October 14th 2016 (Iris Prize Festival Screening) Archives

Starring: Cem Alkan, Martin Walde, Tuncay Gary, Ilknur Boyraz, Neil Malik Abdullah
Director: Tor Iben
Running Time: 79 mins
Release Date: October 14th 2016 (Iris Prize Festival Screening)

Ibo (Cem Alkan) is a second-generation Turkish immigrant living in Berlin. He’s just got his university degree, but is facing the fact that his name and face make it more difficult to get a job than those from White-German families. As he needs some cash, he’s working in a gay sex shop/cinema, despite the fact his family thinks he’s straight. Then he meets street-wise criminal Ali (Martin Walde) after the man knocks on his door looking to graft, and Ibo hides him when some cops come sniffing around.

Ibo has an immediate fascination with the man, and after discovering Ali is a show wrestler, decides to sign up to the same gym he trains at. When Ali is beaten up and has both his arms broken, he discovers that Ibo is one of the few friends he has who seems to care – indeed Ibo’s a bit besotted. It’s the beginning of a bromance, which is both ‘no homo’ and ‘a bit homo’ at the same time, with Ali insisting he’s a macho straight guy, but deciding perhaps there are a few things Ibo can do. [Read more…]

Starring: Gerald McCullouch, Stephen Guarino, Brian Keane, Gregory Gunter, Joe Conti
Director: Doug Langway
Running Time: 120 mins
Certificate: NR
Release Date: October 14th 2016 (Iris Prize Festival Screening)

It’s back into the world of gay bears and their admirers in BearCity 3, which had its international premiere at this year’s Iris Prize Festival in Cardiff. Things have moved on from the last instalment, with Michael’s (Gregory Gunter) boyfriend having died. He’s trying to get his life back together with a new boyfriend, Dalton (Garikayi Mutambirwa), who loves him. However, Michael is having trouble letting go of the past and fully committing himself to this new future, which isn’t made easier when Dalton’s distrustful daughter arrives in the picture.

Fred (Brian Keane) and Brent (Stephen Guarino) meanwhile are preparing to have a baby – with Fred’s sister as the surrogate – but Fred’s worried Brent is too obsessed with finishing his Beartopia documentary and isn’t taking it seriously, while Brent thinks Fred is being too uptight and fearful. There’s also Roger (Gerald McCullouch), who’s finished with his boyfriend and feeling a bit lost, and so sets out to find the ex he still has feelings for. However, the young ex, Tyler (Joe Conti), has issues of his own, as his fireman boyfriend Jay (Tom Hooper) is hiding the fact he’s gay, afraid of what his colleagues will say. [Read more…]

Where Are You Going, Habibi? (Iris Prize Festival Review)

BearCity 3 (Iris Prize Festival Review)