends reject to this day. Much more than a… “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson”
MANSFIELD 66/67 focuses on the fascinating later years of “blonde bombshell” and “Hollywood Babylon” covergirl Jayne Mansfield’s life and career, when she scandalously befriended San Francisco’s Church of Satan founder Anton LeVay. Less concerned with the facts of Mansfield’s life, directors P. David Ebersole and Todd Hughes instead focus on the Mansfield image and mystique — securing interviews from a wide and, at times, wonderfully… “Mansfield 66/67”
In the remote hippie communes of California in 1974, 13-year-old Lane drifts from place to place with her single mom Hallelujah. Finding food is hard, and making friends is even harder at this delicate point of childhood. The notions of freedom around her aren’t quite enough and Lane sets off on her own to find stability. Director SJ Chiro also grew up on a commune… “Lane 1974”
ANATOMY OF A MALE BALLET DANCER offers a unique behind-the-scenes portrait of Brazilian ballet star Marcelo Gomes. Widely considered the greatest partner of his generation, every ballerina desires to dance with him. From his struggle to reach the top of the ballet world, to his complicated relationship with his father, the film takes us on Marcelo’s journey across international stages around the world. Currently celebrating… “Anatomy of a Male Ballet Dancer”
Fiona is used to Canada’s frigid winters — barely batting an eye as she’s battered by the wind and snow (how her elegantly gangly body reacts is another matter). But when she’s summoned to visit Paris by her elderly aunt Martha, she jumps at the chance for adventure and, perhaps, love. Loaded up with her huge backpack, she lands in Paris only to find Martha… “Lost in Paris”
A young sheep farmer in Yorkshire has his life turned upside down when a migrant worker from Romania arrives to assist with lambing season. Emotionally shut off and prone to long nights at the local pub, Johnny Saxby is barely holding on after his father suffers a debilitating stroke. When the hunky Gheorghe is hired to lend a hand, their sexual tension is palpable in… “God’s Own Country”
In a remote forest, an aspiring actress immerses herself in the mythical world of the “Yowie” to scare others–and herself into living.
Raised in a secluded, off-the-grid bunker tucked into the hills of Utah, James faces numerous challenges once he begins to integrate into the larger world. His biggest surprise comes when he discovers his favorite TV show, Brigsby Bear Adventures, was produced for an audience of only him. With James’ life in turmoil, he sets out to try to make sense of things by finishing the… “Brigsby Bear”
TOM OF FINLAND explores the life of artist Touko Laaksonen (aka Tom of Finland), revealing the creative genius behind the famous homoerotic illustrations. Shot across three countries, the film presents nearly 50 years of the life of Laaksonen, from his time in World War II until his death in 1991. More a story about the artist than the art, director Dome Karukoski and screenwriter Aleksi… “Tom of Finland”
When his ailing grandmother can no longer attend Meeting, a Quaker teenager raises his voice in a surprising act of thoughtful compassion.
Two friends stumble upon the mother lode of movie memorabilia.
Based on the Paul Bowles’s short story, a young girl finds herself transforming into a kitten as she grows up and slips away from her family.
In the Quebec countryside during a brutal winter, a woman and her adult daughter await the death of their family’s matriarch.
A woman in a fertility clinic is asked to give up her seat for a pregnant man.
Oscar and his best friend, Hedgehog, just got dropped off at summer camp. Once the parents leave the island, the strangeness lurking beneath the surface is revealed.
Elegant in its simplicity and animated in a whimsical style that at times evokes the work of Faith and Emily Hubley, WINDOW HORSES follows the story of Rosie Ming (voice of Sandra Oh), a young Canadian poet in search of her place in the world. Accepted into a poetry festival in Shiraz, Iran, Rosie bids adieu to her grandparents and begins an unwitting journey of… “Window Horses: The Poetic Persian Epiphany of Rosie Ming”
Betrayed by her sleazy husband (played by Dylan McDermott) when he gets caught for insider trading, Suzanne (Demi Moore) must take a plea bargain and community service. After reaching great success as a novelist, Bill (Alec Baldwin) has it all taken away, losing both his wife and his eyesight in a car crash. But his life may find new meaning when Suzanne shows up to… “Blind”
I AM EVIDENCE exposes the alarming number of untested rape kits in the United States and brings much needed attention to the disturbing pattern of how law enforcement has historically treated sexual assault victims. Behind each of these kits lies an individual and this intimate telling provides insightful access to their stories. Produced by and featuring actress Mariska Hargitay, I AM EVIDENCE tells the powerful… “I Am Evidence”
Democracy prevails when a nuclear engineer turned whistle-blower, a 93-year old grandmother, and a scrappy new governor join forces with an array of activists to score a rare grassroots environmental victory in shuttering an aging nuclear reactor in Vermont. A timely, inspiring story of real democracy in action; about whether citizens’ voices will be heard against big moneyed interests, and what people are doing locally… “Power Struggle”
ANATOMY OF A MALE BALLET DANCER offers a unique behind-the-scenes portrait of Brazilian ballet star Marcelo Gomes. Widely considered the greatest partner of his generation, every ballerina desires to dance with him. From his struggle to reach the top of the ballet world, to his complicated relationship with his father, the film takes us on Marcelo’s journey across international stages around the world. Currently celebrating… “Anatomy of a Male Ballet Dancer”
Academy Award-nominated filmmaker and best-selling author Sebastian Junger and his Emmy-winning filmmaking partner, Nick Quested, chronicle Syria’s descent into the unbridled chaos that allowed the rise of the Islamic State, better known as ISIS. This documentary delves into the real stories and persons in the conflict, giving a human face on the ground to what are just headlines and news clips to the rest of… “Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of Isis”
Set in 1995 Manhattan, LANDLINE follows three uncompromising women within a family navigating monogamy, honesty and familial bonds. When rebellious younger sister Ali (Abby Quinn) discovers that their father (John Turturro) may be having an affair, newly engaged older sister Dana (Jenny Slate) uncovers her own wild side while trying to keep the news from their mother (Edie Falco). Gillian Robespierre (Obvious Child, PIFF 2014)… “Landline”
After director Hope Litoff’s sister Ruth committed suicide in 2008, her belongings were kept locked away in a storage unit in New York City. Hope reopens the deep wounds of her loss as she meticulously sifts through her sister’s exquisite photography and her personal items in an attempt to make sense of Ruth’s tragic life and death. Through the experience of revealing her sister’s complicated… “32 Pills: My Sister’s Suicide”
After a death in her family, struggling LA-based comedian Emily Martin (writer/director Noël Wells, Netflix’s “Master of None”) returns home to Austin, Texas. There she finds herself in the awkward position of staying with her ex and his new girlfriend until the funeral, where she’s forced to confront the life and relationships she left behind as well as the life she’s now living. MR. ROOSEVELT… “Mr. Roosevelt”
On a chance encounter, a disenchanted architect bumps into his long-lost elephant along the streets of Bangkok. Inspired by their reunion, he takes his elephant on a journey across Thailand, in search of the farm where they grew up together – only to discover the truth about himself and others around him. Kirsten Tan’s elegant and profound debut is an enchanting work of discovery filmmaking.… “Pop Aye”
In their third culinary road trip, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon take on Spain. After their hilarious, and surprisingly touching, trips through their homeland England and then Italy, the format is established. Hired to travel a country and review a different restaurant each day, the two eat amazing-looking meals, trade deadpan quips and celebrity impressions, and explore historical writers and poets from the country. Not… “The Trip to Spain”
Writer/performer Okwui Okpokwasili has won awards and acclaim in New York with her one-woman show, Bronx Gothic. Okwui – who’s worked with conceptual artists like Ralph Lemon and Julie Taymor – personally takes the audience on a roller coaster through teenage years as an outsider in America, using dance, song, drama and comedy to fantastic effect. Director Andrew Rossi captures Okpokwasili’s life, thoughts and the… “Bronx Gothic”
The quest to unravel the final days of transgender icon and self-described “street queen” Marsha P. Johnson is at the heart of Academy Award® nominated director David France’s acclaimed new documentary. Found floating in the Hudson River under mysterious circumstances in 1992, the NYPD quickly ruled her death as a suicide — a claim that Marsha’s friends reject to this day. Much more than a… “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson”
On paper, KRISHA shouldn’t work. Filmed in his mother’s house in Houston in nine days for under $100,000, writer-director Trey Edward Shults explores complex emotional territory utilizing a mix of professional and non-professional actors (including family members), often playing their unhappy selves. But Shults’ debut film is a bit of a miracle, evoking the work of Terrence Malick and John Cassavetes. As Krisha, a recovering… “John Waters Presents: Krisha”
Told by the activists and leaders who live and breathe this movement for justice, WHOSE STREETS? is an unflinching look at the Ferguson uprising. When unarmed teenager Michael Brown was killed by police and left lying in the street for hours, it marked a breaking point for the residents of St. Louis, Missouri. Grief, long-standing racial tensions and renewed anger bring residents together to hold… “Whose Streets?”
Cat visits her parents for the weekend and is confronted with her mother’s inability to remember one key detail.
A personal documentary essay explores the connection between Christianity and homophobia in the wake of the shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
Theater troupe Split Britches debuted a performance that went on to influence a generation of lesbian feminists in New York’s downtown theater community during the Reagan era.
2017 Next Wave honoree Aubrey Plaza gives a fearless performance as Ingrid, an unstable young woman with a checkered past of obsessive behavior. She secretly moves to Los Angeles to get close to Taylor Sloane — an Instagram “lifestyle guru.” After Ingrid adopts a Taylor-made identity for herself, her machinations to prove she’s BFF material for her Insta idol are underway — that is, until… “Ingrid Goes West”
Three friends gather for a potluck just as the world falls into apocalyptic ruin.
Set in New Delhi, a closeted lesbian risks family and social boundaries as she pursues her household maid, Devi.
Growing up in 1950s England in an intolerant and uninformed world, young Chris Winters struggles to fit into the gender roles dictated by wider society.
Amanda struggles to keep something inside as she spends the day taking pictures of her best friend.
Everyone in town loves the 90-year-old atheist Lucky (Harry Dean Stanton). His daily routine is like clockwork, from morning rituals to visiting his local haunts in the desert town. Lucky smokes, drinks and hangs out. But when age starts to mess up the routine, the search for enlightenment is on. Acclaimed character actor John Carroll Lynch directs a beautiful character portrait that is also a… “Lucky”
Two strangers form an unlikely bond when they meet at the singles table of a lesbian wedding.
Pedro gets home at dawn and before he can fall asleep, his lonely mother drags him to the beach.
The days of summer are calling as high school is ending and the dreams of sun and breeze and freedom are inspiring the already anxious teenagers in a tiny town in Austria. We follow 17 year-old Paula who secretly loves Charlotte. Being gay isn’t the problem, it’s that Charlotte has a boyfriend. So Paula tries hanging out with a boy too, while dealing with come-ons… “Seventeen”
An autobiographical tale of growing up gay in Soviet Union Russia, Wes escapes with his mother, a mail order bride, to Seattle to face a whole new oppression in his new Christian fundamentalist American dad.
Martin, an introverted teen, meets Dominique, a handsome teacher’s aid who works at his high school.
On Josh and Greg’s first date, they quickly realize that the generational divide between them is the least of their worries.
As the night cleaner in Canada’s busiest gay bathhouse, Travis takes us on an amusing and sometimes harrowing tour through his nightly duties.