Arts & Culture :: Movies

Frameline48: Juneteenth celebration, conversation with Lena Waithe, and awards

Frameline48: Juneteenth celebration, conversation with Lena Waithe, and awards

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Jun 3, 2024

Frameline, the longest-running LGBTQ film festival in the world, kicks off its 48th film festival from June 19-25 with several major changes, including no screenings at the temporarily closed Castro Theatre now undergoing major renovations.

'Hidden Master: The Legacy of George Platt Lynes' - Documentary honors gay photographer

'Hidden Master: The Legacy of George Platt Lynes' - Documentary honors gay photographer

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Jun 3, 2024

Possibly best LGBTQ documentary, so far this year, is director and co-writer Sam Shadid's "Hidden Master: The Legacy of George Platt Lynes," about the iconic works by the gay fashion, dance and male nudes photographer.

SF DocFest 23: Compton's, Texas drag, Oliveros, and gay Hungarians

SF DocFest 23: Compton's, Texas drag, Oliveros, and gay Hungarians

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • May 28, 2024

Known for its eclectic selection of nonfiction features, the 23rd San Francisco Documentary Film Festival (SF DocFest) will be held May 30-June 9. As usual, there are a handful of LGBTQ-related films.

Kevin Winkler's 'On Bette Midler' — Author on his entertaining biography of the singer-actress

Kevin Winkler's 'On Bette Midler' — Author on his entertaining biography of the singer-actress

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • May 21, 2024

With his new book "On Bette Midler: An Opinionated Guide," gay writer Kevin Winkler has taken on the task of not only tracing Midler's personal chronology, but also taking an in-depth look into her performing life.

'Handling the Undead' — Nordic zombies, oh my!

'Handling the Undead' — Nordic zombies, oh my!

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • May 20, 2024

Thea Hvistendahl's "Handling the Undead" (Neon), also based on a Lindqvist book, isn't your run of the mill zombie flick.

'I Saw the TV Glow' — Surreal, mind-blowing nightmare or just mad TV?

'I Saw the TV Glow' — Surreal, mind-blowing nightmare or just mad TV?

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • May 12, 2024

The new film "I Saw the TV Glow" both revels in this compulsive escapism but critiques our culture's fixation with nostalgia as a kind of cocoon and the ways we find and identify ourselves in the shows we watch.

'Queen of Knives' — Kooky comedy sequel almost works

'Queen of Knives' — Kooky comedy sequel almost works

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • May 5, 2024

Although it isn't being promoted as such, "Queen of Knives" is a sequel to 2020's "King of Knives," and continues the story of Frank and his various family members, some gay and lesbian.

'Housekeeping for Beginners' - gay filmmaker Goran Stolevski on his fictional family

'Housekeeping for Beginners' - gay filmmaker Goran Stolevski on his fictional family

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Apr 30, 2024

With "Housekeeping for Beginners," gay filmmaker Goran Stolevski portrays an emotional tug-of-war with a family living in Macedonia.

'With Love, Mommie Dearest' - new book examines the cultural phenomenon of the classic film

'With Love, Mommie Dearest' - new book examines the cultural phenomenon of the classic film

  • by David-Elijah Nahmod
  • Apr 30, 2024

"With Love, Mommie Dearest: The Making of an Unintentional Camp Classic," tells the story of the making of, and the aftermath of the now legendary biopic in which movie queen Faye Dunaway played movie queen Joan Crawford.

'Challengers' - pulpy tennis film courts melodrama

'Challengers' - pulpy tennis film courts melodrama

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Apr 28, 2024

Gay Italian film director Luca Guadagnino has focused on passion as an all-consuming force, a theme he continues in his new movie, "Challengers," which explores a love triangle dissected through a crucial tennis match.

SFFilm's queer picks: 67th annual film festival's diverse screenings

SFFilm's queer picks: 67th annual film festival's diverse screenings

  • by Brian Bromberger
  • Apr 23, 2024

"Film, always a reflection of and beacon for society, remains the gateway to a vibrant healthy future of our culture and city,"says Anne Lai, Executive Director of SFFilm. The 67th San Francisco International Film Festival will run April 24-28.

Cynthia Carr's 'Candy Darling: Dreamer, Icon, Superstar'

Cynthia Carr's 'Candy Darling: Dreamer, Icon, Superstar'

  • by Mark William Norby
  • Apr 16, 2024

Cynthia Carr's biography "Candy Darling: Dreamer, Icon, Superstar" astonishing at every turn, deeply excavates the Darling archive in order to bring a pioneering trans woman into the spotlight of 1970s New York.

'Ahead of the Curve' - inspiring tribute to Franco Stevens and Curve Magazine

'Ahead of the Curve' - inspiring tribute to Franco Stevens and Curve Magazine

  • by Laura Moreno
  • Apr 13, 2024

The documentary film "Ahead of the Curve," directed by Jen Rainin and Rivkah Beth Medow, tells the long-awaited real-life story of Franco Stevens and her groundbreaking career as founding publisher of Curve Magazine.

'Indigo Girls: It's Only Life After All' - music documentary's much closer to fine

'Indigo Girls: It's Only Life After All' - music documentary's much closer to fine

  • by Gregg Shapiro
  • Apr 2, 2024

Amy Ray and Emily Saliers are the subjects of a marvelous and long overdue documentary, "Indigo Girls: It's Only Life After All" which, including their "Barbie" boost, new album and tour, adds up to more music enjoyment for their fans.