THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

In celebration of LGBT culture

In celebration of LGBT culture

Independent cinema Bangkok Screening Room plays host to the inaugural LGBT+ Film Festival

 

“PRISCILLA QUEEN of the Desert”, “Beats Per Minute” and the critically acclaimed South African drama “The Wound” are among the movies showing at the inaugural LGBT+ Film Festival Bangkok, which gets underway today at Bangkok Screening Room. 
Running through Sunday, the festival will explore the diverse facets of the community through films, special events, talks, and live performances and a special art exhibition. It will also serve as a safe place for discussions about important issues, such as marriage equality and equal opportunity.
The only Thai entry to the festival is the anthology “i Stories” from four talented directors Nattawut Poonpiriya (“Bad Genius”), Naruebet Kuno, Salinee Khemcharas and Thitipong Kerdtongtawee, each of whom tell their stories in their own ways. Showing on Saturday at 4.15pm, it will be followed by a Directors’ Talk. 
Australia’s “Priscilla” is one of the best-known drag queen movies ever made. Directed by Stephan Elliott, it portrays two drag performers and a transgender woman’s journey across the Australian outback. “The Wound” (“Inxeba”), South Africa’s official selection for the Oscar’s Best Foreign Language film, is an exploration of tradition and sexuality set amid South Africa’s Xhosa culture. Every year, the tribe’s young men are brought to the mountains of the Eastern Cape to participate in an ancient coming-of-age ritual. Xolani, a quiet and sensitive factory worker (Nakhane Toure), is assigned to guide Kwanda (Niza Jay), a city boy from Johannesburg sent by his father to be toughened up, through this rite of passage into manhood.
Other films include “Beats Per Minute” from France, “Signature Move” from Spain, “Hard Paint” (“Tinta Bruta”) from Portugal, “Those Long Haired Nights” from The Philippines and “Tom of Finland” from Finland, a biopic of artist Touko Laaksonen that narrates the events that influenced his iconic homoerotic drawings.
A co-production between the Philippines and Taiwan, “Tale of the Lost Boys” is the story of the friendship between two men — Alex (Oliver Aquino), a Filipino mechanic, and Jerry (Ta Su), a Taiwanese aborigine student. The two meet by chance when Alex flees to Taipei from Manila, upon learning that his girlfriend is pregnant. A casual conversation develops into a surprising personal connection between them and leads them to undertake a journey that ends up at Jerry's tribal home. 
Documentary fans shouldn’t miss “The Queen of Ireland” -the uplifting documentary about Ireland's superstar drag queen Panti Bliss as she rises from “giant cartoon woman” to one of the highest-profile activists in the LGBTIQ community. Conor Horgan’s five years in the making documentary follows her journey of self-discovery against the backdrop of Ireland’s 2015 referendum on marriage equality.
The festival also features events and shows, including one hosted by Thai fashion icon, stylist, designer and drag queen Art Araya on Wednesday at 6pm. Entry is free to those purchasing tickets to “The Queen of Ireland” or “The Adventures of Pricilla, Queen of the Desert”. Only 50 seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis but to ensure attendance, email [email protected] for the proof of purchase with your name and contact number. 
Saturday features an exclusive talk hosted by Bangkok Rainbow at 1.45pm, while on Sunday, film fans can attend a discussion with film blogger Earth Oscar, and directors Anucha Boonyawatana (“Malila: The Farewell Flower”) and Tanwarin Sukkhapisit (“Insects in the Backyard”), also 1.45pm. Both talks are in Thai and admission is free are free though reservations are required. 
Also on Sunday is an exclusive talk hosted by Dudesweet at 6.30pm. Tickets are Bt300 for students and members and Bt400 for everyone else. The special guests will be announced nearer the time. Again, the discussion will be in Thai only.
Ticket prices for the screenings are Bt300, Bt250 for students and Bt240 for members, except for “i Stories”, which costs just Bt100. 
Tickets are available at the box office and anyone buying tickets for three or more film receives a 15-per-cent discount. 
For more information, please call (090) 906 3888 or visit Bkksr.com
 

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