Two-in-One Out On Film Opens Live and Virtually September 23
Read the full article at thegavoice.com.
Directing a festival like Out On Film, happening September 23 through October 3, may sound glamorous and exciting, but there are easier ways to make a living, especially during a pandemic. Just ask Jim Farmer, who’s preparing to launch his second Out On Film of the COVID era, this time at various physical locations as well as online.
“It’s much harder this year,” Farmer said. “We had to learn how to do virtual last year but we were able to. But doing a physical festival as well as a virtual one is basically two festivals in one. The guidelines tend to change a lot, so we are planning a physical event but can switch to an all-virtual one if need be.”
The theatrical engagements, mostly at the Landmark Midtown Art Cinema, are still scheduled for most films, but proof of vaccination will be required for admission. While the virtual aspect expands the festival’s reach without requiring travel, many of the films will only be streamed to the tri-state area of Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama. Each will stream for seven days after it goes online, but once you start watching one, you’ll have 24 hours to finish it.
More information is available at the Out on Film website, outonfilm.org, where you can buy tickets for in-person and virtual events.
These are my reviews of ten of the festival’s films that I was able to preview.
RECOMMENDED FILMS: FIREBIRD
Sept. 23, 7pm, Landmark Midtown Art Cinema; Sept. 24 virtual
In some ways we weren’t so different from our Russian enemies during the Cold War.
Firebird is a true story of forbidden gay love in the military, specifically an Air Force base in Soviet-occupied Estonia. Sergey (Tom Prior, who also co-wrote) is a private, weeks away from discharge in 1977, when he’s assigned as aide to a newly arrived lieutenant, Roman (Oleg Zagorodnii), a fighter pilot. They bond over a mutual love of photography and the arts, and time being limited, it isn’t long before the lieutenant gets into the private’s privates. The story continues over five more years. It’s beautifully filmed, with the international cast speaking Russian-accented English. The attitude toward gays took me back to my days in the U.S. Army, but I never found my Roman there.
SEE YOU THEN Sept. 24 virtual
The idea of eavesdropping for an hour on a conversation between two women I don’t know is not a big selling point for me. But that hour is the heart of this first feature by director and co-writer Mari Walker, and her execution sold me. Kris (Pooya Mohseni) and Naomi (Lynn Chen) were lovers for three years in college, before Kris transitioned. Kris left Naomi without a word 16 years ago, and they haven’t seen each other since. Now Kris, in L.A. from Phoenix for a conference, invites Naomi, who’s married with two kids, to get together and catch up. Their catching up catches us up on their story, their time together, and their lives since. The drama, when it arrives, is less satisfying than the more casual moments, perhaps because we’ve become attached to the women and don’t want unhappiness in their lives.
INVISIBLE: GAY WOMEN IN SOUTHERN MUSIC
Sept. 25, 6:30pm, Landmark Midtown Art Cinema; Sept. 26 virtual
When I read that Invisible was about lesbians who had written hits for country music stars, I thought it would make an interesting article – but a film? No way. Was I wrong! Not only has gay filmmaker T.J. Parsell made the topic cinematic, but he’s found enough interesting material to fill a book. Subjects include k.d. lang, who quickly crossed over to pop after starting her career in country; Chely Wright, who had some #1 hits until she hated the closet so much she almost shot herself; Cidny Bullins, who was androgynous rocker Cindy Bullins before transitioning at the age of 61; and Pam Rose, often partnered with Mary Ann Kennedy as Kennedy Rose. Their stories and many others make this a treasure trove of detail for country music fans and LGBTQ activists with an interest in the arts.
BOULEVARD: A HOLLYWOOD STORY Sept. 26, Noon, Landmark Midtown Art Cinema; Sept. 27 virtual