Festival Awards: And The Winners Are...

The 18th International Lesbian and Gay Festival in Hamburg ended on Sunday, 21 October. Throughout the whole festival people were asked to state their opinion about the films they had just seen on pink pieces of paper which were collected by the festival staff at the exits. As a result, the following awards could be given entirely based on the popular vote:

URSULA for the best lesbian short film went to Abbe Robinson from the UK for "Private Life" (more info on this film on IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1006939/)

URSULA for the best gay short film went to Michael Mew from Canada for "Peking Turkey" (more info on this film on IMDB http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0831371/)

URSULA for the best transgender short film went to Abe Bernard from USA for "Trannymals Go To Court" (more info on this film at www.trannymals.com)



This is the second time that Abe receives an URSULA. Last year his first Trannymal film which was called simply "Trannymals" also got the award. Congratulations, Abe!

Each URSULA winner received 1,000 EUR.

The MADE IN GERMANY award for the best German short film went to Martin Busker for "HerzHaft" (more about this film and the director at www.martin-busker.de)

The winner in this category will be given the possibility to attend a course at the Berlin Hamburg Film School (www.filmschule-hamburg-berlin.de)

EUROLOLA for the best European film went to Erich Richter Strand from Norway for "Sønner" ("Sons") (more about this film at www.sonner.no)

GLOBOLA for the best intercontinental film went to Brooke Sebold, Benita and Todd Sills from USA for "Red Without Blue" (more about this film at www.redwithoutblue.com)

Festival impressions: Day 6 (the final day)

Metropolis, one of the cinemas where the festival's films were shown.

Inside Metropolis: posters advertising some of the festival's films.

Before the Sunday matinée film goers could enjoy some hot drinks and croissants on the house.

Joachim from the festival team had also accepted the kind offer.

One of the festival's themes this year was the work of Greta Schiller, an independent American filmmaker. Here - a poster for one of her films - "Paris Was A Woman".

Greta Schiller was also present at Metropolis in connection with the screening of two of her short films. Here - in a conversation with Joachim.

The audience at the screening including Katrin from TalkSofa.

Greta Schiller also answered questions from the audience.

All images by Māra Pētersone.

Festival impressions: Days 4 & 5

Apparently, the Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in Hamburg even has a fan club which is advertised here at one of the cinemas.

The Canadian filmmaker and now professor at York University in Toronto John Greyson was in town to present his latest project as well as a number of his shorts at the festival.

John Greyson's workshop took place in an independent cinema in Sankt Pauli called B-Movie. Here: Abe Bernard ("Trannymals") and Til Kreisch (TalkSofa) engaged in a conversation in the cinema's foyer.

John Greyson is probably best known for his feature film "Lilies" which won him several international awards including The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television Genie Award and the Best Canadian Film Award at the Montreal International Film Festival in 1996. He has also directed several episodes of the American version of "Queer as Folk".

Some of the audience at the workshop.

Back to Mittagstisch.

Abe Bernard, John Greyson, Markus Götze and some people from the festival team.

Joachim from the festival team and John Greyson.


Abe Bernard on his way to Metropolis to present his short film "Trannymals go to Court".

Passage, one of the cinemas where the festival's films were shown.

Not a completely unreasonable place to raise awareness about AIDS.

Markus Götze presents the new American comedy "A Four Letter Word" in the capacity of its producer.

The audience at the screening of "A Four Letter Word".

Wayne Yung, the director of the German short film "Birthday Games" is grilled on the TalkSofa in the Nachtbar.

Then it's the turn of the well-known American filmmaker Greta Schiller to be in the spotlight.

And I had a chance to chat to John Greyson, the director of my favourite gay film "Lilies".

All images by Māra Pētersone.

Festival focus: Nachtbar/TalkSofa

Every year a different location is chosen for the so-called Nachtbar which is a place where people can meet after the day's programme to discuss films and other topics. The exact location is always kept a secret until the opening night when it's announced publicly. This year it's in a place called Maria Kron near Sankt Pauli.

Die hübschen Mädchen behind the bar.


Every night after midnight different festival guests are interviewed on the TalkSofa "Bei Kreischbergers" hosted by Til Kreisch and Katrin Bergers which is also broadcast live on the local radio station TIDE. Here: Markus Götze, a native of Hamburg talking about "A Four Letter Word", a new American film, in the capacity of its producer.


The audience on the spot.


Here Abe Bernard from California is telling about his film "Trannymals".


Our friendly hostess Anja was also there to listen.


And then it was my turn to talk about the LGBT Film Days in Riga and the general gay rights situation in Latvia.


The party doesn't end with the talk show though. You can talk and dance until the wee hours.


Even the bar staff take it pretty easy later in the night.

All images by Māra Pētersone.

Festival impressions, Days 2 & 3

Inside Studio in Sankt Pauli, one of the cinemas where the festival's films are shown.


And this is what Studio looks like on the outside.


Every day between 12.30 and 2 pm the organisers and guests of the festival gather for a lunch together. It is known simply as Mittagstisch. A great opportunity to make arrangements for the day and meet other people from the festival.


Another shot from Mittagstisch.


The Mittagstisch location is also used for interviews. Here Clair from the US is interviewed by Pink Channel, a local LGBT radio station in connection with the film "Red without Blue" in which she features.

All images by Māra Pētersone.

Festival impressions, Day 1

The festival opened on Tuesday night at Streit's Cinema in an upscale part of the city near the City Hall.


There was also time for a glass of Sekt and a nice chat before we found comfort in the seats inside the cinema. Here: Gerda from Filmmotor, Til from TalkSofa and yours truly.


Mingling in the foyer of the cinema.


Some people were dressed for party in environmentally-friendly colours. Here: Katrin from TalkSofa and her friend.


Filmmotor was also on the spot ready to interview the unsuspecting guests.


The hosts of the opening night.


The festival's director made a short presentation.


The entire festival team on stage. Everyone took a turn in spotlighting a particular film or film programme to be shown later in the week.


Maren Kroymann, a famous German actress, entertained the audience before the screening of the opening film "Vivere". She is also widely known for her activism in LGBT issues.


Filmmotor in action at the opening.


The opening film's director Angelina Maccarone and her assistant answer questions from the audience after the screening.

All images by Māra Pētersone.