The 24th annual INSIDE OUT Film Festival runs in Toronto from Thursday, May 22, 2014 through Sunday, June 1, 2014. I was fortunate enough to preview some of this year’s Marquee Titles and want to tell you all about ’em!
THE NORMAL HEART
Many eyes will be on this exciting new HBO Film Adaptation of the TONY Award-winning Stageplay of the same name. Directed by American Horror Story and Glee Creator Ryan Murphy, the Drama is set in New York City, in the early ’80s at the onset of the AIDS epidemic – a time when many turned a blind eye to its seriousness.
At the center of it all is AIDS Activist Ned Weeks (Mark Ruffalo) in one of his most compelling performances to date. His passionate relationship with Lover Felix Turner (played beautifully by Matt Bomer) is the heart and soul of the Story, succumbing tragically too to the Disease. Julia Roberts as a wheelchair-bound Doctor Emma Brookner, is phenomenal in her plea to raise awareness of the far-reaching effects of the Disease not just as a “Gay Cancer”. Particularly memorable too is a poignant performance by Joe Mantello as Mickey Marcus in one pivotal moment in the Film.
We witness the internal struggles of this Activist Group, hindered by the pressures of having to deal with the spotlight in times when AIDS stigma was epidemic as the Disease itself. At moments its Screenplay restricted by the confines of the Small Screen, the Film manages to leave a lasting impression based on the strength of its performances. A definite major player this forthcoming Awards Season.
Friday, May 23, 2014 at TIFF BELL LIGHT BOX, 9:00 PM
THE DOG
Perhaps my favourite Film of the Festival, this Documentary centers around infamous gay New York Bank Robber John Wojtowicz, on whom the 1975 Film starring Al Pacino, Dog Day Afternoon was based. The unlikeliest of Heroes, Wojtowicz had robbed a bank brazenly in hopes of funding his Lover’s Sex Change.
Directors Alison Berg and Frank Keraudren takes ten years’ worth of footage and interviews with the Subject himself, his endearing Mother, Ex-Wife and multiple Lovers, painting a Portrait of a Man whose wrong choices would go on to change his life forever. We learn all about his ordeal in prison, what life was like leading-up to his 2006 death after a battle with Cancer. Although unconventional, Wojtowicz was ahead of his time in his unwavering stance on Gay Rights, inspiring others who felt marginalized and powerless.
And you’ll never believe what happened after his Lover’s Sex Change…
Saturday, May 31, 2014 at TIFF BELL LIGHT BOX, 4:00 PM
I ALWAYS SAID YES: THE MANY LIVES OF WAKEFIELD POOLE
How does a sweet, young Jacksonville Boy with the voice of an Angel and on the verge of Broadway Stardom, wind-up going-on to create some of the most iconic Gay Porn Films of all time? This Documentary, directed by Jim Tushinski, gives us an in-depth look at the rise of a fascinating Man of many talents, his struggles, disappointments and a behind-the-scenes look at how with little budget – even using his own apartment as a studio space, he would helm acclaimed and pioneering Films like Boys in the Sand and Bijou. Through candid interviews from others close to affected by his work, we learn about Poole and his bittersweet road to finding contentment.
Anyone who’s ever struggled in making their dream a reality will identify with some of the sentiments explored here in this well-made exploration of a Man who would go on to leave an indelible mark on the face of Gay Culture.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at TIFF Lightbox Cinema, 5:15 PM
MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE
Beyond the news reports and 2002 Biographical Film (The Laramie Project) made about Matthew Shepard, but what really do we know about one of the most talked about Gay Public Figures of all time, whose impact posthumously would change the conversation about Gay Rights forever?
This Documentary made by Shepard‘s Friend Michele Josue and narrated by her also, hits home with touching, candid interviews with his Family and Friends. We learn about Shepard‘s own fears in coming to terms with his own sexuality – a revelation tragically which led eventually to his torture and murder. Josue gives us a deeply humanistic perspective to Shepard which ultimately makes us feel as though we knew him too.
Why would she revisit something so painful? “Guilt. Confusion for not being there. If the World knows our Matt – the real Matt – I know it wouldn’t be able to let him go either”, Josue says in her narration. A beautiful Piece which answers several questions many of us have long wanted to know.
Saturday, May 24, 2014 at TIFF Lightbox Cinema, 1:30 PM
It’s still not too late to order Tickets for this year’s Festival!
Click here to #SEEFORYOURSELF ticket availabilities and to order online!
(Photo credit: HBO)
Now in its 24th year, the Inside Out Festival is set to take place in Toronto later this month. The Launch Party for the annual Fixture was held at The Burroughes Building tonight on Queen Street West, bringing together a Who’s-Who in the Toronto LGBT Community. Inside Out is expected to draw 35k people out to its Screenings, Panels, Installations, Artist Discussions and more and is known widely as one of the top five LGBT Film Festivals in the World. Over 200 Movies and Videos are expected to be screened this year.
Receiving much attention is Director Ira Sach‘s Love is Strange, which stars a stellar Cast including John Lithgow, Alfred Molina, Marisa Tomei and more, centering around two Men who decide to tie the knot. Things go awry when one of them loses his job when their marriage is uncovered and soon they lose their home, forcing them to live separately. The Film has the distinction of being the Festival’s Centerpiece Gala.
Many will be thrilled that HBO‘s AIDS Drama A Normal Heart starring Matt Bomer, Taylor Kitsch, Jim Parsons, Mark Ruffalo, Alfred Molina and Julia Roberts. Bomer, known best for his work on Series White Collar, is confirmed to be in attendance to present the Film at the Festival.
The Way He Looks from Brazil, earns the spot of Opening Night Gala. The Award-winning Film from Director Daniel Ribeiro is about a blind Teen Boy struggling to break free from his protective Family and Friends.
Many eyes also will be on Yves Saint Laurent, the Biopic about the revered French Fashion Designer. The Film was just added to Inside Out‘s Lineup.
Documentary The Dog offers insight on John Wojtowicz, who attempted to rob a Brooklyn bank in order to fund his Male Lover’s Sex Change, is garnering a significant amount of buzz, as is Matthew Shepard is a Friend of Mine, exploring further the tragic death a Male Student attacked and tortured because he was gay.
Acclaimed Tom at the Farm by Auteur Filmmaker/Actor Xavier Dolan, a major presence at the Canadian Screen Awards earlier this year, also will be screened at the Inside Out Festival.
Inside Out runs between Thursday, May 22, 2014 through Sunday, June 1, 2014. Tickets are on sale Thursday, May 8, 2014.
More details here on how to get Tickets and the official Festival Schedule.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
54 Feature Films. 116 Short Films. 31 Countries. Two World Premieres. Five International Premieres. 27 Canadian Premieres. 27 Canadian Premieres. Four Toronto Premieres. These are the key numbers for the 23rd annual Inside Out Festival, Toronto’s official LGBT Film Festival.
It was just announced that Steven Soderbergh‘s eagerly-awaited Behind the Candelabra will receive a Special Presentation at the Festival, premiering simultaneously with HBO Canada‘s live broadcast of the Film. The Drama, based on the relationship of Entertainer Liberace (Michael Douglas) and his younger Lover Scott Thorson (Matt Damon), competes in-competition at the Cannes Film Festival this May also. The free Screening takes place Sunday, May 26, 2013, 9:00 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox.
James Franco‘s presence even will be felt with his and Travis Matthew‘s Film Interior. Leather Bar. getting a Premiere here. The Film re-imagines 40 minutes of cut footage from the 1980 William Friedkin Film CRUISING (starring Al Pacino), done to avoid an X rating back then.
C.O.G. based on a semi-autobiographical Essay by David Sedaris, stars Broadway and Glee Star Jonathan Groff as a Yale University Graduate traveling across America on the road to Self-Discovery.
Closing the Festival is Alice Walker: Beauty in Truth, which is about legendary Writer Alice Walker featuring Interviews with Sapphire, Sonia Sanchez, Gloria Steinem, Yoko Ono, Steven Spielberg and Danny Glover.
Inside Out runs Thursday, May 23 through Sunday, June 2, 2013.
Click here for a full Schedule and Film Descriptions.
(Photo credit: HBO)
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