In the Best Interests of the Children

In the Best Interests of the Children 💖, dir. Frances Reid, Elizabeth Stevens, & Cathy Zheutlin, 1977, USA, 53 min. (newly restored)
Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 4:00 pm, Vogue Theatre
(screens with Lesbian Custody in the in-person screening only)
also available in the Digital Screening Room

In the Best Interests of the Children

The Meatrack (1970)

The Meatrack 🫤, dir. Mike Thomas, 1970, USA, 65 min.
Thursday, June 26, 2025, 3:30 pm, Vogue Theatre
🌐 World premiere of the 4K restoration
⚠️ content advisory: homophobia, frontal nudity, graphic sex scenes 🔞

The Meatrack (1970)

Queer Quickies (2025 erotic shorts)

“Queer Quickies” (2025 erotic shorts program)
Monday, June 23, 10:00pm, Roxie Theater
⚠️🔞 content advisory: sexually explicit content

Frameline description: Check your inhibitions at the door (and throw your hang-ups out as well) for this collection of erotic shorts from the past, present, and future that are playful, surprising, and explicit.

• The angel 👎, dir. Dorian Wood, 2023, USA, 18 min.
• Fist 👎, dir. Romy Alizée, 2021, France, 3 min., no dialogue
• O Faz-Tudo (The Handyman) ❓, dir. Fábio Leal, 2025, Brazil, 5 min., in Portuguese, 🌎 North American premiere [not reviewed]
• Mouse Klub Konfidential 👍, dir. James Robert Baker, 1976, USA, 15 min., 🌐 World premiere of the newly restored film
• A Night in the Life 😑, dir. Jonzu, 2025, USA, 6 min.
• Orgy Every Other Day, dir. Samuel Döring, 2024, Germany/USA, 13 min. 👍
  (also screens in the “Wild Combination Streaming Shorts” program in the Digital Screening Room)
• Romy et Laure… et le mystère du plug enchanté (Romy & Laure… and the Mystery of the Enchanted Plug) 🙄, dir. Romy Alizée & Laure Giappiconi, 2020, France, 12 min., in French
• The Wash 🥱, dir. Mike Feswick, 2025, USA, 14 min.

Chocolate Babies (1996)

Chocolate Babies, dir. Stephen Winter, 1996, USA, 83 min. 👎

Monday, June 19, 1:00 pm, Castro + streaming encore

🌐 World première (of the 4K restoration)

Chocolate Babies (1996)

Frameline, in connection with the National Film Preser­va­tion Foundation, the UCLA Film & Television Archive, and the Outfest Legacy Project, commissioned a 4K digital resto­ra­tion of the 1996 film Chocolate Babies, with its world premiere big-screen presentation at Frameline47.

A small group of self-described queer terrorists in New York City fight against government apathy towards AIDS, combin­ing direct action calculated for shock value with schemes, including a plan to kidnap a local politician to get their hands on a list the city is supposedly compiling of everyone in the tri-state area who has HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, the group members also fight a lot, almost incessantly, among themselves, and there is about three hours of dialogue, since there is seldom only one person speaking. Each character is so involved in asserting their own power and voice that they don’t have time to listen to the others in the group, let alone anyone outside.

Chocolate Babies is an important time capsule from the mid-1990s, a testament to unapologetic Queer Black power in the face of the AIDS crisis (even after Reagan and Bush I were replaced by Clinton). As such, it is a must see for historians, but I can’t really recommend it for general audiences. The bickering is tremendously off-putting, making it difficult to hear any of the characters or see them as anything more than foils for each other’s arguments. If you’re going to see it, though, definitely see it in the new 4K restoration.

Content advisory: there is a scene of graphic gun violence.

• IMDb page • trailer • Frameline Distribution •

Restorations & Revivals: The Ace of Swords

“Restorations & Revivals: The Ace of Swords”

Wednesday, June 14, 5:00 pm, Castro + streaming encore

Before the official opening night film, Frameline presented two recently restored films.

Audre Lorde: Greetings
from Washington, D.C.

Greetings from Washington, D.C., dir. Lucy Winer, 1989, USA, 28 min. 👏

chronicles the first National March on Washington for Lesbian & Gay Rights on Sunday, October 14, 1979. It’s a well-made documentary, beautifully restored. This time capsule of the early days of national organizing for LGBTQ+ rights is well worth preserving and well worth seeing. Highly recommended.

• IMDb • trailer •

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Resonance (1991)

Resonance, dir. Stephen Cummins, 1991, Australia, 11 min. 👍

A gay man gets bashed in the back streets of Sydney, but a good samaritan comes to his rescue. The two men, plus the basher and his girlfriend, interplay dance (including choreographed fight scenes) and gesture as they come to grips with what happened. Recommended, with a content warning. This film has been available through Frameline Distribution for some time, but has now been restored to look like new.

• IMDb • Frameline Distribution • trailer •