2010 Palm Springs International Film Festival - LGBT Programming (and Weekend Weather forecast).

(....and on another note, did I mention that it's going to be sunny and in the mid-seventies all weekend? Time for your Winter Tan Update!)
 
LGBT Film Screenings:

Adrift (Vietnam)110 minutes (US Premiere)
Thursday, January 14, 1:30 PM Regal Cinemas 1
Saturday, January 16, 4:30 PM Regal Cinemas 1
A sensual story of tangled loves in modern Vietnam explores sexual awakening, lesbian desire and
marital infidelity.

 



Big Gay Musical (USA) 90 minutes
Saturday, January 09, 8:00 PM Camelot Theatres 1   
Tuesday, January 12, 1:30 PM Camelot Theatres 1
Themes of love vs. sex, and featuring a real Broadway musical cast and a cameo by Michael Musto distinguish Big Gay Musical as an icon of the genre.

Brotherhood (Denmark)
90 minutes (US Premiere)
Saturday, January 16, 4:00 PM Regal Cinemas 5/4  Sunday, January 17, 4:00 PM Regal Cinemas 5/4
Former Danish servicemen Lars and Jimmy are thrown together while training in a neo-Nazi group… events take a darker turn when their illicit relationship is uncovered. Winner, Best Film, Rome Film Festival.


City of Borders (USA) 66 minutes
Wednesday, January 13, 4:00 PM Palm Canyon Theatre       

Friday, January 15, 11:00 AM Palm Canyon Theatre
City of Borders documents Jerusalem’s gay community’s struggles to hold a gay pride celebration in the Holy City. Winner, Teddy Award, Berlin Film Festival.

Different From Whom? (Italy) 106 minutes
Tuesday, January 12, 7:30 PM Regal Cinemas 1
Wednesday, January 13, 4:00 PM Regal Cinemas 5/4          
Friday, January 15, 12:30 PM Regal Cinemas 7
A slapstick comedy about a handsome gay politician, paired with a conservative woman in a campaign for mayor—and an affair that shakes their lives.

Dzi Croquettes (Brazil) 95 minutes
Wednesday, January 13, 1:00 PM Camelot Theatres 2
Saturday, January 16, 10:00 AM Camelot Theatres 2
Sunday, January 17, 4:30 PM Camelot Theatres 1
A revealing documentary about a Brazilian dance and theater group resembling an all-male, 1970s version of the Ziegfeld Follies.



Eyes Wide Open (Israel) 90 minutes
Friday, January 08, 4:30 PM Camelot 1
Sunday, January 10, 4:30 PM Annenberg Theater
Tuesday, January 12, 9:00 AM Annenberg Theater
A taboo-breaking drama about a married butcher who falls in love with a seductive younger man in Jerusalem’s insular ultra-orthodox community.

Gordos (Spain) 120 minutes
Tuesday, January 12, 7:00 PM Regal Cinemas 5/4          
Wednesday, January 13, 10:00 AM Regal Cinemas 5/4
Sunday, January 17, 7:30 PM Regal Cinemas 1
Five people deal with the common difficulty of being overweight and soon become a tasty study about guilt, fear, love and passion.


Handsome Harry (USA) 95 minutes
Thursday, January 14, 7:00 PM Annenberg Theater        
Saturday, January 16, 5:00 PM Camelot Theatres 3           
A psychological mystery about lost love, forgiveness, and the stifling effect the “code of silence” has over men and their relationships.


I Killed my Mother (Canada) 100 minutes
Sunday, January 10, 8:00 PM Regal Cinemas 2/3
Saturday, January 16, 7:30 PM Regal Cinemas 1
Sunday, January 17, 1:30 PM Regal Cinemas 1         
A hilarious, corrosive and ultimately touching debut drama about a gay teen’s embattled relationship with his manipulative mother. Prize winner at Cannes last year.


Is it Just Me? (USA) 93 minutes (World Premiere)
Friday, January 15, 9:00 PM Regal Cinemas 1    
Saturday, January 16, 1:30 PM Regal Cinemas 1    
Blaine stumbles upon what might be his perfect match in an online chat room—only to find that he’s been chatting to him under his go-go dancer roommate’s profile…


I Love You Phillip Morris (USA/France) 100 minutes
Thursday, January 14, 7:30 PM Camelot Theatres 1         
Friday, January 15, 1:30 PM Camelot Theatres 1    
Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor are madly in love in this deliriously daring and hilariously entertaining story of a con man (Carrey) continually breaking out of jail to be with his man (McGregor).



La Mission (USA) 118 minutes
Thursday, January 14, 4:00 PM Annenberg Theater    
Friday, January 15, 1:00 PM Annenberg Theater        
Peter Bratt’s powerful and moving film is a love letter to the vibrancy and daily struggles of San Francisco’s Mission District.


Mediterranean Food (Spain) 102 minutes
Saturday, January 09, 9:00 AM Annenberg Theater       
Monday, January 11, 4:30 PM Camelot Theatres 1         
Wednesday, January 13, 12:00 PM Annenberg Theater           
A delightful romantic comedy prepared with the finest ingredients: a pure heart, a sexy cast and a lot of delectable haute cuisine. 


On These Shoulders We Stand (USA) 75 minutes
Friday, January 08, 4:00 PM Palm Canyon Theatre           
Saturday, January 09, 1:30 PM Regal Cinemas 1          
A historical account of early gay life and activism in Los Angeles told by the people who lived it. Winner, Outfest Special Programming Award for Freedom.







Paulista (Brazil) 83 minutes (World Premiere)
Friday, January 08. 6:30 PM Palm Canyon Theatre            
Saturday, January 09, 10:00 AM Palm Canyon Theatre        
The story of three young people in search of love amid the frantic pace of São Paulo.


Plan B (Argentina) 103 minutes (US Premiere)
Tuesday, January 12, 4:00 PM Palm Canyon Theatre        
Wednesday, January 13, 10:00 AM Palm Canyon Theatre
When conniving Bruno gets dumped by his girlfriend he decides to win her back by hook or by crook in this clever, witty comedy.


)To Die Like a Man (Portugal/France) 134 minutes          
Friday, January 15, 7:30 PM Camelot Theatres 1       
Saturday, January 16, 1:30 PM Camelot Theatres 1
Transsexual cabaret star Tonia has it tough. Among all the other drama, her body is rejecting the surgical and hormonal transformations that made her famous.


The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls (New Zealand) 84 minutes (US Premiere)        
Thursday, January 14, 7:30 PM Regal Cinemas 5/4
Saturday, January 16, 2:00 PM Regal Cinemas 2/3 
Sunday, January 17, 6:30 PM Regal Cinemas 7
Yodeling lesbian twins from New Zealand, Jools and Lynda Topp bring kooky Kiwi sense of humor, political potency and snazzy country music stylings.

Festival Box Offices are located at the Regal Cinemas Palm Springs Stadium 9, 789 Tahquitz Canyon Way or the Camelot Theatres, 2300 E. Baristo Road.

For a complete schedule as well as venue information and to purchase tickets, visit psfilmfest.org or call 800.898.PALM.

Painting the Triangle Inn Palm Springs...

We have been fortunate since we've owned the Triangle Inn to have several folks either photograph it or paint it, so when one painter from Stuttgart shared his interpretation of the Inn with us we decided to share it with all our friends.

The artist is Heinz Stoewer. Heinz spent much of his life as a successful lawyer and banker in Germany, but he decided in his forties to explore his artistic side. So he boldly quit his corporate job and studied painting at two art academies in Germany. Since that time, Heinz has worked successfully as an artist with solo exhibitions all over Germany.

The source and basis of Heinz' work is nature in all aspects; from a small piece of stone to large vistas. Inspired by his travels to the American Southwest, he has concentrated on scenes and images from this environment. The resulting paintings are very personal impressions and choices of what Heinz finds during his travels.

The Triangle Inn painting is part of a series that started with more abstract impressions of canyons and deserts and has now expanded to focus on the conflict between nature and civilization in the harsh desert environment, including midcentury architecture and design in the Coachella Valley.

Heinz' paintings are photorealistic with some impressionistic and abstracted elements. They are all done in acrylic on canvas in medium to larger sizes.

My Takes from the MegaMuscle Photo Expo

I wanted to share some of my shots from the Mega Muscle Photo Expo we hosted this past weekend at the Inn. I should probably call them outtakes because all the photos the photographers took are so amazing, but some of mine actually turned out pretty good considering that they were behind the scenes candids taken with my ever-dependable (as long as I remember to charge the battery) Canon Powershot SD550.


I have to say that the weekend was absolutely amazing. Brian, Kenny, Anthony, Jason, and everyone else on the MegaMuscle team are absolute sweethearts, the models were great fun as well, and gracious to us as well as to the guests, and, of course, my buds Tal and Ron from Sweat UnderGear were fun as well. 

I'd have to say that a good time was had by all, especially the photographers who came to the expo to shoot. I cannot wait to see some of their work, having watched their set-ups. We had incredible weather all weekend - perfect Palm Springs sunshine, blue skies and warm but not too hot temperatures.

Sunday was especially fun around the Inn because the photographers were shooting here and at our house next door. There were definitely plenty of reasons for (Canadian) Thanksgiving around the pool, as everyone who was here will gladly attest.

Handsome Lucas gave our friend Gage a copy of the Playgirl that has him on the cover. He's also on the inside in a scorching photoshoot that's part of the annual 2007 calendar.


Brian was also a hoot. Even though he shared stories of all his exploits with the ladies he was completely comfortable hanging out with all the guys and had as much fun as everybody else.  

Eric was also a favorite and quite a cut-up. He definitely gets the "Best All-Around Bud" Award. 

Then again, all the guys were great. Not a one that wasn't fun, friendly and professional. 

I only have one question. When can we do it again? ;)


Michael
Triangle Inn Palm Springs