May 2006 - Inside Out Film Festival Review

© May 2006 - Inside Out Film Festival Review By Bryen Dunn, Toronto - Info@bryendunn.com

Yes we’re in the midst of independent film festivals, and one of the more interesting offerings in the Toronto market is Inside Out, the 16th annual Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival, Canada’s largest.

It’s enticing, titillating and definitely entertaining. There are screenings, artist talks, panel discussions, installations and parties that highlight more than 275 films and videos from Canada and around the world.With the recent success of such mainstream queer-oriented films such as Brokeback Mountain, Transamerica and others, is Inside Out as important today as it was when it first began? Most definitely it is. These are independent films made specifically for queer and queer-friendly audiences, by queer identified individuals with a passion to tell a story.

For many it’s a first effort, for others it’s a profession. For some it’s based on personal experiences, for others it’s a documentary project. For viewers, it’s pure excitement. Oh, did I mention party?As well as flicks there are many panel discussions and workshops, as well as focus features that include a slew of Latin American produced works. As well, to make films accessible to all, there are five free screenings taking place throughout the Festival.

There are also Four Play ticket packages offering four films within a similar category for a reduced price.Individual tickets are available online, http://www.insideout.ca/,via phone, 416 967 1528, or in person at the box office, Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor Street West. Call for hours.

Tickets are priced at $10.50 for non-members with various discounts for members, youth, seniors, PHA’s and disabled patrons. As well, same day sales and rush seats are available at the screening location one hour prior.Did someone say party? From the opening gala on May 18th to the closing on May 28th, there are nearly a dozen “official” parties to keep things hoping.

Keep your ears open for the “unofficial” parties that tend to happen sporadically as well. Visit http://www.insideout.ca/for all the party details. Meet you at the bar!

Updates

So the time has come. Its opening night fun at the Inside Out Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and what better way to begin than with a night of musical film and musical talent. Be sure to catch the following two flicks prior to heading out to party. They are both well done retrospectives of how far the queer community has made strides within the mainstream markets. Enjoy!

Pick Up The Mic – Friday May 19, 7:30pm, ROM. This is a revealing and fast paced documentary on the world of queer rappers. The film captures n unapologetic underground music movement just as it explodes into the mainstream – defying the music industry’s most homophobic genre in the process. The film shines the spotlight on more than a dozen talented, likeable and fierce queer rappers, representing a remarkable range of sexual and ethnic diversity. This unpolished gem was shot over a three-year period and features scenes from San Francisco’s underground music scene of the early 1990s as well as performances from as recent as 2005.

Backalley Jukebox – Friday May 19, 9:45pm, ROM. Backalley Jukebox is a curated program, by Matt Thomas, and is the world’s largest, filthiest and first touring queer music video program debuting at Inside Out. The program is unique in its content with videos made by queer artist crossing a large spectrum of genres from queer rappers to bent electro rockers. The body of work represented in this historic screening speaks large volumes to the talent, productivity and commercial success brought to the forefront by unafraid artists opening working as queer musicians.

Included in the program is a new video from Scissor Sisters “Filthy Gorgeous” Uncensored, that was banned from MTV, directed by award winning queer director John Cameron Mitchell; “You Are My Sister” from Anthony And The Johnsons featuring Boy George, directed by award winning visual artist Charles Atlas; Gentlemen Reg’s racy new video “The Boyfriend Song” which was not accepted at Much Music, and directed by Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew, just to name a few from this program.

Individual tickets are available online, http://www.insideout.ca/ via phone, 416 967 1528, or in person at the box office, Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor Street West. Call for hours. Tickets are priced at $10.50 for non-members with various discounts for members, youth, seniors, PHA’s and disabled patrons. As well, same day sales and rush seats are available at the screening location one hour prior.

The official “Back Alley Jukebox Party” is happening at the Mod Club (722 College Street) following the screening ~ featuring performances by Kids on TV, Fritz Helder & the Phantoms, Syntonics, DJ Will Munro and more.

Tickets $7 at the door, start time 10:30PMKeep your ears open for the “unofficial” parties that tend to happen sporadically as well. Visit http://www.insideout.ca/ for all the party details.

Meet you at the bar!

This story was published on juicystuff.ca