The Mezipatra Queer Film Festival took place from November 7 to 14 in Prague (the Czech Republic/Czechia) and gave out awards for the best feature film and the best short film at its closing ceremony.
Mezipatra Queer Film Festival is a prestigious program in the Central Eastern European region and this year is the very first time qLit (Lesbian Magazine and Programme Organiser Association) could join the events. The festival is organized by non-profit organizations Mezipatra and STUD Brno. Czech and foreign films centred around LGBTQ+ issues, and their creators are introduced every year to the festival’s audience. Moreover, as an inherent part of the program, discussions, lectures, workshops, exhibitions, and parties accompany the film screenings. Mezipatra’s mission is to help to understand one’s own identity and the meanings related to the word “queer”. Thus, this year’s theme, Queer Liberates, featured a variety of people who break the boxes and stereotypes of a binary worldview.
The 25th edition of the festival showcased 25 feature films and 48 short films. The main jury award (given by Ukrainian actress Oksana Cherkashyna, film scholar Nicole Kandioler-Biet, and director Julius Shevchik) went to the Canadian feature film Solo. The student jury (Petr Doubravský, Tobiáš Frýdl, and Veronika Svozílková) awarded the French short film Coffee Grapefruit Cacao (Café Pamplemousse Cacao).
Best Feature Film Award: Solo
In her latest drama, Sophie Dupuis brings together the crème de la crème of contemporary queer cinema. The emotionally charged story of Simon (played by Théodore Pellerin), who performs as a drag queen at a local club, offers an authentic insight into artistic creation and interpersonal relationships, be they familial or amorous. The film is a compellingly complex look at the yearning for love and attention – whether it comes from a partner, family, or an audience. In the words of the jury, it also successfully reflects ‘the themes of integration into society or the collective, as well as the awareness that one does not quite fit in’.
In their final statement, the jury said: ‘Solo captivated us with its spectacular cinematic images, complex characters and immersive narrative that took us on a journey with the protagonist from perfect happiness to despair. We would like to highlight in particular the extraordinary performance of Théodore Pellerin, whose raw innocence and intensity of feeling made us empathise with all the struggles, failures and victories’.
Best Short Film Award: Coffee Grapefruit Cacao (Café Pamplemousse Cacao)
The student jury awarded the prize to Coffee Grapefruit Cacao (Café Pamplemousse Cacao), praising the German director, Dominique Preusse’s film for ‘depicting intimacy as it can be’.
Samuel accepts an invitation from friends to visit their home. But it’s not just any visit – Samuel used to form a couple with Laetitia who is now trying to get pregnant with her new partner, Gaëlle. An evening laced with anxious uncertainty, humour, and the potential to destroy or save each of the relationships: a happy ending has to be earned by all three.
Special recognition and solidarity with Slovakia
The student jury also decided to award a special mention, which is unusual this time: it was not given to one particular film. The jury dedicated it to ‘all queer people whose cultural work transcends the boundaries of economic, political and cultural unfreedom and defines the limits of free spaces’. They also wanted to ‘draw attention to the systematic destruction and restriction of culture in neighbouring Slovakia and to express solidarity with Slovak society’. (On our contribution to community building and lesbian visibility in Hungary, make sure to check our events and look for further writings on our website.)
On Friday 15 November the festival moved to Brno (CZ), where the winners of the audience award – the last of the three winning films – will be announced on 22 November. qLit congratulates both awarded and non-awarded films, the festival organisers, the community, and the audience!
Whether you could not catch Mezipatra QFF or are just not ready to let the festival vibes go, look no further: organised by the 25-year-old Labris Lesbian Association (Labrisz Leszbikus Egyesület), LIFT Festival of Lesbian Identities kicks off on 22 November for the 15th time.
Pictures: MQFF
