Screeming Screen
The London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival is always a great showcase
for new talent and taboo-breaking subject matter. This year's festival is no different.
It opens with a biographical musical by rocking tattoo artist Chari Lovedog, Prey
for Rock and Roll, and closes with Mysterious Skin, Gregg Araki's uncompromising
view of childhood sexual trauma.
Representing, as it does, the diverse voices of the whole gay community, this
festival always has a number of films that touch on the subject of HIV. This year's
selection includes Bear Cub, a heart-warming Spanish movie about an HIV positive
man who gets more than he bargained for when he reluctantly agrees to look after
his nephew. 
The Nomi Song, is an intriguing documentary about idiosyncratic post-punk German
opera/pop singer Klaus Nomi, one of the first artists to die of what was then
'gay cancer'.
Positively Naked documents a photo shoot of 85 people living with HIV, by installation
artist Spencer Tunick, that was commissioned as the 100th cover of US magazine
POZ. The documentary focuses on the photographer's subjects, their stories and
what led them to end up naked in a New York deli with a group of strangers.
Also worth a mention is Noah's Ark the first three 'episodes' of a black gay TV
series,
featuring four friends negotiating relationships and safer sex. Highlights will
tour the country from April.
PN has two tickets to give away for the screening of Positively Naked,
at 6.10pm on 6 April. Tickets will go to the first two correct answers to the
following question:
How
old is the Lesbian and Gay Film Festival?
Send your answer and contact details to:
Naked Competition, Positive Nation, 250 Kennington Lane,
London SE11 5RD
The winner will be drawn and notified on 1 April. Usual terms apply.
The festival runs from 30 March to 13 April, at the National Film Theatre,
South Bank, London. For full listings see press or www.llgff.org.uk
AFRICAN REMIX
Africa Remix is a South Bank Centre-wide celebration of contemporary African creativity.
The main focus is the largest exhibition of contemporary African art ever seen
in Europe, at The Haywood Gallery, featuring more than 60 artists, and including
painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, photography, film and video, many
created within the last five years. Artists from 25 countries across the continent,
from Algeria to Zimbabwe, are represented, as well as African artists now living
in Europe and North America.
Africa Remix runs from 17 April on South Bank, London, with the main exhibition
at The Hayward Gallery, entry £3-£7. www.africaremix.org.uk
or call 020 7960 5226
