aGLIFF announced the Queer Spectrum screening for April 2023 will feature Youtopia, the musical comedy from director Scout Durwood, on April 19 at the Galaxy Theatre.

Youtopia combines narrative story with eleven original comedy music videos for a single feature-length film. Durwood will be in attendance for a live post-screening discussion with aGLIFF Artistic Director and Other Worlds’ founder Bears Rebecca Fonté.

Youtopia received an Honorable Mention for North American Narrative Feature at the 2022 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival for Durwood’s “innovative, hilarious, and politically erudite storytelling and exceptional musical numbers”.

The screening is presented in partnership with OtherWorlds Film Festival.

aGLIFF presents Youtopia on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2023 at the Galaxy Theatre at 6700 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, Texas 78752, starting at 7 PM. Open to aGLIFF members and guests for free; individual tickets are $15 each (plus applicable service fees) and are available for purchase now at agliff.org/queer-spectrum.

Sapphic Nation said “Youtopia is a film that is funny and unique, just like its leading lady, Scout Durwood”:

“Underneath the bright colours and comedic tone, the film contains a mix of social commentary and personal expression, most evident in the music, with songs like “Millennial Malaise” and “Existence is Meaningless”. However, you can tell that life is anything but meaningless for Scout. And over the hour, thirty minute runtime we get to explore how she truly feels through the various music videos in the film.”

But Why Tho? says “Scout Durwood is absolutely hilarious in her musical film Youtopia.”:

“The movie’s low-budget look does wonders to play up the campiness of both the concept and the format. The movie is interspersed with quite odd but terribly catchy and satisfying songs, each essentially done as a separate music video outside of but concurrent to the ongoing plot.”

The Stranger calls it “a musical that is as sharp as it is silly, Youtopia is a comedy showcase overflowing with charm.”:

“Youtopia is continually refreshing, with every musical interlude showcasing a different style from the one before it. Best see this one with a crowd if you can.”

aGLIFF announces the Queer Spectrum screening for April 2022 will feature Sweetheart, the debut feature from director Marley Morrison, on April 27 at the Galaxy Theatre.

Marley Morrison’s debut feature Sweetheart charts the relationship between two young women during a summer holiday. Chosen as the 2021 Audience Award winner at the Glasgow Film Festival, “Sweetheart” is a sharply observed coming-of-age story.

17-year-old AJ is not one of life’s shiny, happy people. A family holiday at a caravan park in Dorset is her idea of hell. A moody misfit, she dresses for concealment and lets everyone know that she would rather be anywhere else. Then she spies flirty, free-spirited lifeguard Isla who might just be the girl of her dreams. Can AJ dare to take a first step on the road to happiness?

Presented in partnership with Sandra Hucker Consulting and Life Grows Green Hemp-Derived Products.

aGLIFF presents Sweetheart on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2022 at the Galaxy Theatre at 6700 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin, Texas 78752, starting at 7 PM. Open to aGLIFF members and guests for free; individual tickets are $12 each (plus applicable service fees) and are available for purchase now at agliff.org/queer-spectrum.

The Guardian said “if you thought Ammonite was going to be this year’s only gay love story set in Dorset, think again”:

“The resulting spark is the kind of miracle that maybe really only happens in the movies, but it doesn’t stop this being a good-natured love story, doomed to flower and fade in the space of a single holiday, leaving behind the traditional coming-of-age realisation that friends and family are what’s important right now.

The Irish Times called it “One of the year’s best feature debuts.”:

“Morrison makes use of the bland coastal vistas to create a convincingly enclosed container against which AJ can bash her brains. … There is not a bad performance.”

LeftLion says “this coming of age story is well worth your time”:

“So, while the coming of age subgenre is perhaps overly saturated, Sweetheart manages to bring a new, niche approach to the game. With a sharp and intelligent script excellently delivered by a fantastic cast, this marks an outstanding success story for Morrison – and with his debut feature, no less. Sweeeet.”

On his last day alive, Jimmy will show his estranged brother, salt-of-the earth caretaker, sharp-witted death doula, a novice obituary writer, a cosmic being, and the guests at his FUNeral that sometimes the art of living just may be the art of dying. An exploration of what it means to have a “good death” and inspired by the life stories of 84-year-old lead actor James Carrozo, Moon Manor is the debut feature from female filmmaking duo KnifeRock, and marks the first original score by Coldplay producers The Dream Team.

Moon Manor debuts theatrically and streaming on-demand starting Friday, March 11, 2022.