Southwest Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2009

Peppered generously with sardonic humor, CHEF’S SPECIAL is a must see for fans of Spanish comedies. Our spicy chef, Maxi (Javier Cámara) is too busy trying to run his chic restaurant and dreaming of a write-up in the Michelin guide to have a personal life. But when his estranged wife dies and leaves him two kids to raise, Maxi needs to prepare for a change in the menu. Things only get more chaotic with the arrival of a gorgeous and well-known Argentine soccer player (Benjamín Vicuña). As Maxi and the people in his orbit wrangle with romance, sexual tensions, and family ties, there is plenty of drama to go around. Through drunken debacles at karaoke bars, confessions on national television, sundry misadventures in new parenthood, and the highly anticipated arrival of a prominent food critic to his restaurant, this tasty Spanish comedy offers non-stop comedy twists involving the entire cast. - Jason Wilby

THE L WORD, Spanish style! This briskly paced, witty romantic comedy gathers the first several episodes of a Spanish web series that plays out like a lesbian novela. Smart and complex, the series depicts the passionate intrigues of a group of (mostly lesbian) women in contemporary Madrid. Monica, a former Judo champion, is surprised to wake to Nines, who she has been pursuing for two years. Nines, an all-time heartbreaker and a bartender at the local girl bar, cannot wait to slip out, thinking of this as another one night stand. Monica is blind to Nines’ interest in her friend Carmen who is straight… or is she? Carmen and her boyfriend of seven years have finally decided to move in together. Ana, who is new to the city and eager to begin her life as an out dyke, has a lot to learn. A vivid, complex world of relationships makes CHICA BUSCA CHICA a fun, flirty, sexy experience in lust, love, loss, and learning. – Gina Diaz

While Laura is on a personal journey, her daughter and partner seek to capture a mouse in their home.

What would you say if you could have one final conversation with an ex-lover? In this short, a man imagines one final conversation with his ex.

A trans action hero prepares for The Revolution.

Getting rid of your therapist isn’t easy, especially when your therapist uses questionable techniques… The film Planet Out called the “funniest short in 2008.”

THE COUNTRY TEACHER tells the story of Petr, an impulsive teacher who flees the oppressive complications of his life in Prague to teach natural sciences at an elementary school in a rural Czech village. Once there, Petr finds temporary housing (and a fast friendship) with Marie, an older woman whose past marital history has caused her to shun all pursuits from the other men of the village, as well as Marie’s 17-year old son, Lada. When Petr’s ex-boyfriend arrives unexpectedly for a fateful visit, his actions set in motion a series of events that will test Petr, Marie and Lada in ways they might never have expected. Filmed in a style that evokes the feel of classic foreign cinema, THE COUNTRY TEACHER uses a sharply modern wit to deliver a moving commentary on responsibility, forgiveness and the ways desire can both bring people together and tear them apart. —Sam Tetangco

George Kuchar: “It is fall and Halloween and mom is in the hospital. The leaves are red and the mood is blue but life drips on.”

Jared is closeted. Sam is straight. They find a connection in each other that they’ve never had before, but where do they go from there?