PONYBOI

THE ASTRONAUT LOVERS

From Three Dollar Bill Cinema 

Three Dollar Bill Cinema is proud to announce the full lineup of film screenings and special events for the 29th Seattle Queer Film Festival (SQFF), taking place October 10-13 at venues on Capitol Hill and in downtown Seattle and virtual screenings October 14-20. The diverse slate of queer cinema hails from 26 countries across the globe and includes narrative features, documentaries, and short films totaling 46 programs comprised of 101 films.

In-person screenings occur at SIFF Cinema Egyptian and in three theaters concurrently at AMC Pacific Place, and most virtual screenings are available in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. Tickets and passes are on sale now.

The 2024 festival theme is Q-thartic. “In a time when marginalized communities are still fighting for visibility and justice, it’s vital that we uplift queer voices through the transformative power of film,” said Trent Farrington, festival director. “Our theme, Q-thartic, centers on the emotional release that cinema can provide, offering a much-needed space for healing, validation, and connection. Through stories that celebrate intersectionality, we hope to spark empathy, foster inclusivity, and embrace the complexities of queer life in all its forms.”

The Seattle Queer Film Festival will open on Thursday, October 10, at Capitol Hill’s SIFF Cinema Egyptian with PONYBOI. Produced and written by and starring River Gallo (2023 OUT 100 list, winner of GLAAD Rising Star Media Award,) PONYBOI takes place in New Jersey over Valentine’s Day. A young intersex sex worker, Ponyboi (River Gallo,) must run from the mob after a drug deal goes sideways. With the help of Bruce, a mysterious cowboy played by Murray Bartlett), Ponyboi journeys through the underbelly of New Jersey on a quest for freedom in a gripping 24 hours. Nominated for the 2024 Sundance Dramatic Grand Jury Prize, PONYBOI also stars Dylan O’Brien (star of “The Maze Runner” trilogy and the long-running TV series “Teen Wolf”), Victoria Pedretti (“Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood” and “You”), and Indya Moore (“Pose”). The film will screen at SIFF Cinema Egyptian at 7:00 PM, followed by an Opening Night party at Stoup Brewing.

Gondola

“We’re beyond thrilled to open the festival with PONYBOI,” said Farrington. “This film isn’t just a feature—it’s an evolution. Back in 2019, it captivated our audience as a short film and won an Audience Award that year. Now, we are honored to present the full-length version. PONYBOI is raw, tender, and absolutely in tune with our Q-thartic theme, blending personal struggle with emotional release in a way that will resonate deeply with our audience.”

The festival’s Closing Night film, GONDOLA, is directed by Veit Helmer (TUVALU). Known for his unique no-dialogue style, Helmer depicts the burgeoning love story between Iva and Nino with equal parts whimsy and fantasy. The two women work up in the sky on chauffeuring gondolas (cable cars) that travel between villages in the picturesque Caucasus mountains of Georgia. The flirtatious courtship begins with a chessboard, grows with a pomegranate toss from one gondola to the other, but is soon threatened by the women’s spiteful boss. Refusing to let their love be grounded, Iva and Nino find a way to turn the tables and exact a delicious revenge.

The Festival Centerpiece, ASOG, is a queer odyssey with a stormy twist, starring Jaya, a sharp-tongued, non-binary comedian whose shot at fame was washed away by a typhoon that left their TV career in ruins. A decade later, stuck in the drag of an uninspiring teaching gig, Jaya embarks on a glitter-filled journey across the Philippines, aiming to slay in a drag pageant that could finally bring them the fortune and fame they deserve. But the universe throws them a curveball in the form of a former student, also on a mission—to find their missing dad. Co-executive produced by Alan Cumming, Joel Kim Booster, and Adam McKay, ASOG won the Audience Award at the Vancouver International Film Festival and the Grand Jury Award at the Hawai’i International Film Festival.

The Festival’s Spotlight Feature, THE ASTRONAUT LOVERS, is the tenth feature film from award-winning Argentinian director Marco Berger. The breezy comedy follows Pedro’s (Javier Orán) return to Argentina as he reunites with his childhood friend, Maxi (Lautaro Bettoni). Openly gay, Pedro is amused by Maxi’s curiosity about “gay shit” and his playful “straight dude” flirtations. Still, the situation escalates when Maxi makes his ex-girlfriend jealous by saying Pedro is his boyfriend.

For filmgoers who want to usher in October’s spooky season, SQFF has a series of film programs for this time of year. From thrillers to creepy cinema to campy horror, this festival thread includes the psychological thriller UNDER THE INFLUENCER, MOTHER FATHER SISTER BROTHER FRANK starring Enrico Colantoni (“Veronica Mars”) and Mindy Cohn (“Palm Royale” & “The Facts of Life”), HAZE about a series of unsolved deaths at an abandoned psychiatric center, and the shorts programs FRIGHT NIGHT and AFTER DARK SPECIAL.

Additional highlights screening at the festival include HIGH TIDE starring Marco Pigossi (“Gen V”) as an undocumented Brazilian immigrant who searches for purpose in the queer mecca of Provincetown, MA. Also starring Emmy-nominated James Bland (“Giants”), Oscar-winner Marisa Tomei (“My Cousin Vinny”), Tony-winner Bill Irwin (“Rachel Getting Married”), and Independent Spirit-winner Mya Taylor (“Tangerine”) and LESVIA, winner of the 2024 Best Debut Greek Film at the Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival which chronicles four decades in a small farming village on the island of Lesbos, where lesbian women from around the world have been gathering since the late 70s.

Screening venues include SIFF Cinema Egyptian and AMC Pacific Place. Hybrid passes, which include access to all film festival programs (in-person & virtual), are $200, and virtual-only passes are $125. Discounts on tickets and passes are available for Three Dollar Bill Cinema members. Single tickets range in price from $15-$30. Mix and match (virtual and in-person screenings) six-ticket packs are available for $80.

“Q-thartic experiences are the desired call from our community at large,” said Telved Devlet, Board Chair of Three Dollar Bill Cinema. “This year we are especially grateful for the investments that our members, donors, funders, and sponsors have made to keep queer cinema alive in Seattle. In our 29th year, queer stories on screen are needed now more than ever.  We know there is a political cloud adding pressure to our lives. Thankfully, our community is grounded in artists and storytellers who can help us embrace our flaws, relish new opportunities to learn, laugh at our absurdity, and celebrate the joys and love that surround us. Bring your family and friends to witness Queer Film is Q-thartic at SQFF 2024!”

Three Dollar Bill Cinema would like to thank Gilead, BECU, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, The Stranger, W Seattle, and Seattle Pride for their support of the 29th Seattle Queer Film Festival.

For the film lineup, festival schedule, film descriptions, tickets, passes, and more, visit threedollarbillcinema.org/sqff-2024

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