Jewish Film Fest

The 32^nd San Francisco Jewish Film Festival opens Thursday 19 July 2012. The screenings will take place at seven Bay Area venues in San Francisco, Berkeley, Palo Alto, San Rafael, and Oakland.

Festival films include: Gypsy Davy directed by Rachael Leah Jones (Israel, France) 2011, Life In Stills directed by Tamar Tal (Israel) 2011, The Day I Saw Your Heart directed by Jennifer Devoidère (France) 2011, and The Other Son directed by Lorraine Lévy (France) 2011.

For more information and tickets contact SFJFF.

copyright © 2012 by N. A. Diaman, all rights reserved

For Ahmet Yildiz

Zenne Dancer directed by Caner Alper and Mehmet Binay (Turkey) 2011 is based on a tragic true story.

Can evades military service by hiding at his aunt’s apartment in Istanbul, performing as a male belly dancer and barely eking a living as a fortuneteller.

Ahmet is a university student under surveillance by his tormented mother who is obsessed with cleaning.

Daniel is a German photographer attempting to escape his troubled past.

The three men become friends, helping each other to achieve their full potential. But the stakes are high and the consequences serious.

The film screens Saturday afternoon 23 June 2012 at the Victoria Theater during Frameline 36. Tickets and information available at Frameline.

copyright © 2012 by N. A. Diaman, all rights reserved

Hot Kebab

Mixed Kebab directed by Guy Lee Thys (Belgium/Turkey) 2012 is a fast-paced drama set in Antwerp. Bram, a handsome, young, gay Belgium man of Turkish descent faces numerous challenges in his pursuit of a love relationship with Kevin. His young brother Furkan, however, is becoming a thug.

Traditional family expectations clash with modern mores. Many of the issues currently dividing Europeans play out in the course of the narrative. Despite the obstacles faced, the future remains hopeful.

It screens Thursday night 14 June 2012 at the Castro Theatre during Frameline 36. Tickets and information available at Frameline.

copyright © 2012 by N. A. Diaman, all rights reserved

Frameline 36

The San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival runs from 14 – 24 June 2012 at the Castro Theatre, Roxie Theater, and Victoria Theatre in San Francisco as well as the Rialto Cinemas Elmwood in Berkeley. It is the oldest running LGBT film festival in the world.

One of the eight showcase films this year is Bye Bye Blondie directed by Virgina Despentes  (France) 2011. World features include: Let My People Go (France) 2011, Mixed Kebab (Turkey) 2012, Unforgivable (France) 2011, and Zenne Dancer (Turkey) 2012. Also a documentary, The Invisible Men (Israel) 2012.

More information is available at Frameline.

copyright © 2012 by N. A. Diaman, all rights reserved

Guitar Virtuoso

Mediterraneo by Milos Karadaglic, Deutsche Grammophon, 2011 is a beautifully, haunting, debut album by a young Montenegrin, virtuoso guitarist. It includes compositions by Albeniz, Tarrega, Domeniconi, and Theodorakis. Quiet and contemplative works. Fiery passages. Romantic reveries.

It was the top-selling album in Europe last year. The musical pieces carefully chosen by the performer to delight his audience. All but one is a solo performance. Though even when Milos plays along with the English Chamber Orchestra the magic persists and the listener is further transported on a pleasurable musical journey.

copyright © 2012 by N. A. Diaman, all rights reserved