24th Belgian Gay & Lesbian Festival

Les sponsors du 24e FESTIVAL GAY ET LESBIEN DE BELGIQUE

10 days, 10 towns

Tels Quels presents the 24th Gay and Lesbian Festival, due to take place from the 28th January till the 6th February 2010. The Festival is on the patronage of: Marthe Alphonsine Djilo Kamga, author of recognized works on female homosexuality in Cameroon and initiator of two cinematographic projects on this theme, and Charles Gueboguo, author of several books on homosexuality and AIDS in Africa, principally in Cameroon...

A lot of news for this year's edition:

Three new places:

The Festival is coming to Brussels in 3 new venues:

At the cinema Le Vendôme (Porte de Namur), for all things cinema;
At the Palace (Boulevard Anspach), from the 3rd February, for 3 shows, the European Gala and the Closing Party.
On the 30th January, at the Smouss Café (112 Rue Marché au Charbon), for a "Special Thé Dansant" (Tea-dance) as Opening Party.

In 10 towns?

With the help of new partners, the Festival will be present in 10 towns this year: not only in Brussels, but also in Anderlecht, Anvers, Charleroi, Liège, Mons, Namur, Tournai and Verviers. There will be cultural event in each town with films, exhibitions, discussions, and much more.

Our thanks go to the Cultural Centers of Andenne and Anderlecht; to "Les Grignoux" in Liège; the Plaza Art in Mons; the Cameo of Namur; the Cartoon's in Anvers; as well to the Laical Houses of Tournai and Charleroi, and to "Défi Vesdre" for lending us the "Equality of chance House" in Verviers.

A wonderful program

We are lucky that 2010 is a good year for films; about 50 of them are very interesting. They come from all over the world: Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, the USA, France, Spain, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Argentine, Israel (with the support of the Israeli Embassy), Mexico, Hong-Kong, Great Britain, and beyond.

These will constitute a panel of pictures about homosexuality and trans-identities in the lives of everybody.

Three shows

Three shows will be playing in the Palace.

"Comme ils disent" ("As they say"), from and with Pascal Rocher and Christophe Dauphin who come to Brussels, after 400 shows in Paris. Their comedy narrates the couple's discussions of two gays, Phil and David, who present us their visions of life, sometimes the same, sometimes different... A real humoristic moment!
Wednesday 3rd February at 8 pm.
"Le Plongeoir" ("The Diving Board") by Patrick Lowie. This Belgian and Brazilian play presents the hesitations of 4 men before a diving board… a real one or the metaphorical diving board of life?
Thursday 4th and Friday 5th February at 8 pm, on Friday, the play will be followed by a Brazilian Party with the actors.
"Mmmmmmh Libido!" (no translation required) of Anne Calife with Rachel Logel. This Parisian play is very bodily and offers ladies a rediscovery of the senses by some very sensitive readings… This show is free but reservation is required..
Friday 4th February 5-7pm every half hour.

Exhibitions

Some exhibitions punctuate the different places of the Festival, in Brussels and other towns: paintings, photos… there too, we will present diversity in its manifold expressions.

Events, shows, evenings...

The program proposes several discussions about the questions faced by our communities: gay and lesbian rights, trans-identity in Belgium, homosexuality and religion… There will be meetings with artists, writers, film-makers, group shows... a very full program!

3 parties: The Opening Party with Michel Chauvaux and his "Dancing Tea" at the Smouss café, on Saturday 30th January. The European Gala, with the European Parliament's Intergroup on LGBT Rights, ILGA, and the LGBT Coordination of Amnesty International.
At the Palace, Wednesday 3rd February. And the Closing Party at the Palace, on Saturday 6th February with DJ Walibi.

A new cultural proposal

The Festival will be an opportunity to initiate new partnerships between all the cultural French-speaker LGBT actors, and create the "Réseau francophone des Acteurs culturels gays et lesbiens" among French-speaker LGBT Festivals, writers, film -makers… in Europe and other parts of the world, such as Africa, to come back to our parents of this year.

Michel Duponcelle

Director, Permanent Education Centre