QFest 2016: The 20th Annual Houston International GLBT-Q Film Festival – Next to Me (Pored mene) (at MFAH)

QFest 2016: The 20th Annual Houston International GLBT-Q Film Festival (at various venues July 21-25), features Houston premieres selected from the 2016 international film-festival circuit.

For 2016, QFest: The Houston International LGBTQ Film Festival will mark its 20th anniversary, making it the second longest running LGBTQ film festival in Texas, and the second longest running festival of any kind in Houston.

A five-day, citywide event, QFest is co-presented by some of Houston’s most renowned arts organizations, including The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Rice Cinema, Aurora Picture Show, Asia Society Texas Center, DiverseWorks and The Houston Museum of African American Culture.

Curated to highlight the best of Contemporary Queer Cinema, QFest continues its commitment to the past, featuring a yearly selection of revivals showcasing everything from overlooked masterworks to campy, outrageous audience favorites.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston proudly hosts screenings in the 20th edition of QFest. Programmed by Kristian Salinas, selections include a tribute to noted Italian filmmaker Liliana Cavani.

Vist http://www.q-fest.com/ for the complete schedule.

Next to Me (Pored mene)
Directed by Stevan Filipovic
2015, in Serbian with English subtitles
Serbia, 95 minutes
DCP

The festival’s International Centerpiece is a provocative new film from Serbia.

Olja, a Belgrade high school teacher, is married to a painter whose latest exhibition has prompted criticism.

Olja is attacked one night, and suspects her students’ involvement when she finds them watching the attack on YouTube. Unable to learn the names of the culprits, she takes harsh measures, with surprising results.

Named Best Film at the Pula Film Festival, the jury praised this “courageous portrayal of the new generation, haunted by the ghosts of old ideologies and homophobia.”