TLVFest – The International LGBTQ Film Festival was held between 11-20th of November, 2021, at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque and is considered to br one of the most important events of its kind throughout the Middle East.
With the support of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Tel Aviv, the Romanian film "Poppy Field" (2020, directed by Eugen Jebeleanu), winner and nominated at numerous international festivals such as Turin, Glasgow, Miami, San Francisco, Tallinn, London, Gijon, was screened during the international competition.
”Poppy field” (2020, 81 minutes)
Friday, November 19h, starting with 21:30, Tel Aviv Cinematheque
Tickets: 03-6060800 ext. 9 or online http://tlvfest.com/tlv/he/2021/08/20/poppy-field-fest/
Director: Eugen Jebeleanu
Script writer: Ioana Moraru
Cast: Conrad Mericoffer, Radouan Leflahi, Alexandru Potocean
International trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HwEgMM7cJw
Synopsis: a day in the life of Cristi, a 29-year-old gendarme from Bucharest. During a short visit by Hadi, the man with whom he has a long-distance relationship, Cristi and his colleagues participate in an intervention in a downtown cinema, where a series of protesters sabotage the screening of a queer film. In the midst of the cinema scandal, a temporary relationship with another man returns to the present, threatening his professional and personal stability.
TLVFest – International LGBT Film Festival is the only LGBT film festival in the Middle East. Selected twice (2014 & 2015) by INDIEWIRE as one of the 10 LGBT film festivals not to be missed, the festival offers a fascinating look into international and Israeli queer cinematic art. It is also an industry hub of activity. During its 14 years of existence, TLVFest has had the pleasure to host many of the queer cinema industry’s most innovative minds. Over the years, guests have included Alan Cumming, Lea DeLaria, Bruce La Bruce, Wieland Speck (Berlinale Panorama curator), Jay Brannan (”Shortbus”), Jamie Babbit (”But I’m a Cheerleader”), Angela Robinson (”D.E.B.S.”), Joey Arias, Cheryl Dunye (”The Watermelon Woman”), Mark Christopher (”Studio 54”), Alanté Kavaïté (”The Summer of Sangaile”), Daniel Ribeiro (”The Way He Looks”) and many more. Throughout the year, TLV Fest organizes related events such as the TLVFest Movie Club, monthly themed film screenings at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque, and workshops or conferences about LGBT community rights, in order to prevent discrimination of all kinds and promote tolerance within society.
