aGLIFF's 2017 Lineup Announced

Austin’s first and only queer film festival celebrates its 30th anniversary next month and if today’s lineup drop is any indication – it’s going to be a gay ol' time.

With 39 feature films and 54 shorts spanning genres and cultures, the Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival-goers are in for a treat with a wide array of events including film premieres, special screenings, Q&As, live music, and appearances from more than 50 visiting filmmakers.

In preparation for the fest, aGLIFF Program Director Jim Brunzell told the Chronicle they had to “happily dig a little deeper to create some special moments for everyone – whether they’ve attended aGLIFF for years, or they’re just discovering us.” In addition to the debuts, aGLIFF will host a special anniversary presentation of iconic queer films such as Maurice, Coming Out, Greetings From Out Here, Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon. Encore showings will also bring back previous films, such as A Very Sordid Wedding and Behind the Curtain: Todrick Hall.

The festival kicks off with God’s Own Country, a film from the United Kingdom directed by Frances Lee that follows an isolated English farmer navigating his newfound emotions toward a Romanian migrant worker. The film won the World Dramatic prize for Best Director at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and the Audience Award at San Francisco’s Frameline.

Four of this year’s films hit particularly close to home having been filmed and set in Texas. Making its world premiere is Rebecca Adler’s Trans Youth, an Austin documentary about the experience of five trans folks growing older over a span of three years. Travis Mathews’ psychological thriller Discreet also takes place in the city, centering around an eccentric drifter who plots revenge against his abuser and navigates fragile masculinity. The drama Brotherly Love, directed by Anthony J. Caruso, incorporates the struggle between vows to the Catholic Church and queer love in Texas. The festival is also screening a short film by Jessica Adler, Christine, which was also filmed in the Lone Star State.

In addition to these films and numerous others, aGLIFF will also present three shorts created during this summer’s Queer Youth Media Project, aGLIFF’s four-day program for queer youth taught by local filmmaker and editor Liz Perlman. This year’s shorts include "Two Ways," "Lost Track of Time," and "Out of My Mind," and will open for several feature films.

Now in its fourth year, aGLIFF's infamous secret screening features an appearance from the director for the first time. Other programs include the animation, comedy, drama, international, and late night/sexy shorts. The festival closes with Becks, a dramedy inspired by singer/songwriter Alyssa Robbins and co-directed by Daniel Powell and Elizabeth Rohrbaugh. Winner of the Best U.S. Fiction Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival, Becks focuses on a musician who begins a relationship with a married woman after moving back to her hometown. The screening will be attended by the directors of the film, and is co-presented by the Austin Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s impressive [that] what started out at the Dobie Theater by Scott Dinger still continues to grow and have an impact on filmmakers, producers, distributors, donors, sponsors, and patrons who come to see great films and connect with one another through cinema,” said Brunzell, who pointed out that aGLIFF is one of Austin’s longest-running and thriving film festivals. This year’s fest runs September 7-10 and screens exclusively at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar. See agliff.org for schedule and to purchase badges and tickets. Full film list below:

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Austin Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2017 Lineup

OPENING NIGHT SELECTION

God’s Own Country
Director: Frances Lee
Country: UK

CLOSING NIGHT SELECTION

Becks
Co-presented by Austin Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
Directors: Daniel Powell, Elizabeth Rohrbaugh
Country: USA
Preceded by: ”Bird of Prey”
Director: Marion Hill
Country: USA

NARRATIVE FILM COMPETITION

Apricot Groves
Director: Pouria Heidary Oureh
Country: Armenia

Extra Terrestres
Co-Presented by Cine Las Americas
Director: Carla Cavina
Country: Puerto Rico

Prom King, 2010
Co-Presented by Austin Film Festival
Director: Christopher Schaap
Country: USA

The Ring Thing
Director: William Sullivan
Country: USA

Saturday Church
Co-Presented by The Q-Austin & TENT
Director: Damon Cardasis
Country: USA
Preceded by: ”Walk for Me”
Director: Elegance Bratton
Country: USA

DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION

Abu
Director: Arshad Khan
Country: Canada/Japan/Pakistan/Saudi Arabia/Thailand

Anatomy of a Male Ballet Dancer
Directors: David Barba, James Pellerito
Country: USA

The Lavender Scare
Director: Josh Howard
Country: USA

Susanne Bartsch: On Top
Directors: Anthony Caronna, Alexander Smith
Country: USA

Woman on Fire
Co-Presented by TENT
Director: Julie Sokolow
Country: USA

RETROSPECTIVE AND ANNIVERSARY FILMS

Coming Out (1989)
Director: Heiner Carow
Country: East Germany

Greetings From Out Here (1993)
Director: Ellen Spiro
Country: USA

Maurice (1987)
Director: James Ivory
Country: UK

Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon (2008)
Director: Jeffrey Schwarz
Country: USA

aGLIFF ENCORES

A Very Sordid Wedding
Director: Del Shores
Country: USA

Behind the Curtain: Todrick Hall
Co-Presented by The Q Austin
Director: Kathryn Fairfax Wright
Country: USA

Signature Move
Co-Presented by Austin Film Society
Director: Jennifer Reeder
Country: USA
Preceded by: “Two Birds”
Director: Caitlin Stickels
Country: USA

The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin
Director: Jennifer M. Kroot
Country: USA

NARRATIVE FILMS

A Date for Mad Mary
Co-Presented by the Consulate General of Ireland
Director: Darren Thornton
Country: Ireland

A Promise of Time Travel
Co-Presented by Other Worlds Austin
Director: Craig Jessen
Country: USAPreceded by: ”Lost Track of Time”
Director: Queer Youth Media Project
Country: USA

After Louie
Co-Presented by Midtown Title
Director: Vincent Gagliostro
Country: USA

B&B
Director: Joe Ahearne
Country: UK

Brotherly Love
Director: Anthony Caruso
Country: USA

Discreet
Co-Presented by OUTsider
Director: Travis Mathews
Country: USA/Brazil

The Feels
Director: Jenée LaMarque
Country: USA

Hello Again
Co-Presented by Mercury Mambo
Director: Tom Gustafson
Country: USA
Preceded by: ”A Circle of Diamonds”
Directors: Michael Biello, Dan Martin, and Barbara Proud
Country: USA
Preceded by: ”2000 Years of Drag: A Musical Odyssey”
Directors: Dorian Electra, Imp Queen
Country: USA

Something Like Summer
Director: David Berry
Country: USA

Tom of Finland
Co-Presented by Midtown Title
Director: Dome Karukoski
Country: Finland

Torrey Pines
Co-Presented by Fantastic Fest
Director: Clyde Peterson
Country: USA
Preceded by: ”Two Ways”
Director: Queer Youth Media Project
Country: USA

DOCUMENTARY FILMS

Chavela
Co-Presented by Cine Las Americas & Mercury Mambo
Directors: Catherine Gund, Daresha Kyi
Country: USA/Mexico

Clambake
Director: Andrea Meyerson
Country: USA

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson
Co-Presented by TENT
Director: David France
Country: USA

The Fabulous Allan Carr
Co-Presented by Austin Film Society
Director: Jeffrey Schwarz
Country: USA

No Dress Code Required
Director: Cristina Herrera Borquez
Country: Mexico

Rebels on Pointe
Director: Bobbi Jo Hart
Country: Canada

Trans Youth
Director: Rebecca Adler
Country: USA
Preceded by: ”Out of My Mind”
Director: Queer Youth Media Project
Country: USA

SHORTS PROGRAMS

ANIMATION

”Cuddlefish”
Directors: Cheryl Briggs, Brianna Jaeger, Jared Bittner
Country: USA

”In a Heartbeat”
Directors: Beth David, Esteban Bravo
Country: USA”Looper: Farfisa Song (Introducing Mustard & Ketchup)”
Director: Iain Gardner
Country: UK

”The Man Woman Case”
Director: Anais Caura
Country: France

”The Night Cleaner”
Director: Blair Fukumura
Country: Canada

”Tailor”
Director: Calí dos Anjos
Country: Brazil

”Violet & June”
Director: Linnea Ritland
Country: Canada

COMEDY

”Britney-holics Anonymous: A Spear-itual Awakening”
Director: Jerell Rosales
Country: USA

"Haygood Eats!”
Director: Hazart
Country: USA

”Heads or Tails”
Director: Eva von Schweinitz
Country: USA

”I Don’t Believe in It”
Director: Neil Fennell
Country: USA

”Leadbeater”
Director: Tyler Peterson
Country: USA

”Plus One”
Director: Peter Knegt
Country: Canada

”The Swimming Pool”
Director: Carlos Ruano
Country: Spain

”Three Is a Party”
Directors: Aden Wexberg, Nickolas Grisham
Country: USA

”Tipping Point”
Director: Stephanie Young
Country: Canada

"The Yoga Bridge”
Director: Michael Orlando
Country: Canada

DRAMATIC

”Christine”
Director: Jessica Adler
Country: USA

”Encuertro”
Director: Florencia Manovil
Country: USA

”The Girl in the Green Dress”
Director: Johanna Goldstein
Country: USA

”Headspace”
Director: Jake Graf
Country: UK

”Huevos Rancheos”
Director: Brian C. Miller Richard
Country: USA

”The News Today”
Director: Lisa Donato
Country: USA

”Please Hold”
Director: Jerell Rosales
Country: USA

”Sunset”
Directors: Katie Ennis, Gary S. Jaffe
Country: USA

DOCUMENTARY

”Aleph Melbourne – Celebrating 20 Years”
Director: Michael Barnett
Country: Australia

”Bayard & Me”
Director: Matt Wolf
Country: USA

”Bear in a Bedroom”
Director: Albert Koomen
Country: Australia

”Escaping Agra”
Director: Pallavi Somusetty
Country: USA

”Little Potato”
Director: Wes Hurley
Country: USA

”The Naked Body”
Director: Diego Carvalho Sá
Country: Brazil

”The Streets Are Ours: Two Lives Cross in Karachi"
Director: Michelle Fiordaliso
Country: Pakistan

INTERNATIONAL

”Dusk”
Director: Jake Graf
Country: UK

”Golden Boys”
Director: Jill Riley
Country: Canada

”Momo”
Director: Yun Joo Chang
Country: South Korea

”Picking Up”
Director: Nicholas Christo
Country: Australia

”Scar Tissue”
Director: Nish Gera
Country: Netherlands

”What About Shelley”
Director: Kyle Reaume
Country: Canada

LATE NIGHT & SEXY

”A Bed Day”
Director: Peter Knegt, Luca Maria Piccolo
Country: Canada

"Dawn of the Deaf”
Director: Rob Savage
Country: UK

”Demons”
Director: Jesse Klein
Country: USA

”Devil Wears a Suit”
Director: Eli Mak
Country: Australia

”Eggs, Zombies, and Bacon”
Director: Sherry-Yiyang Shi
Country: USA

”Redmond Hand, Private Dick”
Director: Todd Selby
Country: USA

”Rusalka”
Director: Wes Hurley
Country: USA

"Secret Santa Sex Party”
Directors: Charles Lum, Todd Verow
Country: USA