Gay 2025 Archives - Page 3 of 6

Tell Me That You Love Me

In need of a queer and romantic treat? “Tell Me That You Love Me” by director Kim-Jho Gwang-Soo is exactly what the doctor prescribed and much more.

Kyung-Il meets Kyung-Ho while buying a used camera from him, but Kyung-Ho is still attached to it and hesitant to let the camera go. After a short negotiation Kyung-Il leaves with the camera.

Even though neither wants to see the other again and believe this was the last they saw each other, destiny had other plans. They meet again at a fortune teller and a queer basketball team. The repeated encounters cause them to develop feelings for each other, but will the secrets they both hide will stand in their way to love?

Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day

“Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day” – Croatia’s official nomination for Best Foreign Film in the 2025 Academy Awards, is an historical epic and an ode to love, loyalty and the power of friendship and art.

The film that spans over decades, follows lovers Lovro and Nenad and their long-time friendship with Steven and Ivan, all of them were part of a gay group turned filmmakers while navigating their lives through communist, post-war Yugoslavia.

The film studio they run gains world fame, but they are forced to compromise their arts and beliefs to produce propaganda for the communist regime. The more success they gain the more the fascism of the government seeps into their studio and they suddenly find their lives in danger despite being Nazi fighting heroes.

“Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day” is a luscious, intimate and politically charged cinema and the result is a heartbreaking piece on resistance. This is a film that is crying against oppression, against silencing and for the freedom to live, love and create art without fear.

Talented filmmaker and director Ivona Juka says this film was inspired by a relative of hers that was forced to hide his sexual identity for most of his adult life (homosexuality was still a crime in Croatia up until the 90’s).

Warning: This film contains explicit sex scenes and graphic violence.

In association with the European Union

Calcinculo

Celebrating The Week of the Italian Language at TLVFest

Reception for ticket buyers at 4:30 PM in the festival lounge (Hall 6) courtesy of the Swiss Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute

15 years old Benedetta lives in rural Italy with her parents and two younger sisters. After work her father enjoys his hobby of fixing old cars while her mother is taking her frustration out on Benedetta. When a travelling fair comes to town Benedetta meets Amanda, who lives an independent life and defies gender norms. Benedetta is immediately drawn to the older Amanda’s self confidence and her independence. The two hardly speak, their tentative friendship is not propelled by big emotions but by mutual affection, curiosity and recognizing each other’s differences.

Director Chiara Bellosi describes her heroines in the small, quiet moments and defines them in a poetic accuracy that is rare in teenage films.

“Calcinculo” gently explores an unusual friendship story while revealing a tale of self discovery and liberation.

In association with the Embassy of Italy & Italian Cultural Institute in Tel Aviv
In association with the Embassy of Switzerland

Summer School, 2001

The third millenia had barely started and 17 years old red haired Kien returned to his family and their little market stall in the Czech Republic after a decade growing up with his grandmother in Vietnam. Instead of the warm welcome he expects he finds a distant father, a worried mother and a clingy little brother.

“Summer school 2001” may be told in a light tone but it is a complex and multi-layered film on the differences between generations and cultural identity. This is an authentic piece telling a coming-of-age story of a young man who feels a stranger in the community he belongs to in a foreign country.

Director and screenwriter Dužan Duong’s debut film brings Kien’s story in a very moving and unique way and gives its audience a new and intriguing voice you will want to follow.

In association with the Czech Centre Tel Aviv

Lilies Not for Me

In early 20th century England, a young writer named Owen James is hospitalized in a mental institute for his sexual orientation. He shares his story with a sympathetic nurse; of the love he shared with a handsome doctor that became convinced their ‘condition’ could be cured. Director and screenwriter’s Will Seefried romantic debut film sheds light on a dark and mostly unknown period of LGBTQ history.

The film “Lilies Not For Me” has the classic production qualities of Merchen Ivory, so if you loved films such as “Maurice”, “A Room with a View” or “Call Me by Your Name”- this is the film for you.

Irish actor Fionn O’shea who had already portrayed several gay characters in films such as “Dating Amber” and “Handsome Devil” is fantastic in the main role. Also starring Robert Aramayo (“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”), Erin Kellyman (“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”) and Jodi Balfour (“Ted Lasso”).

It’s Dorothy!

Since her first time in Oz 125 years ago in Frank L. Baum’s classic “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” Dorothy Gale was in numerous films, TV shows, theatrical productions and has become an icon in American culture. Her legacy lives on to this day.

The film “It’s Dorothy!” is a moving documentary experience that expertly weaves the story of Dorothy’s journey to Oz with those who had played the iconic character- from Judy Garland to Diana Ross and more.

Jeffrey McHale, who had already proved his worth as a documentarist in the film “You Don’t Nomi” on the cult film “Showgirls” created a documentary that manages to provoke thoughts and bring to light new insights on Dorothy’s immortal character. He digs deep into archives and tells the story of how Dorothy became such a lighthouse of optimism, empowerment and hope. The film, naturally, addresses the question as to why Dorothy’s journey and character became a symbol of the LGBTQ community.

Perro perro

Some men are just dogs! Juan happens to find one in the wild while on a nice vacation with his girlfriend and another couple of friends. He adopts him, bathes him, feeds him, plays with him and gives him plenty of love and affection, even though his girlfriend warns him not to get too attached.

Argentinian provocative director Marco Berger (“The Astronaut’s Lover”, “Los Agitadores”) who’s films we frequently screen at the TLVFest, comes back with an absurd and daring homo-erotic tale on the human need to connect to a living creature and when that connection becomes a primal basic animal instinct. The result is thought provoking about controlling relationships even in our daily lives.

Westler – East Of The Wall

An American guy visits Felix, a German guy living on the west side of Berlin. The two go on a day walk in East Berlin and meet Thomas. Felix and Thomas fall in love but the wall separates them, as of all of Germany in those dark days. Felix tries to keep their relationship strong and steady by frequently visiting Thomas on the east side but that only raises the East Germany authorities’ suspicions. Thoms decides to take a huge risk and flee to West Germany, will he succeed?

“Westler – East Of The Wall” is noted by its realistic description of a homosexual relationship in a wall-separated Berlin. Part of the film was shot in east Berlin, without authorization of the East Germany government. The result is one of the most talked about film of 1985.

In association with the Embassy of Germany

A True Story

Guilio and Alessio are two gay men in their twenties who meet in Rome during a scorching August. Despite being different, they are attracted to each other. Alessio is in Rome for one weekend only. This short lived relationship will expose ancient wounds and will force the two to deal with unexpected tenderness and the blooming of an unfamiliar emotion- love.

“A True Story” is a wonderful Italian sweet on love in a digital age where everything is being uploaded to social networks and how this will affect the love stories of people of Gen Z.

In association with the Embassy of Italy & Italian Cultural Institute in Tel Aviv

Last Exit Gran Canaria

Director Tim Lienhard comes from a Catholic background, growing up in southern Germany. It was quite later in life that he had found his calling and became a provocative Drag persona and performer. At the age of 64 he mostly celebrates life with men decades younger than him. His journey goes from Berlin through the Torremolinos Porn Festival and the Pride week of beautiful Gran Canaria. In Costa Del Sol Lienhard meets OnlyFans content creators, party goers who came from all over the world to experience the freedom they cannot at home, and also people his own age who tell him their past and present adventures.

Identity, sexuality, growing old and self esteem are the main motives of this daring and exabitionist documentary film. Tim Lienhard manages to leave an impression with his shameless openness and is the inspiration for sexual freedom in this time of conservatism and regression.

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Gay 2025

Tell Me That You Love Me

Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day

Calcinculo

Summer School, 2001

Lilies Not for Me

It’s Dorothy!

Perro perro

Westler – East Of The Wall

A True Story

Last Exit Gran Canaria

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