BWW Blog: MFAH Film Curator Marian Luntz Talks QFEST 21

By: Jul. 21, 2017
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When we think of summer movies, it's typically blockbusters that come to mind. On a seemingly weekly schedule, the latest action flick opens on many screens, hoping to triumph over the box office success of its predecessors.

Nothing against all that, but I'm happy to say that for many of us in Houston, there's an alternative to lift us from the dog days of summer: QFest, our city's international GLBTQ Film Festival. It was my privilege to be involved with the launch of this annual event at DiverseWorks, more than two decades ago. How fitting that DiverseWorks, now located in the dynamic art space MATCH in Midtown, will host the opening night festivities.

The 21st edition of QFest unspools July 27-31, and once again, artistic director Kristian Salinas has curated a diverse line-up that will entertain, inspire, titillate and provoke. His selections include features, documentaries and shorts, both new and classic, chosen from the festival circuit. If you've heard your friends post about films they have seen at OutFest in L.A. or Frameline in San Francisco, look to the QFest schedule: it's likely that some of those same movies are coming here. The website is http://www.q-fest.com/ .

In addition to the undeniable pleasure of experiencing movies together on the big screen, QFest offers its audiences the chance to sample many of Houston's cultural and community venues. This year, the festival screenings take place at DiverseWorks, Asia Society Center, Rice Cinema, Aurora Picture Show, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and even a matinee at Ripcord, not a spot one thinks of frequenting during daylight hours!

Film festivals are an immersive experience. Here are some tips: clear your calendar, make a night of it by inviting friends to join you, and get your tickets in advance.

The film festival opens with the sexy, exhilarating musical HELLO AGAIN (July 27, 7:30 pm, MATCH). Another hot new release is TOM OF FINLAND (July 30, 8 pm, Rice), a documentary exploring the life of the artist known for his iconic leather attire. QFest doesn't shy away from topical films, this year premiering BONES OF CONTENTION (July 29, 5:15 pm, Rice), about the persecution of gays and lesbians in Spain, framed around the experiences of one famous victim, poet Federico Garcia Lorca. The universality of mother-daughter relationships is tackled in the Taiwanese film SMALL TALK (July 30, 3:00 p.m., Asia Society), winner of a Teddy Award at the Berlin International Film Festival. Kristian's interest in revisiting classics is reflected in the 80s lesbian romance DESERT HEARTS (July 29, 7 pm, MFAH), the sumptuous Merchant-Ivory MAURICE (July 30, 5 pm, MFAH), starring a fetching young Hugh Grant, and the chilling IN A GLASS CAGE (July 28, 9 pm, Rice).

Not to be overlooked is the terrific shorts showcase COME AS YOU ARE (July 29, 3:30 pm, Aurora Picture Show). It's described like this: from a Tina Turner-belting performer in Tonga to a London-based Drag King performance artist finding an admiring audience in Brooklyn, this collection of films explores themes of gender-both as repressive constructs and as pathways for finding true identity and expression. Closing night (July 31, 7:30 pm, Rice Cinema) will be very interactive, featuring THIRSTY, a biopic about the legendary Cher impersonator. This just in: the film's star will attend!

QFest 21 will screen about 21 films during its brisk 5-day span, celebrating the best of queer cinema from around the world. A rewarding experience awaits, and I will see you there!

The 21st edition of QFest opens July 27 and continues through July 31. See the full schedule with venues, dates, and times at www.q-fest.com.



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