Now in its 9th year, the Tel-Aviv International LGBT Film Festival (TLVFest) is one of the most important cultural LGBT events in Israel and will take place from June 7-16 at the Tel-Aviv Cinematheque, coinciding with Pride week. The above promotional video stars the famous Israeli drag queen Nona Chalant and the Israeli actress, model and DJ Narkis Tepler.
Opening night, TLVFest will be screening the world premiere of the new Israeli feature GuttmanX5; five short films which have been inspired by the life and films of the first openly gay Israeli film maker Amos Guttman.
Amos Guttman was born in Transylvania, Romania and immigrated to Israel at the age of 7. He studied film at Beit Zvi and directed between 1977 and 1982 the three short films Drifting, A Safe Place and Returning Premiers. He created a rich, stylish cinematic language and his films were notable because of his attention to the visual and distinct content. Guttman also directed the feature films Drifting, Bar 51, Himmo king of Jerusalem and Amazing Grace; all movies that will be screened at TLVFest 2014 for free. In 1993 Amos Guttman died of AIDS.
The TLVFest Award 2014 will be given to Jamie Babbit and Zazie de Paris, who are both coming to Tel-Aviv for the festival.
Jamie Babbit is an outstanding American film director, producer and screenwriter. She directed the iconic film But I’m a Cheerleader and lesbian hits Itty Bitty Titty Committee and Breaking the Girls. She has also directed television shows including the HBO hit series Girls and Looking. Furthermore she directed episodes of Gilmore Girls, Malcolm in the Middle, United States of Tara, Nip/Tuck, The L Word and many more.
As a child of Jewish parents Zazie de Paris grew up in France as well as in Israel. She is a legendary actress and singer who performed successful in France and Germany. In addition, she has been part of productions of Maurice B.jart in Alcazar, Peter Zadek, Martin Wuttke or J.r.me Savary, where she performed together with Ute Lemper, Isabelle Huppert, Eva Mattes and Nikolai Kinski.
TLVFest will be screening the outstanding movies 52 Tuesdays, Eastern Boys and Something Must Brake.
52 Tuesdays (2013) was directed by Sophie Hyde and won Best Direction at the Sundance Film Festival 2014 and the Crystal Bear for Best Movie at Berlinale 2014.
Eastern Boys (2013) was directed by Robin Campillo. It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival and won the Venice Horizons Award at Venice Film Festival 2013.
Something Must Break (2104) took home one of the three top Tiger Awards at the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2014 and was directed by Ester Martin Bergsmark.
For more information on TLVFest 2014 visit tlvfest.com
