Out In Africa is back for the 17th time in Jozi from 14 to 21 October and in Cape Town from 21 October to 7 November with a programme of 38 films, 7 of them short shorts. They come from Hong Kong, the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Luxembourg, Russia, Italy, Argentina, Peru and Colombia, Australia – and 8 World Premières of South African films. In Jozi it’s back at the Hyde Park Nu Metro, but also downtown at The Bioscope. In Cape Town it’s at the V&A Nu Metro, and in the heart of the city at On Broadway. The beautiful 200 seater located upstairs at 44 Long Street is the Festival’s Foxy.
The variety of films is a sweep around the planet and through time. In the British period drama The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister, based on the real diaries of a landed Yorkshirewoman, you’ll discover that those preposterous long dresses did not get in the way of unabashed lesbian seductions. Clapham Junction, another British production, weaves three stories together: of marriage and infidelity, of cottaging and cruising and the dangers they entail, and of burgeoning sexuality. Rupert Graves and James Wilby star. Both these films are screened for free and priority is given to OIA’s 8333 members. Visit www.oia.co.za for details of how to book.
Two big mainstream productions are by well known filmmakers. Ignorant Fairies director Ferzan Oztepek’s latest feature is Loose Cannons. It’s Italian, stylish and funny, a perfect choice for the Opening Nights.
Lisa Cholodenko made the lesbian classic High Art, had commercial success with Laurel Canyon and directed for both Six Feet Under and The L Word. In The Kids are Alright her stars, Annette Bening and Julianne Moore, are the dykes with kids faced by the unexpected entry of the anonymous sperm donor. The film took the Teddy in February this year.
Canada’s 2009 Oscar© entry, Best Foreign Film, is I Killed My Mother. Writer / Director 21-year old Xavier Dolan, also stars in this extraordinary drama about the gay closeted teen, living with his divorced mother. It’s easier to love your parents than to like them.
Another smart kid on the queer block is Scud with Amphetamine. Set in Hong Kong, it’s about the love between two men which is complicated by class, money and drugs. The cinematography and montage are exquisite, as are the men, and it’s sure to be a Festival favourite.
The international Guest of the Festival has directed 2 past Festival favourites - Slutty Summer and Four Letter Word. Casper Andreas is here to present 2 more films, The Big Gay Musical and Violet Tendencies. Both are camp, cruisy and fun, with great one-liners. The Big Gay Musical has already won a slew of awards at other festivals.
Among the SA films are 2 exciting short narratives. A Kind of Language, based on Sello Duiker’s work and directed by Phybia Dlamini, is well acted and beautifully shot. The Cutter, by Jax Oldfield and Adelheid Reinecke (their film Dykeumentary screened at the Festival last year) is very stylish. The film editor creates a fantasy woman so real, but in the real world she has less control.
Two of the SA documentaries, which show as a double bill, deal with religions’ (non-)acceptance of civil unions. Joan and Verne wanted a Jewish wedding, and Ecclesia de Lange, a Methodist pastor, wanted her church to bless her lesbian union. There will be an interesting panel discussion afterwards with a rabbi, a pastor and an activist who was very involved in the Civil Union lobby.
John Hurt, awarded a Special Teddy for his portrayal, is Quentin Crisp, a stately British Homo on the loose across the pond in An Englishman in New York. OIA is working very hard to get Hurt here to talk about the film.
Two films that require tissues are Undertow and Hannah Free. Undertow, a Peru / Colombia / France / Germany co-production, is a magnificent love story set on the wild, beautiful Peruvian coast. Miguel, a married fisherman with a pregnant wife, falls in love with Santiago, a visiting painter. Beautifully acted, it deals with love and loss, owning up, masculinity and being a man. Hannah Free has already won 6 major awards, one of them for the lead, Sharon Gless (remember Cagney and Lacey?). Light-handed in direction, it’s about love and romance, separation and staying true.
Fit was commissioned by Stonewall’s Education For All initiative to tackle bullying and homophobia in schools. In association with the British Council, OIA will have special screenings of Fit for schools. Interested parties should get in touch with Gillion Bosman on 021 460 6665.
OIA Cape Town parties include the Cin Halloween Party at Lazari’s on Friday 29 October. Powered by Cintron, it is intended to raise funds for CT Pride. 6 Spin Street will host the Festival’s Guest Dinner Party, and the Grand Finale of the Festival will be sundowners for a few hundred of the Festival’s closest friends at Cape Town’s chicest beach hangout, The Grand. In Jozi the US Consulate will host a soirée for over 100 Festival guests. To find out how to become a ‘close friend’, visit www.oia.co.za.
The Festival artwork – prompted by the illegal removal of 700 Festival posters on Cape Town street poles and inspired by horror film titles - is very tongue in cheek and comprises 8 different covers. Look out for them at the cinemas, Exclusive Books, Computicket, in bars and cafes. The OIA website, which has added extras - film trailers and links to other sites - will also have regular updates on changes and additions to the Festival calendar.
The Festival is also sponsored by: Atlantic Philanthropies, The National Lottery, the National Film and Video Foundation, Avis, Nu Metro, The Times, Goethe-Institut, Mo’s Place, Graton Guest House, The Glen, Rutland Lodge, Citrus Lounge and Distell.
