SF’s Frameline Fabulous at 50
The Frameline Film Festival is coming to the Bay Area for its 50th year and boy, does it look fabulous at 50!
The mother of all LGBTQ+ film festivals returns June 17th and it will definitely be a time for celebration as the renovated and gorgeous Castro Theatre has reopened and will be welcoming back all of the wonderful filmmakers and filmgoers.
While there are tons of great content – much of which I’ve yet to see – I did manage to come up with some highlights for you to consider.
NARRATIVE FEATURE FILMS
Lady Champagne opens the festival on June 17 at 7:30pm and is a sequel to the cult and camp classic Shit & Champagne.
It mostly features local talent and is headlined by drag laureate D’Arcy Drollinger and some other local favorites like Matthew Martin and Peaches Christ as well as some other gay icons like Alaska Thunderfuck, Varla Jean Merman and Jackie Beat.
This is a guaranteed, snort-laugh-inducing good time.
Loves Company, June 27 at the Castro, is equally riotous as it pokes fun, with a gay twist, at Misery (even the title is a play on words). Rachel Dratch gives her best over-the-top performance in the Kathy Bates role and her victim is the very funny and often underrated Jack Plotnick.
Test, June 25 at the Roxie, was the first movie I watched to prep for the festival and it totally blew me away. Mixing competitive bodybuilding, steroid use, a domineering mother with one questioning his sexuality, you’ve got a compelling movie that passes the test with flying colors.
Lead actor and writer Brock Yurich will blow you away and I see big things in his future, even possibly an Oscar win one day. He proves you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover as you might be first drawn to his muscles and blue eyes, but you will remember his talent.
Skiff, June 26 at the Roxie, is about a young woman comfortable in her sexuality as more a tom-boy until she develops feelings for her brother’s new girlfriend. Just lovely and well told.
Black Burns Fast, June 19 at the New Parkway and June 26 at the Roxie, is a charming coming-of-age story of a smart school nerd, who forgoes trying to be part of the cool kids when a new student catches her eye.
On the Sea, June 27 at the Castro, is a slow burn of a love story about a lonely Welch fisherman who usually watches the action go by until a young man sparks his interest. The chemistry and intensity are insane!
Hunky Jesus, June 26 at the Castro, starts off as a piece of fluff, celebrating the annual Easter event. But it tenderly gives us some great behind-the-scenes about the Sister of Perpetual Indulgence and all the efforts (and love) it takes to put on this event.
Celebrating Laughter: The Life & Films of Colin Higgins, June 19 at the Roxie, is quite the love letter to an unsung hero in our community. We likely know him for Nine to Five or The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. But did you also know he’s the writer of Foul Play and Harold & Maude?
There are so many endearing tales told by his colleagues and friends who loved him and not just for his art, but his heart.
SHORTS PROGRAMS
Once again, there’s a lot of great shorts and this year there’s big talent including Alan Cumming, Russell Tovey, Cathy Moriarity and Bette Midler’s daughter! Here’s some standout programs.
Fun in Shorts, plays June 21 at the Castro and June 27 at the Roxie, and is my favorite shorts program.
There’s a hoot of a show about a DL man meeting his potential trick over Sunday Sauce to a lesbian trying to come out over Sunday Lunch but sidetracked by others’ antics.
The Waddles is a riot about trying to fix that flabby chin to a couple who tie the knot with Minister Chucky (yes, the killer toy doll).
Sleazy Tiger is very funny – yet too weird to describe.
Afternoon Delights, June 26 at the Castro, has a very good collection – the standout is Dr. Poppers, which is charming, romantic, sexy and colorful – literally and figuratively.
The Motorcycle is also a gem in this shorts set with a young Italian man who develops an attraction for an older boy.
Lots to develop in 20 minutes – so let’s leave it there for now.
Trans New Weird, June 22 at Oakland’s New Parkway, has an eclectic collection of trans films including Artifice, a poetic and meditative story about a woman defining her pronouns and own narrative while Choked is a tale of testing one’s limits and trusting your partner with safe words.
Still so much more to catch and see including many great anniversary screenings and/or new prints of classics like Cruising, Desert Hearts, Score, All Over the Guy and Caravaggio.
Learn more and see more by clicking here: https://www.frameline.org/program/browse
