The Mother of All Film Festivals is Back in SF

The 49th Frameline Film Festival starts June 18 in San Francisco and the Bay Area and has a lot of interest and noteworthy content.

The long running LGBTQ+ film festival hasn’t lost steam over the years, especially with the temporary closing of the Castro Theatre, which was home to most of its screenings.

But finding SF venues as well as some in the North Bay and East Bay has kept the festival relevant and able to offer a kaleidoscope of options for various tastes.

Of course, it would be near impossible to see all of the movies in advance, so this list is by no means is comprehensive but this might be a starting point for you to seek out movies you want to see.

Sauna has an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the seedy and sexy life of working in saunas, including cleaning up the mess made by its patrons. But not to focus on this life, the movie develops into a beautiful love story between a young employee who finds an emotional connection with a transgender guy he meets on dating/sex apps.

300Letters is billed as a romantic comedy. The furry leading man has great appeal and we all might dream of cuddles with him. But his “partner” is less interested in our otter and ends up writing him daily letters to give on their anniversary. A very unique plot point and the result though isn’t very romantic or comedic.

Baby is one of the best of the fest. A young man is released from the juvenile hall (in which he was imprisoned for sex work and that was his only option after being discarded by his family). He meets up with a more seasoned hustler who shows him the ropes, but then they develop a stronger bond that has them build their own family amongst their friends.

Drive Back Home is another winner with Alan Cumming as an awkward gay who has trouble in his 1970s life due to his homosexuality in a rural country town – only to be forced to go on a long road trip with his polar opposite brother. It’s tender and funny and very true to life.

Plainclothes is very intense with an undercover cop who helps trap gay men in public bathrooms for lewd acts. The twist is -the young cop is gay too and often comes close to having his trysts. These moments, and the sound effects, make you feel the intensity of making a move on someone who could not only reject you but expose you.

A Night Like This has two appealing scruffy leading star-crossed lovers and the adventures they face in a single night. Think Before Sunrise – but sexy and gay!

It’s Dorothy! is quite lovely as we see from many people’s perspectives how the character, not just Judy Garland, has affected our lives and has been embroidered into our culture.

Heightened Scrutiny is a great documentary showing the first trans attorney to face the Supreme Court with the very topical issue of trans rights for youth.

Queer Quickies: Erotic Shorts offers a variety of sexy tales including A Night in the Life with a group of friends chatting about going out and what to wear while nonchalantly a friend is getting a blow job in the background.

Homegrown shorts offer tales from Bay Area filmmakers and subjects. Standouts includeThanks, Babs! about a senior citizen who seems to reinvent herself every five years and Budget Paradise about a non-binary painter who just needs space to create art.

Scared Shortless has a wonderful collection for everyone. Munchies has friends who get in a bit of trouble at the convenience store when they go there to get post-pot snacks. The Holly King seems to have friends gather for a ritual that takes place fully naked! Clean Slate has struggling actors who get mistaken for each other while trying out for a role.

The festival also has some blasts from the past.

The Meatrack is a porn from an earlier era. It isn’t porn by today’s standards as it left more to the imagination but it’s a nice reminder of our porn roots in any event.

Pink Narcissus, a cult classic from 1971, is also one of our earlier porn films – this time with more smooth, clean-cut boys and in a 4K remastered package.

Get tickets to these, learn more and see which titles are streaming at http://www.frameline.org.