screenings2008

~ Screenings - 2008 ~

SURVEILLANCE 24/7 - This fast-paced British thriller stars Tom Harper (Blood & Chocolate, Telstar) as Adam, a gay teacher swept up in a national scandal that starts when his mysterious one-night stand ends up dead - and leads all the way to the British Royal family. Throughout his desperate race to discover the killer, Adam's every move is tracked through the streets of London. An exhilirating, edge-of-your-seat mystery, Surveillance24/7 co-stars a tremendous British cast including Brit star Dawn Steel (Monarch of the Glen). Sean Brenden Brosnan (Pierce Brosnan's son) and film icon Simon Callow. From the first frame to the last, director Paul Oremland (Like It Is) crafts a tale that is at once terrifying and wildly entertaining.
UK, 2007, 87mins

THE BEST MEN - Director Tony Wei's exquisitely sensitive and poignant portrayal of lifelong devotion and heartache. 15 mins.

PHOENIX - Dylan Wells (sexy newcomer Chad Edward Bartley) wants to celebrate his birthday with his drop-in lover Ken Sparks (Gaetano Jones, Boystown). But their weekend is interrupted when Ken's failing real estate deal forces him to cut his visit short. Dylan impetuously follows his lover back to Phoenix. But Dylan's hopes for a romantic escape are quickly dashed and his ideals are tested when the truth about Ken's life is revealed. This bittersweet tale explores innocence lost with life's hard lessons learned.
Director: Michael Akers, USA, 2006, 90 mins

GOLD - An aging artist who's losing his vision employs a drug-addicted street hustler to paint his paintings for him in a mutual quest for salvation.
Director: Armen Kazazian, USA, 16 mins

Screening with...

THE BUBBLE - Three young Israelis, two guys and a girl, share an apartment in Tel Aviv's hippest neighbourhood: headstrong Lulu, who works in a bath products boutique; flamboyant Yali, who manages a trendy cafe; and brooding music store clerk Noam, who spends his weekends serving at checkpoints in the National Guard. When Noam meets and falls in love with a Palestinian man named Ashraf, he and his friends conspire to help Ashraf stay on in Tel Aviv illegally. They participate in a beach rally, celebrating a peaceful coexistence, and calling for an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories. But ultimately, their carefully constructed utopia is shattered by the political and social realities of the Middle East, and the constant outbursts of violence. From the director of Yossi & Jagger and Walk On Water
Writers: Gal Uchovsky / Eytan Fox; Director: Eytan Fox, Israel, 2006, 117 mins

THE CURIOSITY OF CHANCE** - Chance Marquis (Tad Hilgenbrinck - American Pie) is an unusual boy. The openly gay son of a military man, he lives on his razor wit and curious fashion sense, happy to be the oddball at his average international high school. But standing out can have its downside, and Chance becomes the prime target for the school bully. To deal with this dilemma, he turns to the opposite ends of the high school spectrum for help. On one end is the flamboyant drag queen and at the other, a beautiful varsity jock (Brett Chukerman - Eating Out 2/Crush). Together, this unlikely threesome are all set to make a very serious impression... The Curiosity of Chance is a smart and sassy teen comedy in the tradition of the John Hughes classics of the 1980s.
Writer / Director: Russell P. Marleau, Belgium/USA, 98 mins
**Please note this is a change to the originally advertised schedule.

PERSONAL BEST (A Classic!) - The intertwined lives and loves of three highly-ranked athletes striving for the national team; Chris (Mariel Hemingway) bounces between the beds of male coach Terry and her female friend, competitor, and role model Tory. The story follows Chris from a clueless start in the 1976 Olympic trials through a vexed affair with her mentor-competitor (Olympic runner Patrice Donnelly) to a final, triumphant qualifying race for the boycotted 1980 Moscow games. The human elements are told in an almost documentary style, giving an honest, complicated look at the blossoming of friendship into love against the near-military backdrop of world-class competitive sports. Hemingway and Donnelly can act, and their drive to win is compelling, both on the field and in their personal lives. But what really makes the film worth watching are the races--stunning images, beautiful editing, and the timeless drama of athletic endeavor. Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.com
Director: Robert Towne; USA; 1982; 128 mins

"Once in every generation, a film comes along..." That's not usually a phrase used to describe an adult film, but Colt Studio and Buckshot Productions' cowboy fantasy BuckleRoos isn't your typical adult flick. Co-directed by Jerry Douglas and John Rutherford, the two-part, four-hour long gay adult video is a masterpiece of the genre. How it got made is the subject of this rollicking, rock-hard documentary by female gay-porn videographer Mr. Pam.

This documentary was filmed during an unprecedented 17-day production schedule, eXposed captures both intense action and hilarious mishaps, like the film's "climax" being ruined by the sudden bellowing of a cow, Rutherford's calming a first-time actor who failed to "rise to the occasion," or star Dean Phoenix trying to be sexy after succumbing to food poisoning. It also offers insightful interviews with cast and crew: there's the sexy southerner who does adult videos to pay for law school, the hunky Latino who's an ex-Pentecostal minister, and the straight PA who helps out if an actor needs "inspiration." They're all appealing, engaging and thoroughly professional people who love what they do and truly want to do it well. The work gets hard, but so do they, and hard work never looked so fun!

Producers: John Rutherford & Tom Settle; Director: Mr Pam; USA; 2005; 97mins

"TOUCH OF PINK" is a comic clash of cultures, values, and sexuality. Alim ("The Guru"'s Jimi Mistry) seems to have it all: a great career, a handsome boyfriend, and a personal guide in the spirit of Cary Grant (Kyle MacLachlan, "Sex and the City"). And living thousands of miles from his mother Nuru (Suleka Mathew) and his family in Toronto, he can keep his lifestyle hidden. But when Alim's conservative mom pays an impromptu visit, with the intention of dragging her son to a big fat monsoon wedding and getting him matched up with a "nice girl," the spirit of Cary Grant suddenly becomes indispensable. Courtesy of Amazon.com
Writer / Director: Ian Iqbal Rashid, Canada/UK, 2004, 91mins

SHELTER - The feature-film debut from art director Jonah Markowitz (Quinceanera) pivots on the tension between responsibility to family and responsibility to self. Recent high-school graduate Zach (Trevor Wright) has one summer to reconcile the competing halves of his life. The aspiring Picasso lives in blue-collar San Pedro with his irresponsible sister, Jeanne (Tina Holmes, Half Nelson), her five-year-old son, Cody (Jackson Wurth), and their rarely-seen father. Zach gave up his art school dreams to toil in a diner and help look after his much-loved nephew. With his best friend, Gabe (Ross Thomas), away at college, Zach draws, surfs, and skateboards by his lonesome. When Gabe's novelist brother, Shaun (Brad Rowe, Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss), returns to his Orange County home to recover from a broken heart, he and Zach alternate between riding the waves and encouraging each other to pursue their aspirations. Shaun is gay, while Zach appears to be straight, but a casual kiss between the two soon leads to a secret relationship. Before the former returns to Los Angeles, the latter has to decide who he is--gay, straight, artist, cook, uncle, or father--and what he's going to do about it. Synopsis courtesy Amazon.com.
Director: Johah Markowitz, USA, 2007, 89 mins
Screening courtesy of Force Entertainment

OUTING RILEY - Bobby Riley (Pete Jones, Stolen Summer) is just a regular guy who loves his family, his beer, and the Chicago Cubs. Oh yeah, and his boyfriend. A uniquely enjoyable comedy for all audiences, this charming ensemble film looks at what happens when Bobby finally tells his Irish-Catholic brothers (one of whom is a priest) that he's gay. And, they think he's joking!
Writer / Director: Pete Jones, USA, 2004, 88 mins

LESBIAN SEX & SEXUALITY - In a nation where sexuality in general is taboo, lesbian sex, lust and sexual representation are even more marginalized. By visiting writers, academics and "sexperts," and going inside sex shops, erotic dance clubs and lesbian-owned porn companies, this documentary series will go beyond mass appeal to find out what really turns on lesbians and perhaps any woman who has ever had a girl-on-girl fantasy.
Writer / Director: Katherine Linton, USA, 2007

PS - there will be an intermission during this program.

ANOTHER GAY MOVIE - In the dirtiest, funniest, most scandalous gay-teen-sex-comedy-parody ever, four gay friends make a pact to lose their virginity by the end of the summer. But that’s easier said than done, as the boys face giant sex toys, naked celebrities, masochistic teachers and an uncontrollable romance with a quiche. With a dozen jokes a minute and who’s who of gay celebrities. Another Gay Movie is a candy-colored romp where getting laid is all that matters! Synopsis courtesy of Force Entertainment.
Writers: Tim Kaltenecker / Todd Stephens; Director: Todd Stephens, USA, 2006, 92 mins

~ Screenings - 2008 ~
	SURVEILLANCE 24/7 - This fast-paced British thriller stars Tom Harper (Blood & Chocolate, Telstar) as Adam, a gay teacher swept up in a national scandal that starts when his mysterious one-night stand ends up dead - and leads all the way to the British Royal family. Throughout his desperate race to discover the killer, Adam's every move is tracked through the streets of London. An exhilirating, edge-of-your-seat mystery, Surveillance24/7 co-stars a tremendous British cast including Brit star Dawn Steel (Monarch of the Glen). Sean Brenden Brosnan (Pierce Brosnan's son) and film icon Simon Callow. From the first frame to the last, director Paul Oremland (Like It Is) crafts a tale that is at once terrifying and wildly entertaining. UK, 2007, 87mins	Saturday, 25 October °Doors open @ 7.00pm °Tickets & Bar open from 7.15pm ° Films screen from 7.45pm ° Venue: CSIRO Discovery Centre, Nth Science Road, Acton (Map 49, B15) °Ticket prices: $10 Please note: Films are Rated R. Restricted to 18 years and over
SPECIAL EVENT	Gay and Lesbian Documentary Festival comes to Canberra – QUEERDOC 2008! queerDOC’08 recently screened in Sydney to sold out audiences, with a line up of 12 documentaries chronicling queer experiences from all corners of the world. Festival Director, Lex Lindsay, says “this year’s festival was our strongest yet, with a number of multi-award winning, powerful new works, representing every content bar Antarctica. The three international films selected to tour have all been awarded queer cinemas greatest honour, a Teddy Award. These films are balanced with a diverse and inspiring collection of short docos by Australian filmmakers.” The program opens with THE AMAZING TRUTH ABOUT QUEEN RAQUELA, part documentary, part fantasy, the film charts an extraordinary journey of a Filipino ‘lady-boy’ from street-worker in Cebu, to internet celebrity working in a fish factory in Iceland, to her dream life in Paris. The line up includes a ground breaking documentary about gender-reassignment in Iran, BE LIKE OTHERS. While homosexuality is illegal in Iran, punishable by death, changing your gender is not only accepted, it is subsidised by the state. BE LIKE OTHERS explores the lives of a number of young gay men who choose gender reassignment and life as a woman over being imprisoned, tortured and disowned by their families. Iran is also highlighted in FOOTBALL UNDERCOVER, in which a German women’s soccer team travel to Tehran to be the first international team ever allowed to play against the Iranian’s women’s soccer league. Only women may watch the match and players must wear hijab at all times on the field. queerDOC screens at the Dendy Cinema, Canberra Centre, October 10th – 12th. All the details can be found on www.queerscreen.com.au	Friday - Sunday, 10 -12 October °Check Dendy for more details. Please note: Films are Rated R. Restricted to 18 years and over
	THE BEST MEN - Director Tony Wei's exquisitely sensitive and poignant portrayal of lifelong devotion and heartache. 15 mins. PHOENIX - Dylan Wells (sexy newcomer Chad Edward Bartley) wants to celebrate his birthday with his drop-in lover Ken Sparks (Gaetano Jones, Boystown). But their weekend is interrupted when Ken's failing real estate deal forces him to cut his visit short. Dylan impetuously follows his lover back to Phoenix. But Dylan's hopes for a romantic escape are quickly dashed and his ideals are tested when the truth about Ken's life is revealed. This bittersweet tale explores innocence lost with life's hard lessons learned. Director: Michael Akers, USA, 2006, 90 mins	Friday, 19 September °Doors open @ 7.00pm °Tickets & Bar open from 7.15pm ° Films screen from 7.45pm ° Venue: CSIRO Discovery Centre, Nth Science Road, Acton (Map 49, B15) °Ticket prices: $10 Please note: Films are Rated R. Restricted to 18 years and over
	GOLD - An aging artist who's losing his vision employs a drug-addicted street hustler to paint his paintings for him in a mutual quest for salvation. Director: Armen Kazazian, USA, 16 mins Screening with... THE BUBBLE - Three young Israelis, two guys and a girl, share an apartment in Tel Aviv's hippest neighbourhood: headstrong Lulu, who works in a bath products boutique; flamboyant Yali, who manages a trendy cafe; and brooding music store clerk Noam, who spends his weekends serving at checkpoints in the National Guard. When Noam meets and falls in love with a Palestinian man named Ashraf, he and his friends conspire to help Ashraf stay on in Tel Aviv illegally. They participate in a beach rally, celebrating a peaceful coexistence, and calling for an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories. But ultimately, their carefully constructed utopia is shattered by the political and social realities of the Middle East, and the constant outbursts of violence. From the director of Yossi & Jagger and Walk On Water Writers: Gal Uchovsky / Eytan Fox; Director: Eytan Fox, Israel, 2006, 117 mins	Sunday, 10 August °Tickets & Bar open from 1.00pm ° Films screen from 1.30pm ° Venue: Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMaG), London Circuit, Civic (opp Bailey's Corner). °Ticket prices: $10 Please note: Films are Rated R. Restricted to 18 years and over
	THE CURIOSITY OF CHANCE - Chance Marquis (Tad Hilgenbrinck - American Pie) is an unusual boy. The openly gay son of a military man, he lives on his razor wit and curious fashion sense, happy to be the oddball at his average international high school. But standing out can have its downside, and Chance becomes the prime target for the school bully. To deal with this dilemma, he turns to the opposite ends of the high school spectrum for help. On one end is the flamboyant drag queen and at the other, a beautiful varsity jock (Brett Chukerman - Eating Out 2/Crush). Together, this unlikely threesome are all set to make a very serious impression... The Curiosity of Chance is a smart and sassy teen comedy in the tradition of the John Hughes classics of the 1980s. Writer / Director: Russell P. Marleau, Belgium/USA, 98 mins Please note this is a change to the originally advertised schedule.	Friday, 1 August °Doors open @ 7.00pm °Tickets & Bar open from 7.15pm ° Films screen from 7.45pm ° Venue: Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMaG), London Circuit, Civic (opp Bailey's Corner). °Ticket prices: $10
	PERSONAL BEST (A Classic!) - The intertwined lives and loves of three highly-ranked athletes striving for the national team; Chris (Mariel Hemingway) bounces between the beds of male coach Terry and her female friend, competitor, and role model Tory. The story follows Chris from a clueless start in the 1976 Olympic trials through a vexed affair with her mentor-competitor (Olympic runner Patrice Donnelly) to a final, triumphant qualifying race for the boycotted 1980 Moscow games. The human elements are told in an almost documentary style, giving an honest, complicated look at the blossoming of friendship into love against the near-military backdrop of world-class competitive sports. Hemingway and Donnelly can act, and their drive to win is compelling, both on the field and in their personal lives. But what really makes the film worth watching are the races--stunning images, beautiful editing, and the timeless drama of athletic endeavor. Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.com Director: Robert Towne; USA; 1982; 128 mins	Friday, 18 July °Doors open @ 7.00pm °Tickets & Bar open from 7.15pm ° Films screen from 7.45pm ° Venue: Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMaG), London Circuit, Civic (opp Bailey's Corner). °Ticket prices: $10 Please note: Films are Rated R. Restricted to 18 years and over
	"Once in every generation, a film comes along..." That's not usually a phrase used to describe an adult film, but Colt Studio and Buckshot Productions' cowboy fantasy BuckleRoos isn't your typical adult flick. Co-directed by Jerry Douglas and John Rutherford, the two-part, four-hour long gay adult video is a masterpiece of the genre. How it got made is the subject of this rollicking, rock-hard documentary by female gay-porn videographer Mr. Pam. This documentary was filmed during an unprecedented 17-day production schedule, eXposed captures both intense action and hilarious mishaps, like the film's "climax" being ruined by the sudden bellowing of a cow, Rutherford's calming a first-time actor who failed to "rise to the occasion," or star Dean Phoenix trying to be sexy after succumbing to food poisoning. It also offers insightful interviews with cast and crew: there's the sexy southerner who does adult videos to pay for law school, the hunky Latino who's an ex-Pentecostal minister, and the straight PA who helps out if an actor needs "inspiration." They're all appealing, engaging and thoroughly professional people who love what they do and truly want to do it well. The work gets hard, but so do they, and hard work never looked so fun! Producers: John Rutherford & Tom Settle; Director: Mr Pam; USA; 2005; 97mins	Friday, 27 June °Doors open @ 7.00pm °Tickets & Bar open from 7.15pm ° Films screen from 7.45pm ° Venue: Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMaG), London Circuit, Civic (opp Bailey's Corner). °Ticket prices: $10 Please note: Films are Rated R. Restricted to 18 years and over
	"TOUCH OF PINK" is a comic clash of cultures, values, and sexuality. Alim ("The Guru"'s Jimi Mistry) seems to have it all: a great career, a handsome boyfriend, and a personal guide in the spirit of Cary Grant (Kyle MacLachlan, "Sex and the City"). And living thousands of miles from his mother Nuru (Suleka Mathew) and his family in Toronto, he can keep his lifestyle hidden. But when Alim's conservative mom pays an impromptu visit, with the intention of dragging her son to a big fat monsoon wedding and getting him matched up with a "nice girl," the spirit of Cary Grant suddenly becomes indispensable. Courtesy of Amazon.com Writer / Director: Ian Iqbal Rashid, Canada/UK, 2004, 91mins	Sunday, 8 June °Doors open @ 1.00pm °Tickets & Bar open from 1.15pm ° Films screen from 1.45pm ° Venue: Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMaG), London Circuit, Civic (opp Bailey's Corner). °Ticket prices: $10
	SHELTER - The feature-film debut from art director Jonah Markowitz (Quinceanera) pivots on the tension between responsibility to family and responsibility to self. Recent high-school graduate Zach (Trevor Wright) has one summer to reconcile the competing halves of his life. The aspiring Picasso lives in blue-collar San Pedro with his irresponsible sister, Jeanne (Tina Holmes, Half Nelson), her five-year-old son, Cody (Jackson Wurth), and their rarely-seen father. Zach gave up his art school dreams to toil in a diner and help look after his much-loved nephew. With his best friend, Gabe (Ross Thomas), away at college, Zach draws, surfs, and skateboards by his lonesome. When Gabe's novelist brother, Shaun (Brad Rowe, Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss), returns to his Orange County home to recover from a broken heart, he and Zach alternate between riding the waves and encouraging each other to pursue their aspirations. Shaun is gay, while Zach appears to be straight, but a casual kiss between the two soon leads to a secret relationship. Before the former returns to Los Angeles, the latter has to decide who he is--gay, straight, artist, cook, uncle, or father--and what he's going to do about it. Synopsis courtesy Amazon.com. Director: Johah Markowitz, USA, 2007, 89 mins Screening courtesy of Force Entertainment	Friday, 16 May °Doors open @ 7.00pm °Tickets & Bar open from 7.15pm ° Films screen from 7.45pm ° Venue: Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMaG), London Circuit, Civic (opp Bailey's Corner). °Ticket prices: $10
	OUTING RILEY - Bobby Riley (Pete Jones, Stolen Summer) is just a regular guy who loves his family, his beer, and the Chicago Cubs. Oh yeah, and his boyfriend. A uniquely enjoyable comedy for all audiences, this charming ensemble film looks at what happens when Bobby finally tells his Irish-Catholic brothers (one of whom is a priest) that he's gay. And, they think he's joking! Writer / Director: Pete Jones, USA, 2004, 88 mins	Friday, 2 May °Doors open @ 7.00pm °Tickets & Bar open from 7.15pm ° Films screen from 7.45pm ° Venue: Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMaG), London Circuit, Civic (opp Bailey's Corner). °Ticket prices: $10
	LESBIAN SEX & SEXUALITY - In a nation where sexuality in general is taboo, lesbian sex, lust and sexual representation are even more marginalized. By visiting writers, academics and "sexperts," and going inside sex shops, erotic dance clubs and lesbian-owned porn companies, this documentary series will go beyond mass appeal to find out what really turns on lesbians and perhaps any woman who has ever had a girl-on-girl fantasy. Writer / Director: Katherine Linton, USA, 2007 PS - there will be an intermission during this program.	Friday, 18 April °Doors open @ 7.00pm °Tickets & Bar open from 7.05pm ° Films screen from 7.20pm ° Venue: Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMaG), London Circuit, Civic (opp Bailey's Corner). °Ticket prices: $10 Please note: Films are Rated R. Restricted to 18 years and over
	ANOTHER GAY MOVIE - In the dirtiest, funniest, most scandalous gay-teen-sex-comedy-parody ever, four gay friends make a pact to lose their virginity by the end of the summer. But that’s easier said than done, as the boys face giant sex toys, naked celebrities, masochistic teachers and an uncontrollable romance with a quiche. With a dozen jokes a minute and who’s who of gay celebrities. Another Gay Movie is a candy-colored romp where getting laid is all that matters! Synopsis courtesy of Force Entertainment. Writers: Tim Kaltenecker / Todd Stephens; Director: Todd Stephens, USA, 2006, 92 mins	Sunday, 13 April °Doors open @ 1.00pm °Tickets & Bar open from 1.15pm ° Films screen from 1.45pm ° Venue: Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMaG), London Circuit, Civic (opp Bailey's Corner). °Ticket prices: $10 Please note: Films are Rated R. Restricted to 18 years and over
	AVAILABLE MEN is a comedic case of mistaken identity when two guys meet up for a blind date... with the wrong guys. Stars Richard Ruccolo from 'All Over the Guy'. Director: David Dean Bottrell, USA, 2006, 15 mins. COFFEE DATE is a fast-paced comedy filled with sexual shenanigans of a misguided kind. Straight-laced Todd (Jonathan Bray) embarks on a blind date with Kelly, but his mundane world is quickly turned inside out when his female date turns out to be a hunk (Wilson Cruz, Party Monster). Friends and family, even his mother, not only think he's gay, but help thrust him towards this new romantic endeavour! Surrounded by an excellent supporting cast including comical Jonathan Silverman and Oscar®-nominated Sally Krikland, Coffee Date is a refreshing, madcap comedy of errors and the perfect metrosexual date movie. Screenwriter / Director: Stewart Wade, USA, 2005, 94mins.	Friday, 21 March °Doors open @ 7.00pm °Tickets & Bar open from 7.15pm ° Films screen from 7.45pm ° Venue: Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMaG), London Circuit, Civic (opp Bailey's Corner). °Ticket prices: $10 Please note: Films are Rated R. Restricted to 18 years and over
	Films for Boys Films for Girls Films for Everyone

HOME	ABOUT US	BENTFEST	SPONSORS	BLOG	CONTACT US

ARCHIVES
2010	2009	2007	2006	2005	2004
2003	2002	2001