Programme (PDF) for download

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Four Programme Sections

Films will be screened in original version with English and Slovak subtitles.

New Century offers 10 feature and 9 short films of the last decade, most of them to be screened in Slovakia for the very first time. Director Paul Ward will personally introduce his Irish romantic comedy Fur Coat and No Knickers (2009) shortly after its successful world premiere in Dublin. Canada is represented by two lesbian films and major LGBT festival hits worldwide – a coming out drama To Each Her Own (d. Heather Tobin, 2008) and a mockumentary The Baby Formula (d. Alison Reid, 2008) telling a story of a lesbian couple that undergoes a scientific experiment and conceives their own biological child. The theme of gay parenthood is also dominant in a Swedish family comedy Patrik 1.5 (d. Ella Lemhagen, 2008). In an exclusive Slovak premiere, we will present an Argentinean thriller The Fish Child (2009) by Lucía Puenzo, recognised for her critically acclaimed debut XXY. Other highlights include two French features – the gay favourite Presque rien (Almost Nothing, d. Sébastien Lifshitz, 2000) telling a story of love and disappointment, while the more recent Naissance des pieuvres (Water Lilies, d. Céline Sciamma, 2007) explores emotional worlds of teenage girls, including their first crushes verging on obsession. Also, two programmes of short films present a fine selection of award-winning narrative shorts from across Europe.

Golden Oldies (of L&G Cinema) shows 5 titles that helped shape the history of lesbian and gay cinema. Desert Hearts (d. Donna Deitch, 1986) was the first American lesbian film to be widely and successfully distributed in the US cinemas. The first British feature openly dealing with homosexuality, Nighthawks (d. Ron Peck, Paul Hallam, 1978), is a portrayal of a teacher leading a double life, cruising gay bars at nights. Thirteen years after, the director Ron Peck looks back at his controversial debut to put it in a political, social and personal context in his powerful autobiographical film Nighthawks II – Strip Jack Naked (1991). The fictional story of Stonewall (d. Nigel Finch, 1995) was inspired by the brutal attack of American police on a clientele of the New York gay bar in 1969. Possibly the ultimate festival highlight is Egymásra nézve (Another Way, 1982) by one of the most distinctive Hungarian directors Károly Makk, with the legendary Slovak actor Jozef Kroner in a supporting role.

Gay Slovakia mainly offers films made by students or graduates of the Film and Television Faculty, Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Bratislava and includes two films by Viktor Csudai – his feature debut Big Respect (2008) and a medium-length coming out film Pink Partner (2006).

Another Vision

only brings two films, but both very unique in their different, non-narrative approach and form. Derek (d. Isaac Julien, 2008) takes us on an intimate journey into the life and work of Derek Jarman, guided by his long-standing muse and collaborator Tilda Swinton. A dance film Enter Achilles (d. Clara van Gool, 1996) made with the acclaimed British dance company DV8 Physical Theatre explores issues of masculinity and disguise in the male world.