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October 10, 6:30pm
The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela
Iceland / Philippines
Olaf de Fleur, 2008, 80min
English, Thai, Icelandic, Visayan, English subtitled throughout.
This globe-trotting real-fantasy follows the larger than life journey of Filipina 'lady-boy', Queen Raquela, from street-worker in Cebu to internet celebrity in Paris, via Iceland and New York on the way. Winner of the prestigious Teddy Award at the Berlin Film Festival in 2008, THE AMAZING TRUTH ABOUT QUEEN RAQUELA virtually defies description.
Raquela Rios is a born star who dreams of a glamorous life in the West, but how will a poor prostitute in the Philippines ever be ‘discovered’? With nothing but her web-cam, wit and a whole lot of attitude, this self proclaimed queen of internet porn is soon turning heads on the other side of the world, and her dream life could be just a plane ride away.
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October 11, 5pm
Be Like Others
Iran
Tanaz Eshagian, 2008, 74min
Farsi with English subtitles
Under Iran's current fundamentalist laws, homosexuals can be arrested, tortured and even put to death. Changing your gender however, is completely accepted and indeed subsidised by the state. So what do young gay men do when offered the choice between being incarcerated and disowned by their family or living a free life as a woman... they join the long waiting list for gender reassignment surgery. This is a powerful insight into a cultural climate that, whilst providing a service that many genuinely transgendered people would ache for, has created a situation in which homosexuality can be virtually eradicated.
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October 11, 7pm
Football Under Cover
Germany / Iran
David Assmann & Ayat Najafi, 2007, 86min
English, German and Persian with English subtitles.
A determined trip from the west to the middle east ingites one of the most joyous expressions of sportswomanship you’ll ever see. Football Undercover follows a Berlin women’s soccer team as they struggle against relentless bureaucratic odds to make a dream come true – to travel to Tehran to play the Iranian women’s soccer team, who have never been allowed to compete with an international team before. This group of sporty women just want to kick around a field and make some new friends, but when cross-cultural politics come into play, this game might not be so easy. While in Tehran the largely Lesbian team from Kruezberg must observe strict codes of conduct: homosexual sex is forbidden, and when on the field, players must wear hijab at all times. Funny, thrilling and inspirational down to the final goal.
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October 12, 6:30pm
quickDOCS, Aussie Shorts
UNDRESSING VANESSA
Matthew Pond, 2007, 23min
Get up close and personal with one of Australia’s most political drag personalities, Vanessa Wagner, charting nearly two decades of frocking up and fighting the good fight.
LESBANESE
Alissar Gazal, 2008, 26min
Sydney filmmaker, Alissar Gazal, journey’s to her homeland to ask the question “how do Lesbians live, love and play in a troubled nation like Lebanon?”. With great charm and determination it seems. Welcome to the sexy, savvy, confident world of the Le(s)banese
KRIS CROSS
Sarah Spillane, 2007, 14min
Kris is part way through the long and costly (both financially and emotionally) process of transitioning from female to male, but that isn’t going to get him down. His upbeat outlook and charismatic charm can’t even be dampened by his mum calling him Kristy.
HEART
Amy Gebhardt, Australia, 2008, 25min
A compelling study on the complicated relationship between artist and muse. Jacqui Stockdale has created countless portraits of Rose Mastroianni, but even after years of collaboration their interactions are still a clumsy mixture of volatility, vulnerability and unconditional love.
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