Bears Play a Lead Role in SF Queer Film Fest
Bears will be making a strong showing at the upcoming SF Queer Film Fest Aug. 22-24, 2025.
In this fifth year of the festival, they have found a new home in the historic Roxie Theater, utilizing both the big and small screens. Among the 13 programs and 47 screenings, on Saturday brings us Bear Week Diaries which will be at the Big Roxie at 3pm Aug. 23. Bear Week is a documentary-like drama that evolves into a love story. It is about two guys who meet at P-Town’s Bear Week. According to statistics, this is supposed to be the largest bear gathering in the world, making it one of Massachusetts’ largest annual events and of course likely the biggest annual draw to Provincetown.
Our two men met as they check into the event. It’s very sweet to see their love unfold, among all of the furry pool parties and frequent appearances from comedian Randy Roberts and drag queen Varla Jean Merman.
Bearish director Antongiulio Panizzi will be on hand for Q&A and a meet and greet. Another highlight of the festival is the centerpiece Cutaways, from Bay Area local director Mark Schwab. Schwab has had movies in previous SFQFF festivals and will also be on hand for this one as well. His drama, with a big splash of comedy, is about an up-and-coming director who falls from his chance at fame due to the cancel culture so he needs to turn his attention, to make money, to making low budget porn and has to deal with amateurs, no/low budgets and lots of egos all-the-while just trying to keep the lights on.
Jacob Betts gives a star-making performance as our director and it’s nice to see James Duval in such a meaty role and Jason Caceres who keeps growing his career and makes an impression in each role he gets Film lovers will also love the opening night film Love Me Bait Me, a documentary about how the LGBQT+ community is still poorly represented in mainstream movies and TV.
We learn through this film that in some cases, Hollywood was more open to the LGBQT+ community in the pre-code era – that was the 1930s. Further, trans actors and roles are still very much underrepresented in a positive way, casting them as killers, psychos and suicide victims.
There are several short film programs, but one with the most variety (and fun) is Sunday’s Box of Chocolates shorts with six wonderful options. One of the best is the comedy Get Your Story Straight! has a Filipino family talking through their covering up a murder.
Also, the program includes Bury Your Gays, about an actress who kind of has a Groundhog Day existence as she keeps dying in movies, goes to the pearly gates, but then comes back and tires – and dies again. Festival offers a lot of good programs, as well as after parties on Opening and Closing night at San Francisco’s popular nightclub, the Lookout.
Get all of the information and tickets at SF Queer Film Fest
