Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival, the largest event of its kind in Canada, has a great selection of films in two of its most popular programming streams: Special Presentations and Icons. Toronto audiences can experience the best in queer cinema featuring immersive documentaries spotlighting real and remarkable LGBT figures.
Special Presentations
This program aims to explore artistic expression, sexual identity, and courage as told through the stories of gay men destined for greatness.
The biographical drama Tom Of Finland tells the true story of Tuoko Laaksonen, the World War II veteran who, through his stylized homoerotic art and desire for freedom of sexual expression, becomes one of the most celebrated leaders of the gay revolution. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Dome Karukoski, the film was an Official Selection at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival.
Director Katherine Fairfax Wright (Call me Kuchu) returns to Inside Out with her new documentary Behind The Curtain: Todrick Hall. Audiences will have the chance to get a special, insider’s look into the mind of Todrick Hall, one of the hardest working YouTube stars in the world. The documentary follows Todrick as he launches his most ambitious project yet, the original musical Straight Outta Oz. Through his songs and videos, Todrick tackles issues such as gun violence, police brutality, and his personal struggles with his relationships and identity as a gay black man.
Icons
This program will showcase an excellent selection of documentaries that delve into the struggles, accomplishments and the indelible impact of revolutionary, resilient and irresistible queer icons.
Hot off its premiere at Hot Docs, Chavela, an intimate portrait of the turbulent life of legendary Mexican singer Chavela Vargas who achieved success despite her refusal to conform to female gender norms. The program also features the International Premiere of The Fabulous Allan Carr, directed by Jeffrey Schwarz (Vito, Tab Hunter Confidential) documenting the rise and fall of Allan Carr, the creative genius behind Grease, Can’t Stop the Music and Broadway’s La Cage aux Folles; and Free Cece, a documentary that examines the epidemic of brutal violence against transgender women of colour through the tragic circumstances of CeCe McDonald who was attacked in 2011 and unjustly incarcerated.
The Icons program will also feature the International Premiere of The Untold Tales Of Armistead Maupin, a celebration of Tales of the City author Armistead Maupin that features interviews with Neil Gaiman, Laura Linney, Olympia Dukakis, Sir Ian McKellan and Amy Tan and won the Documentary Spotlight Audience Award at the 2017 SXSW Film Festival.
Taking place from May 25 to June 4, 2017, Inside Out celebrates 27 years of wide-ranging films that entertain, inspire and bring forth challenges in the LGBT community. Ticket packages are on sale now at insideout.ca.
