Genres: queer
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Angst
The story of the exquisite torture suffered by high school students on a daily basis. Our hero is both sullen and gay. He feels isolated and alienated but he is not alone – they’re all caught up in a big daisy chain of unrequited love and teen trauma.
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Death Of A Bathhouse
Combining footage from the final days of St. Marc’s Spa with interviews from Toronto artists Sky Gilbert, Keith Cole, Brad Fraser, Drasko Bogdanovic and Shane MacKinnon, The Reading Salon looks at one of Toronto’s longest running bathhouses through the lens of the artist.
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G/R/E/A/S/E
What the hell is G/R/E/A/S/E? … a handmade décollage film / Vinyl and Celluloid Party / the last piece of the “Film Quartet” trilogy [with FILM QUARTET / POLYFRAME (2006-2008) & KINOSTURM KUBELKA / 16 variaciones (2009)] / a deconstruction / Sandy / Danny / Sanny / Dandy / … both faces at the same frame? / […] ? […] / A new (sub)versions film… all from the original Grease (1978) / a Re-Play [to – with] Grease? / A Musical? / Found Footage Film ? Appropriationism / Experimental Cinema must be serious only? / Inspired by Dziga Vertov, Mimmo…
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Dream Filip
In this filmic portrait, artist Filip Olszewski dreams, dances, and dreams of dancing. He moves amongst sheer fabric, candlelight, smoke and makeshift altars to a cover of the song “Dream Weaver” (sung by the filmmaker). Inspired by Filip’s performance art, the video attempts to reconcile feelings of euphoria experienced when dancing with the pain of being earth-bound. The video and song are gifts of friendship.
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Talking to my Mother
Talking to my Mother is a 17 minute film about love, acceptance, and missed opportunities. It tells the story of a young man trapped in a culture clash where traditions stunt his quest for personal happiness. The film explores the complicated relationships between Michael, a second generation Chinese American man, his mother, Mrs. Yue and Julianne, his girlfriend of two years, to whom he plans to propose. After a twist of fate, Julianne accidentally discovers Michael’s secret. One that would change their lives forever. Will Michael be able to face the truth with his loved ones – and most importantly,…
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ub2
Listings on gay dating websites increasingly specify that the poster is “clean” or “disease-free” and requests of his potential matches, “ub2” (internet-speak for “you be, too”). Of course, people are free to specify anything that’s important to them, but how does the choice of these words impact the HIV+ men who read them? What image does it give of our community? Do words matter?
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Trans Lives Matter! Justice for Islan Nettles
A powerful and intensely moving document of a community vigil for Islan Nettles, a transgender Womyn of Colour, concerning her spirit and life. Because the personal is political. Because the brutal and increasing attacks on Trans Womyn of Color are outrageous and their victimization causes outrage. Because healing and action tighten our fists and boom our voices. Islan’s murder was a hate crime, she was only 21. Her vigil was held at Jackie Robinson Park in Harlem, steps away from where she was murdered. This endeavour captured the love and support that the community brought to sustain each other and…
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Seeker Wing
One person makes the long and difficult journey towards finding their own beauty. In trying to mimic the beauty of others around them, they repeatedly fail at their attempts to be something they’re not. Only when they muster the courage to look inward, do they find what they were looking for all along.
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Bikini
What happens if after a decade you return to the same beach – only to find that you never left? You look around and see the same waves of bodies and boys, the same sky, the same open sea… the same feeling of dread. Bikini is an atomic beach party film – a reaction to dating apps, body issues, and a fear the sun. It’s a world where even the dreamer can’t catch a break, let alone a wave. We’re all at odds with “the muscles”, and everyone has an opinion about what to live for. The men keep rolling…
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Epilogue
Epilogue: a section or speech at the end of a book or play that serves as a comment on or a conclusion to what has happened. A trip to bury my grandmother’s ashes results in an unearthing of things long obscured by time. Imbued with unanswered questions from the Lion series, Epilogue continues the biographical inquiry of The Weight of Snow and chronicles the aftermath of a dying matriarch and a family navigating cohesion.
