The 36th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) will be a hybrid experience offering both in-theater and virtual film screenings from November 4-21, 2021. More than 150 American Independent and International films, from 40 countries, will be presented during the 18 day festival. Films include narrative features, documentaries, short film programs, and a “Filmed In Broward,” showcase. With special guests, Q&As, parties and a diverse selection of films, FLIFF is truly a vacation from ordinary film.
FLIFF kicks-off with the official opening night on Nov.5 at the Museum of Discovery & Science Autonation® IMAX 3D theater with a party between two screenings of Marvel Studios saga of the ETERNALS, starring Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, and more.
The film “marks the first time a Marvel Studios film has showcased a same-sex couple — and one of the only times any superhero movie has included a title LGBTQ character” – Variety
Below are 8 more LGBT interest films:
BEAUTIFUL DREAMER – American Indie Feature
Bittersweet Comedy LGBTQ+ / USA / 94 min / English / Director: Amy Glazer / Producer: Lynn Webb, Sterling Watson / Writer: Patricia Cotter / Cast: Wendie Malick, Erin Daniels, Louis Ozawa, Jennifer Mudge, Kathryn Smith-McGlynn, Tate Moore
A contemporary dramedy about a group of Bay Area friends in their early 40s navigating one of those life moments together: expecting a surrogate baby, a long and deep friendship in jeopardy, two women finally deciding to marry after years of living together, a novelist with crippling writer’s block. Capturing this next uncharted chapter of their extended family, Beautiful Dreamer explores the messy secrets and complicated nature of parenthood and the modern family, all the while testing the boundaries of love and friendship and the bioethics of surrogacy.
Showtimes: Mon, Nov 8th, 7:30pm @ Gateway Cinema;Tue, Nov 9th, 6:30PM @ Cinema Paradiso Hollywood and Sun, and Nov 14th, 7:30pm @ Gateway Cinema
FAMILIES LIKE YOURS – American Indie/Doc
Doc / USA / 52 min / Director: Rodolfo Moro
Families Like Yours follows six families as they attempt to balance work and school, rush kids to sports practice, and deal with diaper duty. The captivating, heartfelt, not-for-profit documentary is intended to accurately and compassionately depict LGBT families. Through candid interviews and humorous real life stories, the film hopes to demystify LGBT families and show that they are just as loving, goofy, busy and complicated as any other family. Sponsored by Scott Bennett
Showtimes: Mon, Nov 8th, 6pm @ Savor Cinema, Tue, Nov 9th, 5pm @ Cinema Paradiso Hollywood, and Thu, Nov 11th, 5pm @ Gateway Cinema
MASCARPONE – World Cinema Feature
Gay Romance / Italy / 101 min / Italian w/English subtitles / Directors: Matteo Pilati, Alessandro Guida / Cast: Giancarlo Commare, Eduardo Valdarnini, Gianmarco Saurino, Michela Giraud, Lorenzo Adorni, Carlo Calderone, Vittorio Magazzù, Barbara Chichiarelli, Alberto Paradossi
Antonio is a 30 year old family man whose life finds an unexpected twist when he’s suddenly dumped by his husband, whom he depends on both psychologically and economically. Antonio needs to find a new place to stay, a job, and a new purpose in life: through this process, he discovers the value of independence.
Showtimes: Tue, Nov 9th, 7:30pm @ Savor Cinema; Thu, Nov 11th, 7:30pm @ Gateway Cinema; Wed, Nov 17th, 7pm @ Gateway Cinema; and Thu, Nov 18th, 5pm @ Cinema Paradiso Hollywood
MY BEST PART – World Cinema/Feature
Comedy / France/ 111 min / French w/Englsh subtitles / Director: Nicolas Maury / Cast: Nicholas Maury, Nathalie Baye, Arnaud Valois, Laure Calamy
Up and coming actor Jérémie is going through an existential crisis. after setbacks in his career and his romantic life with his boyfriend Albert, he flees Paris to reset in the country with his mother – who turns out to be more than a little invasive…
Showtimes: Sun, Nov 7th, 7:45pm @ Gateway Cinema, Wed, Nov 10th, 7:30pm @ Gateway Cinema, and Sat, Nov 20th, 8:45pm @ Cinema Paradiso Hollywood
NORA HIGHLAND – American Indie/Feature
LGBT+ Biting Comedy / USA /64 min / English / Director: Ryan Spahn / Cast: Marin Ireland, Michael Urie, Michael Hsu Rosen
Nora Highland follows the casting process of a notable gay character in an upcoming Broadway revival and explores the phenomenon of straight performers being lauded for their work in queer roles. Adapted from a play of the same name, Nora Highland was turned into a screenplay and shot entirely on computers during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The movie had its world premiere at the 2020 NewFest: New York’s LGBT Film Festival.
Showtimes: Tue, Nov 9th, 7:30pm @ Gateway Cinema (Norm Kent, Fort Lauderdale media legend & radio personality will be honored before the film and with a reception following the film. Make sure to pick the Party Option Ticket when purchasing your ticket); and Fri, Nov 12th, 9:15pmM @ Cinema Paradiso Hollywood
ANTONI-A
USA / 28 min / English
Director: Miguel Miller, Producer: Carlos Diaz, Cast: Jonny Atrocity, Karen Donohue, Walter Heilig, Nyota Duey, Logan Pimentel
Antoni-a (Jonny Atrocity) is a cross-dresser sex worker with a troubled past that we discover while formidable detective Ana Frank (Karen Donohue) is interrogating her. Bloodied and beaten, Antoni-a relays the harrowing events that caused her bruises.
This dark short film portrays a shocking story that may not be too far from a possible reality that some transgender people have unfortunately faced or could face. The exclusion, misjudgment, confusion and frustration that the protagonist goes through, is something that the LGBTQ community can easily relate to and/or understand. However, there are misconceptions and sometimes not enough information about being transgender. Our main purpose is to bring awareness about this social issue..
Showtimes: Thu, Nov 11th, 6:30pm @ Gateway Cinema
I ELECT: POWER EVERY FOUR YEARS – (In the MACHEVELLIAN Short Film Program)
USA / 26 min / English / Director: Ricky J. Martinez / Writer: Bill Spring / Producer: Jose Lima / Camera: Dennise Perez / Starring: Carey Brianna Hart
In the grip of the 2020 pandemic, just days before the presidential election, a woman in Miami recalls her shock four years ago on election night 2016, through a series of flashbacks with renewed feelings of dread about this time around. The recollection of that blistering night as she watched those fateful election results sparks a painful memory that shatters her nerves — as we witness her working her way through to her own revelation of personal power.
The film is inspired by the brave Parkland students who stood up to the tragic mass shooting at their high school, and the courage of their activism. This is a film about the power of voting, anti-racism, and the urgent call to fight voter suppression.
I Elect was originally a theatrical monologue intended for the stage that has been adapted to film.
Carey Brianna Hart delivers an electrifying performance that reminds us how important it is for writers, performers, and all artists to fearlessly continue to speak truth to power. After the avalanche of worsening events during the four years following the 2016 election, this work took on a broader meaning as a call-to-action and became the film “I ELECT: Power Every Four Years.”
Showtimes: Thu, Nov 4th, 1pm @ Cinema Paradiso Hollywood, Tue, Nov 9th, 12pm @ Gateway Cinema, and Thu, Nov 18th, 3pm @ Gateway Cinema.
OPEN DIALOGUES – (In the TEXURED MOSAIC Short Program)
Filmed in Broward USA / 20 min / English Director: Freddy Rodriguez / Producers: Joy Satterlee, Jeff Rushnak, Leo Sarmiento of The Hollywood Art & Culture Center
Through a series of candid testimonials, Open Dialogues reveals the diverse coming-out narratives of seven Broward County residents who share their insights about love and family, threats and safe havens, being intimate in public, and the role of religion in the LGBTQ experience.
Showtimes: Sat, Nov 13th, 1pm @ Gateway Cinema, and Wed, Nov 17th, 1pm @ Cinema Paradiso Hollywood
Find More Films, Showtimes and Tickets: www.fliff.com/fliff36
