THE SOCIETY Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination’s (SASOD’s) 12th annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) film festival 2016, opens today for ‘edutaining’ evenings of thought-provoking films and post-screening discussions.The film festival, which will run for the next nine days at the Dutch Bottle Café located at 10, North Road, Bourda, is being held under the theme – Painting the Spectrum 12.

The film festival’s goal, the LGBT body said, is edutainment: educating while entertaining viewing audiences and the wider public, by stimulating discussion and debate about LGBT issues in Guyana.

According to SASOD, the festival will take viewers on an exciting journey into the lives of sexual and gender minorities around the world by illustrating stories of love, acceptance, struggles, human rights and the impact of socio-cultural influences.

This year’s selections of films are drawn from the United Kingdom, France, Cameroon, Sweden, Guyana, Canada, Chile and the United States of America.

This year’s festival is set to be opened with a “Chilean Night” hosted by Ambassador H.E. Claudio Rojas Rachel, Chile’s Ambassador to Guyana. The evening’s treat will feature tasty empanadas and wine from Chile. The featured film for that evening is a Chilean movie donated by the Embassy titled “My Last Round.”

The movie chronicles the intense romantic relationship between Hugo and middle-aged local boxing champion, Octavio. Unfazed by the attention he receives from women, Hugo searches for something meaningful to break up the monotony of his life. He becomes captivated with Octavio, who must maintain a hard and gruff image for his fans and fellow fighters. They enter into an intense romance that would never be accepted in their small town in southern Chile.

This feature tells a heartfelt story with an assured hand, eliciting complex and naturalistic performances that capture the passionate rise and tragic fall of a couple’s relationship.
Given the support by the Embassy of Chile and the High Commission of Canada to Guyana in the staging of this festival, SASOD sought to extend its appreciation to both diplomatic headquarters.

Billed for the penultimate night on Tuesday, June 28, is “Spectrum Night” which will feature performances through poetry, dance, song, music and other forms of performing arts.

“The customary ‘painting the spectrum’ – which encourages participants to leave their marks of support, messages of hope and inspiration for a society which is more accepting and respectful of sexual and gender diversity – will celebrate the closing of the festival on Thursday, June 30” SASOD said.

Drinks and snacks will be on sale throughout the film festival. All proceeds will go to SASOD’s LGBT Community Centre and Shelter Fund.
SASOD sought to highlight too that there is no charge for admission at the film festival. However, they noted that all films are intended for mature audiences and persons must be 18 years and over to attend the festival.