Movies

Princesa

Princesa is the provocative and moving story of Fernanda, a 19-year-old Brazilian transvestite, longing to undergo a sex-change operation, find an ideal husband, and lead the life of a normal middle-class housewife. On the streets of Milan, she transforms into "Princesa," a stylish and alluring prostitute. When handsome client Gianni succumbs to her charms and offers her the means to realize her dreams, Princesa is forced to reexamine the person she hopes to become. • Princesa is the winner of Best Foreign Film at Outfest (Los Angeles) and is directed by Henrique Goldman. In Spanish with English subtitles. May 10—16 @ Angelika Film Center.

Houston Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

Two of the many films being screened at the 6th annual Houston Gay & Lesbian Film Festival are Southern Comfort and Second Skin. • Robert was born female. Lola was born male. These two transsexuals have found love together, but in a bitter, ironic twist, Robert is dying of cancer. Winner of the 2001 Sundance Grand Jury Prize and the Golden Gate Award at the San Francisco International Film Festival, Southern Comfort tells a provocative transgendered love story set in rural Georgia. Thursday, June 6, 8 p.m. @ DiverseWorks. • Oscar-nominee Javier Bardem appears on American screens for the first time since Before Night Falls in a new Spanish film Second Skin. Set in modern-day Madrid, Second Skin is a drama about a man torn between his loving family and his passion for a secret lover. In Spanish with English subtitles, Second Skin opens the Houston Gay & Lesbian Film Festival at Landmark’s Greenway Theatre on Friday, May 31, and runs through Thursday, June 6. • A complete program for this year’s festival is inserted in the May issue of OutSmart magazine. You can also check out the 2002 Houston Gay and Lesbian Film Festival website at www.hglff.org/hglff.

It’s Not a Movie, But It’s Movie-Related

The One In Ten Screenplay Contest is entering its fourth year. This screenplay competition is dedicated to the positive portrayal of gays and lesbians in film. The contest, which was founded by actor/writer/director/publisher David Jensen, continues to grow. In its first year, 1999, the contest received 30 scripts; in 2001, over 200 scripts were featured in the screenplay contest, and submissions were submitted from around the world. 2002 is expected to be a record-breaking year for entries. Winners receive cash, as well as studio and agent contacts. The writer of the winning script for this year’s competition will receive $1,000, as well as script submission to a major studio and agent. Over the years, winning scripts have been submitted to Hearst Entertainment, The William Morris Agency, Universal Studios, among others. The contest is open to any writer, and one of the major requirements is that one of the primary characters in the screenplay be gay or lesbian and presented positively. Deadline for entries is September 1, 2002. The entry fee is $40. Obtain entry forms at the One In Ten Screenplay Contest website at www.screenplaycontests.com or by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to Cherub Productions, One In Ten Screenplay Contest, P.O. Box 540, Boulder, Colorado 80306.