Some titles simply stand out when surveying the programme of the 8th Dublin Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. Like A Portion of a Lady (a British documentary on three drag queens, it transpires). Or Excuse Me Duckie, But Lucas Loved Me (an Almodovar-influenced romantic comedy). The latter is one of three Spanish-language movies lined up, along with Second Skin starring Javier Bardem and the Peruvian Don't Tell Anybody.
From France comes Sitcom director Francois Ozon's new movie, Water Drops On Burning Rocks, based on a play written by Rainer Werner Fassbinder when he was 19. Among the US content are the coming-of-age drama Edge of Seventeen, the soapy-sounding The Joys of Smoking, and The Weekend featuring Gena Rowlands, Brooke Shields, Deborah Kara Unger and Jared Harris. Irish interest includes Bill Hughes's long-awaited documentary, The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name and a programme of short films, and classic rep titles include Persona, I've Heard the Mermaids Singing and My Beautiful Laundrette. The festival runs over the bank holiday weekend from August 4th to 7th at the IFC in Dublin.