Gay Film Festival Tackles Bitter Issues

The South African Out in Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival ended last Sunday in Johannesburg with the Cape Town festival running until 21 September.

The festival attracted at least about 300 members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community of different ages, races and class on the opening night.

According to Nodi Murphy, the director of Out in Africa (OIA), the festival aims to bring awareness about the existence of the LGBTI people within the broader community.

"The festival encourages LGBTI visibility. We are in a world where there is a lot of communication through film. If  we don't see or hear ourselves then we don't exist", added Murphy

One of the most appealing highlights of the night was the screening of a  riveting documentary, Beyond Hate Crimes, exploring an alarming reality of the prevalence of hate crimes in South Africa. The documentary was produced Musa Ngubane of Behind The Mask.

Describing the format and content of the documentary, Ngubane agreed that she was inspired to tackle hate crimes, particularly that she was introduced to video advocacy immediately after Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Masooa were murdered last year July.

Video advocacy is the the use of video to higlight issues in society with a view to bring about change, Ngubane advised.

The South African Out in Africa Gay and Lesbian Film Festival ended last Sunday in Johannesburg with the Cape Town festival running until 21 September.

The festival attracted at least about 300 members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community of different ages, races and class on the opening night.

According to Nodi Murphy, the director of Out in Africa (OIA), the festival aims to bring awareness about the existence of the LGBTI people within the broader community.

"The festival encourages LGBTI visibility. We are in a world where there is a lot of communication through film. If  we don't see or hear ourselves then we don't exist", added Murphy

One of the most appealing highlights of the night was the screening of a  riveting documentary, Beyond Hate Crimes, exploring an alarming reality of the prevalence of hate crimes in South Africa. The documentary was produced Musa Ngubane of Behind The Mask.

Describing the format and content of the documentary, Ngubane agreed that she was inspired to tackle hate crimes, particularly that she was introduced to video advocacy immediately after Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Masooa were murdered last year July.

Video advocacy is the the use of video to higlight issues in society with a view to bring about change, Ngubane advised.

"Sizakele and Salome had just been murdered before my departure to attend the training.  At the institute we were asked to produce films that address the issues that we are dealing or faced with, and that was the issue close to my heart. Also my involvement with Behind The Mask over the years has made me aware that hate crimes are really of concern to the LGBTI community", she said.

The hilarious opening night movie, Out At The Wedding, came as a solace particularly after guests watched saddening recount of hate crimes in Beyond Hate Crimes.

Directed by Lee Friedlander, Out At The Wedding, explores the social ills facing homosexuals in a witty and ambiguous manner capturing the audience throughout the film.

The film looks at the issue of racism and homophobia as well as acceptance. The protagonists, Alex, is inloved with a black Jewish man but ashamed of what her family might think. Confusion erupts at her younger sister's wedding and everyone is left believing that she is a lesbian.

Towards the end in a turn of events it appears that her younger sister is the one who is in fact a lesbian.

The key speech this year was delivered by Judge Edwin Cameron of Supreme Court of Apeal in South Africa. Talking about the festival, Cameron said: "I am excited to be involved and quite honoured to be introducing Brother Outsider. The film festival is political yet fun to be part of. The opening night was fun although I didn't really enjoy the movie Out At The Wedding."