By Ryan Keating-Lambert
The 19th Mezipatra Queer Film Festival is fast approaching and the festival has just released their programme along with this year’s theme, ‘Beyond Reality’, which promises to fully immerse audiences in visions of wild fantasy and vivid imagination. The festival will screen over 50 films, including international feature films, short films, documentaries and more in Prague from November 8 – 15, and in Brno from November 16 – 23.
The opening ceremony and ‘Wildlife’ themed party will kick off in Kino Lucerna with Austrian film L’Animale, a stylish drama that focuses on a university student and her conflicting feelings of sexuality which reaches its peak when a biker friend sexually harasses a girl. Directed by Katharina Mückstein, L’Animale will be in Mezipatra’s international feature film competition this year.
Try to catch a screening of The Miseducation of Cameron Post (pictured) as well. Based on the novel by Emily Danforth, this coming-of-age ’90s story focuses on teenager Cameron (Chloë Grace Moretz) who is sent to Christian gay conversion therapy by her conservative guardians after falling in love with a girl in her class. Also starring Sasha Lane (American Honey), this one is a must-see, especially for fans of American indie cinema.
Another notable title this year is Lukas Dhont’s Belgian film Girl, also in the international competition. Girl sees fifteen-year-old Laura (newcomer Victor Polster), a classical ballet student who is also in the final stages of transitioning, attempting to cope with her hormone treatment and a stressful ballet career. It’s a film that’s both heartbreaking and empowering. It also won the Camera d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Closing the festival will be Lukas Moodysson’s iconic film Show Me Love, a love story of two teenage girls trying to live in the sleepy Swedish town of Åmål. The film is also celebrating it’s 20th anniversary this year.
In addition to its extensive film programme, Mezipatra also prides itself on accompanying events including exhibitions, parties, discussions, debates and more. Make sure to check out the Fata Morgana main party on Saturday November 10 in industrial club Ankali with Berlin-based DJs Acado.
Mezipatra Queer Film Festival will take place in Prague’s Kino Lucerna, Kino Světozor and Kino Pilotů from November 8 – 15, and in Kino Scala and Kino Art in Brno from November 16 – 23. All films will be English friendly.
For tickets and more details, visit the official festival website.
Photos: Mezipatra QFF
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