{"id":90858,"date":"2019-06-12T12:25:30","date_gmt":"2019-06-12T16:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/the-2019-provincetown-international-film-festival-kicks-off-with-brittany-runs-a-marathon-will-honor-judith-light-john-cameron-mitchell-and-jillian-bell\/"},"modified":"2019-06-12T12:25:30","modified_gmt":"2019-06-12T16:25:30","slug":"the-2019-provincetown-international-film-festival-kicks-off-with-brittany-runs-a-marathon-will-honor-judith-light-john-cameron-mitchell-and-jillian-bell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gayfriendschat.com\/socialblog\/the-2019-provincetown-international-film-festival-kicks-off-with-brittany-runs-a-marathon-will-honor-judith-light-john-cameron-mitchell-and-jillian-bell\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2019 Provincetown International Film Festival kicks off with \u2018Brittany Runs a Marathon\u2019; will honor Judith Light, John Cameron Mitchell, and Jillian Bell"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2019 Provincetown International Film Festival kicks off with \u2018Brittany Runs a Marathon\u2019; will honor Judith Light, John Cameron Mitchell, and Jillian Bell<\/b><\/p>\n

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\"Judith<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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PIFF<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Provincetown is known for its long history as a queer arts utopia; located on the tip of Cape Cod, it traces its theatrical roots back to the early twentieth century, with authors including Eugene O\u2019Neill, Susan Glaspell, Tennessee Williams, and Norman Mailer, all finding inspiration on its shores. These days, writers and auteurs including Michael Cunningham, John Waters, Ryan Murphy, and Judy Gold, all call<\/a> Ptown home. (seasonally, at least!)<\/p>\n

The Provincetown International Film Festival<\/a> (PIFF) kicks off Wednesday and will run from June 12-16, featuring several LGBTQ-inclusive titles. Although its lineup is not exclusively queer,\u00a0PIFF is committed to serving communities who are often outside of the mainstream, in the margins, or otherwise underserved, but have a voice critical to the evolution of artistic expression.<\/p>\n

Now in its 21st successful year, PIFF has permanently established itself as the largest cultural event in lower Cape Cod and Provincetown’s premier cultural event, attracting 10,000 plus film-goers, movie buffs, and arts patrons. The 5-day festival showcases over 100 American and international independent narrative, documentary and animated features and shorts as well as panel discussions and special events.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

PIFF\u2019s opening night film is the critically-acclaimed Brittany Runs a Marathon<\/em>, which had its world premiere at Sundance earlier this year, where it was acquired by Amazon Studios. (it will hit theaters this August) Writer\/Director Paul Downs Collaizo and lead actress Jillian Bell will be in attendance. Bell, who will be honored with PIFF\u2019s Next Wave Award<\/a>, has another film, Sword of Trust<\/em>, which will also be showing at the festival. This year\u2019s closing night film will be Before You Know It<\/em>, from Hannah Pearl Utt, which co-stars Judith Light.<\/p>\n

\"Before
\u00a0Light in ‘Before You Know It’<\/em><\/p>\n

Light, who was honored at the 73rd Annual Tony Awards last weekend for her long-established career on stage, as well as in film and television, will be presented with this year\u2019s Excellence in Acting Award<\/a>. A lifelong ally to the LGBTQ community, Light was one of the only celebrities who attended the inaugural GLAAD Media Awards in 1989, when very few public figures were willing to do so. Light won Tony awards in 2012 and 2013 for her performances in Other Desert Cities and The Assembled Parties. She was Emmy-nominated for her role in Ryan Murphy\u2019s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story<\/em> this past fall. And this coming fall, she\u2019ll star in Murphy\u2019s upcoming Netflix series The Politician<\/em>, while also taking center stage in the musical finale of Amazon Prime\u2019s Transparent<\/em><\/a>, for which she\u2019s received several Emmy nominations over the years for her role as Shelly Pfefferman.<\/p>\n

Also being honored this year is Hedwig and the Angry Inch<\/em> creator John Cameron Mitchell, who will receive PIFF\u2019s 2019 Filmmaker on the Edge Award<\/a>. Mitchell received PIFF\u2019s Audience Award for the film version of Hedwig in 2001. The now cult classic will play again at PIFF this year and Mitchell will be featured in conversation with Waters at Ptown\u2019s town hall on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\"Hedwig<\/p>\n

PIFF \u201819 will also include a keynote conversation with Oscar-winning documentary filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman<\/a>, who bring two new docs to PTown this year. The recently-released State of Pride<\/em> from YouTube Originals, as well as their new documentary about singer Linda Ronstadt.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

State of Pride <\/em>takes a look at the LGBTQ history, fifty years after the Stonewall uprising, while Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice<\/em>, traces the iconic singer\u2019s genre-defying career that spanned decades\u2014from the 1960s to her retirement in 2011 due to Parkinson\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n

\"Linda<\/p>\n

Following is a preview of additional high-profile films that will be playing at PIFF this year:<\/p>\n

NARRATIVES:<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n

Adam<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Awkward teen<\/a> Adam spends his last high school summer with his big sister, who throws herself into NYC\u2019s lesbian<\/a> and trans<\/a> activist scene. After meeting and falling for thoughtful, savvy Gillian he realizes that she\u2019s mistaken his gender identity and makes the fateful decision not to correct her, as he and those around him encounter love, friendship, and hard truths. Director Rhys Ernst (a director\/producer on Transparent) depicts Ariel Schwag\u2019s novel with wit and sensitivity, delivering a coming-of-age comedy that subverts boy<\/a>-meets-girl<\/a> conventions.<\/p>\n

2018, 95 minutes, Directed by Rhys Ernst<\/em>
Cast: Nicholas Alexander, Margaret Qualley, Bobbi Salv\u00f6r Menuez<\/p>\n

Vita & Virginia<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Vita-and-Virginia\"<\/p>\n

The fascinating true story about the love affair between socialite and popular author Vita Sackville-West and literary icon Virginia Woolf springs to life in this sumptuous double portrait of its two extraordinary real-life protagonists explores how their liberating affair led to one of Woolf\u2019s greatest novels. \u00a0<\/p>\n

2018, Ireland, UK, 110 minutes, Directed by Chanya Button<\/em>
Cast: Gemma Arterton, Elizabeth Debicki, Isabella Rossellini<\/p>\n

Sister Aimee<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

In 1926, America\u2019s most famous evangelist is looking for a way out. Fed up with her own success, she runs away with her married lover and finds herself on a wild road trip towards the border. \u00a0And that\u2019s only the beginning in this marvelous film based (very very loosely) on a true story. In their playful feature debut, co-writer\/directors Samantha Buck and Marie Schlingmann conjure a true retro spectacular anchored by Anna Margaret Hollyman\u2019s dazzling virtuosic turn as consummate showwoman Aimee.<\/p>\n

2018, USA, 87 minutes, Directed by Samantha Buck and Marie Schlingmann<\/em>
Cast: Anna Margaret Hollyman, Michael Mosley, Andrea Suarez Paz<\/p>\n

Top End Wedding<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Top-End-Wedding\"<\/p>\n

Lauren and Ned’s plans to have an impromptu wedding are derailed after her mom goes AWOL following a spat with her now comically-depressed dad. \u00a0Now they have just 10 days to find Lauren\u2019s mother, reunite her parents, and pull off their dream wedding. Following her wayward mom\u2019s path takes them on a madcap, picturesque journey through Australia\u2019s far north from Darwin to the Tiwi Islands, culminating in a beautiful story about returning home in this heartfelt, funny film by director Wayne Blair (The Sapphires).<\/p>\n

2018, Australia, 103 minutes, Directed by Wayne Blair <\/em>
Cast: Miranda Tapsell, Gwilym Lee, Kerry Fox<\/p>\n

The Farewell<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

After learning their beloved matriarch has terminal lung cancer, a family opts not to tell her about the diagnosis, instead scheduling an impromptu wedding back in China as an excuse to reunite and surreptitiously say their goodbyes. \u00a0Writer\/director Lulu Wang imbues THE FAREWELL\u00a0<\/i>with warmth and knowing wit, while the uniformly excellent ensemble cast (anchored by a breakout performance by Awkwafina) invites us to share this extended clan\u2019s joy and sorrow\u2014and to feel, for the length of this remarkable film, like a part of their family.<\/p>\n

2019, China, USA, 98 minutes, Directed by Lulu Wang<\/em>
Cast: Awkwafina, Tzi Ma, Diana Lin<\/p>\n

DOCUMENTARIES:<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n

Wig<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Wig\"<\/p>\n

Late one night in 1984, Lady Bunny and a few friends drunkenly wandered from the Pyramid Club in New York\u2019s East Village to Tompkins Square Park and staged an impromptu drag show. This would soon become an annual drag bacchanal that lasted until 2001. In 2018 Wigstock roared back in all its glittery glory\u2014celebrating drag, both classic (we won\u2019t say old) and new. WIG<\/em> lovingly captures the \u201cthen\u201d and \u201cnow\u201d of this cultural institution.<\/p>\n

2019, USA, 89 minutes, Directed by Chris Mourkarbel<\/p>\n

Gay Chorus Deep South<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"gay<\/p>\n

To confront a resurgence of faith-based, anti-LGBTQ laws brought about in the Trump era, Conductor Tim Seelig leads 300 singers of the San Francisco Gay Men\u2019s Chorus on a bus tour of the deep South. The road trip forces Seelig and other Chorus members who fled the South to confront their own fears, pain, and prejudices on a journey toward reconciliation. In a time of great divide in this country, director David Charles Rodrigues reveals a timely exploration of LGBT issues that both challenges and reinforces notions surrounding the South.<\/p>\n

2019, USA, 100 minutes, Directed by David Charles Rodrigues<\/em><\/p>\n

Making Montgomery Clift<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"making<\/p>\n

Directed by Clift\u2019s nephew Robert Clift and Hillary Demmon, MAKING MONTGOMERY CLIFT <\/em>explores Monty\u2019s life from the fresh and intimate perspective of his family, remaining lovers, and friends. Through their stories and voluminous audio recordings made by Monty and his family, the myth of a troubled young man<\/a> struggling with his sexuality and post-car accident appearance in 1960s Hollywood is challenged\u2014and a new Monty starts to emerge: a complicated man<\/a> and talented actor who can\u2019t be easily pigeonholed into the familiar narratives found in his biographies.<\/p>\n

2018, USA, 88 minutes, Directed by Robert Clift, Hillary Demmon<\/em><\/p>\n

Circus of Books<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Circus<\/p>\n

Filmmaker Rachel Mason\u2019s parents Karen and Barry, are the proprietors of iconic L.A. pornography shop Circus of Books. Mason chronicles their life\u2019s work as one of the biggest distributors of gay<\/a> porn in the country, including their prosecution on obscenity charges and the shop\u2019s role in offering refuge to the LGBTQ community during the height of the AIDS crisis. CIRCUS OF BOOKS<\/em> depicts an untold chapter in queer history, while also honestly and emotionally exploring how the way Mason\u2019s parents supported their family affected their home life as well.<\/p>\n

2019, USA, 92 minutes, Directed by Rachel Mason<\/em><\/p>\n

Seahorse<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Seahorse\"<\/p>\n

Freddy is 30 and yearns to start a family but for him, this ordinary desire comes with unique challenges. He is a gay<\/a> transgender man<\/a>. Deciding to carry his own baby took years of soul searching, but nothing could prepare him for the reality of pregnancy, and the challenges of society\u2019s fundamental understanding of gender, parenthood and family. Against a backdrop of increasing hostility towards trans<\/a> people, Freddy is forced to confront his own naivet\u00e9, mine unknown depths of courage and lean on every friend and family member who will stand by him.<\/p>\n

2019, UK, 89 minutes, Directed by Jeanie Finlay<\/em><\/p>\n

For more information about the 2019 Provincetown International Film Festival, head to:\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>www.provincetownfilm.org\/festival\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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June 12, 2019<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Issues:\u00a0<\/div>\n