Frameline38: the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival has announced its Opening Night, Centerpiece, and Closing Night films for this year’s renowned showcase of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer cinema. Frameline38, the world’s first and largest LGBT film festival, will be held June 19 – 29, 2014 in San Francisco and the East Bay.

With an expected attendance of 65,000, the 11 days of Frameline38 will draw film lovers, media artists, and LGBTQ communities from the Bay Area and all across the globe to discover the best in queer cinema.

 

The complete Frameline38 program will be announced on Monday, May 19. Tickets for Opening Night, Centerpiece, and Closing Night films are now on sale to Members only.

 

OPENING NIGHT FILM

 

 

THE CASE AGAINST 8 / dirs Ben Cotner and Ryan White / USA

 

HBO presents an all-access look at the first Supreme Court case on marriage equality. Shot over five years and featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, the film follows the four plaintiffs and the unlikely dream team of attorneys, Ted Olson and David Boies, as they challenge California’s Proposition 8 from San Francisco to the Supreme Court. More info & buy tickets »

 

CENTERPIECE DOCUMENTARY

 

 

TO BE TAKEI / dir Jennifer M. Kroot, editor/co-dir Bill Weber / USA

 

The stellar centerpiece documentary of Frameline38 celebrates the Star Trek legend, the marriage-equality advocate, the spokesperson for Japanese Americans imprisoned in internment camps during World War II, the Facebook phenomenon (with nearly 7 million fans), and the recipient of this year’s Frameline Award: superstar George Takei.

 

The 2014 Frameline Award will honor activist and actor George Takei for his wide-ranging and pioneering contributions to the representation of LGBTQ figures in media. More info & buy tickets »

 

CENTERPIECE NARRATIVE

 

 

LILTING / dir Hong Khaou / UK

 

Ben Whishaw and Pei-Pei Cheng shine in Hong Khaou’s debut feature. Exploring matters of grief, memory, and cultural barriers with sensitivity and emotional truth, Lilting tells the story of a Chinese mother and her son’s British lover attempting to move on after the death of their beloved. Together, they struggle to connect without a common language, as they piece together memories of a man they both loved. More info & buy tickets »

 

CLOSING NIGHT FILM

 

 

I FEEL LIKE DISCO / dir Axel Ranisch / Germany

 

Florian is a pudgy teen who loves disco and struggles with his sexuality. But his overbearing dad just doesn’t get him at all. When mom is suddenly gone, father and son must reconcile their relationship in this stellar fantasy-fueled coming-of-age dramatic comedy. More info & buy tickets »

 

The Festival’s complete program will be announced on Monday, May 19, 2014. Frameline38 screenings will take place in San Francisco at the Castro Theatre (429 Castro Street), Roxie Theater (3117 16th Street) and Victoria Theatre (2961 16th Street), and in Berkeley at Rialto Cinemas™ Elmwood (2966 College Avenue).

 

 

 

About the Festival

 

Frameline38: the 38th San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival returns to the Bay Area June 19-29, 2014, with its signature showcase of the world’s leading queer cinema. Frameline38 unites diverse communities for 11 days of innovative and socially relevant cinema. Discover emerging talents and embrace an unparalleled community of festivalgoers at the world’s oldest and largest celebration of queer cinema. Frameline38 pays tribute to LGBTQ experiences through pioneering documentaries, gripping features, delightful shorts, cinematic classics, and more. Tickets go on sale to members on Friday, May 23, and to the general public on Friday, May 30. www.frameline.org/festival