Hi, Just wanted to share with you the press release for this year's upcoming Verzaubert International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. It looks pretty fabulous. Best, Jenni Olson Producer, PopcornQ ___________________________________________________________________________ _________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ _________________ Dear friends, With more than 25.000 visitors in 1996 the VERZAUBERT ("Enchanted") Film Festival was the largest event of its kind in Europe and it is continuing to expand! In the beginning of 1997 the directors of the INTERNATIONAL GAYLESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL BERLIN and the company Rosebud Entertainment (FANTASY FILMFEST and VERZAUBERT) joined forces to present an even more spectacular event this year, aiming for a future size like the San Francisco Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Frankfurt was added as a new festival site. New theaters, like the glamorous "Berlinale" venue "Delphi Filmpalast" have been acquired. The festival catalogue with its larger (DIN A4) format allows for a new attractive and generous layout. In it's seventh year, the International GayLesbian Film Festival VERZAUBERT '97 opens - with Gregg Araki's DOOM GENERATION - on November 12th in Munich, then tours on to Frankfurt and Stuttgart to close - with Monica Pellizzari's FISTFUL OF FLIES - on December 3rd in Cologne and Berlin. Uncommon in the festival business, especially in Europe, VERZAUBERT has been financed completely without public funding. All the more remarkable that the Festival managed to maintain its beneficial character over the years; it has annually donated to HIV-related projects. The thematically wide-ranging festival program includes approximately 100 productions, among them European and World premieres, International short films and a noteworthy number of German premieres. For many years VERZAUBERT has been well-respected among distributors for its efforts to recommend available films and to act as a link between production and distribution companies. Enclosed you will find a first choice of Festival films and further information. We'll be glad to send you the catalogue anytime after October 30th. Or visit our web site at: http://home.t-online.de/home/rosebud_entertainment. We'd be happy about international coverage of the Festival by your publication. For further information or photos for publication don't hesitate to contact Birgit Scheuch at phone/fax +49-30-692 1104 or Frederike Berndt at our Berlin office, phone +49-30-861 4532, fax +49-30-861 4539. DATES AND VENUES Munich 11/12 - 11/19 Atelier, City and Cinema Stuttgart 11/19 - 11/26 Delphi Theaters Frankfurt/M 11/20 - 11/26 Turm-Palast Theatres Berlin 11/26 - 12/3 Delphi, Kurbel, Yorck, FAF, Movie Cologne 11/27 - 12/3 Residenz Theaters Thanks for your kind attention and suppport. Regards, Birgit Scheuch Frederike Berndt verzaubert'97 Festival Highlights: ALL OVER ME USA 1996, OV, first run dir: Alex Sichel, script: Sylvia Sichel cast: Alison Folland, Tara Subkoff, Wilson Cruz Claude (Alison Folland, TO DIE FOR) is Ellen's best friend. Coming of age they share intimate and intense moments, suffer typical bouts of self-conciousness, trying to make sense out of life and first love. This debut feature directed by Alex Sichel and written by Sylvia Sichel is utterly sensitive and charming. BUTCH CAMP USA 1996, OV, first run dir/script: Allessandro De Gaetano cast: Paul Denniston, Jason Terisi, Judy Tenuta, Jordan Roberts Stand-up comedienne Judy Tenuta is Captain Samantha Rottweiler. Lack of self-confidence, manliness or boyfriend don't stand a chance against her sadistic training methods. A wild blend of robust comedy, display of muscular flesh and gay empowerment. BUTCH CAMP played before sold out houses and enthusiastic audiences at Sydney Mardi Gras. CAT SWALLOWS PARAKEET AND SPEAKS! Canada 1996, OV, German premiere dir/script: Ileana Pietrobruno cast: Tara Frederick, Rebecca Godin, Alex Ferguson, Christine Taylor Ileana Pietrobruno's visually intense feature follows Scheharazade, a young model recovering at a hospital from an ulcer. She meets Kore, an anorexic, slightly crazy fellow patient who is obsessed with tabloids. In the suffocating hospital atmosphere the women grow closer and closer. CAT SWALLOWS ... is a mythical mixture of dream and reality, masterfully realized by the young Canadian director. EAST PALACE, WEST PALACE China 1997, OV English subtitles, first run dir: Zhang Yuan, script: Wang Xiaobo cast: Si Han, Hu Jun After a random night raid in a local park, young gay writer A-Lan is held for police interrogation. Memories of A-Lan's childhood, first sexual experiences trigger a dangerous attraction. EAST PALACE, WEST PALACE is the first film about homosexuality produced in China despite the political repression. Director Zhang Yuan smuggled his censored film out of the country to receive praise in the official selection "Un Certain Regard" at Cannes. L'ESCORTE Canada 1996, OV English subtitles, German premiere dir: Denis Langlois, script: Denis Langlois, Betrand Lachance cast: Robin Aubert, Paul-Antoine Taillefer, Marie Levebvre, Patrice Coquereau After eight years of living together, sex and passion have completely dissipated from Phillippe's and Jean-Marc's relationship. Suddenly, resulting from a drunken party prank, the attractive callboy Steve shows up at the door and produces more sexual and emotional momentum, than the resignated couple could have ever imagined. Denis Langlois' debut feature is a bittersweet study of love and friendship, a SEX, LIES AND VIDEO version for the Nineties. GROOVE ON A STANLEY KNIFE UK 1997, OV, first run dir: Tinge Krishnan, script: Tinge Krishnan, Beth Kotler cast: Alison Burrows, Samantha Hoyle While fleeing crack dealers in Northern England, entrenched in a seedy public toilet, two fierce and fearless young women tackle conflicts arising from differing sexualities and drug use. Against a backdrop of past lies and betrayal, the women persist struggling for a better life. With innovative style, aggressive soundtrack and streetwise wit this story about violence and hatred, love and hope creeps straight under one's skin. HEADS OR TALES (J'EN SUIS) Canada 1997, OV, European premiere dir: Claude Fournier, script: Fournier/Raymond cast: Roy Dupuis, Patrick Huard, Albert Millaire, Charlotte Laurier, Arielle Dombasie When his business folds, architect Dominique decides to become an antiques dealer. A career change with unexpected consequences for the well-adjusted heterosexual, who's confronted with that business being queer to the roots. After a few starting difficulties Dominique begins to enjoy his new role to a surprising extent. HEADS OR TALES turns expectations upside down completely and is a furious and delightful comeback for the award winning Duo Fournier/Raymond (THE TIN FLUTE). In cooperation with German organizations for anti-discrimination and education in schools and educational institutions: IT'S ELEMENTARY: Talking About Gay Issues in School USA 1996, German premiere, OV dir: Debra Chasnoff Directed by Academy-Award-winning filmmaker Debra Chasnoff, this documentary shows what actually happens when teachers address anti-gay prejudice in their classrooms. With inspiring footage shot in schools across the United States, IT'S ELEMENTARY powerfully points out the necessity to help children develop a humanitarian view of the world as early as possible. IT'S IN THE WATER USA 1996, OV, first run dir/script: Kelli Herd cast: Kerri Jo Chapman, Terese Garret, Derrick Saunders, Nancy Chartier, Beverley May Underneath the flawless small-town facade of Azalea Springs lies a seething hotbed of homosexuality. Could it be caused by something in the water? Besides being a hilarious satire on American right wing values, IT'S IN THE WATER is a rare jewel: a romantic feel-good movie about and for, both lesbians and gay men. LEATHER JACKET LOVE STORY USA 1997, OV, German premiere dir: David DeCoteau, script: Rondo Mieczkowsky cast: Sean Tataryn, Mink Stole, Nicholas Worth, William Butler, Geoffrey Moody, Ruby Tuesday 18-year-old Kyle is aspiring to be a poet. It's hard to believe that hunky 30-year old carpenter Mike (type: leather jacket and hardcore one-night stands) should become his love. Notable for its fresh dialogue and explicit sex scenes and featuring Mink Stole (of John Waters fame) plus various cameos (e.g. Gay rights-activist Morris Knight or supermodel Geoff Moody) LEATHER JACKET LOVE STORY is the perfect date movie. NEPTUNE'S ROCKING HORSE USA 1997, OV, European premiere dir/script: Robert Ruznowsky, Robert Tate cast: David Beach, Laura Kenyan, Tony Fair, Roderick Leverne Five different people witness a black drag queen being brutally arrested by the police. No one intervenes, but the scene is going to change all of their lifes... NEPTUNE'S ROCKING HORSE is an intense and humorous study of its characters' values, prejudice and phantasies and modern big city life. RESCUING DESIRE USA 1995, OV, first run dir: Adam Rodgers, script: Catherine May Levin cast: Melinda Mullins, Tamara Tunie, Caitlin Dulany, Lea DeLaria Usually one does not go to bed as a heterosexual and wakes up gay. Well-respected, attractive 46-year-old nurse Toni Wilson does! Her fiancE attributes her sudden attraction to women to a midlife hormonal imbalance, but Toni doesn't buy it. Her ventures into the lesbian shops and bars, her acquiry of outfits, toys and cruising skills are hilarious in their determination. Nothing is sacred in this all out romantic comedy that takes a refreshing and silly look at coming out later in life. TWILIGHT OF THE GOLDS USA 1997, OV, International premiere dir: Ross Marks, script: Jonathan Tolins, Seth Bass cast: Faye Dunaway, Brendan Fraser, Jennifer Beals, Garry Marshall, Rosie O'Donnell Ten fingers, ten toes ... and gay. Do you still want him? The Gold family couldn't be more perfect: well-to-do, conservative and apparently, loving. However, when daughter Susan announces her pregnancy, drama takes it's course. A brandnew genetic test "outs" her baby as gay. Faye Dunaway's, Jennifer Beals' and Brendan Fraser's strong performances call forth the viewer's innermost fears and prejudice, TWILIGHT OF THE GOLDS does not fear a deeply emotional approach to a very current and touchy issue. VIOLET'S VISIT Australia 1997, OV, European premiere dir: Richard Turner, script: Barry Lowe, Andrew Creagh cast: Rebecca Smart, Graham Harvey, David Franklin Time to get to know her real father, decides 15-year-old Violet and runs away to Sydney. Some surprise for dad Alec, who has successfully repressed his heterosexual past and certainly never told his lover of eight years, Peter... A touching story of love and family, VIOLET'S VISIT takes on the issue of gay parenting from a refreshing perspective. WORK USA 1996, OV, German premiere dir/script: Rachel Reichman cast: Cynthia Kaplan, Sonja Sohn Stuck in a depressed town, in a passionless marriage and out of work, Jenny's escape strategy is a clandestine affair with her young next-door neighbor, June. WORK is a powerful character study of two women in search of identity, love and a way out. more to go... ALL THE RAGE (USA 1997) * ALWAYS SOMETHING BETTER (USA 1997) * CLANCY'S KITCHEN (UK 1997) * COMPANIONS: TALES FROM THE CLOSET (Sweden 1996) * DAVID SEARCHING (USA 1997) * EVERYTHING MUST GO (Belgium 1996) * GREEN PLAID SHIRT (USA 1996) * HIDE AND SEEK (USA 1996) * JACKSON: MY LIFE YOUR FAULT (UK 1996) * JADED (USA 1997) * KISS ME GUIDO (USA 1996) * LATIN BOYS GO TO HELL (Germany/Spain 1996) * LILIES (Canada 1996) * MY NIGHT WITH REG (UK 1996) * NOT LOVE, JUST FRENZY (Spain 1996) * NOWHERE (USA 1996) * SEXING THE LABEL (Australia 1996) * SKELETONS (USA 1996) * SKIN & BONE (USA 1995) * STOLEN MOMENTS (Canada 1997) * WHY NOT (Italy/France 1996) * WILDSIDE (USA 1995) ... ___________________________________________________________________________ ________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ _________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ _________________ ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama.