After once again proving to be a success in Sydney, the Mardi Gras Film Festival will this week spread its wings to Byron Bay, holding four screenings at Byron Cinemas for the first time from May 16 to 18.

Sessions and their times for the pocket sized festival are as follows:
16 May – My Queer Career (from 8.00pm)
17 May – Shelter (4.30pm); Clapham Junction (7.00pm)
18 May – Finn’s Girl (contact cinema for times)

My Queer Career will showcase all finalists in one of the world’s largest short queer film competitions, and will be presented by Film Festival Director Lex Lindsay.

And as for the others...

Riparo (Shelter):  Anna and Mara return from a holiday in Tunisia to discover a young Arab man hidden in the boot of their car. They have unwittingly smuggled an illegal immigrant into Italy. As Anna insists they take care of the boy, the underlying tensions in the women’s relationship begin to surface. The trio find themselves playing into an odd set of family roles - Mother, Sister, Child; while their curious adoptee continues to wonder why two unmarried women would choose to sleep in the same bed.

Clapham Junction: A 14 year old boy lusts after his neighbour at the reception party for a gay wedding. Meanwhile, a married man flashes his jewels in a local cottage and a waiter enjoys a quickie out the back. An author has his script for a gay movie turned down and a young man adjusts his package before venturing out to the gay bars. The lives of these people interact in often unexpected ways over a 36 hour period close to London’s infamous Clapham Common, culminating in some devastating consequences. Warning: Violence may disturb.

Finn’s Girl: When Finn’s partner dies, she takes custody of her daughter Zelly, a precocious, naughty but adorable pre-teen. The pair do their best to watch out for each other but Finn’s demanding work in an abortion clinic gradually overtakes her ability to be a responsible parent - Finn is being stalked by religious fanatics who are threatening both her clinic and her life. Finn and Zelly spiral towards destruction as they try to deal with their grief, constant police surveillance, and the rebellious streak within them both.

Tickets:
Opening Night - $20; includes drinks + $2 donation to Northern Rivers division of ACON.
All other sessions - $12.50; $10.00 for concession

Tickets are now available for purchase through Byron Cinemas.

Film descriptions from the Mardi Gras Film Festival program created by QueerScreen.

Tags: Mardi Gras Film Festival 2008