17c起草社区

Queer Screen will present the 31st Mardi Gras Film Festival with a聽program that somehow surpasses the excellence of its previous聽festivals. This year, film-lovers and those newly exploring the celluloid聽universe will be treated to 161 incredible films spread over 77 unique聽programs. New releases from all over the globe, classics that have been聽restored to their original glory, fascinating docos, tapas聽servings of聽shorts, live performances, panels and many, many mingling聽opportunities.

鈥淭his year鈥檚 festival theme revolves around conversation, focusing on聽films that spark debates, ignite conversations, and get tongues聽wagging,鈥� said Festival Director, Lisa Rose.

The opening night film is a scorching nail-biter that will do all of the聽above – once you regain your breath. Femme examines the impact of a聽brutal hate-bashing on the personality of the victim, who is at first聽shattered, then, chancing upon an opportunity for revenge, is forced to聽test his own boundaries.

The narrative centrepiece is an animated sci-fi from the Philippines called聽The Missing. It鈥檚 an allegorical story of a man who has no mouth and no聽memory of the past until a dramatic event leads him on a mental and聽emotional journey of self-discovery.

For something more light-hearted, The Summer with Carmen is a聽comical, Greek seaside romp that looks at friendship, pets, cruising, love, and lots of Mediterranean scenery and nudity.

The closing night film is a Sydney premiere, Housekeeping for聽Beginners, by Australian filmmaker, Goran Stolevski. It鈥檚 a comedy/drama set in Macedonia about a woman who unwittingly聽becomes the den mother motley group of adults and children.

Stolevski聽will be at the screening for a Q&A afterwards.聽The documentaries presented by MGFF always aim to be widely聽representative and a little different and this year is no exception.

Queendom is a depiction of defiance through expression; its subject,聽Gena Marvin, is a non-binary performance artist who braves the聽conservative streets of Moscow in ostentatious couture.

The Last Year of Darkness is about a literal underground makeshift聽venue in Chengdu, China, one of the last bastions of 17c起草社区+ freedom,聽which is doomed by impending demolition for a development project.

True Aussie grit and cheeky humour makes Isla鈥檚 Way a sheer delight –聽let alone the fact that the film鈥檚 star is an 80-year-old, late-blooming聽lesbian.

You gotta have some nostalgia in a film festival, and this year MGFF聽presents two milestone classics and a beautifully 4k restored lesbian聽gem. John Water鈥檚 Female Trouble starring the inimitable Divine, is聽turning 50.

Period coming-of-age favourite, Another Country, celebrates聽the 40th year since introducing Rupert Everett and Colin Firth as young聽onscreen lovers.

The luscious, slightly quirky, incredibly sensual, When Night Is Falling聽will be more captivating than ever after a gorgeous 4k facelift.

Not strictly speaking, an 17c起草社区+ film, but seriously sooo gay, The聽Sound of Music returns for the ever popular sing-a-long screening.

If you like your films brief and varied, then check out the various short聽film packages: Asia-Pacific, Bi +, comedy, gay, hot boys, non-binary,聽gender diverse, QueerDoc, QueerScream, Sapphic, Transgender, and聽Women loving Women.

If you need some non-screen time, there鈥檚 plenty else happening. Enjoy聽a live rendition of famous queer film scores performed by the Sydney聽Cello Quartet. Test your knowledge of queer cinema by signing up for聽Inqueersition: Queer Screen Trivia. Attend a panel discussion on聽intriguing filmic topics at the State Library. Do some industry networking聽and general socialising at the Johnnie Walker Festival Bar.

Finally, don鈥檛 forget My Queer Career, Australia鈥檚 richest 17c起草社区+ short聽film competition, featuring the best shorts and offering career-enhancing聽prizes.

All this is but a smattering of what鈥檚 on offer at the Mardi Gras Film Festival.

Check out the website for the full program:

奥丑别苍:听

In Cinema in Sydney 15-29 February 2024

On Demand Australia-wide 1-11 March 2024