The Summer of Sangaille.
The Melbourne Queer Film Festival (MQFF) has teased its 2016 line-up ahead of the complete program being announced in March.
MQFF Program Manager Spiro Economopoulos said, “I’m really excited in bringing you my first MQFF program and a sneak peek of the new strands we are introducing. I’m particularly thrilled by our music focus which is something that is close to my heart.”
MQFF's new music strand includes the Australian premiere of The Glamour and the Squalor, a documentary following the career of radio DJ and taste-maker Marco Collins, who introduced the world to grunge music and was instrumental in launching the careers of Nirvana, Beck, Pearl Jam and Weezer.
Another doc in the line-up is Chemsex, which looks at the devastating effect of the use of amphetamines amongst London’s gay community.
Chemsex explores the desires that lead these men into a hedonistic spiral of sex and drugs while offering sobering reports from sexual health workers, who are witness to an alarming increase in HIV infections.
Australia will be represented by Remembering the Man, about the relationship between Tim Conigrave and his long term partner John Caleo, which formed the basis of Conigrave's memoir, Holding the Man.
Featuring intimate and little seen archival footage of the two men, the film is a tribute to their relationship and a chronicle of the emergence and devastating effect of the AIDS virus in Australia.
Remembering the Man is MQFF's Centrepiece film.
Tab Hunter Confidential, from the award-winning director of I Am Divine and Vito, tells the story of 50's teen movie idol Tab Hunter.
Hunter reflects on what it was like to be in the closet within the film industry and what happens when Hollywood turns its back on you. Featuring insightful interviews with George Takei, John Waters, Debbie Reynolds and Clint Eastwood.
In the feature strand is The Summer of Sangaile, winner of the Directing prize in Sundance's international Dramatic Competition last year.
Alanté Kavaïté's evocative Lithuanian film is about a summer's affair between two teenage girls, and showcases two luminous newcomers in Julija Steponaityte and Aiste Dirziute.
While Departure, starring Juliet Stevenson, is a coming of age drama set in the south of France. A family vacation takes a surprising turn with the arrival of Clement, a rough and handsome village youth who becomes the object of desire for both mother and son.
Portrait of a Serial Monogamist is a contemporary romantic comedy which explores the dating perils of a self professed serial monogamist who, while unable to remain single for long, is quick to end her relationships and move onto the next best thing.
Rounding out the preview is Girls Lost, based on the acclaimed Swedish Young Adult novel of the same name.
Girls Lost is a gender-swapping fantasy that follows the plight of three outcast teenage girls who happen upon a mysterious plant that can change their gender overnight. A Scandi Paul Jennings, anyone?
Tickets for these sessions, Opening Night and passes are on sale now. The full program is available on 2 March. The Festival will take place 31 March – 11 April 2016.