Weekend fests and events.

"In movie years great and mediocre, one thing remains true and fine about Outfest, the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, which turns 24 this week: It's an event that queer people make for themselves." Chuck Wilson introduces the LA Weekly's critics' picks. More from Kevin Thomas in the Los Angeles Times and Paul Birchall in the LA CityBeat.

In the Voice, Dennis Lim recommends Another Wave: Global Queer Cinema, Part One to New Yorkers. Through July 21. More from Steve Erickson at Gay City News: "The series is particularly strong on Asian films, including Tropical Malady, Stanley Kwan's Lan Yu and Malaysian director Amir Muhammad's excellent short Pangyau."

AS Hamrah in the Boston Phoenix: "Moviegoers seeking release from the increasingly unavoidable escapism of superhero movies will find much to enjoy in the 11th Boston French Film Festival, which runs at the Museum of Fine Arts through July 23." More from Justine Elias in the Boston Globe.

For goings on in the San Francisco Bay Area, do check in with Brian Darr, and then, Dennis Harvey at SF360: "It's difficult to think of a film more immediately dissed and subsequently beloved than Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, whose deluxe DVD release is getting celebrated with a revival screening and live cast reunion at Peaches Christ's Midnight Mass series this weekend."

"The annual film orgy that is Karlovy Vary is one of the oldest and most respected festivals in Europe. And after a period when the festival looked to be doomed, it has bounced back to become one of the main addresses for cineastes." Steffen Silvis offers an overview in the Prague Post. More from Boyd van Hoeij at Cineuropa on Volando voy (My Quick Way Out) and Winterreise (Winter Journey) and lots more at european-films.net.

Matthew Clayfield: "I have a feeling I'll be seeing a lot of labours of love and ways of life on the screen over the next two weeks, as I endeavour to give [the Melbourne Underground Film Festival, through July 16] the attention it deserves."

Jed Perl for the New Republic on On Photography: A Tribute to Susan Sontag: "Sontag got at a truth that many people did not really want to admit, which was that their ardor for photographs eluded - shattered - all the old aesthetic categories."

At indieWIRE, Brian Brooks previews Scanners: The New York Video Festival (July 26 through 30).

"Fans of avant-garde film have cause to rejoice this month, as a long-overdue Peter Whitehead retrospective arrives at the Alamo Drafthouse Downtown," announces Josh Rosenblatt in the Austin Chronicle. Also, Toddy Burton reports on how Austinites fared at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Cinematical's Jette Kernion has more Austin area events.

The site for the NY Asian American International Film Festival (July 13 through 21 in Manhattan and August 3 through 6 on Long Island) is alive and kicking.

Michael Moore sends out an invitation to the Traverse City Film Festival (July 31 through August 6).

All the King's Men will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (September 7 through 16).

Online viewing tip. The trailer for the Raindance Film Festival (September 27 through October 8).

Posted by dwhudson at July 8, 2006 6:17 AM