Greg Thorpe is Festival Director of the GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival, which returns to Dublin this August - below, he gives us his Top 10 picks from this year's festival programme.
GAZE returns this August bank holiday and will screen 110 films from across the world, 25 international feature films, 10 eclectic short films, 7 world premieres, a dozen European premieres and over 50 Irish premieres over the 5-day festival - which means audiences should be spoiled for choice.
This Top 10 will help you delve into the new festival programme and has something for everyone.
We’ve managed to pack 100 films into this year’s GAZE programme, half of which are Irish premieres. We’re very much living up to the 'International’ component of our name with films from twenty-four countries, including Ukraine, Mexico, Peru, India, Iran, and Korea – plus the cream of new queer shorts from here in Ireland of course.
As Festival Director it’s impossible to play favourites, but here are ten titles I wouldn’t miss if I were you…
1/ Teaches of Peaches
This doc broke the Berlinale and we have Peaches herself in conversation reflecting on 25 years of music, mischief and political electro-pop.
2/ Backspot
Our Gala Opening celebrates the high-octane word of competitive cheerleading with queer gals aplenty and a delicious turn from Evan Rachel Wood. Director D.W. Waterson joins us in person.
3/ Solo
Félix Maritaud is the undisputed king of new queer cinema, starring in 120 BPM, Knife & Heart, Sauvage, and now Solo, a drag dramedy about envy, lust and ambition.
4/ Hidden Master
How did the finest gay photographer of his generation remain all but hidden till now? Meet artist George Platt Lynes in this exquisite doc.
5/ All Of Us Strangers
We haven’t recovered from this film either but Andrew Haigh will be in person, interviewed by pal and collaborator Russell Tovey, demanding to know why he wants to hurt us so.
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6/ Photo Booth
Part doc, part narrative, part fantasy, Photo Booth explores Boycott Divestment and Sanctions from a queer perspective and says NO to pink-washing. A Palestine fundraiser.
7/ The Queen of My Dreams
Migration, nostalgia, Bollywood and romances, both queer and straight, mingle in this vivacious generational comedy.
8/ Big Boys
The ultimate feelgood gay film, and good for all ages, Big Boys explores difficult first crushes with a bog heart and lightness of touch that makes you want to fall in love all over again.
9/ Break The Game
When record breaking gamer Narcissa right came out as trans her world tipped upside down. This form-breaking doc tells her incredible story,
10/ Close To You
A sweet and stylish end to the festival, with Elliot Page in his first trans feature role.
The GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival runs at the IFI and Light House Cinemas, and at GAZE Online from 1 – 5 August - find out more here.
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