Friday, Sept. 29
Guild Cinema: Queens —7 p.m.Set in Spain, Queens takes a comedic look at the nature of the relationships of three couples about to get married—not without bumps in the road, of course. Another Gay Movie —9:30 p.m.In the spirit of college-age comedies, four friends set out to lose their virginities and become men. Scab —11:30 p.m.After killing numerous people in the hopes of quenching his bloodlust, Ajay and his friends travel to Las Vegas and meet up with two girls as the body count rises. A classic vampire movie with a queer twist. Opening Night Party—9 p.m.Tickets are $6 general public, $5 Closet Cinema members and free for film festival pass holders and Queens ticket stub holders. Call Closet Cinema at 243-1870 for location details.Saturday, Sept. 30
The Film Center at Cinema Café: A Very Serious Person —12:30 p.m.Gil, an orphaned 13-year-old boy living with his dying grandmother, forms an unexpected friendship with her new nurse, Jan. Zero Degrees of Separation —2:45 p.m.One lesbian and one gay couple face hardships living among the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Where The Boys Are: Boy Shorts —4:30 p.m.A series of eight short films. Another Gay Movie —6:30 p.m.See 9/29 listing. Three Needles —8:30 p.m.This powerful film tells the stories of three different people living with HIV/AIDS. Southwest Film Center: Panel: Meth : Hitting Rock Bottom—1:30 p.m.A panel discussion about the rising use of meth within the gay community and the continuation of unsafe sexual practices. Free. Meth —2:30 p.m.Ten meth users are interviewed in a documentary that takes a closer look at a drug that is devastating the gay community. Camp Out —4:15 p.m.This documentary follows 10 teenagers as they go to the first gay and lesbian Christian youth camp. Mom —6:15 p.m.A reporter and her camerawoman travel across the country interviewing random people in this comedy of misadventures. Loving Annabelle —7:45 p.m.Annabelle transfers to an all-girls Catholic boarding school where tensions between her and her teacher rise when they find out they are attracted to one another. Innocent —9:30 p.m.Eric finds it difficult to reach a balance with his sexuality after he and his family move from Hong Kong to Toronto. Guild Cinema: Why We Sing —1 p.m.This documentary follows some of the most prominent gay voices in music, mainly in numerous choirs across the country. Follow My Voice: With The Music of Hedwig —2:45 p.m.This film documents the making of a tribute album for Hedwig and the Angry Inch, while at the same time telling the stories of four teenagers living in an unaccepting society. Strait-Jacket —5:15 p.m.Lucy is having trouble readjusting to public life after spending 20 years in prison for killing her husband and his mistress with an axe, but finds solace in seducing younger men. 20 Centimeters —7:15 p.m.Adolfo, a pre-operation transsexual, is working the streets as Marieta in order to save money to make the switch. He ends up falling in love with a man who accepts him the way he is. Boy Culture —9:45 p.m.X thinks he has everything under control when it comes to his relationships, but runs into complications concerning who he loves and who loves him. The Apple —MidnightA recent cult favorite, The Apple takes a look into the then-futuristic year of 1994 and the quest of two young folk singers trying to make it big.Sunday, Oct. 1
The Film Center at Cinema Café: What’s Up Scarlet? —NoonAfter Scarlet offers Sabrina a place to stay for the night, she realizes she got herself way in over her head. Girls’ Shorts —2 p.mA series of seven short films. Love Sick —4 p.m.The developing relationship between Alexandra and Kiki is only made worse when Alexandra suspects something is going on between Kiki and her brother. Red Doors —6 p.m.This is the story of the Wong family and their struggles throughout life—rom the youngest daughter at war with a classmate to the oldest who begins to re-examine her life. El Calentito —8 p.m.Sara goes to a nightclub where, by sheer luck, she finds herself as the replacement member for an all-girl punk band. Southwest Film Center: Almost Myself —1 p.m.Transversing the subject of gender identity, director Tom Murray interviews in detail 10 different transgendered women in his new documentary. Fabulous: Story of Queer Cinema —2:45 p.m.This documentary describes the evolution of queer cinema from being strictly taboo to where it is today. Whole New Thing —4:30 p.m.Emerson is a 13-year-old boy who is on the borderline between adolescence and adulthood. When he finally gets sent off to a local school, he develops a crush on his teacher, who may or may not be receptive. Go West —6:30 p.m.Kenan and Milan must escape their home in Eastern Europe to find happiness in a place more accepting. East Side Story —8:30 p.m.In a primarily Latino neighborhood, Diego struggles with the complexity of relationships and breakups. Guild Cinema: Desert Bloom: New Mexico Showcase —1 p.m.A series of shorts that contain nine home-made films from New Mexico’s most talented artists. Coffee Date —3 p.m.Todd, a straight man, is set up on a coffee date with Kelly, a gay man. As their friendship begins to grow, Todd starts to question his sexuality. Time To Leave —5 p.m.The second film in a trilogy about life and death, Time to Leave follows Romain—who only has three months left to live—across the country as he travels to visit his grandmother. Fat Girls —7 p.m.High school is tough, but for Rodney it’s worse—his mother is crazy religious, he’s overweight and fatherless, and his prom date isn’t particularly into him. Eleven Men Out —9 p.m.Ottar gets kicked off his pro-soccer team when he announces he is gay and has to find a new way to play the game he loves.Monday, Oct. 2
The Film Center at Cinema Café: When I’m 64 —4 p.m.Almost-retired Jim finds love with a taxi driver named Ray, but first both men have to acknowledge the suppressed feelings they have for each other. 20 Centimeters —6 p.m.See 9/30 listing. Soap —8:30 p.m.Veronika, a transsexual, and Charlotte, her neighbor, are too apprehensive to admit they are attracted to each other. When Veronika’s sex-change operation is approved, the chances of them being together dwindle even further. Guild Cinema: Love Sick —5 p.m.See 10/1 listing Girls’ Shorts —6:45 p.m.See 10/1 listing Where The Boys Are: Boy Shorts —8:45 p.m.See 9/30 listingTuesday, Oct. 3
The Film Center at Cinema Café: Go West —4:30 p.m.See 10/1 listing Loving Annabelle —6:30 p.m.See 9/30 listing Boy Culture —8:30 p.m.See 9/30 listing Guild Cinema: East Side Story —5 p.m.See 10/1 listing Foreign Bodies: International Boy Shorts —6:45 p.m.A series of eight short films from across the globe. George Michael: A Different Story —8:45 p.m.This documentary takes you deeper into the life of the very private pop star.Wednesday, Oct. 4
The Film Center at Cinema Café: Follow My Voice: With The Music of Hedwig —4 p.m.See 9/30 listing Backstage —6:15 p.m.Lucie is taken under the wing of her pop-star idol, Lauren, and they develop a volatile, yet close relationship. Fat Girls —8:45 p.m.See 10/1 listing Guild Cinema: When I’m 64 —5 p.m.See 10/2 listing Red Doors —7 p.m.See 10/1 listing Whole New Thing —8:45 p.m.See 10/1 listingThursday, Oct. 5
Guild Cinema: Three Needles —5 p.m.See 9/30 listing Puccini for Beginners —7:30 p.m.This film tells the story of Allegra and her comedic search for love.Closing Night Party—9 p.m.At Martini Grille (4200 Central SE). Tickets are $6 general public, $5 for Closet Cinema members and free for film festival pass holders and Puccini For Beginners ticket stub holders.The Venues
The Film Center at Cinema Café 1616 St. Michael’s DriveSanta Fe(505) 988-7414 Southwest Film Center University of New MexicoStudent Union Building277-5608 Guild Cinema 3405 Central NE255-1848
Tickets
Tickets are $9 for general admission, $8 for Closet Cinema members, $50 for an eight-movie punch card or $100 for a Full Film Festival Pass for all events and screenings. For more information, call 243-1870 or visit www.closetcinema.org.
Meth
There are many problems facing the gay community, and the use and abuse of methamphetamine is one of them. Director Todd Ahlberg documents the story of 10 meth users who’ve fallen prey to this devastating drug. The film is screening at the Southwest Film Center at 2:30 p.m. after a free panel discussion focusing on the rise of HIV diagnosis due to meth use and unsafe sex, and the challenges of coming clean. Both events are free.
Scab
Alibi ’s Midnight Movie Madness hooks up with the SWG&LFF to present this horror thriller with a gay twist. After a one-night stand, a young gay man is “infected” and turns into a vampire. Naturally, he takes his friends to Las Vegas and tries to recruit them to the bloodsucking lifestyle. After all, misery loves company.
The Apple
Alibi’s Midnight Movie Madness again hooks up with the SWG&LFF to present this outrageous cult classic from 1980. In the near future (1994), a devilish despot has taken over America and is controlling the population through the power of disco! Who can save us? A couple of well-scrubbed teens from Canada. It’s George Orwell’s 1984 mixed with Xanadu . Before the film, there will be a special introduction/performance by Albuquerque’s premier drag troupe, The Dolls.
Desert Bloom: New Mexico Showcase
When Roberto Appicciafoco and Nina Knapp were making the final decisions on the nine films that would be entered into Closet Cinema’s local showcase, they were on the lookout for what Knapp calls a "queer sensibility." “Vet Your Life,” for instance, doesn’t have gay characters in it but deals with breast cancer, an issue that’s important to much of the festival’s lesbian audience, Knapp says. The local lineup falls under the heading of Desert Bloom, a series of short films that will be shown at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1, at the Guild Cinema. The showcase is a hodgepodge of topics and styles, from “Allison,” a tale of a man and his Barbie by the Alibi ‘s own Jeff Drew, to Jeremy Zondlo’s “What It Means to Lose,” about a man who hides from his feelings by joining the Air Force, to “Bertha Alyce,” an award-winning nonfiction short from Santa Fe photographer Gay Block.It’s the first year a local component was added to the festival. Because of its newness "people weren’t sure whether their films would relate or not," says Knapp. The hope is that next year local filmmakers will be more aware of the showcase. Check closetcinema.org for deadlines, which are usually around April.
