The British Film Institute announced that this year’s opening night gala at the Odeon West End will screen Love and Other Disasters by director Alek Keshishian (In Bed with Madonna, 1991).
In the film, Brittany Murphy plays a fashion assistant embarked in finding a boyfriend for her gay flatmate Peter, a character performed by Matthew Rhys, the gay lawyer of the Walker siblings in the TV series Brothers and sisters (2006).
Broad and diverse programme
The 22nd London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival’s programme includes more than 200 films to be screened in BFI Southbank, BFI IMAX, Odeon West End and Film Wotever.
"The LLGFF has grown to become the UK's third largest film festival. For 22 years it has brought the best in queer cinema to audiences in London and across the UK and offered unparalleled access to the best in European and World cinema”, said the organisers.
The festival this year presents contributions from UK, US, France, Canada, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Thailand, Taiwan, China, Israel, Singapore, Brazil among other countries.
Highlighted areas
As a tradition, the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival invite the public to its side projects and mini-seasons that highlight regions or issues. This time the festival is dedicated to East Asian-origin films and movies with an overt political message.
Among others in the East Asian section are Spider Lilies which portrays the world of family obligations in Taiwan, and The Chinese Botanist's Daughter which looks at the lesbian life in rural China in the 1990's.
In the political section, EAST/WEST-Sex & Politics recounts the Gay Pride march in Moscow; The Marching Season looks at Pride 2007 in London and Riga, and Jerusalem Is Proud to Present follows the organisers of a World Pride event in Jerusalem, surrounded by intimidation and institutional non-co-operation.
