GAY CHAMPIONS
by Tim den Besten & Nicolaas Veul
2012, Culture/G&L, 48', The Netherlands
SD; dutch/english/ukraine
A special coverage, by two dutch journalists, of Ukraine’s very first Gay Pride (during the Euro 2012 Championship) that never happened due to extremist threats. The secret route had been leaked and hundreds of members of dangerous anti-gay groups chased gays who were on their way to the Pride. Two of the organizers were hospitalized.
With the world’s gaze fixed upon Ukraine, gays – who have no rights there - felt encouraged to stand up for their rights. It might get even worse when a law against ‘gay propaganda’ passes: (positive) media coverage, support and education of homosexuality will be punishable.
 
Produced by VPRO
OMA & BELLA
By Alexa Karolinski
2012, Culture, 54' & 80', Germany/USA
HD, German/Yiddish
BERLIN 2012
WATCH TRAILER HERE!
Oma & Bella is an intimate glimpse into the world of Regina Karolinski (Oma) and Bella Katz, two friends who live together in Berlin. Having survived the Holocaust and then stayed in Germany after the war, it is through the food they cook together that they remember their childhoods, maintain a bond to each other and answer questions of heritage, memory and identity. As the film follows them through their daily lives, a portrait emerges of two women with with a light sense of humor, vivid stories, and a deep fondness for good food. Created by Oma’s granddaughter Alexa, the film captures their ongoing struggle to retain a part of their past while remaining very much engaged in the present.
Selected for Berlin 2012, HotDocs 2012, Silverdocs 2012
 
TRULY MISS MARPLE
THE CURIOUS CASE OF MARGARET RUTHERFORD
by Rieke Brendel & Andrew Davies
2012, Culture, 54', Germany
HD, English
Margaret Rutherford’s true life story is much more eccentric than the most famous fictional role she ever played, her role of a lifetime. A role which appeared tailor-made for her: Miss Jane Marple – Agatha Christie’s amateur detective.
In the four black and white interpretations of Agatha Christie’s international bestsellers, Rutherford wore her own costumes and put on her own make-up. Perhaps an indication of why Rutherford’s characterisation of Miss Marple has become so definitive, classic and unmistakeably English.
In more than 40 films and over 100 stage plays, Oscar & Gold Globe winner Margaret Rutherford realised she possessed an incredible gift for timing and with this a natural talent for comedy. Secretly she always wanted to play Shakespeare’s Julia, but knew that with her idiosyncratic looks, jutting chin and portly figure she was just not destined to play romantic heroines. In fact, far more interesting roles lay ahead
Margaret Rutherford’s final resting place is in the cemetery at Gerrards Cross, where she shares a grave with Stringer Davis who passed away a year after his beloved wife. Her gravestone is inscribed with the words: DAME MARGARET TAYLOR RUTHERFORD – A BLITHE SPIRIT – a fitting epitaph because she really was that.
Produced by Florianfilm Gmbh
I LOVE HOOLIGANS
by Jan-Dirk Bouw
2013, documentary, animation, 13',
The Netherlands
HD, dutch
A football hooligan feels unconditional love for his club.
However, being gay, he has to hide his identity in order to survive in this world that is so precious to him.
Produced by seriousFilm
IN PRODUCTION IN PRODUCTION
WOMAN OF THE YEAR
THE GREAT KATHARINE HEPBURN
by Rieke Brendel & Andrew Davies
2013, Culture, 59', Germany
HD, English
Katharine Hepburn is seen as the greatest American actress of the 20th century. A modern star selfconfidently managing her worldwide image and winning four Oscars over a 60 year career. The feisty Katharine Hepburn adopted a particularly cool role in the story of Hollywood to become an intellectual outsider with her own headstrong personality. She personified a completely new charismatic female on the screen, something fundamentally different to the others: A nonchalant emancipated star in trousers.
This is a portrait about a progressive woman famous for her successful career and legendary affairs. It tells the complex tale of an American film star clever enough to stage her own public image so brilliantly that it shone like no other. She was selected as the “Best Film Actress of All Time” and the greatest female star in the history of American cinema in 1999.
Biographers, colleagues, friends and family, Hollywood publicists and journalists along with extensive archive footage will help to shine a light on Katherine’s exceptional career and unique life.
Produced by Florianfilm Gmbh
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO IRVING
by André Schäfer
2012, Culture, 54' & 90', Germany
HD, English/German
When reading John Irving, you get the feeling that you are sitting at a table and one of the characters is handing you a glass of wine. Irving is one of the world’s most read writers: More than 10-million copies of his 12 novels - including his breakthrough "The World According To Garp" and the 1980 "Ciderhouse Rules" - have been sold in 30 languages.
In 2012 Irving celebrated his 70th birthday and his new book "In One Person" was published. The film visualizes the elation in Irving’s novels (including his last one), a factor which makes him a literary figure of global format: a reality available for everyone.
Produced by Florianfilm Gmbh
 
JOHN PORTMAN - A LIFE OF BUILDING
By Ben Loeterman
2011, Culture, 54', USA
English
Watch Trailer
Once a maverick who was nearly run out of the American Institute of Architects, John Portman is now recognized as one of the most innovative and imitated architects ever.
Over 45 years, Portman’s iconic urban statements and eye- popping interiors have risen in 60 cities on four continents to redefine cityscapes in America, and skylines in China and the rest of Asia. The film captures Portman’s approach in an intimate portrait that, by turn, assesses and appreciates Portman’s work.
Dramatic time-lapse footage shows off Portman’s buildings at their best— often in moving sunlight that washes over his facades and spaces.
www.johnportmanfilm.com
Produced by Ben Loeterman Productions, Inc.
 
TALL GIRLS - a story of giants
by Edda Baumann-von Broen
2011, Human Interest, 58' & 80', Germany
English/German
It doesn’t matter if you’re a model or basketball player or if you lead a very normal existence, life above 1.85m (6’) is different. Other rules apply up here. Tiiu and Michelle are successful models and are too tall for their jobs. Arianne’s mother doesn’t like her daughter’s height. Sarah is undergoing surgery to prevent her from becoming an estimated 1.90m (6’3“). Lea is taking hormones which are prohibited for children to stop her from growing. Lisa is 1,99m (6’6“) and could become a professional basketball player if she tried hard enough, but she would rather be a proper girl.
The Internet is full of girls who are distressed about their growth and willing to do anything to finally stop it. Every pediatrician has a growth chart on the wall where even young children can see whether they are normal or not.
But what’s normal? Every norm is an average statistic of many human beings. The chances of fulfilling precisely this norm are very slim. Nevertheless, we live in a society in which those around us are continually letting us know whether or not we fit in, especially when you’re a girl. Big, loud and self-confident – who wants that?
Often we become what others see in our bodies. In this film, Tiiu, Michelle, Arianne, Sarah, Lea and Lisa show how they live and feel, and how they’re coming to terms with their height. And also, what their size has made them into.
Between cries and laughter, one can’t help but fall in love with these tall girls, who bare their souls to show how difficult yet liberating living outside the norm can be.
Produced by Avanti Media
 
IS SHE OR ISN'T HE?
by Justin Pemberton
2011, Human Interest/Gay 45' & 70'
New Zealand, English
Growing up as a small town boy who feels like a girl, Graham is an outsider who can see only one solution - to become "Ashleigh". Ashleigh's greatest desire is to be an attractive woman "with beautiful big breasts that a man would love." She insists that she's both heterosexual and a virgin.
But just as Ashleigh starts to really change her appearance, she also reveals her inner conflict and confusion about what she's actually doing. Ashleigh dreads being identified as transgender and divulges that her ultimate drive is simply to become "normal".
WATCH TRAILER!
Produced by The Docufactory
ROCK HUDSON, dark and handsome stranger
 by Andrew Davies & André Schäfer
SELECTED FOR BERLINALE 2010!
2010, Culture, 58' & 90', Germany
English
There are two reasons to revive interest in the Hollywood star Rock Hudson in 2010: If he had not died of AIDS 25 years ago, it would have been his 85th birthday in November 2010. The film portrays a very male looking gay leading man who had to perform a secret balancing act between the heterosexual Hollywood world and the dark side of closeted sexuality. In fact he was someone who always needed to tell lies. He had to become a very good actor even in real life.
The film includes interviews with his French doctor Dr. Philippe Siou and Dr. Michael Gottlieb, Rock’s American doctor who became the first physician to describe a new disease that would later become known as AIDS, friends like Stockton Briggle and his personal secretary Mark Miller, Yanou Collart, his French PR manager, Armistead Maupin, bestselling author, Richard Dyer, film historian, Robert Hofler, author of the book “The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson”, Richard Anderson and Salome Jens, co-stars of “SECONDS”, Leonard Stern, producer of Hudson's TV series “McMillan&Wife” and Hollywood reporter Rona Barrett.
Produced by Florianfilm GmbH
EDIE & THEA: A Very Long Engagement
by Susan Muska & Greta Olafsdottir
2009, Culture, 59', USA
English
WATCH TRAILER HERE!
After 42 years, feisty and delightful lesbian couple Edie and Thea are finally getting married. From the early '60s to the present day, the tireless community activists persevere through many battles, both personal and political. These two compassionate and brave women are a model of courage and strength that speaks to everyone, of any age. Through this film audiences will recognize that dancing, like loving, can continue at any age, and rediscover the timeless message “Don’t postpone joy”. Susan Muska and Greta Olafsdottir (The Brandon Teena Story) return with a love story of two remarkable women whose commitment to each other is an inspiration to us all.
2009
Audience Award for Best Documentary Outfest
Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary Skeive Filme
Audience & Director's Club Award for Best Documentary Reel Pride
Audience Award for Best Independent Feature Documentary Image Out
Docula-Award for Best Documentary Hamburg Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
2010
Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary, Melbourne Queer Film Festival, Australia
Audience Award for Best Documentary and over all Audiences Favorite Film of the Roze Film Dagen Festival, Amsterdam.
Audience Award for Best Documentary, Internationales Frauen Film Festival Dortmund/Köln
Audience Award for Best Documentary, Pink Apple Film Festival in Zürich, Switzerland.
Audience Award for Best Documentary, Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - presented by HBO
Audience Award for Best Documentary, Connecticut Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
Audience Award and the Jury Award for Best Documentary, QFest, Philadelphia
REVIEW
Produced by BLESS BLESS PRODUCTIONS
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MADE, DORIS DAY SUPERSTAR
by Andrew Davies & André Schäfer
www.dorisdaysuperstar.com
2009, Culture, 52' & 90', Germany
English/German
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MADE, DORIS DAY SUPERSTAR is an endearing account of Doris Day's life and career delivered in a quirky and fun way. It's as cute and as wholesome as the lady it is about - offering a fascinating insight into Doris's distant Germanic roots, her hardworking days in Hollywood and twilight years retired with her dogs in a picturesque and pet-friendly town. Covering serious and respectful journalism which actually enables Joe Public to impartially appraise the woman who is a cultural icon of the 20th and 21st century.
With a healthy dose of movie, television and song clips which represent all facets of Doris Day the entertainer; unique material from private archives; all-new interviews with actors Philip Brown, Peter Graves, Jackie Joseph and Noah Keen, biographers Pierre Patrick and Tom Santopietro, Doris Day fans, childhood acquaintances and even distant relatives from Germany.
This is all wrapped up with some fascinating on-location filming of historical landmarks and buildings relevant to Doris Day's family, career and life from her birth place of Cincinnati, her current home town of Carmel-by-the-Sea to the German province. A 2008 telephone conversation between Doris and the film's makers is also notably contained which occurred during Doris's annual "birthday" call-in on her local radio station with DJ Ed Dickinson [where the production team were visiting].
A timely reminder of what a difference having Doris Day has made to the world.
Produced by Florianfilm Gmbh
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