So many things to like about the Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival – it’s hard to know where to begin… a diverse line up of international & Israeli films, panel discussions, master classes, parties galore, a terrific website in English with all the information easily available and a fun promo clip by Mysh with an alternative look at film classics:
The 6th edition of the TLVFest will take place at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque and LGBT Center in Meir Park from June 11 – 18, 2011. The fun begins on Saturday, June 11, 2011 with a gala event emceed by Ziona Patriot and Talula Bonet with a special performance by Diva D. Starting in style with a cocktail reception at 16:30 in the Cinematheque lobby, sponsored by Visit Berlin and continuing with the world premiere of the Israeli feature Melting Away directed by Doron Eran. Tickets for the opening event are 70NIS and include entrance to the opening night party.
Filmmaker Tomer Heymann will be recognized for his achievements in film with a special award from TLVFest. Three of Heymann’s documentaries will be screened at the festival:
It Kinda Scares Me (2001), Heymann’s groundbreaking documentary on his relationship with a group of adolescents in a tough neighborhood, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The film won the 2001 Ophir Prize for best documentary, as well as the 2001 Haifa film Festival, 2002 Melbourne Film Festival, Torino and other awards. The film will be screened on Monday, June 13th at 20:00 at the LGBT Center with Heymann in attendance. I Shot My Love, which held its Israeli premiere at the 2010 TLVFest, will be screened on June 15th at 22:00 in the LGBT Center, with Heymann and Andreas Merk in attendance for a post-film discussion. The Israeli premiere of Heymann’s most recent film, The Queen Has No Crown (2011), will take place on June 16th at 20:00 Tel Aviv Cinematheque, with Heymann in attendance for a post-film discussion.
Special Events at the festival include:
A meeting with the filmmakers and cast of the opening night film Melting Away on Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 18:00 at the LGBT Center. The event will take place in Hebrew and admission is free.
On Monday, June 13, 2011 at 18:00 there will be a master class with Ocean Leroy, an international drag king, who will talk about his work. The workshop will take place in English, and admission is free.
Also on Monday, an evening with the Norwegian band The Hungry Hearts – videos, music, live art and dialogue at the LGBT Center at 20:00.
On Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 16:00 the TLVFest Pitching Session, supported by the Rabinovich Film Fund will take place for the third year. A 15,000 NIS script development grant will be offered to the chosen project. The session will take place in English and admission is free.
A panel discussion “Can Porn Be Art?” will take place on Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at 16:00 at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque with Jürgen Brüning (Producer of Bruce La-Bruce films and Director of the Berlin Porn Film Festival), Florence Fradelizi (film programmer, Director, and actress in “Too Much Pussy!”); and other festival guests. The panel will be in English and admission is free.
On Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 16:00 there will be a panel discussion with Tehila, an organization for Parents of LGBT kids at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque, following the screening of the film I Am. The film has English subtitles, and the panel discussion will be in Hebrew.
A panel discussion “How to Promote Your Film” will take place on Friday, June 17, 2011 at 13:00 at the LGBT Center with the participation of festival programmers from Berlin, Oslo, Athens and Paris, as well as other industry professionals from Europe and Israel. The panel will be in English and admission is free.
Daishi Matsunaga documents the transformation of his childhood friend into an artist whose life and body are an integral part of her art in Pyuupiru, screened on Friday, June 17th at 22:15 at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque, with Pyuupiru and Daishi Matsunaga in attendance.
The TLVFest Film Awards Ceremony, hosted by Miss Laila Carry, will take place on Saturday, June 18, at 21:30 with the screening of the closing night film: KABOOM! by Greg Araki, awarded the first-ever Queer Palm at Cannes.
Among the many intriguing offerings is Fucking Different Tel Aviv (2008), the third collection of the Fucking Different project (the Berlin version will also be screened at the festival). Directed by Elad Zakai, Eran Kublik Kedar and and Ricardo Rojstaczer, Eyal Bromberg, Sivan Levi, Nir Ne’eman, Yossi Brauman, Avital Barak and Sie Gal, November Wanderin, Yasmin Max, Hila Ben Baruch, Stephanie Abramovich, Anat Salomon and Yair Hochner, the film will be screened on June 18th at 16:00 at the LGBT Center.
Tel Aviv Cinematheque, 2 Shprinzak St. Tel Aviv. Tickets: +972-(0)3-6060800, ext. 0
LGBT Center, 22A Tshernichovskyst. Meir Park, Tel Aviv. Tickets: +972-(0)3-5252896 Sunday to Thursday from 10:00-22:00.
