#Durban Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

[031cinephile]

QUEER CINEMA RETURNS WITH THE DURBAN GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL 2018

The 8th annual Durban Gay & Lesbian Film Festival will be taking place from Friday 21 until Sunday 30 September 2018 at select pop-up venues around the city. Now in it’s seventh year since opening in October 2011, the festival will screen 57 titles over a 10-day programme.

“Earlier this year our team decided on taking advantage of the Heritage Day long weekend in boosting the number of days patrons who work full time can enjoy our programme. So the decision was taken to position the Festival around this important holiday on 24 September.” says festival director Jason Fiddler.

“2018 is proving to be a financially challenging year for many South Africans, and we found it particularly hard as a cultural event to secure sponsorship. Fortunately, thanks to the invaluable ongoing support of Alliance Franchise of Durban and venue help from commercial property urban regeneration specialists Urban Lime, the DGLFF can confidently screen films this year. This is the first year we won’t be able to screen at our beloved KZNSA gallery, owing to a full exhibition calendar, but we certainly look forward to bringing some films back there next year.”

The format of the festival continues its eclectic tradition of including a tremendous diversity of subjects and film formats. The Opening Night film on Friday 21 September is a truly remarkable feature-length documentary, ‘GEORGE MICHAEL: FREEDOM – The Director’s Cut’. Directed by George Michael himself, and co-directed by David Austin, audiences can look forward to nearly two hours of celebrity interviews including sir Elton John, Mary J Blige and Liam Gallagher, whilst the man himself tells his story, his way.

With frank revelations interspersed with the songs and music that made him a global pop and soul phenomenon, George shares an enthralling autobiographical journey that doesn’t shy away from unpleasant truths, nor does it sensationalise seminal experiences in his life and career. He simply and effectively shows how a gay boy found fame, excess, love, painful loss, contractual battles alongside his career defining music.

The DGLFF is proud to have secured the rights to show this incredible film, and audiences should note that there is only one screening of the film at a cost of R80 per ticket. Our pop-up main venue is at the top of vibrant Florida Road, at 344 Florida Rd, Durban. Ticket enquiries can be made via our website.

There are 7 feature films this year including ‘BREATHE’, a French coming-of-age drama about two young women and their relationship twists and ‘TIME IS UP’, a gay drama from Greek filmmaker Nicolas Pourliaros that poignantly looks a through monochromatic palette at the contemplation of life’s value.

Johannesburg-based South African filmmaker Sean Steinberg will celebrate the world premiere of his 55-minute ‘(S)HE’ at DGLFF this year on Saturday 22 September. Breaking important ground for an under-considered community, ‘(S)HE’ tells the story of Penny Kemp, an intersex teenager who, after qualifying to compete in the 2016 Olympic trials, is forced to undergo gender treatment in order to keep her high levels of testosterone at bay. Only, she doesn’t want to. Made with a micro-budget the films explores a very difficult subject with delicacy.

‘STILL WAITING IN THE WINGS’ follows on two years later from their last visit to the DGLFF with a familiar cast of characters breaking out into original song as they busk their way ‘off-Broadway’ and battle their way through backstabbing musical theatre. Durban audiences will recall Canadian filmmaker and gay film star Charlie David and he continues his support of DGLFF with ‘SHADOWLANDS’, a darker and occasionally disturbing, if not exquisitely shot, homage to the bygone queer eras of the 30s, 50s and 60s that explores love in three separate stories – a couple renegotiating a relationship, a narcissist grasping to comprehend it, and star-crossed lovers mourning its loss.

Joseph Adesunloye, a British-Nigerian award-winning filmmaker premiered his ‘FACES’ at DIFF this past July to much acclaim. “Joseph and I felt that the film needed to be seen by more LGBTIQ people in Durbs and the producers kindly agreed to allow us to make it our Closing Night film on Saturday 29 September with an encore screening the following afternoon” says Fiddler. “Weaving such a powerful storyline with a predominantly black UK cast, Joseph is able to tell Durban audiences of all persuasions and backgrounds utterly human and relatable stories, some that will shock, others that will make one cry, but ultimately that reinforce the beauty of love and friendship, especially between women who have endured great pain and suffering.”

There are a dozen other fascinating documentaries that explore transgender stories from Tonga to Chile to Pakistan, a gay Israeli man’s struggle for familial acceptance whilst HIV-positive and the acceptance he finds in a gay men’s choir in ‘WHO’S GONNA LOVE ME NOW?’, haunting stories from Zimbabwean gay men in ‘GIVE A MAN A MASK…’ and drag queen, and king, cultures from China to the United States.

The Festival programme continues to embrace and celebrate short film as powerful means of telling a diversity of stories, with high production values. 34 short films from 18 different countries across 5 continents have been packaged into seven feature slots that include lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer comedies, dramas and even stop-animation films. Audiences can again look forward to an entertaining, thought-provoking, disturbing and ultimately fun film selection in 2018.

On Heritage Day afternoon, and throughout the week of 24-28 September at 2pm and 4pm, the Festival offers patrons free screenings of a number of short films and documentaries, including acclaimed South African short films in the ‘MZANSI MIX’. Also continuing with is the effective Festival Ticket Pool that includes donated tickets for underprivileged, senior citizen and student patrons. Requests for tickets can be made directly with the organisers.

Those interested in supporting the Festival and the Ticket Pool, can use the Zapper code on display on the DGLFF website or Facebook page to facilitate card payments via the phone app, and even make donations to the Festival.

Normal screenings are R40 each with 50% concession to students and senior citizens with card – these are however not applicable to the Opening and Closing Nights that cost R80 per ticket. Patrons can also buy Silver Festival Passes for R250 that include 10 screenings and are transferable. Gold Festival Passes this year are reduced at R500 that includes all screenings.

The main Festival Hub venue will be at POP, 344 Florida Road, Berea, a former art gallery space ideal as a pop-up screening venue, where most screenings will take place in 2018. Alliance Française will host two weeknights in Morningside. On Friday 28 September there will be a pop-up ‘T-DANCE’ social fundraiser at the German Club in Westville – details will be on our website and Facebook page.

Details of events & downloadable programme are available at www.dglff.org.za Instagram/Twitter @dbngayfilmfest and Facebook @DGLFF

[dariusblogpl]

Pinksixty News LGBT. Trans model na gejowskim magazynie. Modyfikacja ciała ...

Khalid Abdel-Hadi po raz pierwszy mężczyzna transseksualny pojawił się na okładce arabskiego magazynu dla gejów, model przełamuje piętno i pokazuje swoje blizny i sutki z dumą, który przyniesie wiele uwagi w konserwatywnym regionie.

Pinksixty News wiadomości LGBT - Durban Gay Lesbian Film Festival w Południowej Afryce, kilka dni filmów, dokumentów LGBT będzie emitowane.

Jak skuteczne zapobieganie i leczenie HIV w Australii. Centrum Badań Społecznych w Zdrowiu na Uniwersytecie Nowej Południowej Walii opublikowało nowe badania pokazujące, że rekordowe 92 procent homoseksualnych i biseksualnych mężczyzn żyjących z HIV osiąga niewykrywalny poziom wiremii (UVL).

PrEP i leczenie jako profilaktyka (TasP) stają się coraz bardziej popularnymi strategiami zapobiegania HIV.

Tiamat Medusa, jest trans kobietą która jednocześnie modyfikuje swoje ciało, by stać się smokiem

Batman przed ligą ściąga spodnie, dla wielu do szok

Nowojorska policja poszukuje mężczyznę, który zaatakował dwóch gejów po ataku homofobicznym, gdy opuszczali Metropolitan, gejowski bar w Williamsburgu na Brooklynie.

Democracy Now! wiadomości w perspektywy lewicowe

[gaymusicchart]

GAY MUSIC CHART – 2017 week 40

 As a new additionnal rule for making this chart, we also use now the ranking of the number of views in our previous weekly playlist.  

Welcome to the Gay Music Chart, the LGBTQA related music videos TOP 50 actuality and most request.

Vote for your favourite LGBTQA related music videos by leaving a comment for this post on :

YOUTUBE (in the comment section of the video of the week) : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz7yfp-xq-b08tD6mAWwclA

BLOGGER : http://gaymusicchart.blogspot.fr

FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/GayMusicChart/

TWITTER : https://twitter.com/GayMusicChart with #GayMusicChart  

TUMBLR : http://gaymusicchart.tumblr.com  

 Here is the recap for this week :

 OUT : Jeffery Austin - Bulletproof (Official Audio) (LW: 29 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 29)

OUT : Benny - Boys Will Be Boys (LW: 30 / WO: 38 / PEAK: 02)

OUT : Namuel - Yugoslavia (LW: 32 / WO: 4 / PEAK: 16)

OUT : Macklemore feat. Kesha - Good Old Days (LW: 33 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 33)

OUT : Chester Lockhart - Save Me from Myself (LW: 36 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 32)

OUT : Superfruit - How You Feeling? (LW: 37 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 30)

OUT : Bjartmar Thordarson - Hringd´í mig (LW: 38 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 38)

OUT : MUNA - I Know A Place (LW: 39 / WO: 33 / PEAK: 01 (x2))

OUT : Greyson Chance - Back on the Wall (LW: 40 / WO: 9 / PEAK: 01 (x2))

OUT : Rainbow Riots - Freedom (LW: 41 / WO: 8 / PEAK: 12)

OUT : Perfume Genius - Wreath (LW: 42 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 42)

OUT : Marc Devigne - Çà va (LW: 45 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 20)

OUT : Pabllo Vittar feat. Mateus Carrilho - Corpo Sensual (LW: 47 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 18)

OUT : Brockhampton - Junky (LW: 48 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 34)

OUT : Michael Perry - Perfect Love (LW: 49 / WO: 1 / PEAK: 49)

  01 (+ 4) : P!nk - What About Us (LW: 05 / WO: 6 / PEAK: 01 (x1))

The music video includes audio contents from the tragic events in Charlottesville for denouncing the hate speeches from the supremacist movements, and shows several people dancing under the intimidating eye of the authorities, including two men together.

 02 (+ 14) : Alfie Arcuri - If They Only Knew (LW: 16 / WO: 13 / PEAK: 02)

This is the new music video of the winner of The Voice Australia 2016. What must do a gay man when he's in love with his best male friend, who's dating his best female friend?

 03 (- 1) : Logic feat. Alessia Cara, Khalid - 1-800-273-8255 (LW: 02 / WO: 7 / PEAK: 01 (x1))

This powerful music video, which is also a promotion for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, follows a gay teen couple and is the incarnation of the "It Gets Better" slogan.

 04 (- 3) : Kevin Chomat - Sens Interdit (LW: 01 / WO: 4 / PEAK: 01 (x1))

This new single of the French singer reached the top 10 YouTube trending in France. His first album will be released next September 25, 2017.

 05 (+ 7) : Zayn feat. Sia - Dusk Till Dawn (LW: 12 / WO: 3 / PEAK: 05)

This is the new collab of Sia.

 06 (+ 4) : Wrabel - The Village (LW: 10 / WO: 9 / PEAK: 04)

This engaging song was written the day after US President Trump removed new federal protections for trans students in public schools last February. Trans actor August Aiden plays the role of a young transgender who tries to be himself despite the hostility of his father in the music video.

 07 (- 1) : Leon Else - What I Won't Do (Lyric Video) (LW: 06 / WO: 16 / PEAK: 02)

The British singer has recently came out on Facebook.

 08 (- 5) : Kevin Chomat - Un homme à terre (LW: 03 / WO: 34 / PEAK: 01 (x3))

For his third single, the French singer is talking about infidelity, with his boyfriend who cheated on him.

 09 (+ 13) : Sam Smith - Too Good At Goodbyes (LW: 22 / WO: 4 / PEAK: 09)

The British singer is back with a new upcoming album.

 10 (+ 24) : Neon Trees - Feel Good (LW: 34 / WO: 7 / PEAK: 10)

After a break for his first solo album "Excommunication", Tyler Glenn goes back with his band for a new song.

 11 (- 4) : Lizzo - Good As Hell (LW: 07 / WO: 42 / PEAK: 02)

This is taken from the EP "Coconut Oil".

 12 (- 4) : Harel Skaat - Radio (LW: 08 / WO: 22 / PEAK: 01 (x3))

The Israeli singer has uploaded on his channel a full concert. Go check it!

 13 (+ 33) : Paris Bang Bang - Poseída (LW: 46 / WO: 4 / PEAK: 13)

The drag queen is from Mexico City.

 14 (- 10) : Alvin Point - Il a dit (LW: 04 / WO: 53 / PEAK: 01 (x4))

The first single of the 24 years old singer is talking about a romantic gay love story. The title means "he said".

 15 (+ 12) : Myckael SG - Strong or Best (alternate version) (LW: 27 / WO: 6 / PEAK: 04)

 16 (RE-ENTRY) : Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Mary Lambert - Same Love (LW: - / WO: 23 / PEAK: 02)

Australia’s ex-prime minister Tony Abbott called for Macklemore’s “Same Love” to be censored from Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) Grand Final, because of the debate in the society due to the organisation of the Marriage Law Postal Survey, to know if the country must open a parlementary debate about marriage equality. After that, the track became #1 in the Australian iTunes chart.

 17 (- 4) : Superfruit - Worth it (LW: 13 / WO: 12 / PEAK: 02)

This is the third single of the duo taken from the "Future Friends - Part One" EP. The music video breaks down gender norms with these two young dancers.

 18 (NEW) : Nakhane - Clairvoyant (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 18)

The South African singer is back with a new track, after a break for cinema, where he was featuring a lead role in the gay movie "Inxeba", also known as "The Wound", which wons two awards at the 2017 Durban film festival, including the one for Best Actor for his interpretation of Xolani.

 19 (+ 1) : Martin Garrix & Troye Sivan - There For You (LW: 20 / WO: 18 / PEAK: 01 (x1))

 20 (- 3) : Eli Lieb - Shangri La (LW: 17 / WO: 10 / PEAK: 03)

Eli Lieb is completely bare in his new music video.

 21 (+ 5) : La Prohibida - Baloncesto (LW: 26 / WO: 11 / PEAK: 03)

 22 (NEW) : A JAY - Asammatha Pemak (Rathu Thol) රතු තොල් (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 22)

An unexpected music video from Sri Lanka about homosexuality.

 23 (NEW) : Сергей Лазарев / Sergey Lazarev - Так красиво / So Beautiful (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 23)

The new music video about love of the famous Russian singer represents several couples, including a lesbian couple.

 24 (+ 11) : Superfruit - Hurry Up (LW: 35 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 24)

This is the ninth single taken from their first album "Future Friends". Mitch and Scott almost kissed at the end of the video.

 25 (+ 3) : Mr John - Neon (LW: 28 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 25)

Instead of covers, this time, the Brazilian singer delivers an original song.

 26 (NEW) : Harel Skaat - אהבה זו אהבה / Love is Love (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 26)

The new track of the Israeli singer is promoting IGY (Israeli Gay Youth), a professional organization dedicated to serving all LGBT youth in Israel.

 27 (NEW) : อ๊อฟ ปองศักดิ์ / Aof Pongsak - รอปาฏิหาริย์ / Wait for the Miracle (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 27)

The Thai singer is back with a new music video which tells a tragic love story at war.

 28 (- 4) : Ria Mae - Bend (LW: 24 / WO: 7 / PEAK: 07)

This is the new single of the Canadian singer.

 29 (NEW) : CRIMER - Badface (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 29)

This is the third single of the EP "Preach" from the Swiss singer.

 30 (NEW) : Big Freedia and Mannie Fresh - Dive (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 30)

It's #1 in the top 40 LGBT Urban Chart.

 31 (+ 19) : PVRIS - Anyone Else (LW: 50 / WO: 4 / PEAK: 31)

A portion of every ticket sold for their upcoming fall tour will be donated to The Ally Coalition in support of LGBTQ equality.

 32 (+ 12) : Cub Sport - O Lord (LW: 44 / WO: 5 / PEAK: 17)

This is the debut single of the Australian band from Brisbane, taken from their album "Bats".

 33 (- 24) : Autoheart - My Hallelujah (LW: 09 / WO: 10 / PEAK: 09)

 34 (NEW) : Sam Tsui - Cameo (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 34)

Finally, a new original song!

 35 (- 4) : Michele Bravi - Diamanti (LW: 31 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 31)

This is the third single from the Italian singer taken from the album “Anime Di Carta”.

 36 (- 22) : GAREK - Stray (LW: 14 / WO: 51 / PEAK: 01 (x2))

The single taken from the album "Take the King" is a conversation with his 8-year-old self about accepting who he is, the talk he wishes he had as a child, because he "spent so many years hating [himself] because [he] listened to the voices around [him] saying that people like [him] were disgusting".

 37 (NEW) : Osvaldo Supino - Fire (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 37)

The Italian singer flirts with a man and a woman in his new music video.

 38 (- 23) : Maggie Szabo - Don't Give Up (LW: 15 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 15)

In this Canadian music video, a teen couple is going to prom, but one of them isn't really excited about it, until the other let his transgender lover to dress as a men. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Ali Forney Center which helps LGBTQ youths.

 39 (- 18) : Charlotte Gainsbourg - Deadly Valentine (LW: 21 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 21)

Charlotte Gainsbourg & Dev Hynes are lifelong lovers for this music video from the French actress and singer.

  40 (- 29) : Michele Bravi - Solo Per Un Po' (LW: 11 / WO: 20 / PEAK: 01 (x1))

The Italian singer has came out earlier this year, just before coming fourth in the San Remo 2017 music festival in the Champion category. This single is the second single of his album  "Anime di carta" which reached #1 in the top album in Italy.

 41 (- 18) : Cassandre - Paris la nuit (LW: 23 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 23)

The French duo sings a love declaration to the city of love. It's perhaps a little cliché, but, as Parisians, we are probably not really objective. Sorry not sorry :)

 42 (NEW) : Peaches - Dumb Fuck (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 42)

Taken from the album "RUB". These masks in this music video will perhaps give you inspiration for your next Halloween costume.

 43 (=) : Sia - Rainbow ("My Little Pony: The Movie" OST) (LW: 43 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 43)

Team Bronies: paws up!

 44 (NEW) : Huntington - Love Is Love (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 44)

Three years after "Secret", this is his new original song.

 45 (- 26) : Mainland - I Found God (LW: 19 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 19)

This music video shows people running to found their love. Several real LGBT couples are featuring in it.

 46 (NEW) : Les Funambules - Rentrer Chez Moi (live @ Studio Hébertot) (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 46)

A song about the hope for a future without prejudice.

 47 (- 29) : Beth Ditto - We Could Run (LW: 18 / WO: 7 / PEAK: 10)

This is taken from her first solo album "Fake Sugar."

 48 (NEW) : Johnny Robinson - Flames Of Love (Matt Pop Mix) (LW: - / WO: 1 / PEAK: 48)

The British drag queen is back with a new track.

 49 (- 24) : Pierre Lapointe - Sais-tu vraiment qui tu es (LW: 25 / WO: 2 / PEAK: 25)

This is the new single of the new album "La science du cœur" from the famous Canadian singer.

 50 (RE-ENTRY) : LP - No Witness (LW: - / WO: 4 / PEAK: 18)

This is the sixth single taken from the album "Lost on You".

  ALSO NEW THIS WEEK

 Grizzly Bear - Losing All Sense

Taken from the album "Painted Ruins". Aunt Freckle is featuring in this music video.

 Ezra Furman - Driving Down To L.A.

Ezra and his angel are escaping from modern-day Nazis in this music video, dedicated to Heather Heyer, who was killed in Charlottesville protesting neo-Nazis this past August.

 Kyle Motsinger - Nothing Stays the Same

 Lizzo - Truth Hurts

Lizzo is marrying herself in her new music video. Taken from the EP "Coconut Oil".

 Titica - Sobra Raiva

This is the new single of the Angolan transgender singer.

 Smashby - Birthday Suit

This is the first original song of the British singer.

 Jaro Smejkal feat. Andílci - The Scientist (Cover)

The Czech singer made a beautiful cover of Coldplay.

 Justin Gerhard (The Gay Men Channel) - I’m Every Gay Man

 Hoàng Dũng -  Yếu Đuối / Weakness ("Tao Không Xa Mày" OST)

This is the OST of a new Vietnamese movie.

 Páll Óskar - Einn Dans (360° VR music video)

 Raphael - Keep in Touch (d4rk w3b v3r510n)

 Austin Strange - People Are People

  Sean Smith - Turn Me On

 Geez & Dik - Freelove

 AB Soto - LATINX - Visibility Part 1

Inspiring.

 Mila Jam - Black Star

"This film is a love letter to black women, a tribute made up of four elements- lullaby, reflection, fear and defiance." Michael Williams, dir.

 Linn da Quebrada - Bomba Pra Caralho (Áudio-Vídeo Oficial)

 FLETCHER - You Should Talk (Official Audio)

 Lostchild - Skin (Audio)

This is a cover of Madonna.

 P!nk - Beautiful Trauma (Audio)

 مشروع ليلى  Mashrou' Leila - مريخ Marrikh (live @ AUB Assembly Hall)

7 people were arrested by the Egyptian police for flying rainbow flags during the concert of the Lebanon band in Cairo.

 Charli XCX - Boys (live @ The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon)

 Chris Weaver - Try a Little Tenderness (live @ The Voice 2017 Blind Audition)

The four jurors tried to convince Chris, who told he's also a drag queen, to join their team.

 Kevin Olsson - Hold My Hand (live @ Idol Sverige 2017)

 Will & Grace Cast Performs Their Theme Song with Lyrics (live @ The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon)

 South Park - Put It Down

In the episode 21x2 "Put it Down" of the satirical animation, which is about the relations between North Korea and the United States and the tweets of Donald Trump, Tweek and Craig are now officially a couple ! It also parodies the message of rapper Logic with his song about suicide prevention.

 Randy Rainbow - How Do You Solve A Problem Like Korea? (Parody)

 Bryan Hawn - Thunder (Imagine Dragons Parody)

 Shirtless Violinist - Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Wizard of Oz (Violin Cover)

 Casey Breves - Across The Universe (The Beatles Cover)

 Knife & Fork + Leo Frappier feat BeBe Sweetbriar - Unity (Dirty Disco Mainroom Remix) (Lyric Video)

  See you next week and don’t forget to vote for your best LGBTQA music videos ! Here are the rules :

1 ) You can vote for many videos as you want under the videos on YouTube in the comment section. It could be recent or past music videos, which must provide at least one among the following conditions:

- the music video has LGBTQA related content, in the lyrics or the music video

- the artist is LGBTQA, an LGBTQA icon or eventually ally

- LGBTQA medias talked about it.

2 ) You can’t vote more than 3 songs of a same artist per week.

3 ) In case of an artist who receive votes mostly by a fan base, we will count only one song, in a limited time of 10 weeks of presence in the top.

4 ) You can vote with only one account.

5 ) If you make 5 votes or less, your first vote will represent 5 points, your second vote 4 points, etc… until your last vote and following 1 point. If you make 6 to 10 votes, your first vote will represent 10 points, your second vote 9 points, etc… If you make more than 10 votes, your first vote will represent 20 points, your second vote 19 points, etc…

6 ) People who make 1 to 5 votes form the amateur ranking, those who make 6 to 10 votes form the fan ranking, those who make more than 10 votes form the expert ranking. We form the jury ranking. And we count now the ranking of minutes of views of our weekly playlist of the previous week. The Gay Music Chart is the addition of the five charts. In case of equality, the number of votes and the dates of votes will count.

7 ) The votes will close on Thursday, 8 PM, European time.

[031cinephile]

7th DGLFF FINALLY RETURNS TO KZN IN 2017

The Durban Gay & Lesbian Film Festival resumed 3 October after a forced month's "pause". 

Having now met the regulatory requirements of the Film & Publications Board (FPB) raised just prior to its initial opening 25 August, the Durban Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (DGLFF), now in its 7th year, resumed with screenings from Tuesday 3 October and will run for 9 consecutive days until Wednesday 11 October 2017.

This annual cinematic celebration of independent queer cinema is expanding its reach within the Ethekwini region with screening venues that will include Durban's Outer West LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & intersex) communities. From both a practical and demand-driven perspective, #DGLFF2017 has recognised that for many, the journey to "town" is both expensive and often far. Therefore festival director Jason Fiddler has successfully re-negotiated with Tina's Hotel in Kloof, home to Roland Stansell's branch of Rhumbelow Theatre, to host three evening screenings of films this week from Tuesday 3rd to Thursday October 5th.

The Festival had opened 25 August at the aha Waterfront Hotel & Spa on Point with a screening of the already FPB classified film 'INXEBA' ('The Wound'), yet had to wait more than 30 days for an exemption from classification process to unfold. Having now satisfied the FPB, the festival will continue to screen at Alliance Francaise and the Durban Lesbian & Gay Centre in Morningside, in support of main venues Tina's Hotel and the KZNSA Gallery in Glenwood, where screenings take place from Friday 6 to Wednesday 11 October.

The DGLFF line up this year also includes as Closing Night Film (Wednesday 11 October) young filmmaker Thishiwe Ziqubu's ' SINA NOMAKOTSHANA' ('Dance with the Maiden'), a 24 minute short film about a girl falling in love with her contemporary dance partner and coming out of the closet during her traditional Zulu initiation. Other South African content includes Allan McDonald's moving documentary 'LOCKED IN'  about transgender people within the Xhosa and Muslim communities, including their very real struggles for acceptance. DGLFF will also host the world premiere of Durban filmmaker Dayakar Padayachee's 40 minute gay short 'SHADOW' on Saturday 7 October at the KZNSA at 6pm. This is a psychological horror following a gay Indian teen's decent into darkness during his parent's growingly ugly divorce, as a malevolent force takes hold.

The Festival resumes with an evening of Danish LGBTIQ films and documentaries on Tuesday 3 October, with guest Saadat Munir from AKS Minorities Festival in Copenhagen in attendance as a guest courtesy of the Royal Danish Embassy in Pretoria. Included in the three-night Tina's Hotel line up are the Argentinean drama 'BROMANCE' (a feature film about three friends who realise they've grown as young men and their relationship is devolving on a weekend getaway at the beach), 'BOYS FOR SALE' (an adults-only feature documentary that takes a candid journey with Urisen, mainly straight gay-for-pay escorts, in Japan's oldest red light district) and 'SOMETHING LIKE SUMMER' (a surprisingly complex comedy-musical-romance that follows two high school guys who's whirlwind romance goes awry, and who find one another very different people years later; expect some really original vocal performances by some known TV talent).

Further, Fiddler has curated two sets of short films for outer west audiences. Running at 67 minutes, Lesbian Shorts includes three beautiful short films ('LILY' from Ireland; 'THE MASTERFUL HERMIT' from Wales; and 'THE PRETTY THINGS ARE GOING TO HELL' from Denmark) that explore tender relationships, old flames that turn up unexpectedly and the pain of parting. Spanish Gay Shorts (running 54 minutes) includes a trio of Spanish-language short films that explore the bisexual feelings of a man between his girlfriend and his best friend ('GOLDFISH' from Mexico), the very real matter of a couple who need to frankly discuss their sex life having been involved for some time ('VERSATILE' from Spain) and how little white lies can make for hilarious complications with grandma on your wedding day ('THE MARRIAGE' from Spain)!

With 7 feature films, 11 documentaries and almost 30 short films from 14 countries globally, including South Africa, the DGLFF expects to speak to the interests of many different audiences. Fiddler encourages mainstream audiences who love good cinema to participate: "Ours is an inclusive Festival. You don't have to be gay, or lesbian, or otherwise to appreciate these well made films. You just need to be open minded, and make the effort to discover new stories."

A special encore screening of now foreign language Oscar-nominated 'INXEBA' ('The Wound') takes place Saturday 7 October at 7pm at the KZNSA Gallery, after 'SHADOW's world premiere. 

Download the full festival programme HERE.

Further information: info@dglff.org.za/