- Mezipatra Queer Film Festival has prepared over twenty accompanying events for this year's visitors.
- It will offer discussions and Q&As with Czech experts and guests from abroad, workshops, exhibitions, and a unique performance.
- Representants of Czech and foreign musical scene will perform at five parties altogether in Prague and Brno.
Prague
From 3rd to 10th November, Prague audiences may choose not only from the usual film screenings, but also from accompanying events such as discussions with experts, a special screening of the Transparent series, a workshop for children, an exhibition opening, and a unique performance. There will also be theme parties and the main festival party.
Brunch and discussion: Chemsex
The usual highlight of the accompanying program is Sunday brunch with a discussion. This time, it follows Chemsex, a British documentary which will be screened on 5th November in Světozor cinema. On Sunday, 6th November, the social geographer Michal Pitoňák, the chairman of the Czech Society for Analytical Psychology, Robert Hejzák, and the sociologist Jan Morávek will speak about today's phenomenon of chemsex – drug consumption during sex, which often turns into addiction. The discussion will be hosted by Bára Šichanová from Wave Radio.
Discussion: Unwritten history
Sunday afternoon belongs to an interactive discussion with a guest of Mezipatra, the American filmmaker Rhys Ernst. He will comment on his web series, We've Been Around, where he focuses on forgotten figures of trans* history, and he will also speak about the current situation around trans* activism. Hosted by Viktor Heumann from the Trans*parent Prague association.
Screening: Transparent
Visitors can meet Rhys Ernst also on Saturday, 5th November, at the exclusive screening of selected episodes of Transparent, a series which he produces. The successful show, following the life of a family in Los Angeles whose head is a trans* woman, won eight Emmy awards this year; the screening also provides the very first opportunity to Czech viewers to see Amazon Studios production. The Q&A after the screening will be hosted by the publicist Cerise Howard.
Exhibition opening: Relationship
On Monday, 7th November, Rhys Ernst will personally introduce an intimate photographic series created together with his former partner, Zackary Drucker. Created between 2008 and 2014, the series captures various aspects of their everyday lives including their transitions. Although it was originally intended as a personal diary, it was presented to the public in 2014 at biennale at Whitney Museum of Modern Art. The exhibition in the Ferdinand Baumann Gallery in Prague will be open until 21st November.
Performance: Piano Bar
A unique performance for Prague audiences has been prepared by CHEAP Kollektiv, a creative collective from Berlin: the actress Sunanne Sachsse, drag performer Vaginal Davis, film scientist Mark Siegel, and translator Daniel Hendrickson. On Friday, 4th November, an exclusive installation with a piano will come to life at the Lucerna café balustrade, and an unusual talk show inspired by old, dodgy gay bars will unfold around the instrument. The event's partner is Goethe Institut.
Workshop for children: Blind One's Bluff
On Saturday, 5th November, children can choose their own space, gender identity, and visual self-representation in which they feel good through games and basic film techniques at Tamara Moyzes's workshop. The installation simultaneously reflects the history of queer film.
Opening and closing party
After the opening ceremony of Mezipatra and the screening of Tomcat (Kater) on Thursday, 3rd November, a party will follow with DJs Mykado ½, Abra Kadabra and Dzurillah. The final part of the festival will be the party following the closing ceremony and screening of Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Wednesday, 9th November. DJs Urxins and Kierastoboy will perform there with their thematic sets. The partner of both events is Jameson.
Main party: Off Limits
The key event of the festival in Prague will be hosted by NEONE and The Chemistry Gallery. On Saturday, 5th November, DJing will be provided by the Canadian director and photographer Bruce LaBruce, who is one of the distinguished guests of this year's Mezipatra. Prague DJs MGDLN, Mutuju, GSMKNSTWRK, Ado, SRBS, 03, FK and Elastic will introduce their sets as well, accompanied by visuals by NEW MAGIC MEDIA. The party is prepared by Mezipatra in cooperation with Lunchmeat Festival and the admission fee is 150 CZK.
Brno
An opulent accompanying program will be offered in Brno where the festival takes place from 11th to 18th November. Apart from the traditional lectures, discussions and parties, people can also visit an exhibition opening, a theatre performance, a dance or art workshop, and also participate in a running training and the popular speed-dating.
Exhibition opening: Orgasm
Rather unusually, the opening event of Mezipatra's accompanying program in Brno will be an exhibition opening which will take place in Industra creative hub on 10th November. Vladimír Kiva Novotný's collection of rather abstract-looking photographs is in the form of a large-format installation in a public space. The photographs are centered around the moment of the climax itself, illustrated by a portrait of a porn star
Screening and discussion: Yes, We Fuck!
On Wednesday, 16th November, Mezipatra will present Yes, We Fuck! as a part of the Open_space platform. The Spanish documentary discusses on the sex life of handicapped people and sexual assistance. The screening will be followed by a discussion with guests from an STD prevention organisation, Rozkoš bez rizika, which also focuses on this still taboo topic.
Discussion: Behind the Iron Curtain
In a debate planned for Thursday, 17th November, witnesses will speak about this significant date and what it meant for Czech LGBTQ+ community. They will recollect the revolutionary year of 1989 and also illustrate the development in the last decades. Hosted by representatives of the Society for Queer Memory.
Lectures: Mezipatra Talks
Those interested in queer history and literature can look forward to two lectures which take place on Monday, 14th November. Professor of literature Stanislav Zajíček will guide them through Petronius's Satyricon and the circumstances of its creation, and Miroslava Novotná from the Paedagogical Faculty of the Masaryk University will then introduce the life and work of Arthur Ribaud.
Theatre Performance: ON
Marián Amsler theatre play is a story of a man who has disappeared from the real world, but remains present in virtual reality. It discusses not only the issue of today's online world, but also search for one's identity. The performance by Ha Divadlo from Brno can be visited on Tuesday, 15th November. The admission fee upon providing any ticket from Mezipatra is 170CZK, the normal price is 250CZK.
Workshops: dance and fine arts
On Sunday, 13th November, there will be an opportunity to participate in a workshop on vogue dancing style with Viktor Milan, who is considered one of the best vogue dancers in Europe. On Tuesday, 15th November, people can create original pictures at the Hearts of Creation collective workshop. The profit from the Facebook auction of these pictures will go to PROUD initiative.
Parties in Brno
The festival's main party in Brno is called #catwalk_party and will take place in Industra on Saturday, 12th November. The performers include rapper Sharkass, singer Adam Mišík and dance collective House of Velvet, the main star will be Candy Ken, an extravagant rapper from Austria. There will also be a chillout zone providing refreshments and haircuts. The admission fee is 150CZK, discounted to 100CZK after Candy Ken's performance.
One week later, visitors can come to VIBE club to the afterparty after the festival's closing ceremony. Entertainment will be provided by DJs Funk Halen (Electronic Bitches), Andrew Daren and Saddan. The admission fee is 80CZK.
Ticket sale at theatre box offices and online, more information on the festival's website.
Prague 3rd – 10th November
Brno 11th – 18th November
regions: Olomouc 22nd – 26th November, Hradec Králové 8th – 9th December
Visuals 2016 – photo Michaela Karásek Čejková, graphic design Marius Corradini / Side 2
Complete program and information: www.mezipatra.cz
Film trailers and other videos available here.
PRESS materials and photos for download:
https://mezimedia.capsa.cz
Password: queer-osvobozuje
PR contact
Larisa Blichová
739 592 931
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