Spotlight on 8th annual Toronto Queer West Film Festival August 12-14, 2016

 Fancy something a little bit different? Discover the 8^th Annual Queer West Film Festival running from August 12-14, 2016 at Innis Town Hall in Toronto ON. where we’ve made the jump from our annual evening screening to a weekend film festival. From shorts, documentaries and full length features, we aim to showcase the very best of Canadian and international queer cinema from both emerging and established directors. We aim not only to celebrate and entertain but to highlight the issues that continue to affect our community at home and around the world.

Update Monday April 25, 2016 – The three member final selection committee will have names of all the films we plan to show in August,  on May 8 or May 15th., 2016. They reviewed 845 submissions. They chose 142 of those they considered excellent and worth screening. From the 142,  will select up to 35 as our official and final selection. Good luck to all the filmmakers.

Queer West Centre For the Arts (queerwest.org) is promoting,  a few of the many filmmakers submissions for 2016 that they are considering screening at the Film Festival August  Not every submission being reviewed g has trailers and not every trailer is in this list.

All foreign films we are screening, outside of USA, Canada and the UK will have English subtitles


Official Web Site: http://artsfestival.queerwest.org/
2016 Board of Directors  http://artsfestival.queerwest.org/festival-2/board-of-directors/

Homogen – Homogène

Film submission from Province of Quebec – Homogen, by a straight PQ filmmaker Isabelle Courville, run time 94 minutes…Nine episodes, nine characters, representative of a generation of homosexuals discuss the realities they face, from their « coming-out » to dealing with stereotypes, bullying and of course, finding love…

Neuf épisodes, neufs personnages emblématiques d’une génération d’homosexuels discutent de plusieurs réalités auxquelles ils sont confrontés, notamment le coming out, les stéréotypes, l’intimidation et bien sûr l’amour.  HOMOGÈNE se veut une immersion dans la communauté gaie et lesbienne québécoise où les jeunes, les parents, les alliés et les dissidents trouveront de vraies réponses à leurs questions, sans honte, jugement ni tabou.  C’est aussi l’ambition de pointer l’intime vers l’universel et le besoin de faire la différence en prouvant qu’il n’y en pas, justement… de différence.

Fits into what Queer West Film Festival is looking for this year, more issue based Documentary films looking back on our own history and where we are today, with human rights issues, moving away from the personal issues and campy type LGBT films… Michel Paré film judge, is doing first reviews of all submissions, selecting only the best from all over the world, for final reviews by Program Director Donna Elliot and UK Film Judge Lauren Tenn in May, 2016 The above Trailer is Episode 8 of 9

EKAJ

Excellent new submission, 81 minutes for QWFF 2016.  EKAJ – Gives voice to LGBT youth who often remain invisible, voiceless.  AIDS, drug abuse, domestic violence, rape.  This is a socially responsible film that is never pathetic or preachy.  Made by Mike and Cati Gonzalez.  Filmed in the Bronx and Harlem and Washington Heights.  The two main characters—the eponymous Ekaj, and the vividly tattooed Mecca—effectively homeless LGBT youth Their story plays out against the stark, unforgiving and unwelcoming landscape of a barren, loveless New York.  Warning Graphic Content.  Michel Paré film judge, is doing first reviews of all submissions, selecting only the best from all over the world, for final reviews by Program Director Donna Elliot and UK Film Judge Lauren Tenn in May, 2016

Flying Through Our Skins (Music Video)

 

Flying Through Our Skins, by Damon Andrew Embry USA run time 4.33 minutes is pretty good (Musical) Trailer...Michel Paré film judge, is doing first reviews of all submissions, selecting only the best from all over the world, for final reviews by Program Director Donna Elliot and UK Film Judge Lauren Tenn in May, 2016

Queen of Hearts

Queer of Hearts documentary submission from Argentina by film director Guillermo Bergandi (82 minutes) The Cooperative AR/TV Trans is a theater cooperative composed of transvestites and trans people The Cooperative began as a workplace to dignify the viewpoint of the transvestites in Argentina.Daniel Ruiz, the cooperative´s founder is the voice that narrates this story that intersect solidarity, willpower and fighting in order not to give to injustice and the obstacles that arise for being part of the transgender world….First review is done with all submissions, selecting only the best from all over the world, for final review by Donna Elliot and Lauren Tenn in May, 2016

That's My Boy

‘That’s my boy’ – An interesting 25 minute submission from Kerala, India by Akhil Sathyan.  A documentary on Gender Identity Disorder portrays the successful and remarkable life of Sonu, a female to male convert.  Language : Malayalam & English with English Subtitles…First review is done with all submissions, selecting only the best from all over the world, for final review by Donna Elliot and Lauren Tenn in May, 2016

Sixth Grade Slow Dance

Sixth Grade Slow Dance – by Israeli film director Yotam David Cytter.  On the last party before they separate to different junior high schools, Amit(12), a young gay boy, hopes to finally get to dance a slow dance with his best friend Noam(12).  First review is done with all submissions, selecting only the best from all over the world, for final review by Donna Elliot and Lauren Tenn in May, 2016