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Lovers Film Festival
Torino International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
Tuesday, 16 April 2024 until Sunday, 21 April 2024
The 39th Lovers Film Festival is produced by the national cinema museum of Turin, Museo Nazionale del Cinema di Torino. It is financed principally by the City of Torino council, by the government of the Piedmont region and by the Department for Cinema in the Ministry for Culture and Cultural Heritage. The festival is also supported by other organizations, bodies and private sponsors.
ALL THE LOVERS - INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION FOR FEATURE FILMS
The Directors of the Festival will appoint an International Jury to award the following awards:
- Best Feature Film: “Ottavio Mai” Prize – money prize of 1,000 Euros for the director of the winning film;
- Special Mention from the Jury (awarded at the discretion of the Jury).
REAL LOVERS - INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION FOR DOCUMENTARIES
The Directors of the Festival will appoint a Jury to award the following prizes:
- Best Documentary: money prize of 500 Euros for the director of the winning film.
FUTURE LOVERS - INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION FOR SHORT FILMS
The Directors of the Festival will appoint a Jury to award the following prizes:
- Best Short Film: “Fotogrammi Sovversivi” award - money prize of 300 Euros for the director of the winning film.
- GIO 'STAJANO AWARD
The Festival, from an idea of the writer Willy Vaira and Claudio Carossa, dedicates a recognition to the memory of Giò Stajano, one of the most important and significant figures in the Italian LGBTQI culture, who for too long has been in the background.
The prize consists of the sum of 500 euros, which will be donated to the film, chosen from all the sections of the program, identified by the festival's selection committee and by Willy Vaira.
2024 films...
AKOE/AMFI - THE STORY OF A REVOLUTION (*JUST TO SLEEP ON THEIR CHEST...)
CARICIAS / Caresses
CE QUI NOUS LIE / The Bond Between Us
HIDDEN MASTER: THE LEGACY OF GEORGE PLATT LYNES
LUCES AZULES / Blue Lights
MALANOVA
TE ESTOY AMANDO LOCAMENTE / Love & Revolution
STRANGE WORLD - UN MONDO MISTERIOSOWHO'LL STOP THE RAIN
THE SCANDALOUS ADVENTURES OF LORD BYRON
ÚSVIT / We Have Never Been Modern
THE LAST TAKE
by Brian Foyster
Country: USA, Year: 2023, Duration: 14'
- Facing the end, William, a movie star from Hollywood's Golden Age, must reconcile with Everett, the only man he has ever loved.
HIGH NOON
by Grant Raun
Country: USA, Year: 2024, Duration: 12'
Closure is a matter of time. Six months after a breakup, Jess prepares to meet up with her ex for one last fight. A film about missing someone who hurt you, and how that is its own special kind of hurt.
PIGEONS ARE DYING, WHEN THE CITY IS ON FIRE
by Stavros Markoulakis
Country: Greece, Year: 2023, Duration: 21'
On the warmest day of the year, two boys meet. A few hours later a pigeon gets trapped with them. During this heatwave, all creatures dream of escaping from the city that's burning.
Y
by Matea Kovač
Country: Croatia, Year: 2023, Duration: 7'
A blank sheet of paper is filled up by the struggle between artistic composition and the deterioration of bodies and relationships, as the voice of the narrator (and main character) recalls her tumultuous relationships with an ex.
UNA NOTTE
ONE NIGHT
by Alessio Vasarin
Country: Italy, Year: 2024, Duration: 18'
During the course of one night, Giulio struggles to confide something important to his friend Lara. However, she hasn't been entirely honest with him either.
GIGI
by Cynthia Calvi
Country: France, Year: 2023, Duration: 13'
The story, full of humour and sensitivity, of how Gigi managed to transform the misunderstood little mermaid she was into the happy and fulfilled woman she is today.
OUR MALES AND FEMALES
by Ahmad Alyaseer
Country: Jordan, Year: 2023, Duration: 11'
A father and mother are faced with the painful task of washing and shrouding their deceased transgender daughter. But when no one agrees to wash her and shame falls onto the family, how far is the father willing to go to make sure his "son" is washed?
IT BURNS
by Kate Maveau
Country: Belgium, Year: 2023, Duration: 11'
The gap between the living and the dead narrows. Meanwhile, Irène’s refusal to accept what has happened progresses through the five steps of mourning, leading her to face her profound anguish and pain.
INSTA GAY
by Simon Paluck
Country: Canada, Year: 2023, Duration: 12'
A millennial reels after breaking up with a popular gay influencer. Insta Gay is a drama comedy that explores the impact that vapid gay social media has on the queer community in the real world.
HONEYMOON
by Alkis Papastathopoulos
Country: Greece, Year: 2023, Duration: 23'
After a traumatising episode involving the police, Fay is determined to leave Greece. Sandra accompanies her: this is her chance to say goodbye. As they cross the country by bus, a transphobic attack leaves them stranded on a highway in the middle of nowhere.
TWOFOLD
by Ella Greenwood
Country: UK, Year: 2024, Duration: 18'
As New Year's Eve festivities are underway on the floor above, Allie and Erin have a chance encounter down below. But when Allie recognises Erin from over a decade ago, the past breaks the surface, and fireworks ensue.
TU TIJERA EN MI OREJA
YOUR SCISSORS NEAR MY EARS
by Carlos Ruano
Country: Spain, Year: 2023, Duration: 12'
In desperate search of a last-minute haircut on the eve of his wedding, Luis enters a cheap barbershop. He gets more than he bargained for when the barber recognises a very important person from his past.
THE TREE
by Ida Hansen Eldøen
Country: Norway, Year: 2023, Duration: 14'
Rebecca, exhausted and hungover, must fight with her ex, Vivian, who has come back to claim the apple tree they had planted together in the garden.
EVERYBODY’S GOTTA LOVE SOMETIMES
by Sein Lyan Tun
Country: France, Year: 2023, Duration: 15'
Paris. Phyo, a young loner from Myanmar, is trying to deal with his new life and, maybe, find love. But some deep traumas prevent him from connecting with other people. Until he meets Jack, a charismatic dancer...
STELLA
by Yvonne Lawlor
Country: UK, Year: 2023, Duration: 14'
Stuck outside at 3 a.m. … this is not the crazy overnight adventure Georgie and Alisha had in mind. So, the girls decide to “live the night”, in a desperate attempt to keep the thrills coming, which leads to chaos and ultimately regret.
WOLF
by The Blaine Brothers
Country: UK, Year: 2024, Duration: 15'
Over the years, Brian and Sammy have always met for their unmissable Halloween night and gone trick or treating like children. Sammy has to accept that as they grow up, their friendship may change in the future.
EL QUERER
A SHORT STORY ABOUT LOVE
by Miguel Machetti
Country: Spain, Year: 2023, Duration: 18'
Cuenca, early 1990s. Amelia takes care of her soul friend Miguel, sick with AIDS, who, in his last wish, expresses his desire to receive the last rites and tells Amelia a secret that no one ever knew.
AMI D'AMI
FRIEND OF A FRIEND
by Simon Gualtieri
Country: Canada, Year: 2023, Duration: 15'
Jules is bi. Bi as in bisexual. Bi, even though he’s only slept with women. Bi and ready to try his first experience with Samuel, a friend of friend.
EVERYTHING IS EASY, EVERYTHING IS HARD
by Pamela C. Saade
Country: Lebanon, Year: 2023, Duration: 6'
The appointment with Alex went well, but Omar is a bit distant. A little game with Alex makes him explode and brings out fragments of the trauma caused by what he experienced in his home country.
NE JAMAIS S'ARRÊTER DE CRIER
NEVER STOP SHOUTING
by Abdellah Taïa
Country: Morocco, France, Year: 2023, Duration: 10'
Abdellah Taia, writer and film director, writes a letter to his gay nephiew Brahim who lives in Morocco. He wants to help Brahim escape from fear, to support him and walk by his side, making him feel unconditionally loved.
SUITE NIGHT
by Mahtab Pishghadam
Country: Iran, Year: 2022, Duration: 13'
Yasi and Raha, two girls rejected by everyone and by the whole world. Yasi has the urge to see Raha before being put in solitary confinement, hoping to escape execution. More than by death, Raha is terrified by rumours saying that if a condemned woman is a virgin, her virginity must be taken by a man...