10th Annual QFEST ST. LOUIS – LGBTQ Film Festival Runs March 29th – April 2nd at the .ZACK

It’s almost time to get your Q on, St. Louis!! 

The 10h Annual QFest St. Louis, presented by Cinema St. Louis, runs March 29th – April 2nd at the .ZACK (3224 Locust St., St. Louis, MO 63103)

The St. Louis-based LGBTQ film festival, QFest will present an eclectic slate of  films from filmmakers that represent a wide variety of voices in contemporary queer world cinema. The mission of the film festival is to use the art of contemporary gay cinema to illustrate the diversity of the LGBTQ community and to explore the complexities of living an alternative lifestyle.

All screenings at the .ZACK (3224 Locust St., St. Louis, MO 63103). Individual tickets are $13 for general admission, $10 for students and Cinema St. Louis members with valid and current photo IDs.

Advance tickets may be purchased at the Hi-Pointe Backlot box office or website. For more info, visit the Cinema St. Louis site HERE

http://www.cinemastlouis.org/qfest

Here’s the line-up:

LOVESONG – Wednesday, Mar. 29 at 7:00pm – directed by So Yong Kim – This screening will be free due to the generous support of sponsor Cindy Walker,  a co-founder of QFest St. Louis. 

Neglected by her husband, Sarah (Riley Keough) embarks on an impromptu road trip with her best friend, Mindy (Jena Malone). What they hadn’t counted on is an immediate spark between them. But before their romantic yearnings can develop into something more, Mindy abruptly returns to the city. Years later, Sarah attempts to rebuild their intimate connection in the days before Mindy’s wedding. This achingly beautiful and occasionally heartbreaking story is propelled by the intense, raw performances of the two lead actresses. The film had its world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.

THE BOYS IN THE BAND – Wednesday, Mar. 29 at 9:00pm – directed by William Friedkin – Ticket information can be found HERE

At times both outrageously funny and intensely mean-spirited, “The Boys in the Band” — the first of two queer classics at QFest — is based on the groundbreaking play by Mart Crowley. Tempers fray and true selves are revealed when a heterosexual man is accidentally invited to a homosexual party. Michael is hosting a birthday celebration for a pal when he gets an unexpected visit from old friend Alan. The problem: Alan is straight and extremely straitlaced, while everyone else at the party is gay. Michael hopes to conceal his sexuality from Alan, but this charade doesn’t last. After being outed, Michael turns on Alan, accuses him of being a closeted gay, and forces him to partake in a revealing and cruel party game that has devastating consequences. In the years following the film’s release, director Friedkin made the iconic films “The French Connection,” “The Exorcist,” “Cruising,” and “To Live and Die in LA.”

Ticket information can be found HERE

SUICIDE KALE – Thursday, Mar. 30 at 7:00pm – directed by Carly Usdin – Ticket information can be found HERE

A simple lunch turns into a darkly comedic catastrophe when Jasmine and Penn, a new couple with an uncertain future, find an anonymous suicide note at the home of the happiest couple they know. Punctuated with witty dialogue and performances as fresh as a spring salad, the hilarious and awkward unraveling of who wrote the note is a must-see. First-time feature director Carly Usdin was a producer of Logo Network’s lively “NewNowNext” music series, and writer/co-star Brittani Nichols, who plays Jasmine, has an impressive list of credits, including a recurring role on the first season of “Transparent.”

SHOWN WITH: “With You for Life” (Shanelle Riccio, 2017, U.S., 5 min.) A high-strung woman with sidonglobophobia faces her fear of cotton balls head-on, thanks to her opportunistic (and not-without-her-own-quirks) girlfriend.

REAL BOY – Thursday, Mar. 30 at 9:00pm – directed by Shaleece Haas – Ticket information can be found HERE

This moving, empowering, and timely documentary is an intimate story of a family in transition. As 19-year-old Bennett Wallace navigates early sobriety, late adolescence, and the evolution of his gender identity, his mother makes her own transformation from resistance to acceptance of her trans son. Along the way, both mother and son find support in their communities, reminding us that families are not only given but chosen. “Real Boy” has screened at more than 70 festivals worldwide, winning more than 15 awards.

WOMEN WHO KILL – Friday, Mar. 31 at 7:00pm – directed by Ingrid Jungermann – Ticket information can be found HERE

In this delightful dark comedy, commitment-phobic Morgan and ex-girlfriend Jean are locally famous true-crime podcasters obsessed with female serial killers. There’s a chance they may still have feelings for each other, but co-dependence takes a back seat when Morgan meets the mysterious Simone at the food co-op. Blinded by infatuation, Morgan quickly signs up for the relationship, ignoring warnings from friends that her new love interest is practically a stranger. When Jean shows Morgan proof that Simone may not be who she says she is, Morgan accuses Jean of trying to ruin the best thing that’s ever happened to her. But as she and Simone move into commitment territory, Morgan starts to notice red flags — maybe Jean was right, and Simone isn’t as perfect as Morgan’s made her out to be. When Morgan and Jean investigate Simone as if she were a subject of their podcast, they uncover disturbing clues — a death at the food co-op, a missing friend, a murder weapon — leading them to suspect her of murder. In the end, Morgan has to examine all the evidence in front of her: Is she just afraid of what it means to be in a relationship or is her life actually in danger?

PARIS 05:91 THEO & HUGO – Friday, Mar. 31 at 9:00pm – directed by Olivier Ducastel & Jacques Martineau – Ticket information can be found HERE

In a story told in virtually real time, Théo and Hugo meet each other in an underground sex club. They talk and soon lose themselves in the haziness of unbridled desire — a graphic, no-holds-barred encounter that’s most certainly NSFW. Afterwards, the two go outside and drift down the deserted streets of nocturnal Paris. When the men confront the fact that they had unprotected sex, the reality of the situation — one of them is HIV-positive — quickly spoils the mood. The filmmakers display consummate sensitivity in showing two men striving for intimacy in spite of their insecurities, and the lead actors delight with their remarkably intuitive performances and incredible charm.

QUEER VOICES SHORTS PROGRAMS – Saturday, Apr. 1 at 3:00pm – Ticket information can be found HERE

A collection of queer shorts from around the world.

“Alzheimer’s: A Love Story” (Gabe Schimmel & Monica Petruzzelli, 2015, U.S., 16 min.) A man cares for his partner of more than 40 years during his descent into dementia.

“Butterflies” (Angel Villaverde, 2017, Spain, 17 min., Spanish with English subtitles) Tutor Irene shows 17-year-old Sivia the way to a better understanding of herself.

“It Gets Better?” (Stephen Riscica, 2017, U.S., 12 min.) An older gay man is inspired to record a testimonial after watching a bisexual teenager’s video.

“Older Than What?” (Steen Starr, 2017, Canada, 13 min.) Twelve LGBTQ elders respond to 10 questions about aging with humor, frankness, wit, and charm.

“Souls” (Daniel Gage, 2016, U.K., 8 min.) When Barrie goes to scatter his husband’s ashes at their favorite mountain peak, he is confronted with the sight of a man about to jump to his death from the cliff edge.

“You” (Felipe Cabral, 2017, Brazil, 19 min., Portuguese with English subtitles) In this touching documentary, a girl tries to understand the death of her best friend, who was a victim of homophobia.

DESERT HEARTS – Saturday, Apr. 1 at 5:15pm – directed by Donna Deitch – This screening will be free due to the generous support of sponsor, AARP in St. Louis. To secure your tickets, please click HERE.  All tickets must be reserved in advance.

QFest’s second queer classic — a new restoration of Donna Deitch’s “Desert Hearts” — is an adaptation of the 1964 lesbian-themed novel “Desert of the Heart” by Jane Rule. In 1959, Vivian Bell (Helen Shaver), a 35-year-old English professor, travels to Reno to establish residency in Nevada and obtain a quickie divorce. Staying at a ranch for women waiting for their divorces to be finalized, Vivian meets Cay Rivvers (Patricia Charbonneau), a free-spirited sculptor. When Vivian arrives, Cay notices her immediately, and the tightly controlled and elegant professor is taken aback by the younger woman’s boldness and lack of concern over what others think of her romantic/sexual preferences. After some drunken kisses and confusion, they tentatively start a relationship and fall in love. With the impending finalization of Vivian’s divorce, the two must make some tough decisions. Vivian is afraid of what people in her academic circle will think of her relationship with another woman, and Cay is unsure of what she would do in New York City.

CENTER OF MY WORLD – Saturday, Apr. 1 at 7:30pm – directed by Jakob M. Erwa – Ticket information can be found HERE

Based on the 1998 German novel “Die Mitte der Welt” by Andreas Steinhöfel, this sweet coming-of-age film is a story about the universal problems of puberty, friendship, and first love. Seventeen-year-old Phil comes back from a summer camp and returns to the quirky old mansion where he lives. Phil notices that something has changed between his mother and his twin sister — they no longer talk to each other — but he avoids the rift by spending the last days of his summer holidays with best friend Kat. When school begins, the mysterious Nicholas enters the class, and Phil feels drawn to him. They soon engage in a passionate love affair, but the relationship is complicated: Phil remains unsure exactly what Nicholas thinks of him, and his friendship with Kat is strained by jealousy. Between his estranged family members, his envious old friend, and his enigmatic new love, Phil finds it increasingly difficult to identify the center of his world.

NO DRESS CODE REQUIRED – Sunday, Apr. 2 at 3:00pm – directed by Cristina Herrera Borquez – Ticket information can be found HERE

An engrossing portrait of a fierce love unbroken by the forces of bigotry and hate, this moving documentary follows Víctor and Fernando, an unassuming Baja California couple who, in 2013, found themselves in the center of a social firestorm over their desire to get married. Weighing all their options, including having the ceremony performed in Mexico City, where same-sex marriage was made legal in 2010, the pair opts to stay in their hometown of Mexicali and fight for their rights. With the help of two committed attorneys, Víctor and Fernando withstand a seemingly interminable series of bizarre hurdles and bureaucratic nitpicking with grace and dignity, culminating in one of the most unexpected and emotional wedding ceremonies ever captured on film. Proving again that love trumps hate, the film is a rallying cry for equality, a testament to the power of ordinary people to become agents of change, and, above all, an unforgettable love story that touches the heart and stirs the conscience.

THE UNTOLD TALES OF ARMISTEAD MAUPIN – Sunday, Apr. 2 at 5:15pm – directed by Jennifer Kroot – Ticket information can be found HERE

QFest veteran director Jennifer Kroot (“To Be Takei”) returns with this intimate portrait of American gay writer Armistead Maupin, best known for his ground-breaking “Tales of the City.” This remarkable doc examines the life and work of one of the world’s most beloved storytellers, following his evolution from a conservative son of the Old South into a gay-rights pioneer whose novels have inspired millions to claim their own truth. It moves nimbly between playful and poignant and laugh-out-loud funny. With help from his friends (including Neil Gaiman, Laura Linney, Olympia Dukakis, Sir Ian McKellen, and Amy Tan), Maupin offers a disarmingly frank look at the path that took him from the jungles of Vietnam to the bathhouses of ’70s San Francisco to the front lines of the American culture war. The world premiere of the film was held at the 2017 SXSW Film Festival.

HANDSOME DEVIL – Sunday, Apr. 2 at 7:30pm – directed by John Butler – Ticket information can be found HERE

In this funny and observant coming-of-age tale from Irish novelist and filmmaker John Butler, two opposites — a loner and the top athlete at a rugby-obsessed boarding school — become friends, only to have their friendship tested by the authorities and other students. Ned is a bitter, music-obsessed 16-year-old outcast, and Conor is a handsome transfer student who quickly becomes the star of the school’s rugby team. Tensions mount when they are forced to share a bedroom at their boarding school. The boys tentatively bond over music and start to practice guitar together. At the encouragement of their English teacher, Ned and Conor enter a talent show at a local girls’ school. As both talent show and rugby season loom, the pressure to choose between manly athletic discipline and more artistic pursuits threatens to tear Conor apart. Ned, meanwhile, is increasingly tempted to betray Conor’s trust to save his own skin.

SHOWN WITH: “More Than God” (Kev Cahill, 2015, Ireland, 9 min.) This comedy set in modern Ireland follows the attempts of a religious doctor to uncover his wife’s suspected affair. In the process, he is confronted by the rigidity of his beliefs.

Check back here at We Are Movie Geeks for more coverage of QFest St. Louis