(Sales
of RA16 tickets have closed.)
Closing
Night Party
Saturday, October 21, 2006
9:30 p.m. • Rooftop
Terrace,
The Ellington • $25
1301 U St. NW, Washington, DC
Join us on the rooftop terrace of the Ellington building for an amazing
evening to celebrate the films of Reel Affirmations 16!
Catch up with festival friends old and new, dish on the highlights
of the festival, and enjoy a festive, glamorous evening honoring
filmmakers, directors and their work.
The party and Awards Ceremony starts at approximately 9:30 p.m., directly
after the final credits roll on our closing night film, Puccini
for Beginners.
Each year, Reel Affirmations bestows awards to honor the films that
you, the audience, choose as the best films screened during the film
festival.
Pick your favorites and see who wins!
Categories are:
- Best Short for Men
- Best Short for Women
- Best Documentary
- Best Feature Film
- Plant A Seed Award, a cash grant to a talented filmmaker from this year’s
festival to apply to a new project.
Sponsor: Tylenol PM
Puccini for Beginners
Saturday, October
21, 2006
8 p.m. • Lincoln
Theatre • $15
From the director of the classic The
Incredibly True Adventures of Two Girls in Love comes a hilarious tale about a girl who can't say
yes to love.
The gorgeous Elizabeth Reaser (The
Family Stone) turns in a tremendous
performance as Alegra, an opera-loving New York City lesbian who
bluntly describes herself as" narcissistic, passive-aggressive,
self-absorbed and incapable of connecting." After
Alegra's commitment issues send her girlfriend (Julianne Nicholson)
into the arms of a male rival, Alegra finds herself suddenly attracted
to two new lovers: Philip (the delicious Justin Kirk of Angels
In America fame) and Grace (Gretchen Mol of The
Notorious Bettie Page).
With a wacky chorus of sushi chefs and New York City bystanders making
trenchant observations on Alegra's love life, Puccini
for Beginners unfolds as a nonstop laugh-fest full
of insights on evolving sexual identities and the quest for love in
New York City. When Alegra begs Philip to “respect the inherent
boundaries that sexual identity requires," Philip wisely refuses,
pointing out (with utter sincerity) that “love has no boundaries.”
Toss in wacky pals, madcap coincidences and a fast-paced screwball
style, and you have the recipe for a new gay classic. For lesbians,
hasbians and the greater queer community, Puccini
for Beginners breaks
new cinematic ground as it updates queer sexuality for the 21st century.
Courtesy of Frameline 30.
Maria Maggenti, 2006, US, 90
min.
Sponsors: I•Gorman, Tylenol
PM
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