Mezipatra

Mezipatra is a Czech queer film festival screening films with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender themes. The name Mezipatra translates as "mezzanine" and refers to the festival's mission: creating space for meeting of people regardless of their gender or sexual identities. Each edition explores a chosen theme and hosts a variety of international guests. The accompanying events range from lectures and debates to art openings, theatre performances as well as exciting parties. It takes place annually in November in Prague and Brno with related events in Ostrava, Olomouc and other cities in Czech Republic.^[1] Throughout the year Mezipatra offers additional screenings within the Mezipatra Approved edition. Mezipatra also participates in Prague Pride festival by organizing screenings and debates with LGBT themes.

History

The festival was founded in Brno in 2000 as an accompanying program of the Gay Men CZ competition. The following year was already organized as a separate event – a film show called Duha nad Brnem (Rainbow over Brno). In 2002 the festival started using the name Mezipatra with the subtitle czech gay and lesbian film festival. In the same year, the festival expanded to Prague and in subsequent years to other cities of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Since 2009, the festival has used the new subtitle queer film festival. Mezipatra was founded by a civic association called STUD Brno. Since 2013 it is organized by a registered association Mezipatra, STUD is a co-organizer under the license agreement.

Winners

As of the 4th edition, Mezipatra introduced jury awards. The winners have been:

Main Jury Award for Best Feature Film

2021: Jumbo, Zoé Wittock, France/Belgium/Luxembourg
2020: No Hard Feelings, Faraz Shariat, Germany
2019: Adam, Rhys Ernst, USA^[2]
2018: We The Animals, Jeremiah Zagar, USA
2017: Beach Rats, Eliza Hittman, USA
2016: The Ornithologist (O Ornitólogo), João Pedro Rodrigues, Portugal/France/Brazil^[3]
2015: Sworn Virgin (2015 film) (Vergine giurat), Laura Bispuri, Italy/Switzerland/Germany/Albania
2014: Something Must Break (Nånting måste gå sönder), Ester Martin Bergsmark, Sweden
2013: Rosie (Rosie), Marcel Gisler, Germany
2012: Keep the Lights On, Ira Sachs, United States^[4]
2011: Trigger, Bruce McDonald, Canada
2010: 80 Days (80 Egunean), Jon Garaño & José Mari Goenaga, Spain
2009: Morrer como um homem, João Pedro Rodrigues, France/Portugal
2008: My Friend from Faro (Mein Freund aus Faro), Nana Neul, Germany
2007: Les Témoins, André Téchiné, France
2006: Whole New Thing, Amnon Buchbinder, Canada
2005: Cachorro, Miguel Albaladejo, Spain
2004: Do I Love You?, Lisa Gornick, UK
2003: Oi! Warning, Benjamin & Dominik Reding, Germany

Student Jury Award for Best Short Film

2021: Son of Sodom, Thea Montoya, Colombia
2020: Hugo at 6:30pm, Helloco Simon, France
2019: Crash and Burn, Honey, Dawid Ullgren, Sweden
2018: Pre-Drink, Marc-Antoine Lemire, Canada
2017: Tranzicija, Milica Tomović, Serbia
2016: Takk for turen, Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken, Norway^[5]
2015: 9:55–11:00, Ingrid Ekman, Bergsgatan 4B, Cristine Berglund & Sophie Vukovic, Sweden
2014: Vacance, Hyun-Ju Lee, South Korea
2013: Ta av mig, Victor Lindgren, Sweden
2012: Dont brejk maj Turbofolk hart, Miona Bogovic, Serbia/Germany
2011: Two Beds, Kanoko Wynkoop, United States
2010: Tom, Nimrod Shapira, Israel
2009: Haboged, Tomer Velkoff, Israel
2008: Bræðrabylta, Grímur Hákonarson, Iceland
2007: Who's the Top?, Jennie Livingston, USA
2006: Offerte speciali, Gianni Gatti, Italy
2005: Kär i natten, Håkon Liu, Sweden
2004: Thick Lips Thin Lips, Paul Lee, Canada

Audience Award for Best Feature Film

2021: Law of Love, Barbora Chalupová, Czech Republic
2020: Lola, Laurent Micheli, Belgium
2019: And Then We Danced, Levan Akin, Georgia, Sweden, France
2018: The Miseducation of Cameron Post, Desiree Akhavan, USA
2017: God's Own Country, Francis Lee, UK
2016: The Queen of Ireland, Conor Horgan, Ireland
2015: Antonia's Line (Antonia), Marleen Gorris, Netherlands/Belgium/UK
2014: Children 404 (Дети-404), Askold Kurov & Pavel Loparev, Russia
2013: Any Day Now, Travis Fine, USA
2012: Cloudburst, Thom Fitzgerald, Canada^[6]
2011: Weekend, Andrew Haigh, UK
2010: Sasha [de], Dennis Todorović [de], Germany
2009: Patrik 1,5, Ella Lemhagen, Sweden
2008: Breakfast with Scot, Laurie Lynd, Canada
2007: The Bubble (Ha-Buah), Eytan Fox, Israel
2006: Whole New Thing, Amnon Buchbinder, Canada
2005: Supper Man, Albert Vlk, Slovakia
2004: Mambo Italiano, Émile Gaudreault, USA/Canada
2003: Together (Tillsammans), Lukas Moodysson, Sweden/Denmark/Italy
2002: Le fate ignoranti, Ferzan Özpetek, Italy/France
2001: All About My Mother (Todo sombre mi madre), Pedro Almodóvar, Spain/France

References

^ [email protected]. "Mezipatra Queer Film Festival". www.festivalfocus.org. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
^ "Winning films of the 20. Mezipatra: Adam, Crash and Burn, Honey, And Then We Danced". Mezipatra Queer Film Festival. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
^ "We know this year's winners!". Mezipatra Queer Film Festival. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
^ Keep the Lights On wins Mezipatra Archived 2013-02-17 at archive.today, attended 2013-01-05.
^ "We know this year's winners!". Mezipatra Queer Film Festival. Retrieved 2017-05-13.
^ Mezipatra přivítala 10 200 diváků, nejvíc nadchlo Místy oblačno Archived 2013-02-17 at archive.today, attended 2013-01-05.

Vera Sokolova: Representation of Gays and Lesbians in the Mainstream Visual Media (PDF)
Cerise Howard: Turning X in an XXY World: The 10th Mezipatra Queer Film Festival. Senses of Cinema, December 2009.
Jan Richter: One on One: Ales Rumpel, head of the Mezipatra Queer Film Festival. Radio Praha, October 2009.
Mezipatra- Czech GLBT Film Festival. filmfestivalworld.com