Films will be screened on Saturday at Smith College's Wright Hall in Northampton.
A scene from the Swedish drama "Kiss Me."Love and friendship is the reel theme of a pre-Valentine’s Day film festival featuring two different shows.
Out! For Reel LGBT Film Series will present the Lesbian Film Festival on Saturday at Smith College’s Wright Hall. The variety of award-winning films from throughout the world focuses on the theme of the evening, love and friendship, in celebration of Valentine’s Day.
Because the film festival is so close to Valentine’s Day, “we decided to have the focus be romantic love and friendship,” said Jaime Michaels, executive director and producer for Out! For Reel. “A lot of folks are in couples, and there are a lot of singles, so we wanted to include everyone’s experience.”
There will be two separate shows.
The first show begins at 5:15 p.m. “Kiss Me” from Sweden. It is an intriguing, heartfelt love story with deep emotional explorations, sensual love scenes, beautiful cinematography and an irresistible music soundtrack. This film has easy-to-read subtitles.
The second show begins at 7:20 p.m.: “Best Lesbian Shorts” and the new short documentary, “T’Aint Nobody’s Bizness: Queer Blues Divas of the 1920s.”
The former includes four award-winning shorts that offer a variety of funny, romantic and heartwarming stories about dating, love and friendship. Television actors Dana Delany and Michelle Bonilla star in the centerpiece short, “Getting to Know You” by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Liz Lachman. This polished comedy is a tongue-in-cheek satire on dating and the search for Ms. Right.
In celebration of Black History Month, “T’Aint Nobody’s Bizness: Queer Blues Divas of the 1920s” is a fascinating look at the lives of lesbian and bisexual African American blues singers including Ethel Waters, Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey. With vintage photos and recordings and narration by lesbian author Jewel Gomez, this new documentary transports the viewer into the intimate worlds of these famous singers.
The other three films are: “What Hot Guy,” a spoof on one-night stands; “Dancing To Happiness” (subtitled), a Belgium film about how true love and the love of dancing can overcome the largest of class differences; and “Hi Maya,” a heartwarming Swiss film about two women in their 70s who reconnect after 50 years and fall in love.
“Winter is a great time to go to the movies,” Michaels said. “And this is a unique opportunity to see films people wouldn’t be able to see anywhere else in the Pioneer Valley.”
Out! For Reel screens the best in award-winning lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender films from throughout the world. Its mission is to create and strengthen the LGBT community through cultural events, build connections to heterosexual allies and work toward the eradication of homophobia through the arts and entertainment.
“We provide the opportunity for thousands of LGBT folks, their allies and anyone to see LGBT films that would not come to the valley without Out! For Reel bringing them.”
Running on a September through June schedule, Out! For Reel tries to screen a film once a month.
People come from throughout New England and eastern New York to see the films, Michaels said. “These films are for everyone – gay and straight, young and old. Everyone is welcome.”
Tickets for each showing is $10 in advance, $12 at the door and $8 for students or $15 in advance for both shows.
Tickets are sold online at www.OutForReel.org and at the door.