London gay arts festival GFEST announces 2014 programme
The new GFEST – Gaywise FESTival 2014 full programme details have been announced and will showcase new visual and performance art works and films from Monday the 10th to Saturday the 22nd November.
The 2014 festival listings were announced on the GFEST website. This year’s theme is ‘Myths and Mythology’.
Listings include thought provoking feature and short films, paintings, video installation and photographic works along with cabaret acts as well as South Asian dance works.
Headline acts also include the critically acclaimed ‘STAND’ – a Russian feature film directed by Jonathan Taieb, while British filmmakers Jake Graf and Richard Mansfield to present ‘Brace’ a queer short film, and the feature ‘The Secret Path’ respectively.
Daniel Ribeiro’s gay teen drama ‘The Way He Looks’ along with Erin Davies’ ‘Fagbug Nation’ a popular follow up to the original ‘Fagbug’ are to be screened. Filmmakers Casper Andreas and David Färdmar whose films have been a part of previous GFESTs screenings, will premier a short film ‘A Last Farewell’.
Festival director Niranjan Kamatkar said: “GFEST 2014 brings together an inspirational line-up of film-makers, artists, and performance dancers, each united in their aim to dispel the modern myths and stereotypes surrounding LGBTQI cultures. Integral to the GFEST 2014 programme is that all the participants are chosen on the strength and quality of their creative endeavour, not simply their orientation or identity.
“The platform for expression demonstrates that arts can be used to build bridges between gay and straight communities for generations to come. Working with the commissioned artists to showcase their work at this year’s festival has been truly inspirational. ”
Quoted as being ‘Queer Pearly Queen’ and ‘Haute Couture Fishwife’ Bird la Bird will present a cabaret evening line up that includes 2011 BOYZ award winner for best cabaret act Mzz Kimberley and promising act Sh!t Theatre at Rich Mix on the 15 November night.
British Asian dancer Kali Chandrasegaram will present a new performance work ‘S(He)-dom’ while Justin McCarthy, an established ‘Indian’ Bharatanatyam dance guru from the prestigious Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra will complete the double bill with his new work on myths, ‘Mohini: God Becomes Enchantress’. The dance event will take place on the evening of Thursday the 20 November at RADA studio.
A debate on gay identity and practice within the conventional South Asian dance sphere is planned at Roehampton University with both the dancers and other panel members.
New works are also the key feature at GFEST 2014 visual art exhibition that will run from 10 to 22 November at Menier Gallery near Tower Bridge. Challenging art works from established artists like Sadie Lee and Matthew Stradling will lead the showcase. Enzo Marra will show his Francis Bacon series along with art works of Berlin and London based artist Mathias Vef and Joao Trindade’s promising new digital images. The exhibition will also include ‘mythical’ interpretations from younger artists like Gökhan Tanriöver and Jenny Welton.
Unique and Free entry debates and panel discussions will take place as a part of GFEST 2014 programme.
PinkNews publisher Benjamin Cohen is a trustee of GFEST, and PinkNews is a supporting partner.
GFEST 2014 filmmakers and the stars are expected to participate in the Q&A sessions, after each film screening, at Rich Mix in East London from 15 to 18 November.
