Put your bucket and spade on ice this bank holiday weekend, it’s time for GAZE!  The 19^th Dublin International LGBT Film Festival takes place in three city centre venues from Thursday 28^th until late on Monday night!  Here’s our picks for the weekend, see you at one, some or all of them!

First things first, as part of the opening night gala at the Screen Cinema, a screening of Hold On Tight, the winner of the first ABSOLUT GAZE Filmmaker Award.  Director Anna Rodgers and producer Zlata Filipovic present a documentary about displays of affection between same- sex couples in Ireland.

From there we’ll be making a beeline to the Project Arts Centre on Friday eve to see Gigola.  I reckon this will be a hot favourite, so maybe grab those tickets while you can!  Laure Charpentier’s melodrama follows a charismatic young girl on a steamy ride through the lesbian underworld of 60s Paris.  This was a huge hit at the London festival earlier this year, so word has spread that this delicious treat is not to be missed!

In Who Took the Bomp?, Director Kerthy Fix profiles feminist band Le Tigre’s world tour in support of their major-label debut, 2004′s This Island. Sadly, they would put the band to bed the following year. The music, and the fans, still remain, and their popularity is on full display here, as in between performances, radio interviews, and backstage footage, they talk about the transition from the riot grrrl scene of the 1990’s to more recent incarnations.

Also recommended by Gaelick (ages ago!) – Sea Purple, at the Project Arts Centre Friday at 6pm. Read HAL’s review here!

We think you might also like:  Aussie comedy Hannah and the Hasbian, a story of coming out, going back in, and everything in between.  At the Screen on Saturday, 6pm.

And don’t forget the Girls’ Shorts, in Project on Saturday afternoon!

You might think it’ll all be winding down by Monday, but don’t miss a remarkable film documenting the journey of transition for Chaz Bono, transgender advocate, writer, actor and musician, and child of Sonny and Cher.

For more details on all these films, along with the rest of the programme, booking information, cinema locations and plenty more, check out www.gaze.ie