IN AN effort to promote awareness of the issues surrounding the LGBT community, the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) is again hosting its LGBT Film Festival, “Painting the Spectrum 12” at the Dutch Bottle Café on North Road here in Georgetown.This week, the festival continues with two films aimed at portraying the love and the everyday endeavours for self-acceptance faced by LGBT persons.
On Tuesday, the feature film will be “Kiss Me”, the story of Mia, a thirty-something well-to-do architect who finds her life turned upside down when she unexpectedly falls in love with the free-spirited Frida.
The two women meet at an engagement party; Frida’s mother is about to marry Mia’s father, and discovers an instant attraction that immediately calls into question Mia’s engagement to her long-time boyfriend, Tim.
This deeply romantic and passionate drama has earned universal acclaim from fans and critics around the world, and has already established itself as one of the most beloved lesbian films of the decade.
On Thursday, the festival continues with “Blackbird”, a film telling the struggle for self-acceptance of 17-year-old Randy.
Since his father left, Randy takes care of his emotionally disturbed mother. But as strong as he seems on the outside, Randy is battling an inner struggle and denial of his true self. It’s not until he opens himself up to love that he discovers that becoming a man means accepting who you really are.
“Painting the Spectrum 12” continues every Tuesday and Thursday in June, commencing at 18:00hrs.
The festival offers free, onsite HIV counseling and testing, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Advancing Partnerships and Communities (APC) Project will also be available every night.
There is no charge for admission to the film festival. Drinks and snacks will be on sale. All proceeds go towards SASOD’s LGBT Emergency Shelter & Community Centre Fund.
The films are intended for mature audiences. Persons must be 18 years and over to attend. SASOD reserves the right to refuse admission to persons who do not have identification to prove they are not minors.