HK Lesbian & Gay Film Festival

Now in it’s 26 year the Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival (HKLGFF) continues to bring a wide range of LGBT films to local audiences. This year’s festival features 59 films and runs for three weeks this year from 19 September to 10 October 2015.

Opening Film + Gala Party
Front Cover is the tale of a gay Chinese-American fashion stylist, who despises his ethnic heritage, yet is given an important assignment to style a patriotic actor from Beijing. After a rocky start, a friendship develops leading them to examine their beliefs and identities. Starring Jake Choi, James Chen and directed by Ray Yeung, Front Cover is a bittersweet dramatic comedy, which looks at the Asian-American experience with humour, irony and insight.

In Yes or No 2.5 Love You Baby, starring Sunanta Yoonniyom, Pimpakan Bangchawong and Chansakorn Kittiwattanakorn, Wine, a photographer, and Pii, a chef, are roommates and best friends. They share their lives together but things start to change when two girls Pim and Fah move in next door. Pim coincidently is Wine’s first love, whom she still hasn’t forgotten but Pim now has a boyfriend. Things get complicated when Fah develops feelings for Pii. Director Kirati Nak-intanon and the cast will attend the screening.

The Opening Gala Party is at Zafran, 10:30pm 19 September, 2015. Bring your opening movie ticket stub for free admission and one complimentary drink.

Closing Films + Party
In Baby Steps, a Taiwanese-American man Danny, and his boyfriend, long to have a baby, but the journey becomes increasingly complicated by Danny’s well-intentioned but meddlesome mother who wants to control every aspect of the process from Taipei. Produced by Oscar winning producer Li-Kong Hsu (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Wedding Banquet, Eat Drink Man Woman), and legendary Taiwan actress Grace Guei who also stars in the film as Danny’s mother. Director/ male lead Barney Cheng will be present at the screening to greet the audience.

Freeheld, starring Oscar winner Julianne Moore and Ellen Page, is based on a true story that took place from 2002 – 2006. New Jersey Detective Lieutenant Laurel Hester (Moore) is diagnosed with terminal cancer. She shares her life with her loving partner Stacie (Page) a car mechanic who is much younger than her. Laurel fearing for Stacie’s future sought to leave all her benefits to her, only to be blocked by the county’s governing body of Freeholders. With the help of an LGBT activist Steven (Carell) together they fight to have Laurel’s pension benefits passed on to Stacie. A love story about a loving partnership that in the eyes of law isn’t seen as equals.

The Closing Party is at Kee Club: 10pm, 10 October, 2015. Bring your closing movie ticket stub for free admission and one complimentary drink.

Highlights
I am Michael starring James Franco, Zachary Quinto, and produced by Gus Van Sant is based on Benoit Denizet-Lewis’ New York Times Magazine article “My Ex-Gay Friend”. It is a controversial true story of a gay activist Michael Glatze in 2007 shocked his friends and followers when he publicly renounced his homosexuality and becomes a Christian pastor. What could have led to such an extreme change of belief?

Wonderful World End, starring Ai Hashimoto and Jun Anonami, is about two girls whose relationship surpasses everything like age and sex. This romantic fantastical music film is lighthearted but the feelings and young talents are genuine together. “Guys can’t save us. Only a girl can save a girl.”

In the documentary My Fair Wedding, Kim Gwang-soo, an openly gay film-maker announces his intention to marry Dave Kim, his partner of 9 years who is 19 years his junior. On 7th September, 2013, the couple tie the knot in the heart of downtown Seoul, challenging the tradition-abiding and conservative Korean sensibility through this event which became the first gay marriage in Korean history. However, everything around them is inculcated with a culture of homophobia. As the big day approaches, they grow more and more nervous, wondering what will happen on their wedding day. Kim Gwang-soo and Dave Kim will be present at the screenings to share their stories with audience.

Taiwanese auteur Chang Tso-chi latest work is Thanatos Drunk. Rat works at a market stall but his alcoholic mother constantly nags him to get a proper job and stop hanging out with Shuo, an underworld gigolo whom he looks up to and shares a flat with. Rat’s older brother, Shang-ho, used to live in at the US but returns after losing his boyfriend there. Shang-ho gradually falls for Shuo until Shuo’s past catches up on him…

Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
Date: 19 September – 10 October, 2015
Venue: AMC Festival Walk ($90), AMC Pacific Place ($95), The ONE ($80) & Broadway Cinematheque ($80)
Tickets: various
More info: www.hklgff.hk