People of Cork, I envy you.

The Corona Cork Film Festival begins on Sunday, 6th November, and as part of the schedule several LGBT films comprise the OutLook programme.

Here are a few that have caught my eye:

She Monkeys (Apflickorna) | Sun, 6th Nov at 2pm
Also screening: Flyers

Distributed by our friends at Peccadillo Pictures, and directed by Lisa Aschan:

Aschan lifts the lid on a group of girls for whom gender is both a weapon and a toy, pushing the boundaries of political correctness to breaking point. Emma is a girl who likes to be in control. When she tries out for the local voltige (equestrian vaulting) team, she meets Cassandra, a strong, attractive and vivacious girl. As they get to know each other, they share a sense of wicked fun and quickly become best friends. But feelings of jealousy, competitiveness and sexual attraction have them pushing each other to their limits.

In Flyers, for one woman, a street flyer leads to a surprising discovery.

Hold On Tight | Thu, 10th Nov at 2pm (screening with Our Lips Are Sealed)

Hold On Tight is a short documentary directed by Anna Rodgers, who you may remember from her production work with director Aoife Kelleher on the Growing Up Gay TV series, and from BeLonG To’s Stand Up! campaign video which was co-directed with Aoife Kelleher and produced by Zlata Filipović.

When it comes to same sex relationships, showing your love outside of the home is sometimes a complicated personal choice. Filipović and Rodgers have teamed up again with Hold On Tight, which moves between the public and private spaces in which lesbian and gay couples live, and explores small gestures of human connectedness.

The film was screened as part of this year’s GAZE film festival, and subsequently throughout Ireland and abroad. It was honoured at the annual Iris Prize, and has been viewed by Sarah Waters. The Sarah Waters.

Go see it.

Married in Spandex | Sat, 12 Nov at 6:30pm
Also screening: And I Am Me

Directed by Allison Kole and Devin Gallagher, Married in Spandex gets is European premiere at OutLook:

Amanda and Rachel are determined to make their wedding day a unique and memorable affair. But, at a time when every same-sex wedding is seen as a political act, will everyone be cheering Amanda and Rachel’s offbeat nuptials?

The film’s directors will be attending the screening.

The short film, And I Am Me from the USA, is an honest portrayal of the relationship between a lesbian mum and her adopted Ethiopian son.

Jamie and Jesse Are Not Together | Sun, 13th Nov at 4pm
Also screening: Lust Life

Note #1: Hawt chicks alert.

Note #2: Didn’t we tell you this would be one to watch this year? Yes, we did:

“A queer romantic comedy (with musical numbers!). Jamie is moving from Chicago to New York hoping to become a famous actress. Her best friend and roommate, Jessica, isn’t happy about it, because she is losing more than a friend. Jessica is not-so-secretly in love with Jamie. Although Jamie doesn’t feel the same way, she has gotten used to Jessica’s attention. As moving day gets closer, Jessica tries to make Jamie jealous (and get her to stay in Chicago) by sleeping around with other girls. But Jessica’s plan backfires, in a way she could never imagine.”

Plus, there is Lust Life, a short by American director Lynda Tarryk, where a woman discovers that letting go of a painful past relationship helps her move forward.

How’s that for getting value out of your euro? So high-tail it down there!

Honourable mention:

Not an especially lesbian/bi/trans* offering, but highly acclaimed with one rave review after another, is Andrew Haigh’s Weekend, which has its Irish premiere on Wednesday, 9th November at 6pm. The director will also be in attendance.

Check out the festival websites for up-to-date times and locations!

• OutLook (web)
• OutLook (fb)
• Cork Film Festival (web)