Program

10

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

09:15:PM

LOVERS CELEBRATION/GAËL MOREL

40th Lovers Film Festival's Opening Night + Vivre, mourir, renaître

With Karla Sofia Gascón, Festival's Guest of Honor, and with Karma B.
Attending: Gaël Morel, director

Buy

VIVRE, MOURIR, RENAÎTRE
TO LIVE, TO DIE, TO LIVE AGAIN
by Gaël Morel

Country: France, Year: 2024, Duration: 109'

Paris, 1990s. Emma is in a relationship with Sammy, with whom she has a child. Their lives take an unexpected detour when they meet their new neighbor, photographer Cyril. Sammy befriends him and, little by little, the attraction between the two inevitably manifests, threatening his bond with Emma. This at first seems a terrible dilemma, but it turns out to be simply one of “life’s passing storms” when compared to death. In fact, looming over them is the threat of AIDS, the only real limit to the different dynamics of affections. Gaël Morel’s return to directing, with which he took part in the last Queer Palm.

11

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

03:30:PM

LOVERS CELEBRATION/GAËL MOREL

LES ROSEAUX SAUVAGES

(WILD REEDS)

110'

sott.it.

Attending: Gaël Morel

Buy

LES ROSEAUX SAUVAGES
WILD REEDS
by André Téchiné

Country: France, Year: 1994, Duration: 110'

It is 1962 and France is caught in the grip of the Algerian War. The echoes and effects of the bloody conflict, to which there seems to be no solution, often dramatically involve Serge, François, Henri and Maité, 4 teenagers from the Southwest of the country. Friendship, repulsion, and attraction govern their relationships, as their discovery of themselves and the world around them transforms them. In particular, François, played by newcomer Gael Morel, realizes that what he feels for both Henri and Serge has a precise definition, which frightens him. But which he cannot and will not escape from.

11

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

04:00:PM

SPECIAL EVENTS

Gay or not?

An unusual quiz, a very unlikely jury, a madness not to be missed.

With Muschio Selvaggio and the jurors: Vladimir Luxuria, Karma B, Angelo Acerbi and Elisa Cuter

Free entry

11

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

04:30:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION

LOST BOYS & FAIRIES

176'

sott.it.

Buy

LOST BOYS & FAIRIES
by James Kent

Country: UK, Year: 2024, Duration: 176'

While Andy is eager to become a father, his partner Gabriel, a performer (“I'm not a drag queen” he points out), is less excited. Gabriel carries the weight of a troubled past as a drug addict and an unhappy childhood, scarred by the death of his mother and his father's homophobia. The couple grows fond of little Jake, who has been taken away from his abusive family: the adoption seems to be near at hand. But an unexpected, tragic and painful event changes everything … This popular British TV series, aired on BBC, openly and sensitively tackles the topic of same-sex parenting.

11

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

05:45:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION

Panel Europride + Vestida de azul

With: Vladimir Luxuria, Patrick Orth e Goran Miletic, EPOA, and Alessandro Battaglia, EuroPride 2027

Free entry

VESTIDA DE AZUL
DRESSED IN BLUE
by Antonio Giménez-Rico

Country: Spain, Year: 1983, Duration: 99'

Perfectly restored to its original, vibrant colors, Dressed In Blue is a masterpiece in which crude realism meets the most dazzling high camp. Six transgender women in post-Franco Spain give an authentic and unfiltered account of their daily lives: filled with repression, prostitution, hormones, surgeries, rivalry, family, and love. A crucial film from queer cinema in Spain, it paved the way for Almodóvar and was the basis for the spin-off TV show Veneno.

11

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

06:00:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

SKINNY LOVE

92'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

11

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

07:45:PM

REAL LOVERS

SALLY!

96'

sott.it.

Buy

SALLY!
by Deborah Craig

Country: USA, Year: 2024, Duration: 96'

Sally Gearhart was a theorist and activist, who led the 1970s and 80s lesbian feminist movement in the US. This compelling portrait praises her powerful personality, her pioneering life choices and her crucial political achievements, some side by side with Harvey Milk. However, it does not overlook the underlying contradictions in the relationship between movements and their leaders. A whirlwind journey through the sexiest pages in the history of militant lesbianism and a reflection on the tensions inherent in radical movements.

11

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

08:00:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

A NIGHT LIKE THIS

97'

sott.it.

With: Ditonellapiaga

Attending: Liam Calvert, director, and Diego Scerrati,
screenwriter and producer

Buy

A NIGHT LIKE THIS
by Liam Calvert

Country: UK, Year: 2025, Duration: 97'

A gay actor on the verge of suicide and a privileged man with a failing business and a guitar on his shoulder: Lukas (Jack Brett Anderson) and Oliver (Alexander Lincoln) cross paths on a winter night in London. They wander and argue, trying to make sense of their existences, compare personal difficulties, and seek new points of view. But when their unlikely bond evolves into something deeper, fears and demons from the past jeopardize the entire journey. Somewhere between Capra and Linklater, Liam Calvaert's debut feature film has been written and produced by Roman film producer Diego Scerrati.

11

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

08:15:PM

LOVERS CELEBRATION/GAËL MOREL

À TOUTE VITESSE

(FULL SPEED)

85'

sott.it.

Attending: Gaël Morel

Buy

À TOUTE VITESSE
FULL SPEED
by Gaël Morel

Country: France, Year: 1996, Duration: 85'

Four young men living in the fast lane in the French countryside, who choose to live and love even amidst the racism and homophobia of their oppressive local community. Quentin, a promising nineteen-year-old writer, is the catalyst and the center of the passions of this group of French “rebels without a cause”. Morel has previously worked as a screenwriter and actor for director André Techiné, as well as being his muse. At the age of 25 he has now made his directorial debut paying tribute to the legend of James Dean. Crafting a coming-of-age story dominated by the wildest passions, which turn into a desire and a search for freedom.

11

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

10:00:PM

LOVERS CELEBRATION/GAËL MOREL

VIVRE, MOURIR, RENAÎTRE

(TO LIVE, TO DIE, TO LIVE AGAIN)

109'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

VIVRE, MOURIR, RENAÎTRE
TO LIVE, TO DIE, TO LIVE AGAIN
by Gaël Morel

Country: France, Year: 2024, Duration: 109'

Paris, 1990s. Emma is in a relationship with Sammy, with whom she has a child. Their lives take an unexpected detour when they meet their new neighbor, photographer Cyril. Sammy befriends him and, little by little, the attraction between the two inevitably manifests, threatening his bond with Emma. This at first seems a terrible dilemma, but it turns out to be simply one of “life’s passing storms” when compared to death. In fact, looming over them is the threat of AIDS, the only real limit to the different dynamics of affections. Gaël Morel’s return to directing, with which he took part in the last Queer Palm.

11

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

10:15:PM

LOVERS CELEBRATION/LOVERS IS LUCKY

CROSSING

106'

sott.it.

With: Karma B. e Andrea Occhipinti

Buy

CROSSING
by Levan Akin

Country: Sweden, Year: 2024, Duration: 106'

Lia, a retired teacher in Georgia, has promised her dying sister to track down her transgender daughter, who has disappeared in Turkey. Her search brings her to Istanbul, a city where “people go to disappear”, as Lia herself notes. Here, she comes in contact with an unknown world that fascinates her, even while it repels her. Lia begins to think that her niece has disappeared voluntarily …
A courageous, and powerful portrait of women, that examines the theme of acceptance in incredibly difficult contexts. The movie was awarded the jury prize at the Teddy Awards in 2024.

11

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

10:30:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION/LIVING IN AMERICA

PARIS IS BURNING

78'

sott.it.

Buy

PARIS IS BURNING
by Jennie Livingston

Country: USA, Year: 1990, Duration: 78'

It took Jennie Livingston six years to capture the spirit of New York ballroom culture and enable the world to get to know it. The rules, the slang, the protagonists of one of the most transgressive and innovative scenes of the 1980s told through the words of the flamboyant queens. They also bring us into their daily lives, far from the glitter: racism, homophobia, poverty, crime and AIDS. This document has a historical value, celebrating its 35th anniversary and showing the uniting and subversive force of a community born out of necessity and marginalization. Featuring Venus Extravaganza, whose tragic death is the subject of I'm Your Venus.

12

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

02:00:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

SKINNY LOVE

92'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

12

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

03:45:PM

REAL LOVERS

SALLY!

96'

sott.it.

Buy

SALLY!
by Deborah Craig

Country: USA, Year: 2024, Duration: 96'

Sally Gearhart was a theorist and activist, who led the 1970s and 80s lesbian feminist movement in the US. This compelling portrait praises her powerful personality, her pioneering life choices and her crucial political achievements, some side by side with Harvey Milk. However, it does not overlook the underlying contradictions in the relationship between movements and their leaders. A whirlwind journey through the sexiest pages in the history of militant lesbianism and a reflection on the tensions inherent in radical movements.

12

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

04:00:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

A NIGHT LIKE THIS

97'

sott.it.

Buy

A NIGHT LIKE THIS
by Liam Calvert

Country: UK, Year: 2025, Duration: 97'

A gay actor on the verge of suicide and a privileged man with a failing business and a guitar on his shoulder: Lukas (Jack Brett Anderson) and Oliver (Alexander Lincoln) cross paths on a winter night in London. They wander and argue, trying to make sense of their existences, compare personal difficulties, and seek new points of view. But when their unlikely bond evolves into something deeper, fears and demons from the past jeopardize the entire journey. Somewhere between Capra and Linklater, Liam Calvaert's debut feature film has been written and produced by Roman film producer Diego Scerrati.

12

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

04:15:PM

LOVERS CELEBRATION/GAËL MOREL

NOTRE PARADIS

(OUR PARADISE)

96'

sott.it.

Attending: Gaël Morel

Buy

NOTRE PARADIS
OUR PARADISE
by Gaël Morel

Country: France, Year: 2011, Duration: 96'

Vassili is a rent boy in Bois de Boulogne Park who is getting old and losing out to the competition of new generations. One night in the park he finds the young Angelo, lying unconscious. Vassili brings him home to help him, they find out that they are colleagues and the passion breaks out. But this passion turns out to be dangerous and destructive; a few days later in fact, they kill a client for a few bucks. Fleeing from Paris becomes the only solution. A dark and desperate history of an amour fou, where Gael Morel even gifts us a cameo appearance by Beatrice Dalle, lover and accomplice of the two.

12

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

05:45:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

HAZE

76'

sott.it.

Attending: Matthew Fifer, director

Buy

HAZE
by Matthew Fifer

Country: USA, Year: 2024, Duration: 76'

Joe is an investigative journalist who returns to his hometown to investigate the mysterious deaths of 8 gay men, who died in the local psychiatric hospital. He ends up becoming obsessed with this. When some locals die of what may seem natural causes, Joe and his new partner Luke (Brian J. Smith from Sense8) search for answers to a complex web of questions which are somehow linked to death of Joe's sister as a child. This is a lush, darkly sexy portrayal of the protagonist's search for solutions to his troubled past. From the director of Cicada, which competed at Lovers 2021.

12

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

06:00:PM

REFLECTIONS IN THE DARK

Reflections in the Dark

Presentation of the award "Reflections in the Dark", with Luca Poma, Gabriele Salvatores and Vladimir Luxuria

Free Entry

12

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

06:15:PM

REAL LOVERS

TRIPOLI / A TALE OF THREE CITIES

88'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

12

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

07:45:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

DRIVE BACK HOME

100'

sott.it.

With: Lorenzo Balducci, actor
Before the screening, Alan Cumming will receive "Stella della Mole" Award.

Buy

DRIVE BACK HOME
by Michael Clowater

Country: Canada, Year: 2024, Duration: 100'

Canada, 1970s. Weldon, a plumber, travels from New Brunswick to Toronto to retrieve his brother Perley, under arrest for indecent exposure - a common police tactic in those years to compromise homosexuals with their families. The two of them have had no contact in a long time, and this unpleasant incident brings them closer together, triggering memories about dark events of the past. A time capsule that makes us relive a seemingly distant era and the persecutory treatment meted out to the gay community. A family road trip full of sharp, witty dialogue, in which the actors’ performances and pathos are the winning features.

12

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

08:00:PM

LOVERS CELEBRATION/LOVERS IS LUCKY

MATTHIAS & MAXIME

119'

sott.it.

Buy

MATTHIAS & MAXIME
by Xavier Dolan

Country: Canada, Belgium, Spain, Year: 2019, Duration: 119'

Matthias, a lawyer going through a tough time, and Maxime, who had a difficult childhood and is in the process of moving to Australia, have been friends forever. After losing a bet at a party, they find themselves acting in a short film: they have to kiss during their scene and with some reservations they agree to do it. This act will have serious consequences and lead them to question their identity and the relationship between them. This is the latest film by the acclaimed Canadian director (playing the role of Maxime), who presented it at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Queer Palm.

12

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

08:15:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION/LIVING IN AMERICA

I'M YOUR VENUS

80'

sott.it.

Buy

I'M YOUR VENUS
by Kimberly Reed

Country: USA, Year: 2024, Duration: 80'

During the filming of the seminal work, Paris Is Burning, Jennifer Livingstone's 1990 documentary describing the explosion of ballroom culture in New York City, one of the leading characters is found dead, strangled in a hotel bed. Thirty years later, and with no culprit yet discovered, director Kimberley Reed returns to the painful case of Venus Xtravaganza and brings together her 2 families: the biological one, an Italian American family named Pelegatti, and the one she belonged to within the ballroom scene, the Xtravaganzas. The director’s goal is to celebrate her memory and reflect on what has changed since then.

12

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

10:00:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

OUTERLANDS

90'

sott.it.

Buy

OUTERLANDS
by Elena Oxman

Country: USA, Year: 2025, Duration: 90'

Cass is a babysitter, works in a restaurant and deals recreational drugs in order to pay their rent in San Francisco. After a one-night stand with Kalli, a coworker they have a crush on, Cass agrees to babysit her 11-year-old daughter, Ari, while Kalli is out of town. But, as time goes by without hearing from Kalli, Cass and Ari form a bond that brings back memories of the difficult childhood and the pain that Cass had run away from. A film of warmth and humanity, in a rundown neighborhood of San Francisco. With Asia Kate Dillon (“Orange Is the New Black”, “Billions”).

12

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

10:15:PM

LOVERS CELEBRATION/LOVERS IS LUCKY

PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU

(PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE)

122'

sott.it.

Buy

PORTRAIT DE LA JEUNE FILLE EN FEU
PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
by Céline Sciamma

Country: France, Year: 2019, Duration: 122'

In 1700s France, painter Marianne is commissioned to paint a portrait of Heloise, a young noblewoman who has left the convent and is about to enter into an arranged marriage. The girl, however, refuses to marry or pose for the portrait. In order to complete the painting, Marianne has no choice but to observe her in many situations, thus discovering hidden aspects of her subject. And a mutual feeling that they cannot pretend to ignore... Celine Sciamma, multi-award-winner at Lovers 2011 with the disorienting and sweet Tomboy, has made a costume drama with an elegantly formal structure, which has won prestigious awards all over the world.

12

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

10:30:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION

13 SENTIMENTOS

(PERFECT ENDINGS)

100'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

With: Priscilla

Buy

13 SENTIMENTOS
PERFECT ENDINGS
by Daniel Ribeiro

Country: Brazil, Year: 2024, Duration: 100'

João is a young director struggling after the end of a long relationship. Supported by his friends, he is trying to find himself and his voice as a director, while navigating the highs and lows of dating and rebound relationships. Disappointments and delusions come one after another until he meets charming Vitor, who triggers a new passion that João tries to capture meticulously, just like when he directs films. Mixing reality and scripts, he starts to confuse the boundaries between the two. But can we draw our path towards a perfect ending, or should we resign ourselves to fate?

13

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

10:30:AM

AL CINEMA COL BEBE

Al cinema col bebe with Linda e il pollo

Free entry

LINDA E IL POLLO
CHICKEN FOR LINDA
by Sébastien Laudenbach, Chiara Malta

Country: France, Italy, Year: 2023, Duration: 73'

When Paulette realizes that she has wrongly accused her daughter Linda of theft, she thinks of ways to make it up to her. A chicken with bell peppers would be just the right solution, too bad she doesn’t know how to cook. More importantly, there is a general strike outside, so how could anyone find a chicken? Fortunately, the two can count on the support of the whole neighborhood for what promises to be a real enterprise. A colorful, entertaining animated film whose rapid pace will leave you breathless. It won a César Award and will be screened here in collaboration with Rainbow Families.

13

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

02:00:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

HAZE

76'

sott.it.

Buy

HAZE
by Matthew Fifer

Country: USA, Year: 2024, Duration: 76'

Joe is an investigative journalist who returns to his hometown to investigate the mysterious deaths of 8 gay men, who died in the local psychiatric hospital. He ends up becoming obsessed with this. When some locals die of what may seem natural causes, Joe and his new partner Luke (Brian J. Smith from Sense8) search for answers to a complex web of questions which are somehow linked to death of Joe's sister as a child. This is a lush, darkly sexy portrayal of the protagonist's search for solutions to his troubled past. From the director of Cicada, which competed at Lovers 2021.

13

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

03:30:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

DRIVE BACK HOME

100'

sott.it.

Buy

DRIVE BACK HOME
by Michael Clowater

Country: Canada, Year: 2024, Duration: 100'

Canada, 1970s. Weldon, a plumber, travels from New Brunswick to Toronto to retrieve his brother Perley, under arrest for indecent exposure - a common police tactic in those years to compromise homosexuals with their families. The two of them have had no contact in a long time, and this unpleasant incident brings them closer together, triggering memories about dark events of the past. A time capsule that makes us relive a seemingly distant era and the persecutory treatment meted out to the gay community. A family road trip full of sharp, witty dialogue, in which the actors’ performances and pathos are the winning features.

13

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

04:00:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION/ITALIAN SPOT

Attending: Gabiele Lippi, Lezioni di ginnastica's director,
Francesco Puppini, Tutti uccidono's director

Buy

13

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

04:15:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION

THOM BROWNE: THE MAN WHO TAILORS DREAMS

98'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

THOM BROWNE: THE MAN WHO TAILORS DREAMS
by Reiner Holzemer

Country: Germany, Year: 2024, Duration: 98'

In the world of great designers, Thom Browne stands out for his theatrical fashion shows and jaw-dropping ready-to-wear creations. From his headquarters in New York's Fashion District, he tells us about his early days in fashion up to his breakthrough, which led to him having celebrity fans like Michelle Obama, Billie Eilish, Zendaya and Anna Wintour, and how his new concept of the classic men's suit became his greatest success. A journey that combined quick wits, bold decisions and mastery of his art, and that contrasts with Browne's reserved personality, seen through images from his personal archive.

13

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

05:30:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

LINDA

100'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

13

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

06:00:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION/ITALIAN SPOT

PRIMA DI TUTTO

(BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE)

90'

Italian / no sub.

Before the screening, Vladimir Luxuria meets Marco Simon
Puccioni, director, Giampietro Preziosa, main character,
Cynthia Kruk, surrogate mother, Antonio Vercellone,
Private Law's teacher

Free entry

PRIMA DI TUTTO
BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE
by Marco Simon Puccioni

Country: Italy, Year: 2012, Duration: 90'

Marco and Giampietro became fathers of twins thanks to the help of a donor mother and a surrogate mother, both American. And it is Marco who chooses to recount in this documentary the courageous decision that changed their lives: the difficulties, the hopes, and the changes in perception, both of themselves and of other members of society, that it entailed. A territory unknown to most heterosexual families, but also to homosexual families, who are not granted any rights in Italy. A territory which is explored in an analysis of the essence of parenthood.

13

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

06:15:PM

REAL LOVERS

TOPLI FILM

(WARM FILM)

91'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

TOPLI FILM
WARM FILM
by Dragan Jovićević

Country: Serbia, Year: 2024, Duration: 91'

2 cis-het actors who have to interpret a gay couple decide to prepare for the role by exploring the history of Serbian cinema, looking for representation of queerness and homosexuality. This narrative device results in a passionate journey that examines how media representation can shape social perception in a country that is still very homophobic, by showing offensive stereotypes and naive portrayals, but also by incredibly sensitive and modern representations. A brave, militant movie - cinema-loving and proudly punk.

13

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

07:30:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

NIGHT STAGE

119'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

With: Alessio Marzilli, comedian
Attending: Filipe Matzembacher and Marcio Reolon, directors

Buy

NIGHT STAGE
by Filipe Matzembacher, Marcio Reolon

Country: Brazil, Year: 2025, Duration: 119'

Physical attraction, love of risk taking, exhibitionism and seduction: Matias, a young actor longing for fame, meets Rafael, a closeted gay politician, a candidate for mayor. The closer the two get to the longed for fame, the more reckless they become. A perfect traditional erotic thriller, with an 80’s atmosphere, Almodóvar-inspired style, and unashamed voyeurism, it explores the dynamics of pleasure and control. In a mixture of suspense, erotism and social analysis, the movie, like its main characters, is not afraid of exposing and risk it all for a moment of pure freedom.

13

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

08:00:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION/GERMAN SPOT

UNSPOKEN

95'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

UNSPOKEN
by Piotr J. Lewandowski

Country: Germany, Year: 2024, Duration: 95'

Everything is going well for Seweryn: a record label is about to sign him up as a singer/songwriter, and he is living happily with his girlfriend Caro. Life takes a radical turn after a concert when he is raped by Michael, a wealthy businessman. For a long time Seweryn does not know how to process what happened. But when he loses his voice, and grows apart from Caro, it becomes clear that the incident has not only triggered a crisis, but also unearthed an ancient trauma buried deep within. A moving and unforgiving drama, bravely tackling a difficult but socially important topic.

13

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

08:30:PM

FUTURE LOVERS

Future Lovers - Program 1

Attending: Muneeb Hassan, All the Men I Met But Never Dated's director

Buy

13

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

10:00:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION

LESBIAN SPACE PRINCESS

87'

sott.it.

Buy

LESBIAN SPACE PRINCESS
by Emma Hough Hobbs, Leela Varghese

Country: Australia, Year: 2025, Duration: 87'

Introverted princess Saira is devastated when Kiki, a bounty hunter, breaks up with her because she is too needy. When Kiki is kidnapped by the Straight White Maliens, the incels of the future, Saira has to deliver the requested ransom, her Royal Labrys the most powerful weapon known to the lesbian species, within 24 hours. The only problem is that Saira doesn’t have it! She begins an inter-gay-lactic journey to discover herself through surprising encounters (with a problematic spaceship and the fugitive gay-pop Willow). An adventurous, crazy comedy that explores the vastness of the queer space.

13

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

10:15:PM

REAL LOVERS

TRIPOLI / A TALE OF THREE CITIES

88'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

13

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

10:30:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION

300 CARTAS

(300 LETTERS)

91'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

With Priscilla and Theater Company della Luna

Buy

300 CARTAS
300 LETTERS
by Lucas Santa Ana

Country: Argentina, Year: 2024, Duration: 91'

It's Valentine's Day and Tom finds a box with 300 letters in which Jero retraces their relationship and tells him goodbye. He believes they are not meant to be together: Tom, who is rich and good-looking, is too shallow for a working-class artist like him. However, as we read through the letters, the roles are reversed. What if Jero wasn’t a reliable narrator? And if what Tom experiences as being abandoned was actually a gift? With 300 cartas, Lucas Santa Ana, who has already taken part in Lovers Film Festival with Luces Azules, crafts a romantic comedy that unmasks prejudices and proves that, when it comes to love, no story is ever written single-handedly.

14

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

03:30:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

LINDA

100'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

14

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

04:00:PM

LOVERS CELEBRATION/LOVERS IS LUCKY

LA VIE D'ADÈLE

(BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR)

180'

sott.it.

Buy

LA VIE D'ADÈLE
BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR
by Abdellatif Kechiche

Country: France, Year: 2013, Duration: 180'

There is a before and after of Blue Is the Warmest Colour, the coming-of-age film par excellence by Abdellatif Kechiche. It won its stars the Palme d’Or for best film at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013, where their acting was considered equal to Kechiche’s directing prowess. It drew radically different opinions from critics and audiences, taking on the role of collective experience. It was boycotted by the lesbian community, praised by some critics, considered to express the epitome of the male gaze, by objectifying the two protagonists and their intimacy. But the author’s intention, stated in the French title, still stands: The Life of ... Not ours.

14

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

05:30:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

NIGHT STAGE

119'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

NIGHT STAGE
by Filipe Matzembacher, Marcio Reolon

Country: Brazil, Year: 2025, Duration: 119'

Physical attraction, love of risk taking, exhibitionism and seduction: Matias, a young actor longing for fame, meets Rafael, a closeted gay politician, a candidate for mayor. The closer the two get to the longed for fame, the more reckless they become. A perfect traditional erotic thriller, with an 80’s atmosphere, Almodóvar-inspired style, and unashamed voyeurism, it explores the dynamics of pleasure and control. In a mixture of suspense, erotism and social analysis, the movie, like its main characters, is not afraid of exposing and risk it all for a moment of pure freedom.

14

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

06:00:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION/ITALIAN SPOT

MY BOYFRIEND EL FASCISTA

93'

sott.it.

Attending: Matthias Lintner, director, Sadiel Gonzalez, main character

Buy

MY BOYFRIEND EL FASCISTA
by Matthias Lintner

Country: Italy, Year: 2025, Duration: 93'

Matthias is a leftist director who is in a relationship with Sadiel, a Cuban activist who is highly critical of the regime in Havana. The relationship between the two faces a crisis when Sadiel moves closer to right-wing positions as a reaction to what he sees as the failure of communism in Cuba. Matthias wants to remain consistent with his ideals, but can they live together with the new direction taken by the man he loves? Once again, the personal become political (and vice versa) in this love story told in the first person love story, where the present events intervene completely unpredictable way.

14

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

07:30:PM

FUTURE LOVERS

Future Lovers - Program 2

Attending: Francesco Cogliati, Greta Chiappetta e Federica Sosso, Suzanne & Marcelo's director and producers, Lukas März, Next Door's director, Alessia Bottone, Sette Minuti's director, Federico Cianferoni, Giacomo Stallone, Maria Giulia Zini, Claudio Fagugli, Tutto il resto è noia's director, actors and producer

Buy

14

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

08:00:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION

BABY

107'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

With: Laura Pusceddu, stand up comedian
Attending: Marcelo Caetano, director

Buy

BABY
by Marcelo Caetano

Country: Brazil, Year: 2024, Duration: 107'

Released from juvenile detention, Wellington wanders the streets of São Paulo. In a metropolis dominated by violent contrasts, he finds an unexpected refuge in the enigmatic Ronaldo, who works as a prostitute in a porno theater. They begin a tense and troubled relationship, where acts of protection are combined with exploitation. And jealousy intertwines with complicity, laying bare the conflicts they both must resolve. Created by Marcelo Caetano (who already brought Corpo Elétrico to Lovers) in the difficult years of Bolsonarism, it was presented to great acclaim at the Cannes Semaine in 2024.

14

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

08:15:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

LAKEVIEW

100'

sott.it.

Buy

LAKEVIEW
by Tara Thorne

Country: Canada, Year: 2024, Duration: 100'

Darcy invites all of her long-standing girlfriends to her lakeside chalet to celebrate her divorce. Many things have changed: someone is now in a couple and pregnant, someone else shows up with a new girlfriend, who is attractive and very young … However, as is often the case with reunions, the old dynamics of attraction, complicity or rivalry remain unchanged. And everything becomes more complicated when charming Dax, who has always been in love with Darcy, reappears, riding her motorcycle. A brilliant, yet heart wrenching comedy, turning a girls’ weekend into an emotional showdown.

14

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

10:00:PM

FUTURE LOVERS

Future Lovers - Program 1

Buy

14

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

10:15:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION/GERMAN SPOT

SATANIC SOW

85'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

SATANIC SOW
by Rosa von Praunheim

Country: Germany, Year: 2025, Duration: 85'

After more than 50 years of career, German director and pioneer of LGBTQIA+ cinema, Rosa Von Praunheim, has decided to tell his story. With the help of artist Armin Dallapiccola, his on-screen alter-ego, he takes us back on a provocative, rollicking journey that, through his memories, explores the themes of fame, family, sexuality, art and faith. In a vortex of encounters, sex, and conflict, we meet seductive, enthusiastic fans, and a mother who never learns how to deal with her unusual son. The film won the award for best documentary at the 2025 Teddy Awards.

14

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

10:30:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

QUEERPANORAMA

87'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

With: Tekemaya

Buy

QUEERPANORAMA
by Jun Li

Country: USA, Hong Kong, China, Year: 2025, Duration: 87'

In a gloomy, crepuscular Hong Kong, we follow a young man’s encounters with other men met through dating apps. Every date is a window onto a different identity: the various ages, sexual preferences, social status, and geographical origin of his lovers create a real human landscape. What remains a mystery is the identity of the main character, as he brings to the next date elements of the preceding lover’s personality. Just like a chameleon, he continuously reinvents himself, taking on himself the solitude of each of the others.

15

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

03:45:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

LAKEVIEW

100'

sott.it.

Buy

LAKEVIEW
by Tara Thorne

Country: Canada, Year: 2024, Duration: 100'

Darcy invites all of her long-standing girlfriends to her lakeside chalet to celebrate her divorce. Many things have changed: someone is now in a couple and pregnant, someone else shows up with a new girlfriend, who is attractive and very young … However, as is often the case with reunions, the old dynamics of attraction, complicity or rivalry remain unchanged. And everything becomes more complicated when charming Dax, who has always been in love with Darcy, reappears, riding her motorcycle. A brilliant, yet heart wrenching comedy, turning a girls’ weekend into an emotional showdown.

15

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

04:00:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

OUTERLANDS

90'

sott.it.

Buy

OUTERLANDS
by Elena Oxman

Country: USA, Year: 2025, Duration: 90'

Cass is a babysitter, works in a restaurant and deals recreational drugs in order to pay their rent in San Francisco. After a one-night stand with Kalli, a coworker they have a crush on, Cass agrees to babysit her 11-year-old daughter, Ari, while Kalli is out of town. But, as time goes by without hearing from Kalli, Cass and Ari form a bond that brings back memories of the difficult childhood and the pain that Cass had run away from. A film of warmth and humanity, in a rundown neighborhood of San Francisco. With Asia Kate Dillon (“Orange Is the New Black”, “Billions”).

15

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

05:00:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION

BABY

107'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

BABY
by Marcelo Caetano

Country: Brazil, Year: 2024, Duration: 107'

Released from juvenile detention, Wellington wanders the streets of São Paulo. In a metropolis dominated by violent contrasts, he finds an unexpected refuge in the enigmatic Ronaldo, who works as a prostitute in a porno theater. They begin a tense and troubled relationship, where acts of protection are combined with exploitation. And jealousy intertwines with complicity, laying bare the conflicts they both must resolve. Created by Marcelo Caetano (who already brought Corpo Elétrico to Lovers) in the difficult years of Bolsonarism, it was presented to great acclaim at the Cannes Semaine in 2024.

15

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

05:45:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION/ITALIAN SPOT

QUIR

105'

Eng.sub.

Attending: Nicola Bellucci, director, Gino Campanella and Massimo Milano, main characters

Buy

QUIR
by Nicola Bellucci

Country: Italy, Year: 2024, Duration: 105'

In Palermo there is a shop, unlike any other, called Quir, a place of love that defies any convention. The owners are Massimo and Gino, together for forty-two years in life and business. Theirs is a small shop specializing in leather goods but, above all, a space where anyone passing through that alley in the Ballarò district is welcomed, listened to and cared for. This is why it has become an important meeting point for the local LGBTQI+ community, who are fighting for their rights in Sicily, still a stronghold of patriarchal culture and homophobia.

15

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

06:00:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

QUEERPANORAMA

87'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

QUEERPANORAMA
by Jun Li

Country: USA, Hong Kong, China, Year: 2025, Duration: 87'

In a gloomy, crepuscular Hong Kong, we follow a young man’s encounters with other men met through dating apps. Every date is a window onto a different identity: the various ages, sexual preferences, social status, and geographical origin of his lovers create a real human landscape. What remains a mystery is the identity of the main character, as he brings to the next date elements of the preceding lover’s personality. Just like a chameleon, he continuously reinvents himself, taking on himself the solitude of each of the others.

15

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

07:30:PM

FUTURE LOVERS

Future Lovers - Program 3

Attending: Paul Galli, People Under Water's director, Sam Peter Jackson, The Space You Need's director

Buy

15

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

08:00:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

SANDBAG DAM

90'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

With: Le Rubrichette
Attending: Čejen Černić Čanak, director

Buy

SANDBAG DAM
by Čejen Černić Čanak

Country: Croatia, Year: 2024, Duration: 90'

Marko is a gifted athlete, but his father wants him to become a mechanic after finishing school. Two events turn the boy's seemingly stable life upside down: the village where he lives is threatened by a flood, and Slaven, his forbidden first love, returns. Marko struggles to come to terms with this situation and the closer the flood comes, the more emotional he gets. While the villagers work tirelessly to build protective dams around their houses, Marko builds his own dam designed to keep his emotions under control. But just like water, feelings manage to overcome all obstacles.

15

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

08:15:PM

REAL LOVERS

HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY

81'

sott.it.

Buy

15

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

09:45:PM

LOVERS CELEBRATION/GREGG ARAKI

TOTALLY F***ED UP

78'

sott.it.

Attending: James Duval, actor

Buy

TOTALLY F***ED UP
by Gregg Araki

Country: USA, Year: 1993, Duration: 78'

The first part of the Teenage Apocalypse Trilogy, divided into 15 episodes, in which Gregg Araki recounts the conflicts, fears, dramas, as well as the hopes and rare moments of happiness, of Generation X. These are reflected in the grainy images and saturated colors that visually frame the confessions of 6 Californian teenagers, 4 of whom are gay and 2 lesbians, who form a couple. Among them also appears James Duval, the favorite actor of the Angeleno filmmaker, who would also star in the other 2 movies of the trilogy, Araki’s great contribution to the evolution of New Queer Cinema.

15

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

10:00:PM

REAL LOVERS

EROS

107'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

In collaboration with Fish&Chips Film Festival.

With: Chiara Pellegrini, Festival's director

Attending: Fernanda Falcão, performer

Buy

15

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

10:15:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION

IN ASHES

82'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

With: Tekemaya
Attending: Ludvig Christian Næsted Poulsen, director, Mette Mikkelsen, producer

Buy

IN ASHES
by Ludvig Christian Næsted Poulsen

Country: Denmark, Year: 2024, Duration: 82'

Christian, a 20-year-old gay man, tries to get over the pain after his first love relationship ends. Searching for meaningful connections on dating apps, he plunges into a whirlwind of experiences, passion and obsession. This becomes a journey to find himself. We follow his mood swings as he copes with college studies and casual (and awkward) sex. His heartbreak over his ex, who suddenly reappears on a dating app, takes him into increasingly difficult and uncomfortable territory. Love, loss, ecstasy, angst and everything in between are portrayed in a realistic and direct way.

16

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

03:00:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION

LOST BOYS & FAIRIES

176'

sott.it.

Buy

LOST BOYS & FAIRIES
by James Kent

Country: UK, Year: 2024, Duration: 176'

While Andy is eager to become a father, his partner Gabriel, a performer (“I'm not a drag queen” he points out), is less excited. Gabriel carries the weight of a troubled past as a drug addict and an unhappy childhood, scarred by the death of his mother and his father's homophobia. The couple grows fond of little Jake, who has been taken away from his abusive family: the adoption seems to be near at hand. But an unexpected, tragic and painful event changes everything … This popular British TV series, aired on BBC, openly and sensitively tackles the topic of same-sex parenting.

16

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

05:30:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION

Panel Lovers' 40 years + Women in Revolt

With: Vladimir Luxuria, Giovanni Minerba, Irene Dionisio and Marziano Marzano celebrating 40 years of Lovers

Free entry

WOMEN IN REVOLT
by Paul Morrissey

Country: USA, Year: 1971, Duration: 98'

In the New York City of the early 1970s, where glamour and the underground scene intersect and mix, feisty Jackie and Holly form a feminist collective. Candy, a wealthy heiress who has an incestuous relationship with her brother, shows an interest in their cause... The absolute peak of Warhol’s Factory cinema (in leading roles superstars Jackie Curtis, Holly Woodlawn and Candy Darling, here dubbed by Vladimir Luxuria), in which master director Paul Morrissey, who passed away last October, recounts, with a detached view, an era and a world, giving us an accurate, caustic portrayal.

16

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

06:00:PM

ALL THE LOVERS

SANDBAG DAM

90'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

SANDBAG DAM
by Čejen Černić Čanak

Country: Croatia, Year: 2024, Duration: 90'

Marko is a gifted athlete, but his father wants him to become a mechanic after finishing school. Two events turn the boy's seemingly stable life upside down: the village where he lives is threatened by a flood, and Slaven, his forbidden first love, returns. Marko struggles to come to terms with this situation and the closer the flood comes, the more emotional he gets. While the villagers work tirelessly to build protective dams around their houses, Marko builds his own dam designed to keep his emotions under control. But just like water, feelings manage to overcome all obstacles.

16

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

06:15:PM

REAL LOVERS

HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY

81'

sott.it.

Buy

16

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

08:00:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION

SAUNA

105'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

With: Gino Curcione, actor

Buy

SAUNA
by Mathias Broe

Country: Denmark, Year: 2025, Duration: 105'

Johan has just started working as a receptionist at Adonis, Copenhagen's only gay sauna, where he spends much of his time. For Johan, the city is a boundless paradise of opportunities. Everything changes when he meets William, a transgender man with whom he falls madly in love, defying social norms about gender and relationships. Johan and William rewrite their personal histories, their world, and their community, through a new feeling. The two young men move through the hazardous terrain of the queer romantic scene of today, in a society ruled by rigid ideas about gender, love, and identity.

16

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

08:15:PM

REAL LOVERS

THE NEW JEWS

80'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Attending: Amir Ovadia Steklov, director

Buy

THE NEW JEWS
by Amir Ovadia Steklov

Country: Germany, Year: 2025, Duration: 80'

What does it mean to be Israelis, Jews and non-Zionist, all while living in Germany? This challenging documentary, presented after a long period of preparation at the last IFFR Rotterdam, tries to answer this question. In order to consider identity and politics, the documentary follows the journey of Israeli exiles, who courageously show every aspect of their life, mental and physical – because nothing reveals a nation’s subconscious like sex does. So in progressive Berlin we see sexual interactions that reveal disturbing ghosts, obsessions, and fetishisms. With justifiable anger and lots of humor, The New Jews deals with controversial, crucial topics.

16

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

08:30:PM

LOVERS CELEBRATION/GREGG ARAKI

THE DOOM GENERATION

83'

sott.it.

Attending: James Duval, actor

Buy

THE DOOM GENERATION
by Gregg Araki

Country: USA, Year: 1995, Duration: 83'

Teenagers Amy Blue and Jordan White find their peer Xavier Red beaten up and abandoned by the side of an LA road. They put him into their car, but when they go into a supermarket he explodes in fury and decapitates a cashier with a knife. This starts a getaway drive punctuated by murders and crimes, where the complicity between the three soon becomes sexual as well ... Araki pays tribute to the pioneers Lynch and Tarantino through a visionary plot dripping with hallucinatory violence. He creates a terminal road movie, with a soundtrack perfect for this purpose: NIN, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Front 242, Coil, Aphex Twin, Cocteau Twins...

16

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

10:15:PM

LOVERS CELEBRATION/LOVERS IS LUCKY

VELVET GOLDMINE

118'

sott.it.

Buy

VELVET GOLDMINE
by Todd Haynes

Country: UK, USA, Year: 1998, Duration: 118'

What happened to Brian Slade, the most outrageous rock star of the 1970s glam scene? Hot on his trail is journalist Arthur Stuart, who had been an obsessive fan of his and, with a sense of nostalgia, finds himself reliving the turbulent years of his own youth. The film that brought fame to Todd Haynes. An engaging, fairy-tale-like tribute to the excesses of a glitzy and kitsch decade: on-screen the alter egos of David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Brian Ferry, heroes of an unrepeatable, epic time. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, the cast includes Ewan McGregor, who is more sensual and seductive than ever before.

16

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

10:30:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION/GERMAN SPOT

SAD JOKES

96'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

SAD JOKES
by Fabian Stumm

Country: Germany, Year: 2024, Duration: 96'

Joseph, a film director, has had a child with Sonya, a long-time friend. Now working on a new film, he has never recovered from the break-up with his ex-boyfriend Marc, while Sonya is sinking into depression, to the point that she is admitted to a clinic. So Joseph finds himself having to raise the child alone, an uncomfortable role for which he was not prepared and which he has to juggle with professional commitments and the developments in a love life that is not exactly stable. A life-saving sense of irony pervades this new, unpredictable feature by Fabian Stumm, who was already at Lovers 2023 presenting Bones and Names.

16

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

10:30:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION/LIVING IN AMERICA

THE SECRET OF ME

96'

sott.it.

Buy

THE SECRET OF ME
by Grace Hughes-Hallett

Country: UK, Year: 2024, Duration: 96'

Jim is a man in his mid-40s, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He looks very vulnerable in front of the camera while holding in his hand a picture of a blond teenage girl, Kristi. This is because he was born intersex and was Kristi. Or, rather, he was raised as Kristi… Without unnecessary sensationalism, director Grace Huges-Hallett recounts a chilling, painful story. She reveals a disturbing psychological experiment that, in the 1960s, led to serious medical (and other) intervention in the lives of many intersex people, with the approval of families and the complicity of institutions.

17

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

04:00:PM

FUTURE LOVERS

Future Lovers - Program 2

Buy

17

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

04:30:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION

13 SENTIMENTOS

(PERFECT ENDINGS)

100'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

13 SENTIMENTOS
PERFECT ENDINGS
by Daniel Ribeiro

Country: Brazil, Year: 2024, Duration: 100'

João is a young director struggling after the end of a long relationship. Supported by his friends, he is trying to find himself and his voice as a director, while navigating the highs and lows of dating and rebound relationships. Disappointments and delusions come one after another until he meets charming Vitor, who triggers a new passion that João tries to capture meticulously, just like when he directs films. Mixing reality and scripts, he starts to confuse the boundaries between the two. But can we draw our path towards a perfect ending, or should we resign ourselves to fate?

17

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

05:45:PM

REAL LOVERS

THE NEW JEWS

80'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

THE NEW JEWS
by Amir Ovadia Steklov

Country: Germany, Year: 2025, Duration: 80'

What does it mean to be Israelis, Jews and non-Zionist, all while living in Germany? This challenging documentary, presented after a long period of preparation at the last IFFR Rotterdam, tries to answer this question. In order to consider identity and politics, the documentary follows the journey of Israeli exiles, who courageously show every aspect of their life, mental and physical – because nothing reveals a nation’s subconscious like sex does. So in progressive Berlin we see sexual interactions that reveal disturbing ghosts, obsessions, and fetishisms. With justifiable anger and lots of humor, The New Jews deals with controversial, crucial topics.

17

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

06:00:PM

LOVERS CELEBRATION/GREGG ARAKI

NOWHERE

82'

sott.it.

Attending: James Duvall, actor

Buy

NOWHERE
by Gregg Araki

Country: USA, France, Year: 1997, Duration: 82'

“Los Angeles is like no other place: anyone who lives here is lost”. The days of a group of young Californians revolve around Dark, a beautiful and confused youth in search of love. However, he ends up finding something else: drugs, violence and an impending catastrophe that could end it all. The third and final chapter of the Teenage Apocalypse Trilogy, described by the director as “Beverly Hills 90210 on acid”, is the main character’s camcorder diary. A coming-of-age film that recreates perfectly the atmosphere (degenerate yet dazzling) of the ‘90s, even in its cast and music.

17

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

07:45:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION/LIVING IN AMERICA

THE SECRET OF ME

96'

sott.it.

Buy

THE SECRET OF ME
by Grace Hughes-Hallett

Country: UK, Year: 2024, Duration: 96'

Jim is a man in his mid-40s, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He looks very vulnerable in front of the camera while holding in his hand a picture of a blond teenage girl, Kristi. This is because he was born intersex and was Kristi. Or, rather, he was raised as Kristi… Without unnecessary sensationalism, director Grace Huges-Hallett recounts a chilling, painful story. She reveals a disturbing psychological experiment that, in the 1960s, led to serious medical (and other) intervention in the lives of many intersex people, with the approval of families and the complicity of institutions.

17

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Cabiria

08:00:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION

40th Lovers Film festival's Award Ceremony + The Wedding Banquet

With: La Diamond, Rita Rusic, Diego Passoni

Buy

17

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

08:30:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION/GERMAN SPOT

UNSPOKEN

95'

Sott.it./Eng.sub.

Buy

UNSPOKEN
by Piotr J. Lewandowski

Country: Germany, Year: 2024, Duration: 95'

Everything is going well for Seweryn: a record label is about to sign him up as a singer/songwriter, and he is living happily with his girlfriend Caro. Life takes a radical turn after a concert when he is raped by Michael, a wealthy businessman. For a long time Seweryn does not know how to process what happened. But when he loses his voice, and grows apart from Caro, it becomes clear that the incident has not only triggered a crisis, but also unearthed an ancient trauma buried deep within. A moving and unforgiving drama, bravely tackling a difficult but socially important topic.

17

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Rondolino

09:45:PM

OUT OF COMPETITION/ITALIAN SPOT

MY BOYFRIEND EL FASCISTA

93'

sott.it.

Buy

MY BOYFRIEND EL FASCISTA
by Matthias Lintner

Country: Italy, Year: 2025, Duration: 93'

Matthias is a leftist director who is in a relationship with Sadiel, a Cuban activist who is highly critical of the regime in Havana. The relationship between the two faces a crisis when Sadiel moves closer to right-wing positions as a reaction to what he sees as the failure of communism in Cuba. Matthias wants to remain consistent with his ideals, but can they live together with the new direction taken by the man he loves? Once again, the personal become political (and vice versa) in this love story told in the first person love story, where the present events intervene completely unpredictable way.

17

April

Cinema Massimo - Sala Soldati

10:30:PM

FUTURE LOVERS

Future Lovers - Program 3

Buy

40° LFF

Program

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15/04

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