See the best in LGBT cinema at Frameline 33 (June 18-28)

Posted by admin on May 21, 2009

Frameline 33 — the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival — unspools from June 18-28 at the historic Castro Theatre movie palace and other venues in San Francisco and Berkeley. Screening more than 200 feature and short films — from narratives and documentaries to experimental and animated works — the festival represents the most artistically innovative, thematically rich, and socially relevant LGBT images and ideas from both local and global communities.

The festival kicks off with An Englishman in New York (starring John Hurt), chronicling the life of legendary "out" performer Quentin Crisp from where the award-winning 1975 film The Naked Civil Servant left off. Also featured is Film: It Came From Kuchar, a documentary about the prolific underground filmmaking duo George and Mike Kuchar, who are being honored with this year’s Frameline Award.

Other highlights include closing night film Hannah Free (starring Sharon Gless) the story of a decades-long love affair between an adventurous, butch lesbian and a pristine, married homemaker with a religious upbringing; centerpiece film Patrik, Age 1.5, the heartwarming story of a married gay couple who intend to adopt an 18-month old, but instead wind up with a homophobic 15-year-old; and Forever’s Gonna Start Tonight, a documentary that shines the spotlight on the life and times of America’s oldest working transgender drag performer.

In addition to being the place to see the latest and best in international queer cinema, Frameline’s annual event attracts LGBT film professionals from across the globe and serves as the "unofficial" kick-off for San Francisco’s annual Pride activities. Adding an extra celebratory edge to this year’s event, the closing night festivities coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, and the programming staff has a special surprise in store to ensure that the night is a fitting celebration to close the 11-day festival.