An array of queer indie films, a local-history documentary, and gripping thrillers are lighting up screens both large and small this week, offering audiences a unique range of cinematic experiences.
The fifth edition of the SF Queer Film Festival is set to take place from August 22 to 24 at San Francisco’s Roxie Theater, celebrating LGBTQ+ filmmakers and independently produced queer cinema.
This year’s festival features 11 programs showcasing both feature-length and short films selected for their innovative storytelling, merit, and ability to challenge stereotypes.
The festival will open with ‘Love Me Bait Me,’ a documentary by Rachel van der Bie that explores the evolution of LGBTQ+ representation in film and television over the past century.
Friday’s lineup will also include ‘Babaylan,’ a short film focused on Filipino drag queens in the Bay Area.
Saturday highlights include ‘Cutaways,’ a comedy directed by Mark Schwab about a filmmaker who, after being unfairly canceled on social media, ends up directing an online adult film.
The festival will conclude on Sunday with ‘Outliers and Outlaws,’ a documentary by Courtney Hermann that tells the inspiring story of hundreds of lesbians who migrated to Eugene, Oregon, from the 1960s to the 1990s, defying societal norms.
Short-film programs will also feature a range of topics, including transgender stories, fetish and experimental work, HIV/AIDS themes, and music videos.
For further information, festival-goers can visit sfqueerfilmfest.com.
Additionally, KQED is airing a new documentary titled ‘A Balcony on the World,’ directed by John Rogers.
This documentary spotlights the Aquatic Park Bathhouse, a historic waterfront building that houses the San Francisco Maritime Museum.
Constructed in the 1930s as part of the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration, the Aquatic Park Bathhouse was envisioned as a ‘democratic country club’ to provide jobs for artists and enhance public cultural spaces during the Great Depression.
The artwork commissioned for the bathhouse features maritime themes and reflects the surrealist and abstract styles of the time, serving as a testament to its historical importance.
Rogers also delves into the challenges faced by the building, including unexpected privatization, and chronicles its transformation into the San Francisco Maritime Museum, now managed by the National Park Service.
‘A Balcony on the World’ will air on KQED 9 on August 22 at 8 p.m., August 23 at 2 a.m., and August 30 at 6 p.m.
Local historian Woody LaBounty will also present an illustrated talk about Playland at the Beach, a popular amusement park that operated for nearly 60 years at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach, on August 24 at the 4 Star Theater at 3 p.m.
Meanwhile, the thriller ‘Relay’ makes its debut, featuring Riz Ahmed as Ash, a reclusive negotiator who embarks on a frantic mission to protect a whistleblower from corporate threats.
Directed by David Mackenzie, known for ‘Hell or High Water,’ the film portrays Ash as a solitary New Yorker grappling with personal demons and navigating a web of dangerous encounters.
As Ash aids Sarah, played by Lily James, who possesses incriminating documents against her biotech employers, the tension mounts with various perilous escapades.
While the action intensifies towards the conclusion and includes a plot twist that strains plausibility, Ahmed’s portrayal of Ash captures a modern sense of isolation and struggle, keeping the suspense palpable throughout.
‘Relay’ is set to open on August 22 at theaters across the Bay Area and is rated R for its content.
Another highlight this week includes ‘The Knife,’ marking the directorial debut of Nnamdi Asomugha, who also stars in the film as Chris.
The thriller follows Chris and his family, played by Aja Naomi King and their two daughters, as they deal with the chaos resulting from a home invasion.
Facing relentless pressure from a determined police detective, played by a formidable Melissa Leo, the film provides a taut and suspenseful narrative that subtly critiques how law enforcement often misjudges Black communities.
With a runtime of 80 minutes, ‘The Knife’ is receiving positive attention for its direction and performances, open in theaters including the AMC Metreon in San Francisco and Regal Jack London in Oakland.
Rated R, the film fits snugly into the thriller genre, engaging audiences with its grounded storyline.
Finally, Ron Howard’s latest thriller, ‘Eden,’ dramatizes the tumultuous experiences faced by a European settlement on the Galapagos Islands during the 1930s.
Despite Howard’s reputation for creating relatable Hollywood narratives, ‘Eden’ has drawn criticism for presenting its complex themes in a one-dimensional manner that fails to evoke empathy for its characters or their struggles.
The film stars Jude Law as a German doctor inspired by Nietzsche, alongside Vanessa Kirby and others, but the script by Noah Pink has not been well received.
‘Eden’ opens on August 22 at Bay Area theaters and is rated R.
Whether through queer narratives, historical explorations, or thrilling plots, this week’s film offerings deliver a diverse array of stories that are sure to captivate audiences.
image source from：piedmontexedra
