Queer Bits Film Festival Lineup Announced

The seventh edition of the semi-annual Queer Bits Film Festival, to be screened Saturday, June 17 at 7:30 pm in The Broadway, Pride Arts Center, will include eleven films from six countries, according to an announcement made today by festival producers Dan Pal and Shaun Baer. This spring's set list includes individual narratives ranging from the realities of dating a lesbian stripper, facing expulsion as a bi-gender musician, and keeping "forbidden love" from being expressed in India.

The lineup of films is:

5A-5B, directed by Michael Cicetti, Comedy Short

Coming Full Circle, directed by Kim Yaged, Comedy Short

Dawn, directed by Jake Graf, Dramatic Short

Dressed, directed by Sydney O'Haire, Student Short

Dusk, directed by Jake Graf, Dramatic Short

From Head to Toes, directed by Omery Chrystophe, Dramatic Short

Honor Council, directed by Scott Simonsen, Comedy Short

A Parable of Waiting, directed by Angie Panganiban, Student Short

Sisak, directed by Faraz Arif Ansari, Dramatic Short

Tailor, directed by Suma Filmes, Documentary Short

Taste of Love, directed by Paul Scheufler, Student Short

The films were selected from submissions across many genres - from drama to comedy to documentary to student productions - and from countries all over the world, including Austria, France, Brazil and the UK. Festival producers Dan Pal and Shaun Baer say "we are pleased to be able to assemble a lineup of films that promote diversity, inclusion and representation for the LGBTQ community."

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at http://pridefilmsandplays.com for $10.

5A-5B
Directed by Michael Cicetti, Comedy Short (US, 5 minutes 22 seconds)
A comedy about two Harlem neighbors, a young gay academic and a free-spirited divorcee, who combat urban ennui with the help of some fine wine from the bodega.

Coming Full Circle
Directed by Kim Yaged, Comedy Short (US, 1 minute 57 seconds)
What's all the fuss over dating a stripper? One word-sex. And, if you have access to the information, you want details. So here it is-waterbeds, sex toys, motion sickness wristbands and all.

Dawn
Directed by Jake Graf, Dramatic Short (UK, 13 minutes 24 seconds)
As dawn creeps across London, two lost outcasts meet in the darkness, more afraid of themselves than each other. As the sun begins to rise, and the veil of night is lifted, the pair are forced to look at themselves and face the harsh reality that life is sometimes what you make it, and that in the cold light of day, it takes more than the eyes to see inside a soul.

Dressed
Directed by Sydney O'Haire, Student Short (US, 7 minutes 26 seconds)
After her engagement collapses, Mags' mourning is interrupted by her little sister, recently out and seeking Mags' support at a pride rally. With every day a reminder of her own failed relationship, Mags must decide what it means to support the people she loves.

Dusk
Directed by Jake Graf, Dramatic Short (UK, 15 minutes)
Growing up in 1950s England in an intolerant and uninformed world, young Chris Winters struggles to fit into the gender roles dictated by wider society.

From Head to Toes
Directed by Omery Chrystophe, Dramatic Short (France, 5 minutes 38 seconds)
An evening. A room. Here or everywhere. A young man, anonymous. Awkwardly, he undresses. His thoughts are expressed, intimate and confused. By undressing, he exposes himself.

Honor Council
Directed by Scott Simonsen, Comedy Short (US, 11 minutes 52 seconds)
Bi-gender high school outcast takes down the top bully with dildo nunchucks and must face a jury of peers to decide his fate.

A Parable of Waiting
Directed by Angie Panganiban, Student Short (US, 14 minutes 32 seconds)
In the wake of his wife's death, Mark Neuman turns a telemarketing phone call into an opportunity to rethink the course of his life. On the other end, Ben from the life insurance company, postpones the initial purpose of the phone call to find the strength needed to pursue what life has to offer.

Sisak
Directed by Faraz Arif Ansari, Dramatic Short (India, 15 minutes)
Sisak is India's First Silent LGBTQ Love Story. Written & Directed by Faraz Arif Ansari. Produced by Aparna Sud & Futterwacken Films. Starring Jitin Gulati & Dhruv Singhal

Taste of Love
Directed by Paul Scheufler, Student Short (Austria, 4 minutes 28 seconds)
"What is the taste of love?" Could it be sweet, sour, bitter or even salty? A girl embarks on an aromatic journey of love, stimulating her taste buds to the point of climax. With all senses, she explores the various forms love can take on. "Love is as diverse as our sense of taste."

Tailor
Directed by Suma Filmes, Documentary Short (Brazil, 9 minutes 47 seconds)
TAILOR is a transgender cartoonist that shares in his web page other trans people's experiences and their challenges in society.

Pride Films and Plays' Counting to be screened in Chicago Onscreen: Local Film Showcase

Pride Films and Plays' first film production, Counting, has been selected to be screened in the fourth annual Chicago Onscreen: Local Film Showcase, a five-day festival of locally made and Chicago-focused films, sponsored by the Chicago Parks District. This year's festival will be presented in nine different parks throughout Chicago over five consecutive days, from August 29 through September 2nd. Counting, which has won many awards in the film festival circuit this past year will be shown in three of the festival's nine screenings:
Tuesday, August 29 at Northerly Island, 1521 S. Linn White Dr.
Thursday, August 31 at Ellis Park, 3520 S. Cottage Grove Ave
Thursday, August 31 at Wicker Park, 1425 N. Damen Avenue
All screenings start at 8 pm. More information is available at http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/events/chicago-onscreen/

ABOUT QUEER BITS FILM FESTIVAL

The first screening and incarnation of Queer Bits occurred in November 2012 at Center on Halsted's Hoover-Leppen Theatre. The enthusiasm for that and a subsequent festival in November 2013 led PFP to continue the festival as an on-going event, twice a year. The Queer Bits Film Festival is typically a sold-out 90-minute program of short narrative, animated, foreign language, student, and documentary films. In April 2016, Queer Bits AltReels was presented which included slightly longer films which were more experimental in form and storytelling.