OPINION with Roe McDermott: Gaze Like These

As we just celebrated another well-attended and hugely successful Dublin Pride, what better month to check out a brace film festivals that celebrate different viewpoints – literally.

July sees Dublin play host to a double-serving of fantastic and important film festivals, one of which is GAZE 2014, which takes place from July 31 - August 4 in the Light House Cinema. The LBGT film festival celebrates its 22nd birthday this year and to celebrate, GAZE is focusing on a “The Power Of Our Stories” theme, bringing together stories from Ireland and the world. GAZE audiences are in for an extra treat this year as the festival features a world exclusive 10-minute preview of Queen of Ireland, Panti Bliss’ new documentary, which will be officially premiered in 2016. The film follows Rory O’Neill’s (aka Panti Pandora Bliss) journey from the small Mayo town of Ballinarobe to ‘national treasure’ - including his recent interactions with RTÉ and his inspiring Noble Call speech at The Abbey. Director Conor Horgan will be present at the screening to talk through the progression of this masterpiece in the making. Other highly anticipated films include Campaign of Hate: Russia & Gay Propaganda, a timely examination of the ever-worsening realities of Russia’s LGBT community; The Dog, a documentary about John Wojotowicz who robbed a bank to pay for his partner’s sex-reassignment surgery (if that sounds vaguely familiar, it’s because the story inspired Dog Day Afternoon, starring Al Pacino); and The Circle, a decade-spanning love story that also addresses the origin of Zurich’s groundbreaking gay network and magazine, Der Kreis. For more information on this wonderful festival, see GAZE.ie
Meanwhile, the IFI’s Beyond the Bechdel Test season looks at whether the “big screen’ needs to make more space for women”. Running throughout July, the festival is packed with screenings, panel discussions and talks, and picks up on a wave of concern about women’s representation in film that gained momentum when cinemas in Sweden started rating films against the Bechdel Test last year. The line-up is superb, and you might even spot me there giving a talk, so see IFI.ie/bechdel for more information.