❉ Because Pride isn’t just for one month… New and upcoming LGBTQ+ World Cinema to look out for.
It’s Pride Month, and to celebrate the beauty, wholeness, loss, love and joy of being here and queer, Oluwatobi Are brings a fresh perspective on modern LGBTQ+ cinema for We Are Cult, with a hand-picked selection of some of the best new and undiscovered queer-themed/made movies from different parts of the world that articulate the goodness of important storytelling.
All The Colours of The World Are Between Black and White
A feature film written and directed by Nigerian filmmaker Babatunde Apalowo, All The Colours of the World are Between Black and White follows two men, Bambino and Bawa, as their relationship is tried and tested by hindering circumstances like safety in their country Nigeria. Both of them have dreams and aspirations, and while one struggles with feelings of uncertainty and insecurity, the other is steady and sure that the feelings they share transcend everything around and within them.
The film had its world premiere on February 17, 2023, at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival. It won the Teddy Award for Best LGBTQ-themed feature film at the festival.
Tope Tedela, Riyo David, Martha Ehinome Orhiere, Uchechika Elumelu and Floyd Anekwe star in this film produced by Damilola Orimogunje.
Strangers
Strangers follows the story of Adam, a screenwriter living in London, and Harry, his neighbour. The two of them have a chance encounter, and this snowballs into Adam discovering that his long-dead parents are very much alive and the same age as the day they apparently died.
This film is based loosely on the 1987 novel of the same name by Taichi Yamada.
Andrew Haigh wrote the screenplay and is also directing. The film stars Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Claire Foy, and Jamie Bell. Graham Broadbent and Peter Czernin serve as producers.
The trailer comes out later this year. Click here to read more.
Humo bajo el agua
Juliàn is a young ranch hand, and he reunites and reconnects with Patricio, his childhood friend and boss’s son. Their story explores the love and friendship at a crucial point for Argentina and its history after it regained its democracy. Both of them grapple with years-old feelings that eventually become steadfast and unyielding.
Fabio Junco and Julio Midú serve as co-directors and co-writers. Mariano Martínez and Rodrigo Guirao Díaz play the central protagonists, and Mimí Ardú, Luis Brandoni, Norma Argentina and Guido Botto Fiora also star. Gabriel Perosino did the cinematography.
Passages
Initially premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23 2023, Passages is a French romance drama film that follows the story of Tomas and Martin, a long-time couple. Both of them begin to have affairs and one grapples with the decisions and choices he has to make and deal with.
The film was also screened at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival. Frank Rogowski, Ben Whishaw, Adèle Exarchopoulos, and Erwan Kepoa Falé are part of the cast, with Ira Sachs as director. Mauricio Zacharias wrote the screenplay.
Marry My Dead Body
This film first premiered at the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival on November 17, 2022, but it was released officially on February 10, 2023.
Marry My Dead Body follows a police officer who has to get married to a ghost after finding a red wedding envelope. Greg Hsu, Austin Lin, Jingle Wang, and Tsai Chen-nan all star in this supernatural comedy mystery film directed by Cheng Wei-hao. The film explores the Chinese tradition of “ghost marriages”.
Jin Bai-lun and Dennis Wu serve as producers.
Who I Am Not
This film shines a light on the mostly ignored two per cent of the world’s population: the intersex community. It is a documentary that follows Sharon Rose Khumalo, a South African beauty queen, that comes to terms with the fact that she is intersex. Dimakatso Sebidi is a male-presenting intersex activist and her polar opposite; the only one that seems able to offer guidance. This story sparks the conversation surrounding intersexuality and the struggle of living in a binary world.
Tünde Skovrán acts as writer, director and producer, with Andrei Zinca also serving as a producer.
Who I Am Not received its its UK premiere at BFI Southbank as the Centrepiece Presentation of the 37th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival 2023.
Knochen und Namen
This 2023 German drama film stars Fabian Stumm, Knut Berger, Marie-Lou Sellem, and Susie Meyer. Stumm is also the writer, director and producer (alongside Nicola Heim).
The film follows Boris and Jonathan, who have been in a relationship for many years. Their relationship is at a crossroads when Jonathan gets utterly submerged in a novel he’s writing, and Boris begins to get close to his colleague. Jonathan’s single sister, Natasha, battles desire, loss, and trust with her young daughter, Josie.
Knochen und Namen had its premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival.
Silver Haze
Silver Haze had its world premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival on February 19, 2023. It was nominated for a Teddy Award for Best Feature Film and won the Teddy Award Jury Prize.
The film follows Franky, a 23-year-old nurse with tunnel vision for revenge and who is hell-bent on assigning guilt to a deeply traumatic event that happened 15 years prior. And as such, she can’t seem to form any meaningful relationship. That is until she meets—and falls in love with—Florence.
Vicky Knight and Esmé Creed-Miles play the main protagonists. Charlotte Knight, Angela Bruce and Archie Brigden also star.
The film was written and directed by Sacha Polak and is a British-Dutch co-production drama film. Marleen Slot and Michael Elliot act as producers.
❉ ‘Who I Am Not’ received its its UK premiere at BFI Southbank in March 2023 as the Centrepiece Presentation of the 37th BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival 2023, showcasing the best new LGBTQIA+ cinema from around the world.
❉ Oluwatobi Are (he/him) is a reader, writer, and delusional romantic. He has written for blogs like The Oracle Africa, Anything, Everything & In-between and his own personal blog. When he’s not waiting for a new Sally Rooney book or fantasizing about finding true love, he’s either binging TV shows or tweeting. You can find him on Twitter and Instagram.
I can’t wait to watch these!