Ausente (Marco Berger, 2010) // 16th Lesgaicinemad 2011

 

This year 2011 is the 16th Lesgaicinemad in Madrid, Spain. Offering the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in Madrid. The Festival will run from 03 of November till the 13th of November.

One of the line up of the festival is the film of Marco Berger’s Ausente (Absent).

The film won the Teddy Award last february. This film is on the competition for the feature length film.

 

The film is about Martin, a 16 year old student who partitipated in the swimming class of the school. He had an eye to his professor. At the end of the day he makes excuses only his desire to go home with his professor. At the end as Martin lied about nobody was home and no one to sleep that night, finally his professor invited him to stay over night at his house. Martin tried to seduce his professor because he wanted that something will happen to them.

The film’s burden on the character is about the student on how is is capable to do make decision to be with the adult at the risk of the Student-Professor relationship.

 

A film that will not surely missed-. Excellent — Box of Recollections ‘ 11

You can check my previous review this year.: AUSENTE, MARCO BERGER

Amnesia : The James Brighton Enigma (Dennis Langlois, 2006)

 

Original Title : Amnësie: L´Enigme James Brighton
Directed by Dennis Langlois

Cast: Dusan Dukic, L. Kalo Gow, Norman Helms, Julian Casey

One minute of the film gives you some flashbacks of what happened the previous night but all you can see is all shadows and you couldn’t put all the puzzle to solve. This is the story of a man. One autumn morning, a guy woke up naked in a slum area in Montreal. He doesn’t remember anything what happened that night.The only thing he knew was he was gay. He called an SOS gay hotline to help him. Then he stayed in a flat of one volunteer. He friends an old lady as if the lady reminds him as her son. Little by little flashbacks came to his senses as he claims to be James Brighton (lets see later why).

As the story began to put into pieces. He was on the national television telling his stories. And soon his identity reveals that he was Michael Honeycutt from the USA. A small town where he grew up with his family and a brother who is a preacher. James Brighton was a guy whom he had met from his escape going to Montreal that time. At the end he was reunited with his family.

–

As this was based on original events. It is really hard to have an anmesia as if you dont know everything and start from zero. How could this be if it happens to you? Doubt? Would you go back to the reality or try to adopt the new one? It’s up to you to choose. This movie won some international awards. The actor Dusan Dukic gave an impressive performance.

 

Ausente (Marco Berger, 2010) // Teddy Awards 2011

Last February 18, the night before the Berlinale Awards, celebrated another Gala for the prestigious Teddy Awards to prize the GLBT films of 2011. The best feature film this year went to Marco Berger’s Film AUSENTE (Absent).

Last year winner was Lisa Cholodenko for her film The Kids Are All Right and now nominated for Oscars 2011.

The film Ausente by Marco Berger is all about the relationship between the student and his professer, 16 years old boy name Martin in his swimming class and his professor Sebastian. It’s not about the professor who is race with the student now its reverse. It’s about Martin who wanted to seduce his professor.

One time Martin had this accident and Sebastian was the one who brought him to hospital. That time Martin had already plan in mind to stay overnight in his Sebastian’s apartment. Until his plan works.

As the Director Marco said that his film is all about the risk of the relationship between the Professor and the Student. The objective of the film is to analyze the nature of desire and the way in which an adult will react into this situation, the intention is not to punish but to understand without any taboo.

Here are the complete Teddy Award Winners 2011

Best Feature Film – “Ausente” by Marco Berger
Best Documentary – “The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye” by Marie Losier
Best Short Film – “Generations” by Barbara Hammer and Gina Carducci and “Maya Deren’s Sink” by Barbara Hammer
Jury Prize – “Tomboy” by Celine Sciamma
Special Teddy Awards:  South African drag performer and HIV/AIDS activist Pieter-Dirk Uys and recently deceased New German Cinema director Werner Schroeter

Goya Awards 2011 Winners (Spanish Film Academy Awards)

Last night February 13, the gala for Spanish Goya Awards was held in Teatro Real near the Royal Palace. Early at 7pm the actress, actors, production,nominees walked down the red carpet. Pre gala where known actors and actresses in Spanish and International Cinema had their photocall.

(Francesc Colomer and Marina Comas)

Last night Best Picture was given to : PA NEGRE (Pan Negro) Black Bread from the director Agusti Villaronga ( film in Catalan Language). Competing with the best picture were, Balada Triste de Trompeta by Alex de la Iglesia, Buried by Rodrigo Cortes and Tambien La Lluvia by Iciar Bollain.

(Agusti Villaronga in his Goya)

Pa Negre got the 9 awards.

• Best Film : Pa Negre
• Best Director: Augusti Villaronga
• Best Adapted Screenplay : Augusti Villaronga
• Best New Actor : Francesc Colomer
• Best Actress: Nora Navas
• Best Supporting Actress: Laia Marull
• Best New Actress: Marina Comas
• Best Photography
• Best Art Direction

(Javier Bardem: Best Actor, Biutiful)

Loose Cannons (Ferzan Ozpetek, 2010),Premiere Night Madrid

Last December 21, 2010. It was the premiere of the film Loose Cannons by Ferzan Ozpetek in Madrid. So i was there and got the free Premiere Ticket.

Ferzan Ozpetek and me in the Premiere. I got an autograph and a dvd of his film Turkish Bath signed.

Ben and Ferzan in the Premiere.

One of the Rojas and Rodriguez guy flamenco attended the premiere too.

The premiere was packed with people from the movie industry, magazine, and other medias.

Oscar Alcantara of FAMA and me in the Premiere as well.

Golden Globes Award 2011

 

The Golden Globe Awards last night Jan 16. 2011 giving awards to Film and Television. And a Pre film for the Oscar Race.

Here are the winner:

Best Motion Picture – Drama
“The Social Network”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Natalie Portman, “Black Swan”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Colin Firth, “The King’s Speech”

Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
“The Kids Are All Right”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Annette Bening, “The Kids Are All Right”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
Paul Giamatti, “Barney’s Version”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Melissa Leo, “The Fighter”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Christian Bale, “The Fighter”

Best Director – Motion Picture
David Fincher, “The Social Network”

Best Television Series – Drama
“Boardwalk Empire”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical
Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”

Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical
“Glee”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Chris Colfer, “Glee”

Best Foreign Language Film
“In a Better World,” Denmark

Seems that The Social Network is running for the Oscar race and nod for the 3 awards in the Golden Globes!

 

Loose Cannons (Ferzan Ozpetek, 2010)

Loose Cannons ; 0riginal title : Mine Vaganti (italian); Tengo Algo Que Deciros (spanish)in English title of the new film release by the director Ferzan Ozpetek ( Turkish Bath, Il Hada Ignoranti, Facing Windows and Contra Saturno). The film which was presented in the 60th Berlin Film Festival Panorama. Also winner of 2 David Di Donatello in Italy awards and won the Special Mention in Tribeca Film Festival.

It’s all about Tommaso and his coming out to his family and doing this so have his opportunity in the coming family dinner where his father will transfer the rights to manage their factory of pasta. The Cantone Family are known for their Pasta.

Tommaso lives in Rome and wanted to be a writer. He went back to his town in south for the family dinner and to deal with his family. Later his plan to come out had shared with his older brother. At the time of the dinner he didn’t expect that his brother would comes out first and all his plans are devastated.

Tommaso later on took charge of the Cantone pasta while is brother was thrown away from the house. His life in Rome was then faded away. One day he was visited with his friends and his boyfriend. The family conflict and indifferent way makes the film a comedy drama, each one has character one way or another. Lovely Grandmother that knows each ones secret is happy sweetfully.

A praise for the film ” A touching and bittersweet comedy drama with a wicked tongue and a heart of gold”.

Tagline. Some Family secrets are best kept in the closet!

Directed by Ferzan Ozpetek

Cast : Riccardo Scamarcio,Nicole Grimaudo,Alessandro Preziosi,Ennio Fantastichini

15th Lesgaicinemad Winners 2010

JURY AWARDS

 ”Children of God” is a story of love, homophobia and acceptance of one’s self set in the island paradise of the Bahamas. Won this year Best Feature Film Length in this year 15th Lesgaicinemad 2010.

La pelicula Children of God, gano este año en la Mejor Largometraje en este festival de 15th Lesgaicinemad 2010 celebrado en Madrid.
FICTION:

- Best Script: “CHILDREN OF GOD” de Kareem Mortimer
- Best Actor: DANIEL BROCKLEBANK (“RELEASE”)
- Best Actress: MARÍA BREA Y MERCEDES DEL CASTILLO (“INERTES”)
- Best Director: “CHILDREN OF GOD” de Kareem Mortimer
- Best Feature. Premio Leopoldo Alas: “CHILDREN OF GOD” de Kareem Mortimer
- Best Video Art; “PERFECT DAY” de Juanma Carrillo y Félix Fernández
- Best Shortfilm: “TIDEN IMELLOM” de Henrik Martin

DOCUMENTARIES:

- Best Documentary Short: “OUR COMPASS” de Tess Vo
- Best Documentary Feature: “I SHOT MY LOVE” de Tomer Heymann
- Best Documentary Director: “I SHOT MY LOVE” de Tomer Heymann

SPANISH SECTION:

- Best Spanish Directorl: EUSEBIO PASTRANA (“INERTES”)
- Best Spanish Documentary: “GERRILLER@S” de Montse Pujantell
- Best Spanish Shortfilm: “NUBES” de Francisco Boira
- Best Spanish Film: “INERTES” de Eusebio Pastrana

15th Lesgaicinemad 2010

15th Festival Internacional de Cine Lesbico Gai y Transexual in Madrid is again this year 2010 ! The 15th Gay and Lesbian film festival had already their line ups this coming Oct 28, 2010 to Nov 7, 2010. For more than 105 films, from Feature length films, Short Films and Documentaries.

Your favourite Festival introduces you to more than 100 films premiering in Madrid in their website so you can plan your route through the biggest LGBT cultural event in a Spanish spoken country.

Here are some of the film Features:

The Zombie, Amphetamine,Bear City, Children of God, Des/esperando, Homme au Bain,“Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay!” , Release and Violet Tendencies

This year the festival will give award to the director Sigfrid Monleon. His directorial films are La Bicicleta and this year El consul de sodoma with Jordi Molla playing the character of Jaime Gil de Biedma and got nominations in Goya Awards.

(photo still from ” El Consul de Sodoma” played by Jordi Molla)

Have time to look at the line up and you can download the program in the website. Links and Logos are on the right side where you can check it online. You can watch also in Youtube some of the trailers.

Hope you enjoy it!! More news to come!

Festival de la Luna in Valencia,Spain

From 20 to September 26, Valencia will host the International Film Festival Gay and Lesbian in the Valencia Region, known as Moon Festival.

Through cinema, Valencia reach all feelings and emotions about gays and lesbians from all over the planet. Finally, the best films ‘LGBT’ present international will be released in our city, between 20 and 26 September in the MuVIM, the Museu Valencià i la Modernitat Il.lustració, located on Calle Quevedo, No 10.

Thirty movies, feature films and shorts, will form the spectacular program prepared for this first edition of Moon Festival – International Film Festival Gay and Lesbian Comunitat Valenciana. Cult directors, actors and actresses popular with young talent, propose a varied range of frames related to gays and lesbians from the perspective of each author in particular films that surprise you with their technical and interpretive quality.

(Ang Lihim ni Antonio, Antonio’s Secret : Joselito Altarejos, Philippines)

Over seven days, submit the contest big productions, films of recent creation, not commercially released in Spain, which would otherwise not be seen in the Valencia Region, which has become a meeting point for people of very different origins and stories that will touch and entertain in equal measure.

( Eating Out: All You Can Eat: Glenn Gaylord, USA)

This film is a festival of ‘LGBT’ open to everyone. Through the film, the festival aims to promote respect for diversity in society affective. Will accommodate all genres, drama, suspense, action, fantasy or comedy. For all ages. Selected films choose to get the awards for ‘Best film’, ‘Best Short Film’, ‘Best Screenplay’, ‘Best Actress’ and ‘Best Actor’. Germany, Philippines, USA, UK, Mexico, Italy, Brazil, Portugal, France and Israel, are the participating countries.

(Were the World Mine : Tom Gustafson, USA)

Through its programming, full of outstanding films, the International Festival of Gay and Lesbian of Valencia undoubtedly appeal to a wide audience with titles such as’ Eating Out: All you can eat ‘, Glenn Gaylord,’ Were the World Mine ‘by Tom Gustafson,’ Make the yuletide gay ‘by Rob Williams,’ Mr. Right ‘by Jacqui Morris,’ Antonio’s Secret ‘by Joselito Altarejos,’ Ai-Mei ‘by Monika Treut,’ Redwoods’ by David Lewis, “Burn the ships’ by Francisco Franco, or ‘Butch Jamie ‘by Michelle Ehlen, among other films, all central to the rainbow film of the moment.

For more info : Festival De la Luna

news excerpt from: vivirvalencia