#Queer Palm Award

[denimbex1986]

'...1. Pride (2014)

This British comedy bagged the Queer Palm award at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival – and for good reason. Starring the likes of Ben Schnetzer, Joseph Gilgun, George MacKay, Dominic West, Andrew Scott, Imelda Staunton, Jessica Gunning, Bill Nighy and plenty more, the film recalls the 1984 British miners’ strike and depicts the real group of lesbian and gay activists who raised money to help the families struggling as a result of the strike...

3. All Of Us Strangers (2023)

For a newer film to watch this Pride month, if you haven’t seen it already, All Of Us Strangers is a must-see. Led by the captivating Andrew Scott – who is joined by Paul Mescal, Claire Foy and Jamie Bell – we follow a young screenwriter Adam who lives in a lonely London apartment block. After a chance encounter with his neighbour Harry (Mescal), his life descends into a strange mystery that also involves his long-dead parents who he finds in his childhood home somehow alive...'

[thishadoscarbuzz]

242 - Pride

This week’s episode is one we have promised for some time: 2014′s Pride. The film tells the true story of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners, a queer activist group that partnered with a Welsh town in the 1980s during the mining strike under Thatcher’s rule. Following the lives of both the straight townsfolk and the queer Londoners, the film paints a portrait of queerness, allyship, and activism that rings true today while also satisfying on a crowd-pleasing level. After launching at Cannes’ Directors Fortnight and winning the Queer Palm, the film launched in the fall of 2014 to some ardent critical fans, but didn’t cross the Oscar finish line.

This episode, we talk about the theatre career of director Matthew Warchus and the film’s comforts in this current tumultuous moment for queer people. We also talk about the film’s tremendous ensemble headlined by Imelda Staunton and Bill Nighy, gay infighting, and unofficial THOB mascot Men Trussler.

Topics also include the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, Monica Bellucci bluntly listing director names, and the concept of Festival Regret.

Links:

The 2014 Oscar nominations

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[ofmdrecaps]

08/12-13/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; David Jenkins; Rhys Darby; Taika Waititi; Vico Ortiz; Kristian Nairn; Samba Schutte; Leslie Jones; Dominic Burgess; Alex Sherman; WBD News Articles; Fan Spotlight: Cast Cards; Our Flag Means Fanfiction; Never Left Podcast; Love Notes; Today's Taika Tuesday;

== David Jenkins ==

Chaos Dad has certainly been living up to his name! He's been keeping the fandom busy with reposting lovely artwork from our crew, and responding to various ponderings!

Source: David Jenkins Twitter

Source: David Jenkins Twitter

He even confirmed some Evelyn/Mary Theories made by our dear friend @patchworkpiratebear!

Source: David Jenkins Twitter

== Rhys Darby ==

Some more shots of Edinburgh Fringe!

Source: TheWeeReview Instagram

== Taika Waititi ==

Just a quick vid of Taika out in Ibiza a couple weeks back!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Taika Ora (Fan Page) (@taika_ora)

Source: Taika_Ora's Instagram

Also-- 3 years ago Aug 13th, Free Guy came out! So folks are celebrating the anniversary!

Source: Instagram

== Vico Ortiz ==

Vico has been posting lots of pics lately-- but recently shared that Aug 12 was their 2 year anniversary with Jack!

Source: Vico Ortiz Instagram

In other news, Vico will be honored with the Coyote Courage Award a the 1st Annual 29 Queer Film Festival! Thank you to @adoptourcrew for highlighting this amazing honor for Vico!

Here's the Article:

Source: Adopt Our Crew Instagram

Vico is asking for some feedback! You can send it to them on their Instagram Story!

Source: Vico Ortiz' Instagram Stories

== Leslie Jones ==

Leslie met Sha'Carri Richardson!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Leslie Jones (@lesdogggg)

Source: Leslie's Instagram

== Samba Schutte ==

Samba's back in Holland!

Source: Samba's Instagram

== Kristian Nairn ==

The new Audo Drama Podcast -- Dungeon Masters with Kristian is finally out! Check it out wherever you love to listen!

Source: Dungeon Masters Spotify

== Alex Sherman ==

#AssTonight has been extended to #AssTomorrow and #AssForever!

Source: Alex Shermans' Instagram

And if you didn't love Alex enough, he's been a camp counselor for the "Experience Camps", which is a non-profit that helps transform the lives of grieving kids through summer camp programs and year round initiatives!

Source: ItsAshlyPerez' Instagram

== Dominic Burgess ==

Dominic is out at the new Alien Premiere!

Source: Dominic's Twitter

== WBD News ==

More Articles on WBD and the tanking stocks!

Source: Never Left Podcast Twitter

Source: Never Left Podcast Twitter

Source: Never Left Podcast Twitter

== Fan Spotlight ==

= Cast Cards =

More cast cards tonight from the wonderful @melvisik! You just keep bringing more and more of our lovely crew to light! Thank you hon! First up is Kian F, and Marcin K! They are unspecified but Mel thinks they're Action Talent found via ofmd-crew.com!

The next up almost needs no introduction, she's our fabulous Costume Designer for S2, Gypsy Taylor!!

And last but not least, you probably recognize her from all her BTS, Set Dresser, Lindsey Cantrell!

Source: @melvisik's Twitter

= Our Flag Means Fanfiction =

New Epitizer from Our Flag Means FanFiction! Ready by Cheesecake3! Check them out here!

Source: Our Flag Means Fanfiction Instagram

OFMFanfiction needs your help! Help them pick a new sign off slogan! Reach out to them on their instagram!

Source: Our Flag Means Fanfiction Instagram

= Never Left Podcast =

New episode of Never Left Podcast! Part 3 of Motifs! Check them out on your favorite listening platform!

Source: Never Left Podcast Instagram

== Love Notes ==

Hey there lovelies, another busy couple of days. My son starts kindergarten tomorrow! Boy how time flies, huh? I feel like I was pregnant like last month, and here he is grown up and 5 years old, and off to school. Do you remember those days? I remember my first day of kindergarten. I'm 38 years old, and that's still a day I remember. I remember the brown wall with the pink buttlerflies of my classroom, and the desks I'd never seen before. I remember being scared...wondering why I was in a new place I didn't recognize, but I remember having such a great time too. I remember counting to 25, and reading Berenstain Bears books, and making friends and I don't remember a lot of other days from that year, but I remember that one. It's amazing what little things in life we remember, even 30+ years later. Remember to take a moment to smile and enjoy things even when they're a bit scary lovelies. Sometimes they turn out to be wonderful memories. I hope you're all staying healthy <3 Just some quick love notes tonight-- the first from our Pirate queen, and the second from the darling TheLatestKate <3

Source: Ruibo Qian's Instagram

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @thelatestkate

== Today's Taika Tuesday ==

In honor of this Taika Tuesday which falls on the 3rd anniversary of Free Guy, have some Antwan <3 Gif courtesy of the lovely @neverswungonswingingstars

[gentlebeardsbarngrill]

06/04/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Rhys Darby; Taika Waititi; Samba Schutt; Nathan Foad; Ruibo Qian; Con O'Neill; Dominic Burgess; Damien Gerard; Tell Tale TV Awards; SaveOFMD Crew - Never Left; AdoptOurCrew; Fan Spotlight: Cast Cards/NeverLeftPodcast; Articles; Pride Month; Love Notes; Daily Darby/Today's Taika

== Rhys Darby ==

Rhys posted on Instagram saying he spoils us, well yes, yes sir you do! That's another Cryptid Factor episode this week! #094 The 'This Paranormal Life' Special Issue of The Cryptid Factor on Spotify!

Source: Rhys Darby's Instagram / Spotify

== Taika Waititi ==

More proud hubby pics of Taika at Rita's concert.

Source: CapitalOfficial Instagram

And a sneaky Taika as well.

Source: RitaOra_AlbanianFan Instagram

== Samba Schutte ==

Samba has his #CrewForLife shirt up again! It's back for pride while supplies last! Please visit shopstands.com. Also a quick cameo from Samba!

Source: Samba Schutte's Instagram

== Ruibo Qian ==

Our lovely Pirate Queen performed a beautiful song for us, and it was too big for the recap so I've included it here: Ruibo Qian 06/03/2024 Video

OG Source: Ruibo Qian's Instagram

== Nathan Foad ==

Nathan is back with more ratings! This time his "Quids!"

Source: Nathan Foad's Instagram Stories

== Con O Neill ==

Con wishes us all "Happy pride beautiful people"!

Source: Con O Neill's Instagram

Very Long Post Under The Cut

== Gypsy Taylor ==

"I’m cooking something up with @theleadclub ⬅️ follow for more info to be revealed soon". Our lovely costume designer Gypsy Taylor has a cool class called The Lead Club, and they'll be doing drawing classes with some other fantastic people. If you're interested, follow their Instagram below!

Source: Gypsy Taylor's Instagram / TheLeadClub Instagram

== Damien Gerard ==

Our Papa Teach, Damien Gerard is sending love for Pride Month <3

Source: Damien Gerard's Instagram

== Dominic Burgess ==

Dominic's been busy! Lots of celebrating his awesome show Palm Royale! Also he was kind enough to send us some more Cat Pictures, which you know I can't resist.

Source: @ awards_watch Twitter

Source: Dominic Burgess Twitter

Source: Dominic Burgess Twitter

== Save OFMD Crew: #NeverLeft! ==

Our dear friends over at SaveOFMD Crew have their calendar up for #NeverLeft and are working hard to help raise money for our Queer Elders through SAGEUSA. Please visit their post below to learn more and how you can help!

== Save OFMD Crew: Tell Tale Awards Reminders! ==

So many folks are fighting for the Tell Tale awards for Rhys, Ruibo and OFMD! Our kind crewmates over at SOFMD have created a nice guide for us with a QR Code to scan! You can visit their post here as well for more info!

== Adopt Our Crew ==

Our dear crewmates over at @adoptourcrew have been very busy for Pride Month! Please visit their tumblr to learn all about the charity/creator spotlights they have going on! I wanted to include a bunch today but I ran out of image room so please visit their Tumblr: @adoptourcrew In addition, there was a shout out by @ gunnverse on Instagram regarding all the PoliteMenacing/MassiveAggression from June 3!

Source: AdoptOurCrew's Instagram

== Articles ==

Also Shared by AdoptOurCrew on instagram was this Yahoo Entertainment article Read the Article Below!

Source: AdoptOurCrew on Instagram

== Fan Spotlight ==

= Cast Cards =

Our sweet and so very kind @melvisik is back again with more Cast Cards! Today is "listed as Soldier #2, aka one of the incredible stunt performers"!

Source: @melvisik's Twitter

= Never Left Podcast =

New Episode of Never Left! is out on your favorite podcast platforms! Please visit Never Left Podcast Linktr.ee to listen!

Source: Never Left Podcast Instagram / Art by @AmysBirdHouse

== Pride Month ==

= Colouring Pages =

More colouring pages this month by the lovely @patchworkpiratebear! The @adoptourcrew team will be sharing them all month long as they come out and I've been given permission to share them as well! So exciting to color in some Pride Pages! If you do, please be sure to share them with @adoptourcrew and @patchworkpiratebear! Our Flag Means Pride Flag / Our Flag Gentlebeard Items

== Pride Peanuts ==

Another ADORABLE set of Pride Peanuts by the fabulous @blackbeardskneebrace! I love the little Fang so much 😭. Please follow them for more awesome art!

Source: BlackbeardsKneeBrace's Tumblr

== Love Notes ==

Hey there lovelies. Wow, it's been a busy few days. Pride month is off to a great start. I will probably be slow/behind the next few days as I've got some stuff going on at home. My girl Zoey, (my kitty) is 16 years old and diabetic, and she's lost a lot of weight recently, and she's been really sick, so I'm spending a lot of time taking care of her, sometimes late at night (and you all know I don't get a lot of sleep as it is). I don't wanna bum anyone out-- but today I wanted to talk about love. None of us know how long we have. We generally know pets have less time than ourselves, and sometimes unfortunately humans don't have the time we think they will. No matter who you love-- whether it's an animal, or a human, or a child, or a family member or a friend, I just want to send a reminder that the amount of time we have with them is not predictable. If you can, take that extra few minutes to hold them today. Take those few extra minutes to tell them you love them. Take the few extra minutes to call them up (if they have thumbs) and just tell them you're thinking of them. Love is one of the greatest and most powerful feelings in the world. It can move mountains for individuals, or groups. It can bring so many people together (like the love we have for ofmd) and it can make the biggest difference in millions of lives. Don't be afraid to love crew. Sometimes pain comes with loving something, and I know you've had enough of that in your life, but the love is worth it in the long run. Give love to your fur/scale kids, give love to your human children, give love to your friends, and give love to your family, and most of all, give love freely to yourself. Of all the things in this world that we may regret, love and the enjoying of it in all of it's many forms will almost always be worth it. And if it's not-- you can move that love to someone / something more deserving of your gift.

Anyway crew, just remember I love you, and I know so many crew members do too. Remember to love yourself and give love where you can (and don't beat yourself up if you can't). Hope you have a good rest of the week-- it's Hump Day! Half way there!

== Daily Darby / Today's Taika ==

In Honor of more Cryptid Factor this week I'm bringing back this lovely Rhys gem by @ofmd-ann. Taika gif courtesy of @livwifeofkarl (seemed fitting since Rhys is holding on, and Taika not so much).

[seoul-bros]

Sometimes...

Jungkook remind me of another very famous Asian artist, Leslie Cheung.

Leslie was a very famous actor and singer. He remains one of the most celebrated artists in China, 19 years after his death. He was also openly bi.

His film "Happy Together" is one of the earliest films in Asia to deal with a gay relationship.

Jungkook doesnt really resemble him physically but I do think their appeal/aura kinda similar?

Like they both have/had a very soft, yet powerful masculine appeal. Their masculinity is not threatening yet very palpable and inciting instead of repelling. Dunno how to describe this any other way.

Also both are Virgos lmao.

Leslie Cheung in his own words

So sorry, I took so long to respond to this but I don't get many messages like this and I wanted to take time replying and try to do justice to what you are saying here. I have been reading more about Leslie Cheung his life and his legacy and in so doing I begin to see where the comparisons you make to Jungkook come from.

Leslie Cheung (1956 - 2003)

“I believe that a good actor would be androgynous, and ever changing”

I remember Leslie Cheung for his performance in the 1993 film Farewell My Concubine. The film won the Palm D'Or at Cannes as well as awards for Best Foreign Language Film at the BAFTAs and the Golden Globes. He plays Cheng Dieyi, a Peking opera singer, abandoned and abused as a child and trained to sing the opera's female roles. The film focuses on his tumultuous lifelong relationship with fellow opera singer Duan Xiaolou and Xiaolou's wife Juxian. It is set against the massive societal upheaval in China in the early 20th century. It's a heartbreaking performance which reminds us of the fragility of love and friendship and the lasting effects betrayal can have upon us all.

"Leslie Cheung gives the performance of his career" Time

What I didn't know when I saw the film, was anything more about his life. His singing career, his huge celebrity in Asia and the fact that he was an openly bisexual man at a time where globally, attitudes towards homosexuality were at their most negative.

"Your love belongs to you and you alone.....as long as you are happy and, harm no one, do not be bothered by idle chatter."

I also wasn't aware of the role he played in shaping LGBT representation in Hong Kong cinema and the lasting impact that this has had on subsequent queer films and filmmakers which is perhaps best embodied by the 1997 film Happy Together which you mention.

"The theme of my performance is this: The most important thing in life, apart from love, is to appreciate your own self"

He was determined to be true to himself in a world that was not yet ready for such honesty. His 2000, Passion tour included eight costumes designed by Jean Paul Gaultier which blurred gender lines. Although the tour was very successful, there was a backlash at home which affected him deeply.

Article Link

"I hope you'll forever remember me, because I will forever remember your cheers and applause."

2023 is the 20th anniversary of his death and it is a testament to his legacy that every year people still visit the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong to pay tribute.

There was a commemorative concert in April and the Miss You Much Leslie exhibition is being held at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum until October 2023. Leslie Cheung continues to garner new fans as his films and his music reach new younger audiences.

This GQ article from last year tries to capture how Leslie Cheung continues to influence the next generation of artists.

Leslie naturally possessed both feminine and masculine [qualities]—not to mention an enigmatic mystique that was just so unique I think no other star has come remotely close to having,” the trans Filipina filmmaker Isabel Sandoval told me. “I think he's the closest we've come to a modern-day Garbo in his sexual ambiguity.”

Jungkook definitely shares that characteristic of tantalizingly blending feminine and masculine qualities to create a unique presence which cannot be ignored.

"Great style is wearing anything you like, regardless of gender"

He is known for rejecting traditional gendered fashion and his support for LBGTQ friendly brands.

On stage he is mesmerizing.....

...and off stage he is grateful and giving with his fans.

"Whenever ARMYs miss us, you can come to us. If you have to go or if you want to go, it’s okay for you to leave us. But always remember, I will always be here."

Although, Jungkook has never and may never talk about his sexuality, I do believe that every day he is trying to be true to himself, show us who he is and live an as authentic life as is possible. He is an icon for this century just as Leslie Cheung was an icon for the last one.

Post Date: 25/08/2023

[adoptourcrew]

Our very own Vico Ortiz will be honored with the Coyote Courage Award at the 1st Annual 29 Queer Film Festival which will take place Sept 20-22 in Twentynine Palms, CA. Congrats, Vico! 💕

[theperezhilton]

With the eternally youthful @DebbieGibson, who was presented the Ally Leadership Award, at the @SilverStateEquality gala at the @Palms. Debbie Gibson has always ridden with us! She began her career performing in queer clubs. And one of her dancers - who happens to be gay - STILL tours with her! She’s a loyal one! She’s a talented one! And she’s an icon!! Las Vegas is lucky to have her as a local, living here!

[nysocboy]

Matthew William Bishop: Leatherman, muscleman, actor, LGBT advocate.

If you saw this guy standing outside a brownstone in New York, would you a) Run away screaming; b) ask for his phone number.

How about now?

He's Matthew William Bishop, who gave up a career in corporate public relations in 2021, when the acting job bit.  His Some Kind of Wonderful, about four gay guy looking for love in Palm Springs, won four awards for Best LGBTQ Film. Then he hit the big time playing the silent supernatural Big Daddy, a symbol of AIDs in American Horror Story, NYC:  (Set during the first years of the AIDS epidemic.)

Matthew is also a bodybuilder, obviously. He took first place at the 2023 Miami Muscle Beach Contest in the NPC Open Super Heavyweight Category. And a philanthropist, devoted to recovery, AIDS awareness, and LGBTQ advocacy.  10% of the sales of this "Make the Deposits" shirt go to the New York LGBTQ Community Center.

More photos, including some nudes, on RG Beefcake and Boyfriends

[d-criss-news]

[UHQ] TheStandard_Vol11_Issue3 March, 2023 (PHOTO CREDITS: Amanda Demme: Blue NY Bomber Jacket, Bright patterned jacket / Lindsey Byrnes: Red back drop photos / Pierre Hennequin: B&W photo)

DAP Health’s 2023 Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards | The Standard

The Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards, DAP Health’s biggest annual fundraiser, also fondly known as The Chase returns to dazzle donors outdoors at the Palm Springs Convention Center on the evening of Saturday, March 25. Fashion, medicine, and music will take center stage at the starry annual benefit gala.

—

Up Close with Headliner Darren Criss

Darren Criss — the 36-year-old “Glee” alum who won an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for playing gay serial killer Andrew Cunanan in Ryan Murphy’s “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” — may be making his professional desert debut when he headlines the 2023 The Chase for DAP Health, but he’s no stranger to the Coachella Valley. Since he reports he has a “significant amount of family in the Palm Desert,” he’s somewhat of a regular. “I’ve got all my favorite spots, let’s put it that way.” He even made it to fellow performer Harry Styles’ last North American “Love On Tour” stop (and impromptu birthday bash) on February 1 at the new Acrisure Arena.

I chatted with Criss over Zoom while he was in Los Angeles to talk about what we can expect at his show, his love of all things show biz, and his ties to queer audiences.

Tell me a bit about the show you’ll be presenting at The Chase.

When I have the opportunity to play events like this, which are very fun — I know The Chase is very big and I’m very thrilled to be there — I’m the court jester. I’m just making sure I’m servicing people having a good time. So, I tend to stray away from deep cuts [in favor of] any smattering of things that people would be familiar with from, Broadway or the stuff I did on “Glee” or just covers in general that are fun to play and that kind of seem appropriate for the vibe. I’m notorious about not coming up with a set list until a few days before. I’ll have a band [that night], so I have to be a little more fastidious with the organizing of that. The nice thing about being a musician is you’re your own accompanist. If this was just me, I wouldn’t have an answer for you. Maybe about an hour before I went on stage — ’cause I would go to the party, kind of get a vibe from people, have a couple drinks — I’d go, “OK, I think I get the playlist,” and then I’d just do it… I’d just show up and try to make people happy. You can quote me on that.

Acting, singing, or songwriting and producing — what would you say is your favorite?

That’s a great question, because usually the question is, “Which one do you consider yourself?” And my answer is, they’re all the same because they’re all connected. They’re all storytelling. It’s just different tailoring. Different dress codes. But it’s the same party, the same venue….

You know, I’ve been very lucky, where I’ve gotten to do everything. I will say the most fulfilling would probably have to be songwriting…. Songwriting and producing probably consume most of my soul.

Talking acting, is it film, TV, or theatre?

Nice work if you can get it. Listen, I’m a mercenary. I’ll be very happy to have the opportunity to work in any of those fields if they invite me to the party. Lucky me. And I’m always grateful and cherish every opportunity that comes my way. Obviously, I come from the theatre, so it kind of has my heart and soul because there is an immediacy to it. So, yeah, that might be the leading player on the field.

Between “Glee,” Ryan Murphy, and Broadway, you clearly have a lot of queer fans. Thoughts?

I think the simple answer is I’ve always felt so privileged to be included at what I deem to be the cool kids table. And that’s not me trying to be charming or sucking up to a certain demographic. I’ve spent a lifetime chasing my heroes, wanting to have the people I think are cool think I’m cool. And I’ve worked very hard for that. I’ve educated myself. I’ve tried to cultivate my life so that people I respect might go, “Hey, this kid ain’t so bad.” And a huge [number], if not the majority, of those people come from the queer community. I feel very privileged to have anybody’s attention, much less that of a community of people I think are rad. I’m just so pleased to have a seat of the table, and I hope that my conversation is interesting enough to hold their attention and to be worthy of their time.

As you know, The Chase is DAP Health’s largest annual benefit, and the organization began in 1984 as Desert AIDS Project. How have HIV and AIDS touched your life personally?

I was born in the eighties, raised in the nineties, in San Francisco. I’m from a very, very queer city during a very troubled time that didn’t see everybody survive. People’s uncles were dying. I was a little boy. You’d notice, and you’d go, “Wait, what’s going on?” But it’s something that didn’t really hit me until much later in life. When you’re old enough to understand and realize, “Holy shit, that was a pretty insane time.” I’m very lucky because I’m of a generation that got to benefit from the slow de-stigmatization and more healthy conversations around HIV and AIDS. The men and women in my circle who are living with it, when we talk about the sort of dark days of AIDS in the United States, they and I are just supremely aware of the people upon whose shoulders we get to live our day-to-day life. I consider myself very, very lucky.

Well said. Shifting gears to a lighter subject, The Chase can be quite the fashionista extravaganza. So, here’s the most important question: Have you picked out your outfit?

Oh, girl. Um, no. [Laughs] And I’m not proud about it. I gotta get on it. Thanks for reminding me. I gotta get a set list together and an outfit. It’s literally the two things that are required of me. And I don’t have either one right now.

PHOTO CREDITS: Amanda Demme: Blue NY Bomber Jacket, Bright patterned jacket / Lindsey Byrnes: Red back drop photos / Pierre Hennequin: B&W photo

[allylikethecat]

Awww I love the prompts so much ❤️My little queer heart needs it: I’d love number 42 and 50, a combination would be nice, too (M&G, of course).

Thank you so much for sending this in! I'm sorry again that it took me so long to fill, also I apologize it turned out a bit more angsty than originally intended, I hope you still enjoy it! I had a lot of fun working on it 😊 Let me know what you think - if it's not what you're looking for let me know and I can try to tackle it again! As requested I've combined the two. I've really enjoyed working on all these Kiss prompts and am excited to finish up and share the last few!

❤️Ally

42. Kiss…out of pride & 50. Kiss…out of love

Matty’s heart was in his throat as he looked at George with wide eyes. He could hear the applause, people cheering, and felt the press of someone clapping him on the back. It felt distant, like he was underwater. It reminded him of being twenty six, overwhelmed with life, overwhelmed with addiction. They had stayed at a hotel that night, he couldn’t remember the city, just that it was somewhere in America. He had gone down to the hotel pool with George, a dangerous combination of drunk and high, playing pretend at being sober.

The air had been humid, the smell of chlorine stinging his nose, and making his eyes itch as he had kicked off his flip flops and shed his tee shirt. Everything felt heavy, too heavy. The weight of life pressing down on him as he stepped into the warm water. He hadn’t even intended to get in, had intended to sit on one of the deck chairs pretending to read while George did laps, trying to pretend he could read the words that were swirling on the page, the black ink dancing, giving him no hope of untangling the letters. Trying to pretend that he wasn’t there because George didn’t trust him in their room alone.

Instead he found himself drawn to the water, the pool wasn’t deep, three feet in the shallow end, six feet in the deep end. It was empty, ten at night on a weekday. The signs proclaiming “no diving” and “no lifeguard on duty - swim at your own risk.” Matty had found himself walking through the water, narrow body cutting through the surface easily, the water rising over his hips, over his chest, up to his neck. He took a deep breath and let himself sink, dropping to the bottom of the pool, resting with his back against the tile.

He felt weightless, but also cocooned, there was a pressure in his ears but nothing could hurt him where he lay at the bottom of the pool.  He opened his eyes and stared up at the surface, at the overhead lights flickering, glittering like a kaleidoscope of  broken glass, his curls dancing in the filter current like tentacles in his peripheral vision. He wanted to stay there forever. He had no idea how long he was down there, his lungs screaming as his vision darkened around the edges. The surface tension was broken, and next thing he knew he was sputtering, thrust back to the surface, George’s arm locked around him, banging on his back, as he coughed up a lung full of water, staring at him with a mixture of anger and terror.

It was always George. George was always there, grounding him, pulling him to the surface, pulling him from his thoughts and dragging him back to reality. 

“We did it, love,” said George pulling him into his arms, when had he stood up? Matty wondered, Ross was whooping, and Adam was grinning, his feet moving without his brain telling them too, following George, being dragged by George up the steps to the stage. His brain felt heavy, sluggish, oversaturated and waterlogged like a sponge left in too long in a soapy sink, like he was oxygen deprived from laying at the bottom of the pool.

The award was thrust into one hand, and a microphone into the other. Matty swallowed hard, his hands shaking, his palms sweating as he passed the statue back to George so he wouldn’t drop it. He’s not sure what he ended up saying, he hoped he remembered to thank the fans, to thank their families before they were being herded backstage for photos.

He was sure he was making a fool out of himself, he was sure everyone thought he was drunk even though he hadn’t touched the glass of wine George had gotten him at the bar, his stomach churning with anxiety and nausea. He was stone cold sober as they stood in front of the backdrop, forcing himself to smile even as he felt like he was staring down at his body from above. The camera flashed and they were ushered to the side, they would be taken back to their table at the next commercial break.

He couldn’t believe it. They had actually done it. They had won. It felt like something he wasn’t a part of. He knew he contributed to it, he was the singer, the front man, it was his lyrics and George’s music, and Adam and Ross's talent. But it wasn’t his words that had won, it was the hours George spent in the studio, crafting the music that played in his mind. Pride burned in his throat. George had done it. George had won. 

“I’m so proud of you,” said George, hooking his thumb into Matty’s belt loops, pulling him into a corner off to the side. He had given the statue back, the academy would send them each their own awards later once they had been engraved.  

“Why?” asked Matty, confusion thick in his voice. George was the one that had produced the record, had written the music, Matty was merely his mouthpiece. Matty was proud of George. Proud to call him his best friend, his bandmate, his partner, his other half, his soul mate, the love of his life, his fiance.  

George just blinked at him, leaning down to press their lips together, dragging his tongue over Matty’s bottom lip before biting at it gently, requesting access, licking into his mouth, reaching up to run his fingers through his hair, disrupting the carefully styled curls, as if he could press his love into Matty, force it into his mouth and down his throat. Matty kissed him back eagerly, letting himself be consumed, enveloped in the weight of George. It was better than being at the bottom of the pool, it was better than the high of any drug. The force of his love pressing into his lungs, making his head feel fuzzy in the best kind of way.

“I love you,” said Matty, his voice rough as he pulled away, resting his forehead against George’s chest, feeling the rise and fall of his chest with each breath. "And I'm so fucking proud of you."

[warmania]

PRE-DRINK from Midi La Nuit on Vimeo.

2017 | 23 min | French with English Subtitles | 4:3 | Couleur | 5.1 - ALEXE est une jeune femme trans, et CARL un homme gai. Meilleurs amis depuis toujours, une soirée passée ensemble déstabilise ALEXE, lorsque les deux décident de coucher ensemble pour la première fois. - ALEXE is a young trans woman, and CARL a gay man. Best friends since forever, an evening spent together destabilizes ALEXE, when both decide to have sex together for the first time. -

Un film de / A film by : Marc-Antoine Lemire Produit par / Produced by : Maria Gracia Turgeon (Midi La Nuit) Distribué par / Distributed by : H264 Distribution

CAST Pascale Drevillon - Alex Trahan

CREW Cinematographer: Léna Mill-Reuillard Editor: Anouk Deschênes Sound: Laurent Ouellette Sound Mixer & Editor: Theo Porcet - Jean-David Perron Key Gaffer & Grip: Olivier Racine 1st Assistant Camera: Ariane Aubin-Cloutier Art Director: Marc-Antoine Lemire Costumes: Alexandra Bégin- Laurie-Anne Viens - Renée Sawtelle Make-up: Andie Wisdom Dawson Hair: Tania Lacoste-Major - Andie Wisdom Dawson Executive Producers: Annick Blanc - Evren Boisjoli - Item 7 1st Assistant Director: Catherine Kirouac Coordinator: Kelyna N. Lauzier Production Intern: Gabrielle De Cevins Production Assistant: Lysandre Leduc Boudreau Catering: France Turgeon Traducer: Guylaine Jacob

Festivals: Toronto International Film Festival – Short Cuts, 2017 *Best Canadian Short Film Talent tout court/Not Short on Talent – Cannes Film Festival, 2017 Atlantic International Film Festival, 2017 Festival international du film francophone de Namur, 2017 Festival international du film de Bordeaux, 2017 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, 2017 Prends Ça Court Trouville, 2017 Festival international du film francophone d’Acadie, 2017 Whistler Film Festival, 2017 Thess International Short Film Festival, 2017 *Cinematic Achievement Award Southwest International Film Festival, 2018 Taos Shortz Film Fest, 2018 Flickerfest, 2018 Tampere Film Festival, 2018 Antitube, 2018 Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival, 2018 Canadian Screen Awards, 2018 *Nominated for Best Short Film 15e Gala Prends ça court *Audience Award, Post-Moderne Award Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma, 2018 *Best Fiction Short Film Melbourne Queer Film Festival, 2018 Nashville Film Festival, 2018 KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, 2018 On vous ment : Festival Documenteur, 2018 InsideOut LGBT Film Festival, 2018 Seoul International Women Film Festival, 2018 Gala Iris Québec Cinéma, 2018 *Best Fiction Short Film OutFilm : Connecticut LGBT Film Festival, 2018 Kansas City LGBT Film Festival, 2018 Festival 48 Images Seconde, 2018 – *Jury Prize Festival Longue Vue sur le court, 2018 – *Best Script Moscow International Film Festival, 2018 Sicilia Queer Film Fest, 2018 Mostra La Ploma, 2018 Kortfilmfestivale, 2018 fliQs: Queer Film Nights, 2018 Frameline, San Francisco, 2018 Festival MIX Milano, 2018 Korea Queer Film Festival, 2018 Outfest Los Angeles, 2018 Odense International Film Festival, 2018 Seattle International Film Festival, 2018 Transgender Film Festival Zurich, 2018 Lovers Film Festival – Torino Lgbtqi Visions, 2018 Festival Internacional de Cine IBAFF, 2018 Wicked Queer: Boston LGBT Film Festival, 2018 CinemaQuebecItalia, 2018 Vancouver Queer Film Festival, 2018 Meziprata Film Festival, 2018 *Best Short Film award Festival Internacional de Cine de Murcia IBAFF, 2018 Norwegian Short Film Festival – Grimstad, 2018 Écrans Mixtes Lyon, 2018 Lviv International Short Film Festival Wiz-Art, 2018 Reel Affirmations: Washington, DC’s LGBTQ Film Festival, 2018 Off-Courts Trouville 2018 Queergestreift Filmfestival, 2018 Zinegoak, International LGTB Film and Performing Arts Festival, 2018 Mardi Gras Film Festival, 2018 Festival de cinéma de la ville de Québec, 2018 Les Percéides, 2018 L’Espace Filmique, 2018 Cinéma Diverse, Palm Spring LGBT Film Festival, 2018 Q Cinema – Fort Worth, 2018 PROUD film festival, 2018 Louisville LGBT film festival, 2018 TWIST Seattle film festival, 2018 Durham film festival, 2018 Mix Copenhagen LGBTQ film festival, 2018 NewFest: The NYC LGBT film festival, 2018 Reel Affirmation film festival, 2018 Inside Out 2018 Ottawa LGBT Film Festival, 2018 Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival, 2018 Iris Prize Festival, 2018 *Finalist – Iris Prize Encounters Bristol, 2018 BENT: the 27th annual Sacramento LGBTQ Film Festival, 2018 Out On Film/Atlanta, 2018 Trans Film Fest Stockholm, 2018 SPASM, 2018 *Audience Award Chéries-Chéris, Festival LGBT à Paris, 2018 *Grand Prize Nahia Film Fest: International Short Film Festival, 2018 *Special Jury Award Plein(s) Écran(s), 2018 26th MIX BRASIL FESTIVAL, 2018 Queer Screen – Sydney, 2019 ReelOut – Kingston’s Queer film + Video festival, 2019 Qflix Philadelphia, 2019 Go Short – Netherlands, 2019 Queen’s World film festival, 2019 Vues d’en Face – Grenoble, 2019 Académie des Césars – Nuits en Or, 2019 Prague Pride screening – Meziprata Film Festival, 2019

[denimbex1986]

'...if you want to see more of Jessica Gunning’s work, we’ve got a movie recommendation that’s the perfect way to celebrate her coming out and Pride Month—and it just so happens to be called, wait for it, Pride!

The 2014 British historical dramedy (directed by Matthew Warchus, who also helmed Matilda: The Musical) tells the true story of an LGBTQ+ activist group that bands together in support of miner’s during their union strike in 1984, creating a powerful messaged of solidarity among disenfranchised communities.

The star-studded ensemble includes Andrew Scott in an earlier film role as a gay activist, The Wire‘s Dominic West as his partner who’s living with HIV, 1917‘s George MacKay as a closeted student, The Crown‘s Imelda Staunton and Love Actually‘s Bill Nighy as members of the mining community, and Russell Tovey in a smaller supporting role.

Gunning makes quite the impression as Siân James, a local in the mining town who’s part of the Women’s Support Group strike committee. A fiery ally, she plays a pivotal role in welcoming the gay activists help, and she helps them right back in return. (In real life, Siân James went on to become a Labour Party politician and member of British Parliament.)

Pride debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014 where it received the prestigious Queer Palme award, and went on to be nominated for BAFTAs, a GLAAD Media Award, and the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical.

Our two cents? The utterly charming Pride is serves as a fantastic rallying cry for why “pride is activism” and is the perfect watch if you want to feel inspired this month. Plus, it’s a great early showcase for Baby Reindeer breakout Gunning, and what better way to welcome her into our big, queer family?...'

[thishadoscarbuzz]

271 - Portrait of a Lady on Fire (Patreon Selects)

Our Patreon Selects episodes continue this week with a pick from Audrey: the beloved 2019 lesbian romance Portrait of a Lady on Fire. The film launched at the Cannes Film Festival, winning the Best Screenplay prize and skyrocketing director Céline Sciamma to the names of most beloved contemporary directors. However, when the Oscar race began, France instead chose to submit Ladj Ly's Les Misérables for the International Feature race. Sciamma's film still gained feverish fandom on the fall festival circuit and even more critical raves, but ultimately distributor Neon focused its awards campaign energies on fanning the flames of the Parasite moment.

This episode, we talk about the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and Portrait's delayed platform release that got abbreviated by COVID. We also discuss Adèle Haenel's stunning enigmatic performance, the film where Noémie Merlant falls in love with a circus ride, and the case for Claire Mathon in Best Cinematography.

Topics also include Louis Ironson's poster's disease, 2019 films directed by women, and the 2022 Sight and Sound poll.

The 2019 Academy Awards

The 2019 Cannes Film Festival

Vulture Movies Fantasy League

Subscribe:

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[yessadirichards]

'Anatomy of a Fall' wins Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival

CANNES

Justine Triet's “Anatomy of a Fall” won the Palme d'Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in a ceremony Saturday that handed the festival's prestigious top prize to a twisty French Alps courtroom drama.

“Anatomy of a Fall,” which stars Sandra Hüller as a writer trying to prove her innocence in her husband’s death, is only the third film directed by a woman to win the Palme d'Or. One of the two previous winners, Julia Ducournau, was on this year's jury.

Cannes' Grand Prix, its second prize, went to Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest,” a chilling Martin Amis adaptation about a German family living next door to Auschwitz.

The awards were decided by a jury presided over by two-time Palme winner Ruben Östlund, the Swedish director who won the prize last year for “Triangle of Sadness.” The ceremony preceded the festival's closing night film, the Pixar animation “Elemental.”

The jury prize went to Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki’s “Fallen Leaves," a deadpan love story about a romance that blooms in a loveless workaday world where dispatches from the war in Ukraine regularly play on the radio.

Best actor went to veteran Japanese star Koji Yakusho, who plays a reflective, middle-aged Tokyo man who cleans toilets in Wim Wenders' “Perfect Days.” Wenders' film is a gentle, quotidian character study.

The Turkish actor Merve Dizdar took best actress for the Nuri Bilge Ceylan's “About Dry Grasses.” Ceylan's expansive tale is set in snowy eastern Anatolia about a teacher, Samet (Deniz Celiloğlu), accused of misconduct by a young female student. Dizdar plays as a friend both attracted and repelled by Samet.

“The character I portray in the film is someone who is fighting for her life and she's overcome a lot of difficulties. Under normal circumstances, I would have had to work hard on this character,” said Dizdar.

“I understand what it's like to be a woman in this area of the country,” she continued. “I would like to dedicate this prize to all the women who are fighting to exist and overcome difficulties in this world and to retrain hope.”

Vietnamese-French director Tràn Anh Hùng took best director for “Pot-au-Feu," a lush, foodie love story starring Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel and set in a 19th century French gourmet château.

Best screenplay was won by Yuji Sakamoto for “Monster.” Sakamoto penned Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda's nuanced drama, with shifting perspectives, about two boys struggling for acceptance in their school at home. “Monster” also won the Queer Palm, an honor bestowed by journalists for the festival's strongest LGBTQ-themed film.

Quentin Tarantino, who won Cannes' top award for “Pulp Fiction," attended the ceremony to present a tribute to filmmaker Roger Corman. Tarantino praised Corman for filling him and countless moviegoers with “unadulterated cinema pleasure.”

“My cinema is uninhibited, full of excess and fun,” said Corman, the independent film maverick. “I feel like this what Cannes is about.”

The festival's Un Certain Regard section handed out its awards on Friday, giving the top prize to Molly Manning Walker's debut feature, “How to Have Sex.”

Saturday’s ceremony drew to close a Cannes edition that hasn't lacked spectacle, stars or controversy.

The biggest wattage premieres came out of competition. Martin Scorsese debuted his Osage murders epic “Killers of the Flower Moon,” a sprawling vision of American exploitation with Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone. “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” Harrison Ford’s Indy farewell, launched with a tribute to Ford. Wes Anderson premiered “Asteroid City.”

The festival opened on a note of controversy. “Jeanne du Barry,” a period drama co-starring Johnny Depp as Louis XV, played as the opening night film. The premiere marked Depp's highest profile appearance since the conclusion of his explosive trial last year with ex-wife Amber Heard.

The selection of “Jeanne du Barry” added to criticisms of Cannes for being too hospitable to men accused of abusive behavior.

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] From international award winners to new directorial ventures, here are 12 films having their Indian premiere at MAMI Mumbai International Film Festival, being held in Mumbai from October 19-24. Anora Directed by: Sean Baker Cast: Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian Anora is a romantic comedy drama starring Mikey Madison as Ani, an Uzbek-American exotic dancer in Brooklyn who is paid by Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a Russian oligarch, to be his girlfriend. When they run away to Las Vegas, Vanya’s parents find out about their marriage through social media and set their henchmen on the duo’s tail. A chaotic night follows as Ani and Vanya confront their feelings while trying to annul their marriage. Anora won the Palme d’Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Despatch Directed by: Kanu Behl Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Abhishek Bhalerao, Shahana Goswami, Rituparna Sen, Parvati Sehgal In Kanu Behl’s gripping investigative thriller Despatch, Manoj Bajpayee plays a tabloid journalist, Joy Bag, facing a mid-life crisis as digitalisation poses a serious threat to his career. But Joy’s luck changes when he pursues a small-time criminal, leading him into a murky corporate-political conspiracy that could shake the city’s foundations. Ghamasaan Directed by: Tigmanshu Dhulia Cast: Pratik Gandhi, Arshad Warsi, Ishita Dutta, Rajpal Yadav This is the tale of IPS officer Aditya (Pratik Gandhi), who’s known for his integrity but also has the smarts to outwit a treacherous superior and seek justice for his fallen colleagues. Amidst the fear instilled by the ruthless outlaw Maharaj (Arshad Warsi) in Bundelkhand, Aditya struggles to secure support for his team. Equipped with innovative strategies and a team of determined commandos, SSP Aditya takes down the dreaded outlaw. Go Noni Go Directed by: Sonal Dabral Cast: Dimple Kapadia, Ayesha Raza, Manav Kaul Based on Twinkle Khanna’s short story Salaam Noni Appa, Sonal Dabral’s Go Noni Go features Dimple Kapadia and Ayesha Raza as two sisters who are poles apart. The middle-aged Noni (Dimple Kapadia) tastes unexpected happiness when she falls for her yoga teacher, Anand (Manav Kaul). This becomes a bone of contention between her and her carefree sister, Binni (Ayesha Raza), as Noni and Anand’s unconventional romance challenges societal norms and expectations. My Melbourne Directed by: Imtiaz Ali, Kabir Khan, Onir, Rima Das Cast: Arka Das, Ryanna Lawson, Arushi Sharma, Setara Amiri Set in Melbourne, this anthology film presents four stories inspired by true events. In Onir’s Nandini, a queer Indian man, Indraneel (Arka Das), reconnects with his estranged father as they come together for a ceremonial ritual. The film touches upon themes of reconciliation and the strength of forgiveness. In Imtiaz Ali’s Jules, Sakshi (Arushi Sharma), a newly married woman, strikes up a friendship with a homeless person. Rima Das’s Emma follows a gifted deaf dancer (Ryanna Lawson) fighting self-doubt and prejudice until a chance meeting with another deaf dancer reignites her passion. In Kabir Khan’s Setara, a 15-year-old Afghan girl (Setara Amiri) begins to rebuild her life through cricket after escaping the Taliban. Puratawn Directed by: Suman Ghosh Cast: Sharmila Tagpre, Rituparna Sengupta, Indraneil Sengupta Ritika (Ritruparna Sengupta) and her husband Rajeev (Indraneil Sengupta) travel to her family home in West Bengal to celebrate her mother’s (Sharmila Tagore) 80th birthday. Upon arriving, Ritika realises that her mother is not the person she had always known. Although this discovery shocks her at first, Ritika gradually accepts her mother’s condition and the fact that it cannot be changed. The Substance Directed by: Coralie Fargeat Cast: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid This is a satirical body horror film revolving around Elisabeth Sparkle, a once-famous actress who’s been sacked from her TV show due to her age. Elisabeth comes across The Substance, a black market serum that can create a younger version of herself.

This new persona, named Sue, quickly becomes a sensation, but the two bodies must switch every seven days to avoid rapid ageing. Tensions rise between the two versions as they begin to see themselves as separate individuals. The Substance premiered at the 77th Cannes Films Festival where Fargeat won the award for best screenplay. Girls Will Be Girls Directed by: Shuchi Talati Cast: Preeti Panigrahi, Kani Kusruti, Kesav Binoy Kiron Girls Will Be Girls is an Indo-French coming-of-age drama directed and written by Shuchi Talati. It is set in a boarding school in the Himalayan foothills and is woven around the teenage Mira as she deals with her romantic feelings for a charismatic new student and her often tense relationship with her protective mother. Santosh Directed by: Sandhya Suri Cast: Shahana Goswami, Sunita Rajwar, Sanjay Bishnoi, Kushal Dubey Sandhya Suri makes her directorial debut with Santosh, a crime drama which is an international collaboration between the UK, India, Germany and France. Shahana Goswami plays a widow who takes on her late husband’s role as a police constable. Santosh premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. It was also chosen as the UK’s submission for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. The Shameless Directed by: Konstantin Bojanov Cast: Anasuya Sengupta, Omara The Shameless is a crime drama film that premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The plot revolves around Renuka (Anasuya Sengupta), who escapes from a brothel in Delhi after killing a police officer. She finds refuge in a sex workers’ community and begins a relationship with Devika (Omara), a 17-year-old prostitute. Anasuya Sengupta’s performance earned her the Performance Award in the Un Certain Regard category at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The Room Next Door Directed by: Pedro Almodóvar Cast: Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore, John Turturro, Alessandro Nivola The Room Next Door is a Spanish drama directed and written by Pedro Almodóvar, and adapted from Sigrid Nunez’s novel What Are You Going Through. The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Lion. The story follows Ingrid and Martha, once close friends who worked together at a magazine, as they reconnect after many years. Their reunion takes place in a challenging yet unexpectedly tender situation. Blind Spot (Chashma) Directed by: Nitin Baid Cast: Konkona Sensharma, Ayan Khan, Kabir Shah, Shafeen Patel, Shishir Sharma, Vijay Shrivastava Editor Nitin Baid, known for his work in Gully Boy and Masaan, steps into the director’s chair with Blind Spot (Chashma). This short film offers a unique perspective on a young boy’s path to self-discovery and the obstacles he encounters. The trailer of Chashma begins with the boy gradually adjusting his vision, slowly becoming aware of the world around him. As the story unfolds, we follow his journey through school and family dynamics. [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] From international award winners to new directorial ventures, here are 12 films having their Indian premiere at MAMI Mumbai International Film Festival, being held in Mumbai from October 19-24. Anora Directed by: Sean Baker Cast: Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian Anora is a romantic comedy drama starring Mikey Madison as Ani, an Uzbek-American exotic dancer in Brooklyn who is paid by Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a Russian oligarch, to be his girlfriend. When they run away to Las Vegas, Vanya’s parents find out about their marriage through social media and set their henchmen on the duo’s tail. A chaotic night follows as Ani and Vanya confront their feelings while trying to annul their marriage. Anora won the Palme d’Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Despatch Directed by: Kanu Behl Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Abhishek Bhalerao, Shahana Goswami, Rituparna Sen, Parvati Sehgal In Kanu Behl’s gripping investigative thriller Despatch, Manoj Bajpayee plays a tabloid journalist, Joy Bag, facing a mid-life crisis as digitalisation poses a serious threat to his career. But Joy’s luck changes when he pursues a small-time criminal, leading him into a murky corporate-political conspiracy that could shake the city’s foundations. Ghamasaan Directed by: Tigmanshu Dhulia Cast: Pratik Gandhi, Arshad Warsi, Ishita Dutta, Rajpal Yadav This is the tale of IPS officer Aditya (Pratik Gandhi), who’s known for his integrity but also has the smarts to outwit a treacherous superior and seek justice for his fallen colleagues. Amidst the fear instilled by the ruthless outlaw Maharaj (Arshad Warsi) in Bundelkhand, Aditya struggles to secure support for his team. Equipped with innovative strategies and a team of determined commandos, SSP Aditya takes down the dreaded outlaw. Go Noni Go Directed by: Sonal Dabral Cast: Dimple Kapadia, Ayesha Raza, Manav Kaul Based on Twinkle Khanna’s short story Salaam Noni Appa, Sonal Dabral’s Go Noni Go features Dimple Kapadia and Ayesha Raza as two sisters who are poles apart. The middle-aged Noni (Dimple Kapadia) tastes unexpected happiness when she falls for her yoga teacher, Anand (Manav Kaul). This becomes a bone of contention between her and her carefree sister, Binni (Ayesha Raza), as Noni and Anand’s unconventional romance challenges societal norms and expectations. My Melbourne Directed by: Imtiaz Ali, Kabir Khan, Onir, Rima Das Cast: Arka Das, Ryanna Lawson, Arushi Sharma, Setara Amiri Set in Melbourne, this anthology film presents four stories inspired by true events. In Onir’s Nandini, a queer Indian man, Indraneel (Arka Das), reconnects with his estranged father as they come together for a ceremonial ritual. The film touches upon themes of reconciliation and the strength of forgiveness. In Imtiaz Ali’s Jules, Sakshi (Arushi Sharma), a newly married woman, strikes up a friendship with a homeless person. Rima Das’s Emma follows a gifted deaf dancer (Ryanna Lawson) fighting self-doubt and prejudice until a chance meeting with another deaf dancer reignites her passion. In Kabir Khan’s Setara, a 15-year-old Afghan girl (Setara Amiri) begins to rebuild her life through cricket after escaping the Taliban. Puratawn Directed by: Suman Ghosh Cast: Sharmila Tagpre, Rituparna Sengupta, Indraneil Sengupta Ritika (Ritruparna Sengupta) and her husband Rajeev (Indraneil Sengupta) travel to her family home in West Bengal to celebrate her mother’s (Sharmila Tagore) 80th birthday. Upon arriving, Ritika realises that her mother is not the person she had always known. Although this discovery shocks her at first, Ritika gradually accepts her mother’s condition and the fact that it cannot be changed. The Substance Directed by: Coralie Fargeat Cast: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid This is a satirical body horror film revolving around Elisabeth Sparkle, a once-famous actress who’s been sacked from her TV show due to her age. Elisabeth comes across The Substance, a black market serum that can create a younger version of herself.

This new persona, named Sue, quickly becomes a sensation, but the two bodies must switch every seven days to avoid rapid ageing. Tensions rise between the two versions as they begin to see themselves as separate individuals. The Substance premiered at the 77th Cannes Films Festival where Fargeat won the award for best screenplay. Girls Will Be Girls Directed by: Shuchi Talati Cast: Preeti Panigrahi, Kani Kusruti, Kesav Binoy Kiron Girls Will Be Girls is an Indo-French coming-of-age drama directed and written by Shuchi Talati. It is set in a boarding school in the Himalayan foothills and is woven around the teenage Mira as she deals with her romantic feelings for a charismatic new student and her often tense relationship with her protective mother. Santosh Directed by: Sandhya Suri Cast: Shahana Goswami, Sunita Rajwar, Sanjay Bishnoi, Kushal Dubey Sandhya Suri makes her directorial debut with Santosh, a crime drama which is an international collaboration between the UK, India, Germany and France. Shahana Goswami plays a widow who takes on her late husband’s role as a police constable. Santosh premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. It was also chosen as the UK’s submission for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards. The Shameless Directed by: Konstantin Bojanov Cast: Anasuya Sengupta, Omara The Shameless is a crime drama film that premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The plot revolves around Renuka (Anasuya Sengupta), who escapes from a brothel in Delhi after killing a police officer. She finds refuge in a sex workers’ community and begins a relationship with Devika (Omara), a 17-year-old prostitute. Anasuya Sengupta’s performance earned her the Performance Award in the Un Certain Regard category at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. The Room Next Door Directed by: Pedro Almodóvar Cast: Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore, John Turturro, Alessandro Nivola The Room Next Door is a Spanish drama directed and written by Pedro Almodóvar, and adapted from Sigrid Nunez’s novel What Are You Going Through. The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Lion. The story follows Ingrid and Martha, once close friends who worked together at a magazine, as they reconnect after many years. Their reunion takes place in a challenging yet unexpectedly tender situation. Blind Spot (Chashma) Directed by: Nitin Baid Cast: Konkona Sensharma, Ayan Khan, Kabir Shah, Shafeen Patel, Shishir Sharma, Vijay Shrivastava Editor Nitin Baid, known for his work in Gully Boy and Masaan, steps into the director’s chair with Blind Spot (Chashma). This short film offers a unique perspective on a young boy’s path to self-discovery and the obstacles he encounters. The trailer of Chashma begins with the boy gradually adjusting his vision, slowly becoming aware of the world around him. As the story unfolds, we follow his journey through school and family dynamics. [ad_2] Source link