September 11, 2023
Check Out These Don't-Miss Movies at Out on Film, Atlanta's LGBTQ+ Festival
READ TIME: 11 MIN.
Out on Film is Atlanta's acclaimed, Oscar-qualifying LGBTQ+ film festival. This year's fest – Out on Film's 36th – runs Sept. 21 - Oct. 1, and offers a slate of features, shorts, and documentaries, including the U.S. Premiere of Eduardo Aquino's "A Big Gay Hairy Hit! Where The Bears Are: The Documentary," as well as Timothy Harris's "Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn," a documentary about how Kenyatta, a "poor gay Black man from North Philly" took on an entrenched political system that has seen Pennsylvania only ever send straight white men to Congress; Madeleine Lim's documentary "Jewelle: A Just Vision," about the lifetime commitment by writer and activist Jewelle Gomez to equality and civil rights; and Jason Karman's charming debut feature, "Golden Delicious," a coming of age drama that sees a gay teenager joining his school's basketball team – not to fulfill his father's athletic aspirations for him, but to get to know the new boy next door.
Other festival standouts include the premiere of the gay thriller "Birder," about a man who turns his gaze on the gay revelers of a nude campground in New Hampshire; "All the Colors of the World Are Between Black and White," about two young men in Lagos who must walk a fine line between celebrating themselves, and each other, and drawing potentially deadly violence to themselves; Zeno Graton's "The Lost Boys," about two teens falling in love in juvenile detention; and "Chasing Chasing Amy," Sav Rodgers' documentary about the Kevin Smith movie that, whatever its problematic issues might be, gave the transgender filmmaker his first glimpse at LGBTQ+ representation.
All told, this year's festival includes 151 films, with 44 features and 15 shorts programs.
"I am impressed and excited at the programming we have this year for our 36th anniversary," Out on Film Festival Director Jim Farmer says. "We have a wonderful combination of films from around the world, as well as from our amazing city of Atlanta, including two blocks of Atlanta-centric short films."
As an added attraction, "This year's festival will include its annual Queer Horror Night on Friday, Sept. 29 and a reading from the winner of Out On Film's annual screenplay competition," the festival's press release promises.
For information on purchasing passes, tickets, and additional details on Out on Film, please go to outonfilm.org.
Twelve Films Not to Miss at Out on Film
1. Opening Night Selection: "Our Son"
Out actors Billy Porter and Luke Evans star as a married couple contemplating a divorce, and what that will mean to their seven-year-old son, in Bill Oliver's gay family drama – a powerful movie that's drawn comparisons to the classic film "Kramer vs. Kramer."
Screening: Thu, Sep 21st, 7:00 PM @ Landmark Midtown Art Cinema
2. "Mutt"
When Feña, a transman, and his ex, John, meet unexpectedly, their unresolved relationship sparks back to life – just as Feña is dealing with his estranged mother, needy little sister, and a visit from his father, who has no understanding about who Feña is and what he needs. The film wraps humor around pain and tenderness in a refreshing twist on the coming-of-age genre..
Screening: Sun, Oct 1st, 5:15 PM @ Out Front Theatre Company
3. "Kenyatta: Do Not Wait Your Turn"
Timothy Harris' documentary – executive produced by Al Roker of NBC's "Today" – follows Malcolm Kenyatta, an out candidate for the United States Senate, who rose from his origins as "poor, Black, and gay kid from North Philly" to representative for the marginalized – and a challenge to longstanding notions of "electability," being a Black candidate in a state that has only ever sent straight white men to the Senate.
Screening: Sat, Sep 30th, 12:00 PM @ Landmark Midtown Art Cinema. Or stream online.
Transgender filmmaker Sav Rodgers was obsessed with the Kevin Smith movie "Chasing Amy" since his days as a bullied 12-year-old. The film was the first queer representation Rodgers, growing up in the Midwest, gad ever seen in a movie. Rodgers' TED talk about the film – "The Rom Com that Saved My Life" – led to the chance to interview Smith himself, among others connected with the film, and explore the controversies that grew up around the movie's plot about a straight man and an LGBTQ+ woman falling in love.
Screening: Sun, Sep 24th, 2:00 PM @ Landmark Midtown Art Cinema
5. "Fireworks"
Italian filmmaker Giuseppe Fiorello revisits a horrific hate crime from 1980s Sicily, fictionalizing the story of Giorgio and Antonio into the summertime meeting and intense connection between teenagers Gianni and Nino in 1982. Youthful passion and anti-gay conservatism clash in a powerful tale of courage and love.
Stream this movie online.
Canadian filmmaker Jason Karman's coming-of-age film follows high schooler Jake (Cardi Wong) as he navigates the expectations and assumptions of everyone from his dad (who has ambitions of a pro basketball career for his son) to his girlfriend (Parmis Sehat). Where can he finally be himself... if not with Aleks (Chris Carson), the athletic new boy next door?
Screening: Sun, Oct 1st, 7:15 PM @ Landmark Midtown Art Cinema
7. "Elephant"
Bartek looks after his mother and runs their horse farm, in this Polish coming-of-age drama based on director Kamil Krawczycki's own experiences growing up gay in the famously anti-LGTBQ+ country. When Dawid, a musician, enters the picture, Bartek begins to long for the freedom to love according to his own authentic nature.
Screening: Sun, Oct 1st, 7:15 PM @ Landmark Midtown Art Cinema
Twinkie is coming of age and coming out with a bang, losing no time in heading off on a road trip to meet a mysterious love intertest she only knows online. What could go wrong? Tagging along is Twinkie's best friend, Egghead... who is carrying a torch for Twinkie. EDGE critic Frank J. Avella praised leads Louis Tomeo and Sabrina Jieafa for their "great screen presence, while director Sarah Kambe Holland, expanding the 2019 short into a feature, "provides the right light touch so the audience is left feeling satisfied."
Screening: Sat, Sep 30th, 2:05 PM @ Landmark Midtown Art Cinema
9 "1946: The Mistranslation the Shifted Culture"
"While other documentaries have been successful in their attempt to treat the symptom of homophobia in the church," the website for this illuminating documentary explains, "1946 is working to diagnose and treat the disease - Biblical Literalism."
But the crux of this film isn't just the content of a book regarded as holy by Christians worldwide; it's how a crucial mistranslation, which the film pinpoints in the year 1946, put cultural concepts into an ancient text that were never intended by the original authors... or, if you believe that the Bible is the actual word of God, the original Author.
Screening: Sat, Sep 30th, 6:00 PM @ Landmark Midtown Art Cinema. Or stream online.
10. "The Lost Boys"
Joe is about to be released from a youth correctional facility when William arrives. Will it truly be liberation for Joe to have to part from him? "This exquisite film is given heat by the chemistry of actors Julien De Saint and Khalil Ben Gharbia," the festival's film guide notes.
Screening: Tue, Sep 26th, 8:30 PM @ Landmark Midtown Art Cinema. Or, stream online.
11. "All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White"
When Bambino and Bawa meet in Lagos, their mutual attraction is undeniably strong. But as the two spend a day together, eros and danger go hand in hand: They may be moving toward a deeper bond, but they are also moving through a city where being murdered for being gay is an ever-present possibility.
Screening: Sat, Sep 23rd, 12:00 PM @ Landmark Midtown Art Cinema. Or stream online.
12. Closing Night: "Glitter & Doom"
Director Tom Gustafson and screenwriter Corey Krueckeberg join forces once more to tell the story of Glitter, a young man looking to forge a career in the circus, and his new heartthrob, Doom, a budding singer-songwriter. In a musical milieu where unexpected faces pop up for wild cameos, can the two find their way toward their dreams without passing each other up?
Screening: Sat, Sep 30th, 8:15 PM @ Landmark Midtown Art Cinema
For more information, go to //outonfilm.org/outonfilm.org
