After an unexpected encounter, Fleur and Julian fall madly in love. Soon after Julian proposes, an ambitious yet challenging idea starts to dawn on Fleur. Slowly but surely, she works out a plan to get married in every country where she and her wife are legally allowed to do so. Fueled by their love and a rising sense of urgency, they take a leap of faith. After only four weddings, their journey comes to an inevitable, painful halt. Based on a true story, first-time director Cato Kusters has crafted an intimate and powerful drama about love and activism. In English, French and Dutch with English subtitles“They are kismet. It is magic.” — The Playlist
Genre: Women
She Keeps Me Young
Michelle (Blair Beeken), adrift in the aftermath of a tragic accident, floats through her days in the company of her overbearing best friend, Kelly (Katy Fullan), until one evening, Michelle and Kelly meet Bridget, a vibrant, artistic high-schooler. When Bridget innocently asks Michelle to model for a school photography project, an unexpected friendship forms—one that begins to challenge Kelly’s hold on Michelle in ways both uncomfortable and absurdly comedic. First-time director Doron Max Hagay co-wrote the film with his two lead actors, and their long-standing creative collaboration is infused throughout the story. At turns humorous, awkward, and peppered with melancholy and tenderness, SHE KEEPS ME YOUNG is an exploration of evolving, complex relationships filled with a refreshing dose of honesty.Director Doron Max Hagay and writer/star Blair Beeken are scheduled to attend.
In a Whisper
Back in Tunisia for her uncle’s funeral, Lilia (Eya Bouteraa) reunites with a family that knows nothing about her life in Paris, especially her love life. She’s brought along her girlfriend Alice (Marion Barbaeau), but drops her off at a hotel to avoid family scrutiny. Determined to unravel the mystery surrounding the sudden death of her uncle, Lilia finds herself confronted with family secrets in a house where three generations of women move between silences and longstanding traditions. Lilia’s mother (Succession’s Hiam Abbas) refuses to accept her daughter’s sexual orientation, keeping her distance while Lilia investigates her uncle’s hidden past. Unfolding as two intertwining storylines, IN A WHISPER is a delicate, emotional family mystery about love and acceptance.In French and Arabic with English subtitles“… an excavation of the past, finding truth in complex familial relationships.” — Variety
Edie Arnold is a Loser
Timid dork Edie accidentally takes the spotlight when she starts a punk band with her fellow “turds,” becoming an icon to the rest of the losers at her all-girls Catholic school while managing to piss off the hot girls, the nuns, and the horniest altar boy you’ve ever seen. Directors Megan Rico and Kade Atwood have created a vivid, fresh and fun musical ode to weirdos and outsiders. Young lead Adi Madden Cabrera delivers a terrific performance in a wonderfully unique coming-of-age film that is as full of heart as it is of laughs.“A sensational, hilarious buddy comedy that will make you want to embrace your inner loser.” — Mashable”Co-directors Kade Atwood and Megan Rico are scheduled to attend.
Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World
Mary Oliver: best-selling poet and Pulitzer Prize-winner, lover of dogs and long walks in the woods, queer and out, but intensely private. Her poems inspire liberals and conservatives, atheists and believers, naturalists and urbanites. America’s unlikely, contemporary mystic stalked the ponds and forests of Provincetown for nearly fifty years with her partner Molly Malone Cook in order to open herself—and us, her readers—to the known and unknowable world. Featuring John Waters, Maria Shriver, Jason Reynolds, Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Buscemi, Stephen Colbert, Lucy Dacus, Jesse Welles, and Oprah Winfrey.Director Sasha Waters is scheduled to attend on Thursday, June 11.
Give Me the Ball!
Billie Jean King is a global icon whose impact on equality resonates far beyond tennis, yet the personal turmoil behind her rise has often remained hidden. GIVE ME THE BALL! reminds us of the immense sacrifices King made while fighting high-profile battles for both professionalization of her sport and equal treatment for women. From struggling with an unhappy marriage and hiding her sexual orientation to facing eating disorders and relentless misogyny, her journey was long and often lonely. This film explores her saga beyond the “Battle of the Sexes,” showcasing King as the persistent fighter she had to be. Through rare archival material and honest interviews, Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff reveal the depths of agony King endured so others could follow a less painful path. This is a powerful story of selflessness and triumph, offering a deeper understanding of this remarkable legend.
Cookie Queens
It’s Girl Scout Cookie season, and four tenacious girls each strive to be a top-selling “Cookie Queen,” navigating an $800 million business in which childhood and ambition collide. Alysa Nahmias’ sparkling, family-friendly documentary fully captures the big personalities of its ambitious, funny and charming young subjects. It’s an absolute joy to be around these young girls as they embark on their cookie-selling journeys, finding their own voices and making decisions about their paths to success and happiness along the way. Nahmias’ gentle, playful filmmaking style allows the audience a front-row seat to the girls’ journeys. Executive produced by Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.“… an exceptional work that’s greater than its ingredients, sandwiching politics, commerce, and the joys of childhood all into one package.” — POV Magazine
The Brittney Griner Story
Basketball star Brittney Griner and her wife Cherelle offer intimate access to their lives as they recount the story of the circumstances that led to Griner playing basketball outside the U.S.—despite being one of the best players in the sport—including her harrowing detainment and Cherelle’s unwavering determination to secure her wife’s freedom. Brittney Griner’s 10-month Russian imprisonment spurred a politicized media frenzy. Now, filmmaker Alexandria Stapleton allows a resilient, open Griner to reclaim her entire life story, sharing her experiences on her own terms. The film provides an unprecedented look into her historic career while also exploring issues of both gender pay disparity in professional sports and hostility to the rights of BIPOC and LGBTQ citizens.
Bang My Box: The Robin Byrd Story
BANG MY BOX: THE ROBIN BYRD STORY traces the rise of a boundary-pushing, sex-positive, NYC cable-access pioneer who became an accidental AIDS-era activist and First Amendment fighter. Now at 70, with 600 shows behind her, she considers her place in history.Robin Byrd never set out to be an activist. She followed her instincts toward pleasure, freedom, and inclusion. And in doing so, she became a lifeline for the gay community and for countless outsiders searching for joy without judgment. Through grit and consistency, Robin built something enduring. And now, in a profound turn, she is caring for the partner who helped make her success possible. Co-directors Jyllian Gunther and Stephanie Schwam look past the mythology to capture the woman herself–resilient, loving, and full of light.Directors Jyllian Gunther, Stephanie Schwam and Robin Byrd are scheduled to attend on Sunday, June 14.
Anne Packard: An Artist’s Resolve
At 92, Provincetown artist Anne Packard prepares for a final visit to the gallery that cemented her legacy. Her journey began in hardship when, at 41, she was left to support five children alone after her husband left them. Facing a 1960s art world that dismissed her talent, Anne defiantly sold small paintings from her front fence for a few dollars. Her persistence ignited a phenomenon, drawing collectors and galleries alike. Together with her daughters, she established her own gallery, where her works commanded thousands. Though she now bids farewell to that physical space, Anne’s resolute spirit and creative drive remain undiminished. Local artist and filmmaker Arthur Egeli interviews Anne in her home studio as she recounts her story in her own words and reveals decades of wisdom that has fueled her colorful life.Director Arthur Egeli and Anne Packard scheduled to attend.