Projects in genres: LGBTQIA+

Synopsis

A shorthand term made popular by gay men in recent years for the use of drugs (specifically crystal meth, GHB and mephedrone) in a sexual context, ‘chemsex’ has been seen by some as a significant contributing factor in the rise of HIV diagnoses in London... In this unflinching documentary, we meet a host of men whose lives have been affected, from self-confessed ‘slammers’ to sexual health workers, each of whom talk candidly about the pleasures and perils associated with the scene. (LFF brochure)
BFI London Film Festival 2015 - World premiere

Synopsis

Colours is a gripping drama about Adam (17) and his battle to resolve a situation that spirals out of control when he and the team discover his best friend, and football team mate, Tom is gay. The team is led by the aggressive and malicious captain, Mike, who gives Adam the ultimatum to either be on their side or Tom’s. Adam is left with the choice of standing by his friend Tom who has lied to him and caused the position he’s in, potentially facing losing all of his other friends and having his world turned upside down, or Adam keeps his life stable in siding with Mike and leads Tom into a situation that’s likely to have a terrible outcome.

Synopsis

A dark comedy, set in a fantasy London of darkness, dawns and dusks. It concerns two boys, dressed in rags and living in a little room that looks out over their ruined city, living on the edge of society, trying to survive. Despite the darkness and danger, the boys find solace and laughter in one another and bloom like weeds in the gutter. With nothing to lose, they fall through the clockwork of the city in search of escape, and perhaps even hope renewed.

Synopsis

An English family prepare the sale of their holiday home in the South of France. Over one week, the teenage son, Elliot, wrestles with his burgeoning sexuality while his mother, Beatrice, confronts the end of her marriage to his father, who harbours a secret of his own. When an enigmatic local boy quietly enters their lives, mother and son are led to confront each other and their awakening desires.
Touched by myth and landscape, 'Departure' narrates the story of the end of a marriage, the end of childhood and the end of an otherwise nuclear middle class family.
Dinard Festival of British Films 2015 - World premiere

Synopsis

Deana McGuffin is a third generation New Mexico bootmaker, hand-crafting wearable pieces of art. When she is approached by a Canadian artist and a San Franciscan tattooer to create a gay-themed cowboy boot, a story unravels of a unique collaboration that takes them to the heart of cowboy country.

Synopsis

A film about a boy's feelings of love for his best friend, another boy.
The second of two films based on the theme of Love Works: exploring South Asian LGBT relationships in contemporary Britain commissioned by Bobby Tiwana.

Synopsis

A fortysomething ex-lead singer of a once-moderately-famous British indie band has just had his solo album rejected and parted ways with his manager.
And, to make matters worse, his wife is cheating on him. With a woman.
So he embarks upon an ill-conceived plan to teach his wife a lesson and maybe win her back.
It involves kidnaping both her and her lover and making them swallow what he claims is rat poison – as well as swallowing some himself.
He says he's brought an antidote, but only enough for two people, and he wants the group to decide who lives.
But he hasn’t really poisoned anyone. However, the antidote is poisonous. But when he tries to explain this, not everyone believes him, with tragic consequences for all.

Synopsis

As real life becomes a performance the question is posed which of them is real? Is any of it? Despite the doubts there seems to be an inability to escape the potency of the fiction. It is mundane mechanism of daily life that provide the means of questioning ones fiction.

Synopsis

The estranged relationship between a father and his gay daughter, now a young mother.
The first of two films based on the theme of Love Works: exploring South Asian LGBT relationships in contemporary Britain commissioned by Bobby Tiwana.

Synopsis

Battle Mountain is the story of Graeme Obree’s epic journey. Can a man who broke world records and won world championships 20 years ago still cut it as his fiftieth birthday approaches?
Graeme Obree and his legendary bike “Old Faithful” inspired Sir Chris Hoy – who calls him a genius, as well as Sir Bradley Wiggins and millions of cyclists across the world. 20 years on he has built a bike, and the aerodynamic shell, in his attempt to break the International Human Powered Vehicle Association land speed record.
“BATTLE MOUNTAIN” is an immersive observational documentary showing how Graeme built “The Beastie” (as named by Sir Chris Hoy). Following Graeme as he trains in the Ayrshire rain and the sunshine of Tenerife, and watches as his cardio workouts take him to the point of collapse.
'Battle Mountain' isn’t just about a sport and engineering genius. It is also about the fragility of the human mind and the mental strength required to make you a world record holder. Graeme openly talks about the difficulties he has encountered and survived through his life. He doesn’t shy away from his demons, everything is confronted head on.
Edinburgh International Film Festival 2015 - World premiere

Synopsis

Olivier and James' romantic break in the South of France is interrupted by the sudden arrival of Caroline. Friendships are questioned; sexuality tested.

Synopsis

Filmmaker Colin Rothbart pulls off the wigs, wipes off the mascara to unveil the real people behind the much hyped and talked about East London's alternative drag scene. Overeating, gender dysphoria, egos, excess. Following in the tradition of Paris Is Burning and The Cockettes, and DRESSED AS A GIRL is so much more than show-stopping performances. Filmed over five years, the film covers not only the rise and fall of this hugely popular gay club scene but also offers some personal, emotionally honest portraits of six individuals at the heart it. Fundamentally it's about the nature of friendship, life and even survival against the odds, universal themes that everyone can relate to.