Juchitan
Queer Paradise
Dir. Patricio Enriquez
(Canada / Mexico, 2003, Documentary, English, 65 min.)
A fascinating portrait of Juchitan, a small Mexican city near the Guatemalan border where homosexuality is fully accepted; gays are simply a third gender. If a boy shows a predisposition to homosexuality his family will rejoice and be thankful for receiving what is considered a blessing. In Juchitan a man who wants to be a woman only has to dress like a woman to be considered and treated as a woman by the entire community. The film profiles three gay people: a teacher, a hairdresser and a shop owner.
Dixie
Queen
Dir. Miles Christian Daniels
(USA, 2004, Documentary, English, 47 min.)
The life of a Southern drag queen isn't all wine and roses (just ask Wilmington, NC's own Tara Nicole). Stereotypes of Southern hospitality and redneck homophobia meet in this very revealing exploration of a small-town farm boy who¹s grown up to become the "Bitch Goddess of the Port City." Through fabulous drag performances and interviews with family, friends, and fellow Southern drag queens like The Lady Bunny, Dixie Queen reveals gay life and culture in the South.
I Am Who
I Am (Yo Soy Así)
Dir. Joui Turandot
(Chile, 2004, Documentary, English Subtitles, 69 min.)
While legal freedoms for transgender persons have been granted in many countries, it's important to remember that transphobia persists around the globe. This film takes place in Chile and is the story of Karina, a transgender woman who talks about her struggles in becoming and being a man in a culture of machismo and homophobia. Despite her struggles and with the support of her straight partner, Karina emerges as a powerful and independent individual.
In
Any House (En Cualquier Casa)
Dir. Luis Ulloa
(USA /Mexico, 2003, Fiction, English & Spanish, 13 min.)
A Mexican immigrant discovers his son's secret when unexpectedly one day he returns home earlier and finds his young son in bed having sex with another boy. Both, father and son, react badly, but after some time, they start to talk again and things seem to go back to normal in the relationship.
One Man
Show: A Musical Documentary
Dir. Ira Rosensweig
(USA, 2004, Documentary, English, 74 min.)
The once-struggling gay Puerto Rican performance artist John Falco, went from near poverty to overnight poshness when he won the New York State Lottery in 1999. This film explores the life of the charismatic new multi-millionaire who tells his story through interviews and a live performance of his own long-gestating one-man show, finally made possible by the lottery winnings.
Laughing
Matters
Dir. Andrea Meyerson
(USA, 2003, Documentary, English, 59 min.)
Kate Clinton, Marga Gomez, Suzanne Westenhoefer, and Karen Williams: these four funny ladies have been dazzling audiences for years, and this entertaining film shines the spotlight on their backgrounds, lives, and humor as openly lesbian comedians. In an effortless mix of one-on-one interviews and performance footage, the film details how these very different women navigated the traditionally sexist and homophobic comedy circuit to become the successes they are today. Their hilarious stories and wry commentaries on modern lesbian life are sure to keep you laughing throughout the screening.
On the
Down Low
Dir. Tadeo Garcia
(USA, 2004. Fiction, English with Spanish Subtitles, 90 min.)
An uncommonly powerful and affecting look at life in the hood. This explosive feature debut reveals the tragic consequences of secrets and lies for two young Latino men involved in South-side Chicago's gang-life. When Isaac brings Angel into his circle, they keep two important details from the rest of the gang Angel used to run with a rival group, and Isaac and Angel are having a sexual relationship. Secrets aren't tolerated in their world, and they lead to violence and tragedy for all persons involved.
Rosa Negra
Dir. Viva Ruiz
(USA, 2003, Fiction, English Subtitles, 14 min.)
A Brooklyn
queer-ass telenovela filmed in classic soap opera style, where Univision
meets SSL (Spanish as a Second Language). Rosa Luiz Santiago de Jesus
is a young Latina woman of indiscriminate sexual preference searching
for true love and working nude in a job.
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