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Actress Jess Weixler accepts the a Sundance Special Jury Prize Acting Award for her performance in the film "Teeth." She plays a woman whose vagina has some special features. And director Jason Kohn picks up the Grand Jury Prize for his documentary about crime culture in Brazil, "Manda Bala."
In today’s final Sundance-related post, the winners of this year’s festival were announced this weekend. It was a very democratic mix, with no movie scoring more than one major award, and no trail-blazing frontrunner emerging as a sure-fire box-office or critical threat barreling toward a movie house near you. The John Cusack-starring road-trip drama, Grace Is Gone, about a husband whose wife gets killed in the Iraq War, won the Audience Award for Best Dramatic Feature. And the Audience Award for Best Documentary went to Hear and Now, in which director Irene Taylor Brodsky tells the story of her deaf parents who decided to get cochlear implant surgery, a procedure that gives them the ability to hear, after 65 years of silence.
And the Grand Jury Prizes went to Jason Kohn’s Manda Bala for Best Documentary, for its chronicle of corruption and survival in Brazil’s violent crime culture. And the jury gave Best Dramatic Feature kudos to Padre Nuestro, about a criminal who encounters illegal immigrants en route from Mexico City to New York.
No big gay-themed films snagged honors, but the short, Freeheld, about a dying New Jersey Lieutenant, Laurel Hester, who fights to make sure her pension benefits go to her life partner Stacie, scored a Special Jury Prize for documentary short film for director Cynthia Wade. And actress Jess Weixler scored a Special Jury Prize for Acting for starring as a woman with special features down below in the “vagina dentata” tale, Teeth, by openly gay director Mitchell Lichtenstein.
You can watch some video of festival-goers naming their faves of the week, and catch video of the award-winners picking up their prizes here.
At the closing night gala at Sundance featuring the film "Life Support," the movie's producer Jamie Foxx mugs with actress Gloria Reuben, director Nelson George and the film's star Queen Latifah.
See ya next Sundance...
Live from Sundance, it's Monday afternoon! And Tuesday night! And Thursday morning...
And another Sundance thing... The guys at CBS News on Logo have been out in Park City all this past week, covering the newsy/dishy gay angle on all the films being screened (which, of course, will be all the films you’ll be watching in theaters later this year).
In their first report, they chat up former Congressman and Presidential candidate Dick Gephardt about his participation in the documentary, For the Bible Tells Me So, which tackles how religious factions deal with homosexuality (and specifically, how the Gephardt family openly dealt with their daughter Chrissy’s gayness in a political climate).
Report #2 brings up gay director Tommy O’Haver’s An American Crime, which stars Catherine Keener a crazy, abusive mother. They also meet director Donal MacIntyre, and talk about his documentary, A Very British Gangster, which tells the story of an openly gay mob boss in England. Crikey!
Next comes a news brief that gives you the dirt on the film The Nines, which stars a gasp-inducing performance from Ryan Reynolds, and some serves up some hilarious commentary from the film’s costar Melissa McCarthy.
Melissa McCarthy and Ryan Reynolds in "The Nines."
Finally, today’s report explains how “it’s more difficult to get your film accepted at Sundance, than it is to get into Harvard,” and Jason interviews Sundance’s head programming guy, “power-gay” John Cooper. He’s the head of the team who decides which films get into Sundance, and which don’t. Does he have a soft spot for gay-themed films? Maybe... Maybe not.
Check it out.
Cute stars Patrick Flueger and Chris Lowell are goofin' at the Airborne Lounge at the Sundance Film Fest. Sweet! They're starring in the fest-screened film "You Are Here."
I’m gonna wrap up the week of Sundance reports with a round-up of film-fest fodder. Jump in and hang on!
Buzzworthy Flicks
Here are some of the films I’ve heard buzzed about on the bus, at parties, at screenings, and among friends who’ve also been Sundancing all week.
Crazy Love is a documentary by gay filmmaker—and publicist (that’s his day job)—Dan Klores and actor/director Fisher Stevens, about a two pathologically linked New Yorkers, Burt and Linda, who maintain an insane relationship that neither friends, family, prision or tabloid headlines can undermine, spanning from the 1950s to nearly the present-day. “The film is legendary” one gushing colleague told me.
Ryan Reynolds gets snuggly with his hilarious costar of "The Nines," Melissa McCarthy.
The Nines keeps getting mentions. It’s a film made up of three vignettes, each starring Ryan Reynolds, Melissa McCarthy and Hope Davis. In the second story, Reynolds plays a gay TV-magnate, and he’s got a steamy shower scene that has had Sundance audiences gasping. One friend of mine called it “one of the top five films I’ve ever seen;” others have described as something of a muddle. Either way, queer director John August has made an impression.
 
Might there be a sequel about thongs called "Floss"? Right, the director of "Teeth," Mitchell Lichtenstein.
Teeth, another film by a gay director (this time, by actor-turned-filmmaker Mitchell Lichtenstein), has moviegoers and press types aflutter, too. It’s sort of a horror film/dark comedy about a woman who discovers she has teeth. Down there. Which becomes something of a curse, and a weapon. Jess Weixler stars as the toothsome lead... And you’re very likely to see this in an arthouse near you soon. Chomp!
Toothsome Jess Weixler is getting raves for her breakout role.
Speaking of tricky subject matter, another film, Robinson Devor’s Zoo, maybe win the crown of most uneasy topic of the festival. It’s a documentary about men who like horses. A lot. In that way. IndieWire’s Anthony Kaufman says Zoo “is probably the most beautiful film playing at the festival...”and describes it as a film “about men communing with nature.” Whoa, horsey!
 
Scenes from the film "Zoo," which gives new meaning to the term "horseplay."
And I still haven’t heard much about Life Support, the film which was chosen as the Closing Night Gala movie, which stars Queen Latifah as a drug addict turned AIDS activist. It’s already slated to air later this year on HBO, but here are a couple of bloggy online reviews already.
Queen Latifah turns in some powerful screen time in "Life Support."
That said, here’s another round-up of pics from life at the film fest. Sundance winds down this weekend, with it’s award-winning films getting announced tomorrow. The winners are usually surprises (last year, nobody expected the gay-themed Quinceanera to sweep both the Audience and Sundance Jury Awards last year), so more on that on Monday!
Out director Gregg Araki ("Mysterious Skin") hit Sundance with his pot-brownie munchin' film, "Smiley Face."
Whoa. Gwyneth Paltrow is giving us a look that's icy even for frosty Park City. She hit town for her brother Jake's film (which she's also in), "The Good Night."
The three principle stars of the steamy bayou-drama "Blake Snake Moan": Justin Timberlake, Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci. Gossip has also said that JT's been hanging in Park City so he can spend some quality time with his new friend, Jessica Biel. But who can say for sure, eh?
The three main women behind the cool romantic flick, "Broken English": stars Parker Posey and Drea de Matteo, flanking director Zoe Cassavetes.
Finally, I'm not sure if actor Nicholas Gonzalez is starring in a film at Sundance, but he was nice enough to stop in and get his photo taken while in Park City. No complaints about that at all...
Ski tips up!
Just a note...
While at Sundance, you really oughtta take some time away from the movie craziness and ski. The slopes are pretty much empty, the skiing is amazing, and it's a refreshing break from the schmooziness. Plus, when you're done, you get to walk around in your gear feeling satisfactorily exhausted and cool.
I like The Canyons, the big ski resort just outside of Park City. It's like, Utah's largest ski resort, and it's fantastic. And yes, those are my ski tips above.
Meet you at the bottom.
Gays talk about Net stuff! PlanetOut's Eric Wilson, glee.com's Matt Farber, director Angela Robinson, L-Wordster Ilene Chaiken, World of Wonder's Fenton Bailey and CBS News on Logo's Jason Bellini all chat about life after MySpace and YouTube.
While most gays have felt that this year hasn't featured as many queer-themed films as in past years, that hasn't stopped the many homo attendees at Sundance from gathering, movie-watching, partying and discussing "issues"...
In fact, the Queer Lounge hosted a couple of memorable panels this year, one to discuss the future of gay film and its role as a part of the YouTube revolution of homegrown filmmaking online, and what happens next. (The verdict: Nobody knows for sure! But expect innovative artwork and ideas to come from pretty much anywhere.) That panel was on Sunday and boasted reps from PlanetOut, World of Wonder's WOW.TV, The L Word's new OurChart.com and others, as CBS News on Logo anchor Jason Bellini moderated.
My favorite part of the internet Queer Lounge panel? Ilene Chaiken's totally hot boots.
This batch discussed gays and religion at the Queer Lounge: Save Me director Robert Cary and its star Judith Light, Rabbi Steve Greenberg, filmmaker Sandi Dubowski, Rev. Mel White, For the Bible Tells Me So director Dan Karslake, and moderator Tom Brook from the BBC. (And why does Tom look so spooked, eh?)
The following day (Monday) the Queer Lounge hosted another panel, this time about religion and gays and film, and featuring the filmmakers and castmembers of the ex-gay drama Save Me, the makers of the doc For the Bible Tells Me So, Trembling Before G_d director Sandi Dubowski (who's hard at work on a film about gay Muslims, In the Name of Allah), former Reagan-era Religious Right player-turned-gay activist Rev. Mel White, Rabbi Steve Greenberg and others. They ensued on a though-provoking discussion of gays, religion, acceptance, the fight for it, love and, yes, filmmaking and its role in all of this, too. This event was followed by another Queer Lounge reception (with ample drinks and food).
In fact, if you play your cards right at Sundance, you can almost float from party to party, brunch to lunch, buffet to buffet without ever having to pay for food or drink. Yes, swag takes many forms.
Anyway, here are more pics! And no, none of them of Dakota Fanning talking about her scandalous film, Hounddog. I don't think the gays are that concerned....
Cheers!
For the Bible Tells Me So director Dan Karslake. Not afraid of enjoying the party buffet... Yum!
Filmmaker Sandi Dubowski. Smile!
Dan Karslake's parents, and For the Bible Tells Me So exec producer Michael Huffington (who's gay but used to be married to Arianna Huffington and who once ran for governor of California -- why not?)
Veteran gay journalist/activist Jim Fourratt, and Sundance press office guys Cameron Yates and Charlie Olsky rock the Queer Lounge.
Filmmaker William Roebuck, Rabbi Steve Greenberg and Alex Bright talk religion in the Queer Lounge suite kitchen.
Later that night...
Dante's Cove star Gregory Michael and his bud Sunny Malick hang at the afterparty for the Mexican-American drama, La Misma Luna.
The cast and director (Patricia Riggen, center) of "La Misma Luna"--right before Harvey Weinstein came to their afterparty and proceed bidding like crazy for their film.
La Misma Luna stars Jesse Garcia (who starred in last year's "Quinceanera") and Pailo Heitz.
Writer/director/actor Craig Chester and Save Me actor David Petruzzi at the Save Me afterparty.
Casting maestro Kerry Barden and Telling Pictures' Jeffrey Friedman work the Save Me afterparty. Cheers!
Now that Sundance has been consuming all of Park City for nearly a week, are local folks still happy to see Hollywood and showbiz types packing their streets?
Hmmmm... Current photographic evidence may not support that argument, but I think what you see here (posted around town in a couple of places) is just a bit of healthy venting.
But it's hard not to poke a bit of fun when a local storefront gets transformed into a cosmetic surgery and Botox-y sort of salespitch showplace.
Hooray for Hollywood, right?
Salma Hayek and Academy President Sid Ganis announce the Oscar noms this morning, as all of the Best Actress candidates peer down. On with the show...
Oscar nominations were announced early this morning. Last year's Sundance favorite, Little Miss Sunshine, got a nod for Best Picture (sorry Dreamgirls!) as well as Best Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress (for Alan Arkin and Abigail Breslin, respectively), which will likely get some buzz twitching around Park City, and no doubt all the media types will be dishing the nominees. But otherwise, I expect the swag-grabbing shuffle and the movie-going madness will just continue on as per usual here today.
Check all the nominees here... They include indie favorites and other Sundance veterans like Forest Whitaker (a front-runner for Best Actor) and Ryan Gosling. And while Dreamgirls didn't nab a Best Picture nom, it's likely to produce the real winners in the Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress categories, with Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson.
My thoughts? I gotta root for Meryl Streep for The Devil Wears Prada. She's the only clear champ that I'm cheering for. It's hard to think of another nominee whose performance I enjoyed more.
Want some insight on who didn't get nominated? (Sorry, Borat.) Go here.
Let the buzz and serious statuette campaigning begin!
I'm thinking life imitated art this morning when Abigail Breslin's phone rang. Will she fare any better at the Oscar pageant? Ask Jennifer Hudson.
Yesterday saw the second of the two “Queer Brunches” at Sundance. This one was hosted by L.A.’s Outfest (their big LGBT film festival that rocks the city every July) and Here! Television. It’s held at the Grub Steak restaurant (love that name) which is full of loopy Old West paraphernalia. All the buzzy gay media types showed up, as did some celeb-ish folks, too.
Just dig the photos, if you will…
Or "Whoa Nelly!" perhaps...
 
Fresh Basil: NewFest (the NYC gay film-fest) honcho Basil Twist gets chummy with OutFest folks Stephen Gutwillig (left) and Kim Yutani.
Wolfe Media's Jenni Olson (who's a total gay film expert, and founder of PlanetOut's PopcornQ) poses alongside L-Word woman Ilene Chaiken, as Chaiken gets interviewed by US Weekly's Bradley Jacobs. Jacobs was putting together quotes for a story about this whole Isaiah Washington "f-word" thing, and taking to media gays.
The folks behind the Slamdance doc, "Red Without Blue": producer/director Todd Sills, subjects and siblings Mark and Clair Farley, and Brooke Sebold.
E!'s Marc Malkin, director Moises Kaufman, John Hart and Jeffrey LaHoste. Smile!
Robert Gant, Chad Allen and Judith Light onstage. They're starring in "Save Me" at the festival. And they're not really as scared or nervous as they look.
A queer brunch calls for some queer bacon. Yum!
A big feathery chandelier? Yes, please. It's the Queer Lounge.
Should have posted these a couple of days ago… But it’s been nuts!
On Saturday, the Queer Lounge hosted its launch party in their digs at the Silver King Hotel. There was a pool party (indoors, naturally) and folks came to mix and schmooze. And network. And it was good.
Here’s a glimpse.
Ilene Chaiken, Katherine Moenning and Leisha Hailey show up at the Queer Lounge, since the L-Word's new site, OurChart.com, is a big sponsor. They look kinda ready to be done with this whole photo biz.
The gays hang out at the pool party at the Queer Lounge. Maybe the drinks shoulda been stronger?
This is Lola Rock-n-Rolla. She's making a film/video/short/game/something called Hothead Paisan, based on the comic. Cool, right?
And those are the Queer Lounge basics. For starters...
More to come.
At a Sundance screening, media folks are busy on their laptops right up until the movie starts.
Here are some snippets of pics and notes from running around Park City during all the Sundance craziness…
Big city comes to small town... Cheezily.
Is it weird to see sleepy store-fronts of Park City transformed into swanky lounges or nightclubs (like NYC’s Marquee taking over a Main Street space, or the “MySpace Lounge”)? Maybe… Or maybe not at all...
L.A.'s Ester Goldberg meets and greets on Main Street.
Walking down Main Street film crews are everywhere. Drag queens wielding microphones with camera crews pop up from time to time, also. This one’s name is Ester Goldberg. She’s from L.A. She interviewed folks for Zannel.com. Lovely!
Purple is soooooo his color.
And what’s a film festival without the Airborne Germ hanging around, right?
Black Snake Moan is a movie with Samuel L. Jackson. He’s some down on his luck dude living in the bayou who ends up with Christina Ricci chained up in his front yard because she's slutty. Really. It’s supposed to be nuts. (Not sure if that's a good thing.) Justin Timberlake is in it. He’s been in town, hitting a few parties and fending off rumous that he’s going to perform. He’s not evidentally…
Parker Posey, by Parker Posey.
Greetings from Park City on Monday! Got lots to post from today and the weekend, and that will happen this evening. Sundance keeps you busy. Dashing from interviews to screenings to gay press conferences (yes, gay ones...), so I'll fill you in on that later. Off now to see Year of the Dog, the new film from Mike White (Chuck and Buck). But I'll serve up dish on good movies, cute parties, queer stuff, and toss many fun photos your way. And yes, Parker Posey!
Posey is the perennial queen of Sundance, which is just how things should be. Talking to her this morning about her film, Broken English (more of that to come), I asked if I could snap a photo. She blithely took the camera from me and began shooting herself. What's not to love?
Until tonight, I hope Parker's smiling face will tide you over.
Cheers!
Gina Gershon plays a tough showbiz type in "Delirious." If only the rest of the film was a fierce as she is...
A quick movie rundown on three films I caught yesterday...
the good, the not-as-good and the brilliant Parker Posey
Michael Pitt gives us that scruffy, doofy thing again. Steve Buscemi's high-strung and manic, as usual. They're both good actors, but...
9 A.M.
Up early and bussing across Park City to catch a screening of Delirious, a film by Tom DiCillo (Living in Oblivion, The Real Blonde) starring Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Alison Lohman and Gina Gershon. Buscemi plays a New York paparazzo who homeless (and shaggy-haired and dopily hangdog as always) Michael Pitt latches on to. Unrealistically, hardened New Yorker Buscemi allows homeless Pitt to come and stay in his apartment, and then makes him his photo assistant. They chase celebs and soon Pitt accidentally hooks up with pop star Kharma (Lohman). It's something of a ditzy New York fairy tale, but it can't seem to decide if it's a biting comedy, a blithe fable, or what. And there's an annoying running joke where the characters have to repeatedly insist that Pitt's charcter isn't gay. Urgh... What's good? Gina Gershon has fun as a dragon lady-ish showbiz manager, and there's some gorgeous cinematography, but on the whole, it's not terribly impressive.
Ellen Page and Catherine Keener in "An American Crime." Keener is so NOT going to win "Mother of the Year."
1:30 P.M.
An American Crime is getting buzz as one of the hottest (and most intense) hits of the festival. It's already got distribution plans from First Look, and it's boasting killer performances (somewhat literally) from Catherine Keener and Ellen Page (you know, the young girl from the also intense Hard Candy). In this one (based on a true story from the 1960s), Keener plays a single, messed-up mother of six who takes in two more girls whose parents run off to join a carnival (really). Through a series of unlucky occurances, one of the girls ends up on Ma Keener's bad side, which opens her up to a whole big world of very, very harsh and f**ked-up abuse. Belt whippings and cigarette burns are just the beginning.
The film is hard to watch at times, but on the whole, it's impressively made with truly memorable turns from the two leads. Props to gay director Tommy O'Haver (who you might know from fluffier fare like Billy's Hollwyood Screen Kiss and Ella Enchanted) for keeping all the weighty, grizzly drama in check. O'Haver delivers the grueling, and just-brutal-enough scenes of heinous abuse without going overboard or getting gratuitous. Expect award-worthy buzz (it's very Indepedent Spirit Awards) for this one.
Parker Posey takes Paris, eventually, in "Broken English." She's tres magnifique in this one, folks.
7:30 P.M.
Parker Posey is always fun to watch. In Broken English she's especially appealing, she's onscreen nonstop, she looks great, and she's basically just totally "refreshing" (as one character desribes her) in this subtle and deft little romantic film. Director Zoe Cassevetes tells a simple story of New Yorker Nora, unlucky in love, who stumbles into a whirlwind romance with a super-charming and edibly cute French guy, played perfectly by Melvil Poupaud (he's such a cute puppy, you'll wanna take him home). This is one of the most charming, and simply smart romantic films to come along in years, and Posey gets to branch out from her usually slapstick, "wacky"-character mode and play a real person. She's awesome. 'Nuff said.
 
A morning bus scene in Park City: Skiers and moviegoers cram in together. And one of Park City's ubiquitous movie poster totem poles.
Nothing like brunch with a couple of hundred of your best gay media pals, eh? Saturday at 11am queer media types crowded into to Cisero’s restaurant on Park City’s Main Street for one of the schmoozy, social highlights of the Sundance Film Fest: the first of two weekend brunch events for LGBT filmmakers, producers, press, actors, distributors—you get the idea.
Gays lined up at a buffet (the Danishes were lovely) for eggs and bacon and waffles and quiche, tossed back Bloody Mary’s and mimosas, lots of coffee and swirled around meeting and greeting. Prizes were doled out to a few filmmakers who scored in PlanetOut’s Short Movie Awards, and a couple of happy attendees won queer books and an RSVP cruise. And largely, folks networked and chatted each other up, looking to find out about what gay films are getting buzz.
A backlit pair of out actors, Chad Allen and Robert Gant, announced prize winners of books and a cruise, and the winners of the PlanetOut Short Movie Awards.
The winners of the films were…
Grand Prize, Abbe Robinson for Private Life. Robinson scored $10,000 for her short. First Runner-Up went to Jen Heck for Airplanes; Second Runner-Up was nabbed by Damien Rea for Scarred; Last Exit by Nicola Marsh won Third Runner Up, and Fourth Runner-Up went to Marc Saltarelli for Where We Began. You can watch them all at PlanetOut.com, naturally.
 
PlanetOut Short Movie Award winners Damien Rea and Jen Heck. Yay for them!
The awards were doled out by out actors Chad Allen and Robert Gant, both on the pulpit to also help promote their own Sundance film, Save Me, which is a drama about homos who get caught up in the ex-gay ministry world. Judith Light also stars in the film, and was expected at the brunch, but I sure didn’t see her. Save Me is looked to as hopefully one of the better queer films shown at Sundance this year. Keep your fingers crossed.
 
Chad Allen with a brunchgoer who won a bunch of gay books; GLAAD's honcho Neil Giuliano (who's prepping to meet with Isaiah Washington over this T.R. Night/f-word mess) and actor Robert Gant.
Nonetheless, burnch was sassy. Folks where friendly (And yes, the gay guys were totally checking each other out. Yikes!) and the mood was buzzy. It’s the sort of event where you finally meet those media contacts who you only know via phone and email. All that—with coffee and croissants!
Chatting with folks about who’d seen what film so far at Sundance yielded this info:
Freelance writer Lawrence Ferber gave high marks to Tommy O’Haver’s intense drama, An American Crime, in which Catherine Keener stars as a 1960s era mother of six who takes in two more teen girls into her care, only to abuse the crap out of one (played by Ellen Page) locking her in the basement and doing dreadful, violent things to her. It’s based on a true story that nabbed headlines at the time. “It’s like it’s the year of abused tween girls at Sundance,” cracked Ferber. “There’s also Hounddog in which Dakota Fanning gets raped.” Yikes all around.
Other films folks are eager to see: Zoo, a documentary about men who have sex with horses (I’m not kidding!), based on the newsworthy case in Washington in 2005, in which a guy died after being dropped off at an emergency room with a perforated colon, after shagging a Arabian stallion. Ooooof… Maybe I'll wait for the Broadway musical version.
Also, Gregg Araki’s newest film, Smiley Face, in which Anna Faris accidentally eats some pot brownies and spend a loopy day on the town. And, The Nines, which stars Ryan Reynolds.
Rory Kennedy’s Ghosts of Abu Gharib, the documentary about the abuse of war prisoners held in the infamous Iraqi prison got high marks from CBS News on Logo’s Itay Hod. “It’s amazing,” he said. (Yes, more on the “abuse” theme at Sundance this year.)
Itay Hod, eager to savor the tasty delights of the queer brunch.
Anyway, check these Queer Brunch pics!
Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Fest's Carol Coombes wins the best hair at Sundance award!
TLA Releasing's Lewis Tice shows off the cool Q-Bert and Pac-Man buttons he got at a swaggy arcade on Main Street that has old-school video and pinball games you can play. For free! Cool!
GLAAD's Nick Adams and L-Word queen bee Ilene Chaiken prepare to dig in to brunch, when they're done snuggling.
Dennis Hensley, reporter for Radio with a Twist, Hollywood Life Magazine and formerly one of Kathy Griffin's gay pals, is VERY happy to be brunchin' it.
Will Wikle is all like, "Um, you gonna finish those hash browns?"
Wolfe Video founder/owner Kathy Wolfe and her partner Barbara Verhage. They win for coolest/nicest lesbian couple ever!
Amazing playwright Jonathan Tolins and US Weekly's nice film editor Bradley Jacobs. They like brunch, too!
And that's yesterday's brunch. There's another one coming today... Stay tuned.
PLUS: Pics of L-Word women, movie reviews, party photos and more and such.
Cheers!
This big stag statue on Main Street is kinda cool. And it's out in front of the "Chasing Ghosts" free arcade. Hurrah!
Craggy icon Robert Redford chats at the Sundance opening press conference thingy.
Maybe Redford can hook this lady up with movie tix? Yep, people line up and really get into this festival stuff.
The first full day at the Sundance Film Festival (in the ski town of Park City, Utah) came and went. And with it films about artists arrested and investigated by the FBI, a Slamdance film about crazy, indie rebels living off the grid in New Mexico, stumbling in to filmmakers (queer and otherwise) and the invasion of celebs (of sorts) into town.
Your morning view in Park City (actually, Deer Valley, a few minutes away) might look something like this. See on the far left? Ski slopes! Yep, it's really Utah.
The day began sunnily in the early morning at a temp of 5 degrees. Things warmed up nicely during the day into the 20’s… (Yes, 25 degrees makes for a warm afternoon here.) And you also get warmed up by the wild sense of the excitement of first-time filmmakers of being here, the mad rush of press charging around, and the oddness of trying to figure out which shuttle bus to whoosh you around town.
Outside when it’s really cold (early morning, or at night) it hurts to breathe. And given the altitude you’re super-thirsty. But who’s whining? It’s a nonstop parade of movies and watching crazy people rush around to them. And there are nice volunteers all over the place.
First stop: Press check-in when one gets one’s credentials, greets familiar journalist pals also checking in, and runs into the CBS News on Logo folks all hunkered around a teensy table in the press lounge, plotting their course for the day. Jason Bellini, Itay Hod, their assistant/producers Matt and Kimberly and Will Wikle are all looking sporty in their wintry gear. (Actually, I think everyone here looks great in parkas and chunky boots. So sporty…)
The CBS News on Logo guys (that's Itay and Jason on the right) peruse all their Sundance stuff to get a grip on all the newsworthy movie-ness.
Hanging in the press lounge, I end up meeting an actress in a film called Year of the Fish, an arty film about a woman struggling to establish a life in NYC’s Chinatown. Then the actress, An Nguyen,gives me a red promotional fortune cookie. Then her director, David Kaplan comes by and they’re both so nice I snap a photo.
YEAR OF THE FISH: Director David Kaplan and actor An Nguyen; so nice, especially when giving out treats!
A few minutes later queer director Marco Kreuzpaintner (who directed the German indie gay crew-team coming-of-age favorite, Summer Storm) strolls in. He’s nice and so is his producer, Rosilyn Heller. Kreuzpaintner’s new film, Trade, is getting its premiere here. It’s about kids being sold into sexual slavery in Mexico City. And it’s his American film debut. Whoa: Global-licious!
Nice, gay German filmmaker Marco Kreuzpaintner (right) and his producer, Rosilyn Heller. Their film TRADE tackles modern-day sex slavers. And it's premiering at Sundance. Rockin' coat, Marco.
Soon, it’s off to a screening of the film Strange Culture an affecting and creatively put-together movie about the artist Steve Kurtz, who was arrested in 2004 for the absurd suspicion that he was a bio-terrorist. After his wife died suddenly in her sleep, Kurtz called 911; but medics and cops found his scientific bio-supplies he used in his art, called in the FBI, who arrested Kurtz, confiscated his late wife’s body and kicked off a lengthy case (still pending) that’s becoming a landmark battle between alarmist government bureaucracy and freedom of speech and artistic expression). The film features Tilda Swinton as Kurtz’s wife, and is mix of narrative and documentary, and agit-prop activism. I liked it.
Tilda Swinton playing an artist's wife in the politically charged, passionate "Strange Culture." Her death opens a whole can of post-9/11, Patriot Act-crazed can of worms.
Then I off to see a film at Slamdance, the Sundance’s fest’s punky younger sibling. The flick was Off the Grid: Life on the Mesa, a documentary about wildly eccentric, even volatile, renegade types living out in the harsh desert, since they’re fed up of dealing with “the system.” They don’t have water or power, but they do have pot, guns and an impressive communal ethic and regard for each other. The doc was well-made, and heartfelt, put together by NYC-based brother and sister Jeremy and Randy Stulberg. Jeremy’s a nice gay guy, and his boyfriend Eric Juhola produced the film. Expect more from these sure-handed filmmaking siblings.
Filmmakers and siblings Randy & Jeremy Stulberg; their film "Off the Grid" is a cool doc debuting at Slamdance. Props to them! And he's a nice gay boy... Yay!
The rest of the day involved dashing around, hearing bits and pieces about films, and witnessing the loopy street life of sundance. Like strange promotional gangs of leggy women all dressed in monochrome beige/cream outfits handing out coupons to download free films from Blockbuster.com. Yep, Park City become shill central as brands and companies set up shops and “lounges” all down Main Street to hawk their stuff. There’s an Airborne Lounge (you know, the travelly cold medicine), the “Hanes Comfort Lounge” (free undies?), the Stella Artois Patio (mmmm… beer!), a MySpace venue, a “Bon Appetit” supper club, and so on!
These women want to you download movies online. They're wearing stickers on their backs which say "Total Access." And they're cool with that.
Tomorrow evening I’ll check out a PlanetOut Queer Brunch, some more movies, some kind of L-Word party at the Queer Lounge, and more!
And yes, there are celebs (and weird muppet-like creatures) dashing around Park City. Enjoy these pics!
Whoa. Nick Nolte looks ruddy. He's at Thursday night's premiere of the Sundance documentary "Chicago 10." He did voiceover work on the movie, so who cares if he's a bit red-faced, eh?
Nick Cannon hits Park City, to promote his gritty indie, "Weapons." Bang, bang...
He was gay in "Capote." She rocked "Tales of the City." Now, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney join forces in the family dramedy "The Savages." She looks way cute here, thanks.
Diego Luna's all shagged out. (I mean his hair, people.) And he's in Park City. Nice!
Women get all "Delirous" over lesbian icon Gina Gershon. Her new film "Delirious" is debuting at Sundance. I approve. "Delirious!" I like that...
Remember the brooding son from "American Beauty"? Yep, it's Wes Bentley (missed ya!), back in the Slamdance film "Weirdsville."
And yes, only at Sundance do even info kiosks become little weird showbiz opportunities. Cue the faux muppets!
And of course, there must be a camera crew or two on the scene...
Coming later on Saturday: More gay info and news! Plus, just so you know... I’ve already lost one wintry knit hit, but I’m keeping warm. So far.
Showbiz meets snowbiz in Park City for the next week. Shut up and Sundance!
Tonight marks the kick-off of the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah... The opening night movie of the festival is the documentary Chicago 10, which is about the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, the protests surrounding it and the subsequent arrests of those involved. But it’s not just a musty doc; it’s crammed full of innovative animation and voice-over talent by the likes of Jeffrey Wright, Nick Nolte and Mark Ruffalo.
Over a week later the festival will close out with the final gala and the film, Life Support, which stars Queen Latifah as a former drug addict turned AIDS activist. It’s a story that director Nelson George based on his own sister’s life.
Queen Latifahs stars as an AIDS activist in "Life Support," which is the Closing Night film at Sundance.
Of course, between those two films, Lindsay Lohan is expected to come to town. She’s in Chapter 27, Jarrett Schaefer's movie portrait of John Lennon’s killer which also stars a heavy Jared Leto (Leto’s band, 30 Seconds to Mars will also play a gig in town). It’s gonna be, like, 15 degrees in town, so it’s likely that Ms. Lohan will be wearing undies. (Whew!) Plus, other stars like John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Kate Beckinsale, Michael Douglas, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ryan Reynolds, Parker Posey, America Ferrara and Laura Linney have films to promote in the fest, too. So yes, as happens every January, the snowy scruffily upscale Utah town will go majorly Hollywood.
Jared Leto turns in a heavy performance in CHAPTER 27.
Gena Rowlands and Parker Posey hit the streets in Paris in BROKEN ENGLISH, a film by Zoe Cassevetes screening at Sundance this year.
And yep, there are LGBT-themed movies in the fest this year, from a true documentary about a British gangster (cleverly called A Very British Gangster), to tales of courageous Filipino lesbians (Tuli). And at Slamdance, a sort of punky younger sibling to Sundance that also takes place in Park City at the same time, you can catch a gay Lucha Libre wrestling superhero (in Super Amigos) or gay twins finding their way in modern-day San Francisco (Red Without Blue).
A Very British Gangster: One of these tough guys is gay. And a mobster!
In TULI, a Filipino woman refuses to marry because she's in love with her best female friend. Then she lays down in a stream?
I arrive in Park City tonight, and I’ll be blogging from there all week, bringing you photos, movie news, reviews, interviews and all the buzz that’s to be had.
To get you primed for our gay take on Sundance, I lobbed a few questions to the super-cool Ellen Huang, who’s the driving force between Sundance’s Queer Lounge, which is a haven for LGBT festival-goers. The Queer Lounge hosts parties, media panels, and is a great place to get free Wi-Fi or meet other media gays and spot celebs.
Anyway, I’ll let Ellen tell you about it! And stay tuned for lots of good Sundance dish in the days to come!
SUNDANCE 07
Interview with Queer Lounge head honcho Ellen Huang
What is the Queer Lounge and what's the role it plays at Sundance?
Queer Lounge is a hospitality and event space meant to be the "hub" for queer and queer-friendly festival-goers. I like to think of it as a cool, happening community center meets an informal filmmakers "market," where people exchange ideas, contacts, and create a professional networking and social environment. We have panels during the day, and in the evenings, we host private receptions and premiere parties. And, last but not least, we distribute a guide that highlights all of the queer-related films screening at the festivals.
Obviously, we fill a niche. We create an all-inclusive space whereas lots of lounges at Sundance are exclusive to VIPs and celebrity. John Cameron Mitchell dubbed us "old-school Sundance," pointing to an era before heavy corporatization of the festival. We're a grassroots, open, friendly environment for filmmakers and the industry.
Ellen Huang: She IS the Queer Lounge.
What are some cool events happening this year? What are you excited about?
I'm very excited to be partnering this year with our Presenting Sponsor OurChart.com, an online social networking space founded the producer and stars of The L Word. They’ll have a "room" just for them, they’ll be available to take pitches of short form ideas and films from filmmakers who come to the Lounge.
Also, this year, I'm very excited that among the nearly 40 LGBT-interest films programmed into Sundance and Slamdance (amazing amount of films!), several of them focus on religion and homosexuality. Save Me, starring Chad Allen, Robert Gant, Judith Light and the documentary For The Bible Tells Me So—which features Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop ordained by the Episcopal Church, and politician Richard Gephardt and his family. And another documentary, Protagonist, directed by Oscar-winner Jessica Yu, that features a character who is an "ex-gay." We're doing a panel on gays and religion, and we're throwing a post-screening party for For The Bible Tells Me So, too.
Chad Allen in SAVE ME.
Church folk in drag? A scene from FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
How do people use the Queer Lounge? What's a typical day?
People come into the Lounge to surf the net on our wi-fi or computer stations. Mostly people come in knowing that they'll run into their friends. It’s networking. We also have panels and meet-and-greet's this year with production companies and VIPs such as Chad Allen, Robert Gant, and Reichen Lemhkuhl. And the new hereTunes record label will be featuring their artists live and acoustic.
Who's the biggest star who you've seen in the Queer Lounge? Who got you the most excited?
I was very excited to see Toni Collette last year. I was nervous too, so all I could say to her was, "I bet you're tired." And she said yes. I was also really excited to meet screen legend Ruby Dee who was doing press junkets for her film last year in the Lounge. We talked about the history of discrimination and how that's shared between the African-American community and the gay community. And I loved meeting Armistead Maupin last year. He said that Queer Lounge was a "tranquil island in a sea of feral children." Finally, I loved seeing Naomi Watts dancing in the aisles of our David LaChapelle party a couple years ago.
Armistead Maupin and Ellen Huang chillin' in the Queer Lounge in 2006. Cute!
Scissor Sister Jake Shears (center), flanked by Alan Cumming (right) and Cumming's new hubby, Grant Shaffer in 2006.
What are 3 or 4 of the movies you're eager too see this year?
I am very eager to see For the Bible Tells Me So, Save Me, Tuli (which is from the filmmaker of The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveras) and A Very British Gangster about a real-life gay mobster in England. There're also a number of films by queer directors this year—Tommy O'Haver (American Crime), Gregg Araki (Smiley Face) and John August (The Nines)—that I'm really looking forward to seeing. I think Save Me is going to do well and not just within the LGBT community. It really is a film that humanizes everyone, including those who are viewed as being anti-gay. It comes from a place of understanding from everyone's viewpoint. I think Tuli will do well also. It looks absolutely beautiful.
Ryan Reynolds stars in THE NINES from queer director John August. Hurrah!
If you weren't in Park City from January 18-28, running the Queer Lounge, where would you like to be--and doing what?
I would be researching the next film festival, we some day hope to be at, South by Southwest in Austin, Texas and buying my plane ticket.
Check back here all this coming week for more Sundance news and festive festival bits. Staring tomorrow!
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