Friday, January 23

The Informers (Premieres)

Director: Gregor Jordan

Screenwriters: Bret Easton Ellis, Nicholas Jarecki

Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Kim Basinger, Mickey Rourke, Winona Ryder, Jon Foster, Amber Heard

(USA, 2008, 98 min., color)

Bret Easton Ellis' tale of debauchery, drugs, and depravity in 1980s Los Angeles is adapted for the screen. As is often Ellis' style, the stories of several different characters — not all of who are completely straight — and their indulgent exploits are interwoven to illustrate the excess of the times.

Library Center Theatre, Park City

575 Castro St. (US Documentary Short)

Shown before Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech

Director: Jenni Olson

(USA, 2008, 7 min., color, HD)

An experimental short film shot on the empty set of Gus Van Sant's Milk, featuring the original archival audio recorded by Harvey Milk on November 18th, 1978 — to be played in the event of his assassination.

Holiday Village Cinema III, Park City

Shouting Fire: Stories From the Edge of Free Speech (US Documentary Competition)

Director: Liz Garbus

(USA, 2008, 80 min., color)

Though it may have taken a beating in our post-9/11 society, the First Amendment remains one of our most cherished, core tenants, even though we may not always like the things it guarantees others the right to say. This documentary explores both the Amendment's history and several contemporary cases, including that of a young boy fighting for the right to wear a shirt in school bearing anti-gay scripture.

Holiday Village Cinema III, Park City

The September Issue (Salt Lake City Gala, US Documentary Competition)

Director: R.J. Cutler

Cast: Anna Wintour, Andre Leon Talley, Grace Coddington

(USA, 2008, 90 min., color)

Nine months in the making, Vogue magazine's September issue is considered by many to be the definitive fashion bible for the following year. This documentary chronicles the creative process and behind the scenes chaos leading up to its unveiling.

Holiday Village Cinema IV, Park City

La Mission (Spectrum)

Director/Screenwriter: Peter Bratt

Cast: Benjamin Bratt, Erika Alexander, Jeremy Ray Valdez, Jesse Borrego, Talisa Soto Bratt

(USA, 2008, 117 min., color)

A recovering alcoholic and ex-con that gets by on intimidation, Che is also a devoted father to teenage son Jesse, who he violently rejects after discovering that Jesse is gay. Prompted in part by his headstrong neighbor Lena, Che must confront his long held prejudices to repair his parental relationship.

Egyptian Theatre, Park City

Dare (Dramatic Competition)

Director: Adam Salky

Screenwriter: David Brind

Cast: Emmy Rossum, Zach Gilford, Ashley Springer, Ana Gasteyer, Alan Cumming, Sandra Bernhard

(USA, 2009, 92 min., color)

The lives of three high school seniors become emotionally and sexually intertwined with each other when their last semester of school and encroaching adulthood prompts them to shed their inhibitions. Ben, the sexually confused outsider, is one of the three.

Eccles Theatre, Park City

Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire (US Dramatic Competition)

Director: Lee Daniels

Screenwriter: Damien Paul

Cast: Gabourey Sidibe, Paula Patton, Mo'Nique, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz

(USA, 2008, 105 min., color)

Illiterate, overweight, and sexually abused teenager Precious Jones has a harder life than most could dream of, until a lesbian teacher named Blue Rain inspires her to finally turn her life around.

Racquet Club, Park City

One Day in a Life (Un altro pianeta) (World Dramatic Competition)

Director: Stefano Tummolini

Screenwriters: Stefano Tummolini, Antonio Merone

Cast: Antonio Merone, Lucia Mascino

(Italy, 2008, 82 min., color)

Salvatore's simple outing to an Italian gay beach results in his getting caught up in the unfolding dramas of his fellow beach goers, and the painful memories of his past.

Holiday Village Cinema III, Park City

Good Hair (Documentary Competition)

Director: Jeff Stilson

Screenwriters: Chris Rock, Jeff Stilson, Lance Crouther, Chuck Sklar

Cast: Chris Rock, Ice-T, Nia Long, Maya Angelou, Reverend Al Sharpton

(USA, 2009, 95 min., color)

In an attempt to change his young daughter's misconceptions about her own hair, comedian Chris Rock set out to investigate the history, business, and unexpected facets of black hair culture. (WAITING ON QUEER DETAILS)

Temple Theatre, Park City

Humpday (Dramatic Competition)

Director/Screenwriter: Lynn Shelton

Cast: Mark Duplass, Joshua Leonard, Alycia Delmore, Lynn Shelton, Trina Willard

(USA, 2009, 92 min., color)

A farcical buddy comedy in which a night of drunken boasting and big talk somehow leads two straight former college buddies into a dare to film themselves having sex with each other for an amateur porn contest.

Racquet Club, Park City

Motherhood (Premiere)

Director/Screenwriter: Katherine Dieckmann

Producer: Christine Vachon

Cast: Uma Thurman, Anthony Edwards, Minnie Driver, Samantha Bee

(USA, 2008, 90 min., color)

The latest Sundance entry from queer film champion Christine Vachon's Killer Films, Motherhood follows an overwhelmed mom trying to throw her daughter a sixth birthday party over the course of a particularly tumultuous and revelatory day.

Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Salt Lake City

Countertransference (US Dramatic Shorts)

Shorts Program 3

Director: Madeleine Olnek

(USA, 2008, 16 min., color, HD Cam)

An awkward woman seeks out therapy to help her deal with assertiveness issues, but it unfortunately only multiplies her problems in this dark comedy.

Broadway Centre Cinemas VI, Salt Lake City

Louise-Michel (World Dramatic Competition)

Directors: Benoit Delepine, Gustav de Kervern

Cast: Yolande Moreau, Bouli Lanners

(France, 2008, 94 min., color)

After being unceremoniously fired by the toy factory that employed them, a group of women seek revenge by hiring a hit man to off the company's owner. This dark and absurdist French comedy features an unexpected queer twist.

Holiday Village Cinema IV, Park City

Saint Jude (Current TV Shorts)

Director: Nerina Penzhorn

(USA, 2008, 6 min.)

Mary, an older lesbian artist, shares some of her most despairing times and the art that accompanied it, though never without a sense of humor.

Treasure Mountain Inn - Gallery, Park City