TLVFest: The international Tel Aviv LGBTQ+ Film Festival celebrates its 16th anniversary
While the UK Jewish Film Festival is underway this week, Tel Aviv’s International LGBTQ+ Film Festival enjoys its sweet 16th. The annual event celebrates LGBTQ+ film from around the world, featuring over 150 movies in 2021, 47 of which are Israeli shorts, with 10 made by young Israelis.
Opening the festival last week (and screening again 20 Nov, 1.30pm), was Astar Elkayam’s Two, which tells the complex story of two women trying to bring a child into the world, while Supernova, starring Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth closes the 10-day event on Saturday. Directed by Harry Macqueen, Supernova follows a couple journeying across rural England in a bid to process some devastating news.
Saturday 20 November also marks International Transgender Day of Remembrance, which TLVFest commemorates with a screening of 12 short films that raise awareness of the transgender community and highlight the plight of those who've fallen victim to transphobia.
Other events include a series of discussions about queer cinema and queer Palestinian work within Israel, plus the TLVFest Drag Contest, judged by Rupaul's Drag Race stars Ginger Minj and Latrice Royale.
Sharon E Bershadsky, director of the Israel Government Tourist Office in London, said: "After reopening our borders to tourists for the first time since March 2020, we are thrilled to be able to offer TLVFest as a celebration of film and culture that will appeal to the global LGBTQ+ community and beyond."
By Danielle Goldstein
TLVFest: The International LGBTQ+ Film Festival runs until Saturday 20 November. tlvfest.com