 | And we're off! Eighteen days of LGBTQ+ cinema and conversations - streaming nationally online, at Bay Area drive-ins, in newly reopening cinemas (yes, back at the Castro to close out June) - and memorably in a baseball stadium (hope some of you came to the joyful screenings of In the Heights and Everybody's Talking About Jamie this past weekend). This year's edition of Frameline45 is a bit of a three-ring circus, so to draw your attention to some of my personal highlights, I am happy to provide a little cheat sheet here. I have already enthused about some of these in an article in the S.F. Chronicle, but this list is a bit more robust. Do explore the program - it's very rich! Streaming starts Thursday June 17 and runs through June 27 (in most cases). |
Super docs
This year's selection of documentaries is powerful. I am especially excited about:
 | Instructions for Survival I am in awe of the access and intimacy the filmmaker gained to the private world of a couple living in the (former Soviet) Republic of Georgia, who must live clandestinely because one of them is transgender. This is quiet, devastatingly powerful observational filmmaking. Take a chance with this one, I know that the description and available imagery (purposefully muted to protect the subjects' safety) make this a hard sell, but I strongly recommend it. |
 | Truman and Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation A literary tango - the rivalry and friendship of these two queer giants of American letters come to life through their own words. The voiceover performances by Zachary Quinto (as Tennessee Williams) and Jim Parsons (as Truman Capote) are also superb. FYI streaming on this one ends 6/24. |
 | Rebel Dykes This raucous, eye-opening account of the formation of transgressive dyke culture in the UK in the 1980's is inventively and joyfully told. Also check out the Frameline Talks: Queer Legacies conversation with the makers of this and other queer historical docs in the festival, moderated by Gerard Koskovich, which is also revelatory. |
 | Fanny: The Right to Rock If you missed the drive-in last week, you still have a chance to enjoy the wild ride of this all-women rock band of the 70's -- more than that: Filipina, queer women rock band -- who were way ahead of their time and whose musicianship and songwriting were woefully overlooked by a culture that didn't take them seriously, because they didn't fit the straight white male image of rock music. Long live Fanny! |
 | Prognosis: Notes on Living The beloved and fierce queer activist and filmmaker Debra Chasnoff made this last film about her own battle with cancer. Powerful, honest, inspiring and true. This is a world premiere, and is offered as a free screening at specific times: June 19 at 4p PDT,. and June 26 at 4p PDT. |
 | Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D- Man in the Waters For dance lovers and doc lovers alike, this moving film not only traces the origins (and stunning artistry) of choreographer Bill T. Jones' signature work made 30+ years ago in response to the trauma of AIDS, but demonstrates how it retains its power even today. We'll have a panel inspired by the film too, featuring the Bay Area's amazing Rhodessa Jones (happens to be Bill's sister) and moderated by journalist (and dear friend) Laura Sydell. |
Dramarama
 | Language Lessons Don't let the weird image of Mark Duplass and Natalie Morales fool you - there is humor, pathos and heart in this remarkable debut feature about a friendship that develops online - you won't find a truer expression of the year we have just been through. |
 | Swan Song A don't miss for Udo Kier's tour-de-force turn as the "Liberace of Sandusky, Ohio," this is a touching but wickedly pointed comedy. |
 | Nico One of the little gems of the festival, this debut comic-dramatic feature by an all-women team of writers-directors-leads manages to confront issues of xenophobia and racism with a surprisingly light touch. And a panel (moderated by yours truly) will go deeper into films that try to confront hate by humanizing "the other." |
 | Firebird Enjoy the North American premiere of this Cold War drama, based on a true story and set in the oppressive atmosphere of the Soviet Air Force, where an impossible love affair between two men unfolds. Special treat: in addition to its streaming presentation, we are showing this at the Castro Theatre on June 27 with the director and two leads in person! |
 | Potato Dreams of America With the quirky dark humor of a Wes Anderson film, another Wes (Hurley) wrote and directed this wonderfully oddball story based on his own experiences growing up a closeted boy in Russia and moving to the US when his mother became a mail-order bride. Showing both at a drive-in this week AND streaming. |
Short stack
 | There are 12 shorts programs this year, offering some wonderful discoveries. The three that I primarily programmed include Fun in Shorts (self-explanatory ... streaming and at the Castro), Encounters (five sexy/steamy/romantic international shorts across the LGBTQ+ spectrum), and Departures, six terrific dramas from around the world. And in a move toward inclusivity, this year we have chosen not to segregate L from G from B from T in most of our shorts programs. |
Of course with 50+ film programs and 11 talks I won't touch on everything here, so if you're curious about other offerings in the festival feel free to reach out with questions. Enjoy the ride at Frameline45!
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