Over the years there have been a few gay-themed movies set in China and some were even filmed there. However, despite the fact homosexuality is legal in China, the government censors have never permitted a movie with major gay themes to be released there.

However, now for the first tim they have approved a movie that focuses on the relationship between two gay men – one Chinese and one French – Seek McCartney, directed by Wang Chao.

The Guardian reports that, ‘Chao broke the news via a post on the Chinese version of Twitter, Weibo. “This is a small step for the film department,” he said. “And a big step for the members of the film industry.”’

They add, ‘Seek McCartney is a Chinese-French co-production, with the local contribution also helping to explain why censors handed it a release spot. China allows only 34 films a year made by foreign film companies to screen at the world’s second-largest box office, as it seeks to foster interest in home-produced movies and protect them in the face of competition from Hollywood fare. Foreign films given permission to screen are rarely those with adult-orientated themes and tend to be blockbuster fantasy productions with little or no controversial content.’

Previously Chinese gay-themed films have screened in other countries, but none have ever been released domestically – including a couple that have found significant sucess on the film festival circuit. The government has complete control over what is and isn’t allowed to be legally screened in China, and even owns many of the major studios that produce homegrown movies.

Previously some minor gay content has been allowed, such as The Dead End, which featured a same-sex kiss. However mostly it has been cut out and toned down.

Being gay in Russia can be a scary thing, including the threat of homophobic thugs luring LGBT people to places where they can be kidnapped, beaten and even murdered – with the vicious gangs feeling bolstered by the country’s anti-gay propaganda laws.

The short film PYOTR495 hopes to take a look at the situation, although to do so it wants to raise $30,000 through an Indiegogo crowdfuding campaign.

The film is ‘set in Russia in the year 2014. The country has invaded the Crimea region of the Ukraine, the newly instated LGBT propaganda law makes it illegal to present gay life as normal, while Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval rating is at a 6 year high. We begin in the run-down, white Soviet-era tower blocks in the Cheryomushki district of Moscow, and follow our character, Pyotr, as he leaves his friends and ventures out into the night on his scooter and under the passing lights of the city streets as he is baited into a dangerous scenario at the sprawling apartment of a member of one of Moscow’s financial elite.’

Canadian filmmaker Blake Mawson has already filmed PYOTR495, but more cash is needed to complete post-production, including the horror-sound design, music licensing, festival submission and various other costs.

The filmmakers promise that, ‘PYOTR495 speaks to anyone who has ever been victimized or discriminated against for being different and to make a statement about the dangerous trend of fear-mongering and inciting hatred in our society. We’ll mesh the classic tropes of the horror genre with the topic of repression and violence towards LGBT people, in an effort to provoke thought and discussion around social anxieties towards the state of gay rights. After all – what’s most terrifying? Some blood and gore? Or the hatred and lack of acceptance in our society in 2015? Support PYTOR495 – and you’ll find out!’

You can take a look at the trailer below, and then head over to Indiegogo to help. [Read more…]

A couple of weeks ago Cardiff’s Iris Prize festival announced the line-up that will be competing for its main LGBT Short Film award this year, along with those hoping to be named Best British Short. However, alongside the fest’s impressive showcase for gay-themed short film – for which it is justly acclaimed – it will be screening 14 features.

They’ve announced their opening movie, and it’s very apt considering it will be screening during the Rugby World Cup, only a short distance from the Millennium Stadium where many of the most important matches will take place (incidentally, the Welsh Rugby Union also allowed the festival to film their cinema advert at the stadium).

The film is a documentary called Scrum, which focuses on the 2014 gay rugby world cup – The Bingham Cup. Aussie director Poppy Stockell will head to Cardiff for the screening on October 7th (with the fest running until October 11th).

She says, “I’m thrilled that Scrum has been selected to open the 2015 Iris Prize Festival. Wales is known throughout the world as a rugby loving nation and I just can’t wait to see what they think of the film. Gareth Thomas has already made a huge contribution as the first openly gay rugby union player. Coupled with the pioneering work of out gay ref Nigel Owen, you get the impression Wales is a progressive country.

“If this was not enough we also have the added thrill of screening during the Rugby World Cup – I’m obsessed with hearing the Welsh crowds sing and hoping to get a chance to see some games, especially the Ireland v France match on the closing night of the Iris Festival.”

The full feature programme includes the Award winning Fourth Man Out (US – director Andrew Nackman will be attending the screening); lesbian comedy Floating (Germany – director Julia Kaiser is also scheduled to be in Cardiff for the festival), and Darker Than Midnight (Italy – whose director Sebastiano Riso is also visiting Iris to introduce his film).

“I honestly believe we have this year the best of the best. Many of the films in this year’s programme arrive in Cardiff with awards for best film, best performance from festivals all over the world. One of them will leave Cardiff with the Iris Prize Best Feature Award and two awards for performances in a feature will also be distributed. I think the juries have a difficult task ahead of them,” said festival Director and feature film programmer Berwyn Rowlands.

Things didn’t work out quite as planned for the documentary, The Road Less Traveled By. The idea was that  ‘A.J. Goodrich – a poet and filmmaker in Los Angeles – was going to walk across the country to get married to his boyfriend in New York, documenting the journey on film and talking to people along the way about gay marriage and queer identity in America.’

However fate intervened and before they left the couple split up. Goodrich decided to head off on the journey anyway, with various friends helping out along the way. Now he’s hoping to finish the film that documents the trip, and he’s turned to IndieGoGo in the hope of raising $35,000.

Goodrich’s journey saw him, ‘Covering 3,600 miles over the course of eight months, the crew trekked over mountains and deserts, through Las Vegas and Native American reservations in New Mexico, across the wide expanse of Texas, through fires and floods, past the devastated Gulf of Mexico, up through the deep South to D.C., finally ending in New York City where the story began.

‘Over the course of they journey, they encountered all sorts of people, and a range of rarely seen perspectives, from an Islamic gravedigger in the middle of the Mojave Desert to a roadhouse cook in Arizona and stewards of a radical queer commune in New Mexico. Each day held a unique new adventure and incredible people to meet, share stories with, and interview.

‘What started as a grassroots civil rights march exploring equality and LGBT identity grew into a deeply personal coming-of-age story, and an unexpected look into the true nature of love, friendship — and what’s really important in life.’

The walk was completed in 2011, but it’s taken until now to get it to the point where it needs completion funding for the likes of sound, colour-correction, licensing and music, which the crowdfunding campaign can help with.

Take a look at the fundraising video below, and head over to Indiegogo if you want to help. [Read more…]