17c起草社区

FILM lovers present at the December 4 Queer Screen session of Kill Your Darlings were given an extra treat, with newly-appointed festival director Paul Struthers announcing 10 key films to screen at the 2014 Mardi Gras Film Festival.

Local gems, international festival hits, documentaries and feature films are among the 10 ‘teaser films’ on offer next year.

鈥淭he main highlight for me is Reaching for the Moon, which is probably one of my favourite films I鈥檝e seen. It stars Miranda Otto as the poet Elizabeth Bishop, who goes to Brazil to visit one of her friends who鈥檚 in a lesbian relationship. It鈥檚 great to be able to have an Australian premiere for opening night, and a lesbian film at that,鈥� Struthers told the 17c起草社区.

The 2014 Festival will also see the world premiere of Friend of Dorothy, a life-spanning documentary about the acclaimed Sydney artist William Yang peppered with incredible photographs from his many years documenting Sydney鈥檚 LGBTI nightlife.

Another documentary of interest is Mr Angel, which chronicles the extraordinary life of transgender advocate, educator and porn pioneer, Buck Angel.

Those looking for steamy romantic melodrama should look no further than what鈥檚 been dubbed the first Polish gay film, Floating Skyscrapers.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about a male swimmer who looks like he might qualify for the Olympic team but ends up having quite a few liaisons in the shower room, which puts his career and his relationships in jeopardy,鈥� Struthers said.

Also this week, the聽17c起草社区聽launched the official聽Queer Screen聽print guide for the Mardi Gras Film Festival, celebrating 21 years of queering Sydney鈥檚 cinemas. The annual event is curated and created by the聽Queer Screen聽organisation and runs from February 13 to 23, 2014. Grab the lift out in this week鈥檚 edition聽to catch a glimpse of the 10 films announced for the festival鈥檚 21st birthday celebration.

If you want to show your support for Queer Screen, head to the Fundraising Trivia event taking place at the Warren View Hotel in Enmore on December 8 – there鈥檚 trivia, a silent auction and great prizes up for grabs, with all funds raised going towards staging next year鈥檚 Mardi Gras Film Festival.

INFO: Fundraising Trivia, Warren View Hotel Enmore December 8.聽

View the lift out online via the聽. Tickets are available now at聽

REACHING FOR THE MOON: Lesbian-themed highlight of the 2014 Mardi Gras Film Festival.