Fridae

In conjunction with World AIDS Campaign 2002-2003, PT Foundation (formerly known as Pink Triangle), with the assistance of Kelab Seni Filem Malaysia, and the support and sponsorship of Malaysian AIDS Council, brings to you the inaugural PT Film Fest.

The PT Film Fest celebrates open-mindedness, understanding, empowerment and acceptance in all people. These virtues will help us eliminate stigma and discrimination, and pave the way for us to effectively fight HIV/AIDS, not the people living with HIV/AIDS.

The PT Film Fest is a non-commercial event and its aim is to create HIV/AIDS awareness to marginalized communities through entertainment. The films may contain references to homosexuality and transsexualism, and are not recommended for people below 18 years old.

PT Foundation is a voluntary, non-profit making organization providing HIV/AIDS and sexuality education, prevention, care and support programmes for marginalized communities - drug users, sex workers, transsexuals, gay men and women, and people living with HIV/AIDS. For more information on PT Foundation's programmes or about HIV/AIDS and sexuality, call our counselling hotlines 603-4044 5455/66 Mondays to Fridays 7.30- 9.30pm.

Event info
PT Foundation Film Fest
Date: Dec 20-22 (Fri to Sun)
Time: Check schedule on page 2 and film synopsis on pages 3 & 4
Venue: HELP Institute, Pusat Bandar Damansara, Damansara Heights, KL
Admission: FREE; donations to PT Foundation are very much welcomed.
For seat reservation, please e-mail ptfmsm@hotmail.com stating which session you are attending.

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Festival schedule:

Friday 20 Dec 2002
(HELP Inst Theatrette)

8.00-8.30pm
Staying Alive 1 - George Michael, an MTV-World Bank-UNAIDS production looking into the lives of young people living with HIV/AIDS.

8.30-10.30pm
Feature Film 1: Ma Vie En Rose (Belgium), with English text

Saturday 21 Dec 2002

First Session (HELP Inst Lecture Theatre)

3.00-3.30pm
Staying Alive 2 - Ricky Martin, an MTV-World Bank-UNAIDS production looking into the lives of young people living with HIV/AIDS.

3.30-5.30pm
Feature Film 2: Bukak Api (2000, Malaysia), with English sub text

Second Session (HELP Inst Conference Hall)

6.00-6.30pm
Documentary: The Assignment (Singapore) - Living with the HIV virus in Singapore.

6.30-8.30pm
Feature Film 3: Wilde (1998,UK)

Third Session (HELP Inst Conference Hall)

9.00-10.00pm
Sex - A fast, funny and frank look at safe sex, an Australian Broadcasting Corporation production in association with Australian National AIDS Campaign.

10.00-11.30pm
Feature Film 4: Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001, USA)

Sunday 22 Dec 2002

First Session (HELP Inst Theatrette)

3.00-3.30pm
Malaysian Video Awards Red Ribbon Short Films x 3

3.30-5.30pm
Feature Film 5: My Beautiful Laundrette (1986, UK)

Second Session (HELP Inst Theatrette)

6.00-6.30pm
A Short Film On HIV/AIDS - Mencari Kepastian, Malaysian documentary by Lena Tan/Bernard Chauly.

6.30-8.30pm
Feature Film 6: Head On (1998, Aust)

Third Session (HELP Inst Theatrette)

9.00-9.20pm
Adam & Steve - Bernard Chauly, best short film Malaysian Video Awards 2001.

9.20-11.00pm
Feature Film 7: Before Night Falls (2000, USA)

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Film Synopsis:

1. Ma Vie En Rose (My Life in Pink)
1997 Belgium Colour 88min
Dir: Alain Berliner; Cast: Jean Philippe Ecoflay, Helene Vincent

Ludovic is a sweet little by who lives with his parents in a Belgian suburb decides that when he grows up he wants to be a girl. To him, this is perfectly logical: he already enjoys wearing dresses and make up and is determined to eventually marry the boy next door. This is an empowering story about being true to oneself. An embarrassment to his family, Ludovic perseveres with his desires, unmoved by shame. There are several painful scenes of Ludovic being harassed, rejected and ridiculed. But with the support of his aunt, his courage is inspirational. Its heartwarming and remarkably affecting with incredibly fluid camerawork and candy coloured set designs.

2. Bukak Api
2000 Malaysia Approx 120 mins
Dir: Osman Ali; A PT Foundation Film

Based on the lives on the transexual community in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur. Originally produced as a HIV/AIDS education project for the transsexual community, the film has been widely acclaimed to break new grounds in Malaysia for its vivid and bold portrayal of the lives of transsexuals and sex workers in the onslaught of HIV/AIDS.

3. Wilde
1998 UK Colour 115min
Dir: Brian Gilbert; Cast: Stephen Fry, Jude Law, Vanessa Redgrave

Fry make san uncannily realistic Oscar Wilde in this sumptuous biopic about the famed 19th Century Irish born playwright. The film explores Wilde's unconventional lifestyle in Victorian England by tracing his life as a family man who slowly succumbs to 'the love that dares not speak his name'. Much of the film is devoted to Oscar's strained love affair with the rich and spoilt Bosie and whose father wants to put an end to their relationship. This leads to the infamous 1885 sodomy trial and his subsequent imprisonment. A fascinating drama which is beautifully filmed.

4. Hedwig and the Angry Inch
2001 USA Colour 92min
Dir: John Cameron Mitchell; Cast: John Cameron Mitchell, Andre Martin

The film tells the story of an 'internationally ignored" rock singer, Hedwig and her search of love and stardom. Born Harvel a boy whose life's dream is to find his other half, Hedwig reluctantly submits to a sex change operation in order to marry an American GI and cross over the Berlin wall to freedom. Unfortunately, the operation is botched leaving him with aforementioned 'angry inch'. Finding himself high, dry and divorced in a Kansas trailer park, he pushes on to form a rock band and meets a new lover who eventually leaves her after stealing her songs and becoming a huge rock star himself. Nevertheless Hedwig eventually pursues her dreams and eventually discovers the origin of love.

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5. My Beautiful Launderette
1986 UK Colour 94min
Dir: Stephen Frears; Cast: Daniel Day Lewis, Saed Jaffrey

An entertaining perceptive of race relations and the economic state in 80s Britain. It tells the tale of the unlikely successful story of a young English born Pakistani and his gay punk lover. Together they brave the ugly spectre of racism and transform a dingy East End launderette into a glitz and profitable business.

6. Head On
1998 Australia Colour 104min
Dir: Ana Kokkinos; Cast: Alex Dimitrades, Paul Capsis

A vivid portrait of a culturally and sexually confused Greek Australian hunk. The film centres on 24 hours of Ari's life. A very closeted gay man who lives with his traditionalist family, the unemployed Ari spends his days with his fellow Greek friends and his sexually frustrated girlfriend partying and taking drugs. At night, he releases his insatiable gay desires through sexual encounters. His straight world and gay yearnings clash when he meets and is attracted to cute blonde Shawn. Based on the book "loaded' by Christos Tsiolkas.

7. Before Night Falls
2000 USA Colour 130min
Dir: Julian Schnabel; Cast: Javier Bardem, Olivier Martinez, Sean Penn

Based on the post humously released memoir by gay Cuban poet Renardo Arenas, the film details Arenas' life in his native Cuba before emigrating to the United States. Arenas was born into poverty and at a young age joined Castro's revolution. In the 1960s, he attended college where he sharpened his writing skills and discovered his sexuality. As the Castro regime cracked down on gays and intellectuals, he was unable to fully realise either and was subsequently imprisoned. Johnny Depp gives an effective cameo in the dual roles of a transsexual and a prison warden.