3rd LGLFF – Opening Message

The holding of the 3rd Lisbon Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, is the best possible proof of both its success and necessity. The Festival, therefore, seems to be entering a new phase of settling and maturing, which is inevitably reflected in the films selected for showing this year. Cultural changes precede political and legislative changes, among others, and in the cinema there are considerable changes in the way in which Lesbian and Gay subjects are being dealt with.

At the end of this decade homosexuality is not being regarded as a phenomenon allied to blame and violence, typical of 70 models, such as in THE BOYS IN THE BANO and CRUISING, for example. Nor is it being stigmatized by the advent of AIDS in the 80s. On the contrary in films such as TRICK, BEOROOMS AND HALLWAYS and IT’S IN THE WATER, among others, the homosexual characters are increasingly dealt with, with humour integrated into a story which takes place beyond them, where they enjoy a higher than average standard of material com fort. We very much hope that this cultural change with act as a catalyst for the necessary and desired political change.

The participation of cultural institutes is essential to the festival. So it is with great satisfaction that we renew our thanks to the British and German Institutes, that have yet again supported the festival, and we are delighted lo welcome the Cervantes as well as the Franco-Português institutes, which are participating for the first time. This year we are also very pleased to be showing FIRE and WILDE for the very first time here in Portugal by kind permission of Filmes Lusomundo and Filmes Castello Lopes respectively. Our thanks go lo Suzana Marinho for her selection of a large part of the lesbian films, and also lo the effort and commitment of Elsa Fereira, Manuel Morais and their team for sub-titling many of the films In Portuguese. An objective promised last year lo the public, which has largely been carried out this year. Finally, we want lo thank CML, ICAM and Cinemateca Portuguesa for their inestimable support and encouragement, without which we should have been unable to hold this third edition.

We sincerely hope that we can continue to work together so that the Lisbon public can continue to enjoy the Gay Lesbian Film Festival every year and the extensive range of films chosen for its entertainment.

Enjoy!

Celso Junior