Look at Me Again is a road movie that whisks us away to the wild, semi-arid expanse of north-eastern Brazil. Our tough, cool travelling companion is Silvyo Luccio (‘… I was born a woman, became a lesbian and am now a man’), a thinker in the throes of transition and transformation who finds himself on a journey back into his religious-fundamentalist, deeply prejudiced, traditionalist past. At the heart of old wounds, humiliation and trauma lies an anxiously awaited encounter with a daughter and the hope of familial reconciliation. Look at Me Again portrays a vibrant human being full of resilience, who has broken free of the sexual catechism’s stale trinity of hetero-homo-bisexuality in order to set off on a different path in search of new horizons. Before him lies a baking hot road through regions marked by grinding poverty, ardent religious faith, superstition and bloated machismo, as well as several encounters with some extraordinary people. (Description courtesy of the Berlinale: The Berlin International Film Festival.)

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Zenne Dancer is inspired by the true characters and stories of Zenne Can and Ahmet Yildiz, who was murdered by his father July 18, 2008 in Istanbul. It is the contemporary story of three unlikely friends: Ahmet, a hyper-masculine gay (bear); Can, a male belly dancer (Zenne); and Daniel, a German photo-journalist. One day they meet Daniel, a German photojournalist newly arrived in Istanbul. The three of them forge a friendship and Daniel and Ahmet grow even closer, as a relationship begins to blossom between them. Soon, Ahmet’s hyper conservative family, suspicious and fearful of Ahmet`s sexual orientation, has hires a man to spy on him When Ahmet’s family discovers Ahmet’s plans to leave the country, they decide to defend their family honor. Zenne Dancer is an honest and unflinching look at living opening gay in Turkey, confronted by a systemic, institutionalized and culturally embedded homophobia.

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Called “The True Fairy of Rock & Roll” and “Hype of the Year,” Jobriath’s reign as the f irst openly gay rock star was brief and over by 1975. Now, 35 years later, Jobriath A.D. spotlights his life, music, groundbreaking influence and the new generations of fans slowly re-discovering him. A hymn to the enigmatic, cult glam rocker Jobriath, ‘I am the true fairy of rock’. His brief but fascinating career as an openly gay performer, sometimes called ‘the American Bowie’ is uncovered by this pioneering documentary which has a wealth of archive footage. Adored by Morrissey and The Pet Shop Boys, this is a celebration of a singer-songwriter whose legacy has been all-too-little appreciated; Jayne County, Gloria Jones, Jake Shears, Marc Almond and manager Jerry Brandt are among the interview subjects. Jobriath’s unashamed queerness was just too much for the early 70s. Director Kieran Turner has crafted a rewarding film as a lasting tribute to the creative talent of a major f igure. (Description courtesy of Brian Robinson, BFI London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.)

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