Philadelphia QFEST: The Philly Premiere of ‘Who’s Afraid of Vagina Wolf?’

Plus: Four short-film programs and a lineup of the weekend's parties, including a late-into-the-nighter at Voyeur.

Every day during the two-week run of QFest, we’re rounding up our picks for the festival’s must-see flicks. Here, the best of what’s playing on Sat., July 13 and Sun., July 14. 

The Secret Disco Revolution (90 min., Canada): “This hilariously mockumentary uncovers the hidden agenda of disco but beneath the polyester, sequins and mannered movements and reverberated vocals is a revolutionary aim: to free gays, black [people] and women from the clutches of heterosexual conformity.” Sat., July 13, 12:15 p.m. and Mon., July 15, 9:30 p.m., $11, Ritz at the Bourse, 400 Ranstead St. Read Philadelphia City Paper‘s review.

TWO: The Story of Roman and Nyro (71 min., U.S.): “A touching and sweeping look at a male couple and the family they create: form their two boys, their surrogate mother and the many relatives and friends who embrace them.” Sat., July 13, 2:30 p.m., $11, Ritz East. Read G Philly‘s preview.

The New Black (74 min., U.S.): “A documentary that uncovers the complicated histories of the African-American and LGBT civil-rights movements.” This film is showing with Closest Thing to Heaven by Toronto director Ryan B. Levey, who we saw this week at the VIP QFest opening reception. Sat., July 13, 4:45 p.m., $11, Ritz at the Bourse. Read Washingtonian‘s review.

Geography Club (83 min., U.S.): “Sixteen-year-old Russell is a closeted high school student who is in need of self-acceptance in this entertaining, Hollywood-slick comedy-drama.” Sat., July 13, 5 p.m. and Sat., July 20, 7:15 p.m., $11, Ritz East. Read the Huffington Post’s review.

Who’s Afraid of Vagina Wolf? (90 min., U.S.): “A woman on a mission should not be stopped, especially when she’s wearing an oversize vagina costume.” Sat., July 13, 7:15 p.m. and Sun., July 14, 2:30, $11, Ritz East. Read Ioncinema‘s review.

Undressing Israel: Gay Men in the Promised Land (46 min., Israel/U.S.): “The always-controversial Michael Lucas has fashioned an eye-opening and surprisingly entertaining doc on being gay in the Holy Land.” Sun., July 14, 2:15 p.m., $11, Ritz East. Read G Philly‘s Q&A with director Michael Lucas.

Out in the Dark (96 min., U.S.): “Brimming with intensity and compassion, Out in the Dark follows two men – one Israeli and one Palestinian – who risk everything for love on the West Bank.” Sun., July 14, 7:15 p.m. and Tue., July 16, 5:15 p.m., $11, Ritz East. Read The Hollywood Reporter‘s review.

The GO DOC Project (95 min., U.S.): “Adroitly blending fiction and documentary, this lusty tale of sexual obsession and filmmaking features a college student who begins filming the life of a sexy go-go boy.” Sun., July 14, 9:15 p.m. and Tue., July 16, 5 p.m., $11, Ritz East. Read the Huffington Post’s review.

G PHILLY’S PREVIOUSLY RECOMMENDED FLICKS THAT ARE ALSO PLAYING THIS WEEKEND:

Interior. Leather Bar. (U.S., 60 min.): “James Franco and Travis Matthews collaborate on this experimental and sexually explicit film imagining what was cut from the classic Cruising. It created a huge controversy when screened earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival.” Sat. and July 13, 12:15 p.m., $11, Ritz East. Read Philadelphia City Paper’s review.

G.B.F. (98 min., U.S.): “Darren Stein’s hilarious high-school comedy about a shy gay teen who becomes the object d‘accessory for three scheming beauties who desperately need a gay best friend to complete their look.” Sat., July 13, 2:45 p.m., Ritz East, 125 S. Second St. Read the Advocate’s review here.

Meth Head (U.S., 108 min.): “Lukas Haas is riveting as a gay man whose life and loves fall apart after he become a meth addict. A powerful, disturbing drama not easily forgotten.” Sat., July 13, 9:30 p.m., $11, Ritz East, 125 S. Second St. Read Washington City Paper‘s review.

Truth (U.S., 94 min.): “Sean Paul Lockhart (QFEST’s 2011 Rising Star Award winner) lights up the screen as a sexy but emotionally brittle young man caught up in a torrid relationship with an older man who harbors his own kinds of troubles.” Sun., July 14, noon, Ritz East.

SHORT FILM PROGRAMS:

Boy Meets Boy (95 min., various locations): A collection of seven short films about, you guessed it, boys meeting boys. The lineup includes Giuseppe Bucci’s One More Night (trailer above), Grotto by Dave Scala and Brighton by Pierre Stefanos, whose Bedfellows won QFest’s Audience Award in 2010. Stefanos and Brighton producer Marcus Peterson will be in attendance for this screening. Sat., July 13, 12:30 p.m. and Wed., July 17, $11, Ritz East.

Where the Girls Are (85 min., various locations): For the L-word crowd, six films about ladies who love ladies. Highlights include Eli Navarro’s Neighbors, Margot Reumon’s If I Was a Man and episode 2 of Ingrid Jungermann’s coming-of-age-again web series F to 7thSat., July 13, 2:30 p.m., $11, Ritz at the Bourse.

Troubled Youth (91 min., various locations): Feeling old? This collection of short films highlighting the woes of youth will remind you that being young’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Films include Nick Corporon Barbie Boy and Adam Baran’s Jackpot. Sun., July 14, 4:45 p.m., Ritz at the Bourse.

Cruising for Sex (96 min., various locations): QFest wouldn’t be QFest without the sexy films. This evening of short films comprises a handful “lusty, sex-drenched cautionary tales” like Anthony Aguiar’s Only Always You, Sal Bardo’s Chaser and Adults Only by Michael J. Saul. Sun., July 14, 9:30 p.m., $11, Ritz East.

PARTIES:

The Happy Sad After-Screening Reception: A meet-and-greet with The Happy Sad cast members Leroy McClain, Cameron Scoggins, Ken Urban and director Rodney Evans. Sat., July 13, 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., free, Tavern on Camac, 243 S. Camac St.

Arouse Presents the V Party: Who’s Afraid of Vagina Wolf star/director Anna Margarita Albelo will be the guest of honor at this rager at Voyeur that promises to go late into the night. Vagina costumes encouraged. Sat., July 13, 10 p.m.-3:30 a.m., $10, Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 Saint James St.

For more information on these and other screenings, visit qfest.com.

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