With more than 100 movies to catch this week, make a dent in your Out on Film viewing schedule with our Flick Pick list of must-see festival selections

In addition to the David Atlanta Night feature film Fair Haven (top photo, read our interview), there are a slew options at this year’s Out on Film festival. Atlanta’s premiere annual LGBT cinematic event includes some 110 feature films, documentaries, short films and web series that will play over the course of eight days Sept. 29 – Oct. 6.

With so many options, it’s tough to decide which films to check out this year. That’s where we come in. Below, check out 11 of this year’s features that we’re looking forward to watching at this year’s festival.

Strike a Pose

Thursday, Sept. 29, 7 p.m.

Out on Film opens its 29th annual festival with a look behind the scenes of one of the most iconic concert tours in history. For her Blond Ambition Tour in 1990, Madonna selected seven young male dancers – six of them gay – to join her on stage.

Over 25 years later, the dancers open up about life during and after the tour, including after the premiere of that tour’s iconic documentary, Truth or Dare.

 

Summertime

Friday, Sept. 30, 7:25 p.m.

Set in the early days of feminist activism in 1970s France, Summertime follows the burgeoning romance between Carole and Delphine in Paris. When Delphine is called back to her family’s farm in the French countryside, she’s forced to choose between familial responsibility and her new life with Carole.

 

Do You Take This Man

Saturday, Oct. 1, 7:40 p.m.

The day before Daniel (Anthony Rapp) and Christopher (Jonathan Bennett) are set to get married, a friend from Christopher’s past shows up, which sets an already stressful day out of control.

 

Kiki

Saturday, Oct. 1, 9:30 p.m.

A new generation of LGBTQ youth have formed their own artistic activist subculture: the Kiki Scene. Kiki follows seven members of the burgeoning community over the course of four years. The film layers stunning performances at Kiki Balls over their battles with homelessness, illness and prejudice, along with their growing political influence and ease in gender expressions.

 

Jonathan

Sunday, Oct. 2, 11:10 a.m.  and Thursday, Oct. 6, 3:30 p.m.

Jonathan is a young man working with his aunt Martha on their family farm. He also tries to look after his father, Burghardt, who has cancer but refuses Jonathan’s efforts. When Burghardt’s old friend Ron appears, his health begins to improve. That’s when Jonathan discovers that his father and Ron were deeply in love years ago, which threatens old memories and brings other secrets out into the open.

 

Retake

Sunday, Oct. 2 • 4:35 p.m.

Middle-aged businessman Jonathan (Tuc Watkins) comes to San Francisco with a plan: recreate a road trip to the Grand Canyon. He hires a hustler (Devon Graye) to join him on the trip for double his nightly rate, plus $1000 – but he has to go by “Brandon” for the entire ride.

 

Paris 05:59: Theo and Hugo

Monday, Oct. 3 • 9:20 p.m.

Theo (Geoffrey Couët) and Hugo (François Nambot) meet for the first time in a sex club, where their bodies connect in an intense sexual experience. After that initial encounter, the two find themselves on the empty streets of Paris together, making a deeper connection.

 

Free CeCe!

Sunday, Oct. 2, 4:35 p.m.

On her way to a store, CeCe McDonald was brutally attacked. As she defended herself, a man was killed. Following a coerced confession, CeCe was incarcerated in a men’s prison. The case generated an international campaign by activists to free CeCe. Free CeCe highlights the way CeCe and other trans people are leading the surge of the movement to fight for trans rights in today’s society.

 

Closet Monster

Tuesday, Oct. 4, 9:15 p.m.

Oscar (Connor Jessup) is an artistically-minded kid on the brink of adulthood. He dreams of escaping his small town after dealing with a rough childhood, including a gay bashing he witnessed. After developing a crush on new co-worker Wilder (Aliocha Schneider), Oscar turns to his pet hamster Buffy (voiced by Isabella Rossellini) for guidance.

 

Spa Night

Wednesday, Oct. 5, 9:20 p.m.

David Cho (Joe Seo) is a timid 18-year-old living with his immigrant parents, who are struggling financially. After he takes a job at an all-male spa, he discovers a secret cruising spot and begins to realize desires that threaten his established life as a son and student.

 

BearCity 3

Wednesday, Oct. 5, 7:10 p.m.

The BearCity trilogy comes to a close. Roger (Gerald McCullouch) is trying to climb out of financial ruin and back into Tyler’s (Jay Conti) life. Fred’s (Brian Keane) work on his bear documentary is conflicting with Brent’s (Stephen Guarino) preparation for their new baby. Michael (Gregory Gunter) faces challenges of his own, only to find love comes in all colors, shapes and sizes.

 

Out on Film screens films Sept. 29 – Oct. 6 at Landmark Midtown Art Cinema. Check out the full schedule and buy tickets at outonfilm.org.

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Originally published in David Atlanta.