Pride Films and Plays' Stages 8 Lesbian Shorts at LezPlay Film Festival

Pride Films and Plays announces eight short films from four different countries receiving their Chicago premieres during LezPlay Film Festival at the Public House Theatre on February 22.
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Pride Films and Plays' LezPlay Film Festival includes a couple's existential barrage of delusion, a teenage girl's search for courage in revealing her double life, a student-teacher bond through secret love, an older woman's exploration of her past, the loss of balance in the dynamic of two, a conversation about Clitoris & Clitoris Awareness, the ups and downs of a young Lesbian relationship and the search for the perfect dance partner. �
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The screening commences at 7:30 p.m., is approximately 90 minutes and will be followed by a brief talkback. The Public House Theater bar will be open beginning at 7 p.m. Please come early and have a drink with us!
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Warning: some of the short films contain adult themes, language, and brief nudity. You are going to love them!

Tickets for the complete evening of programs are $10.

For tickets or information, call 800-737-0984 or visit www.pridefilmsandplays.com

LezPlay Film Festival Selections:

"Our Place"
Director: Al Benoit; Writers: Kelsey Cornell & Al Benoit US, 18 minutes 56 seconds)
A young lesbian couple takes on the ups and downs of living in Indiana and their question of marriage challenges their relationship.
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"A Kiss From Your Lips"
Writer/Director: Allison Tate (US, 3 minutes 30 seconds)
A young woman searches for her perfect dance partner.
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"Clitorissma"
Writer/Director: Giovanna Carla Gia Balestra (Denmark, 13 minutes 40 seconds)
The first mother/daughter conversation about Clitoris & Clitoris Awareness told through women stories & animated art.
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"Deux"
Writer/Director: Lauren Brim and Jethro Massey (US, 10 minutes 55 seconds)
Three couples show the intense desire to connect, the loss of balance in the dynamic of two, and the journey of the individual in relationship.
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"Hallway"
Writer/Director: Leah Shore (US, 4 minutes 6 seconds)
Shot exclusively in a secret sex club in New York City, a drug-induced couple unleash upon each other an existential barrage of delusion and broken dreams.
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"Betty"
Writer/Director: Kristiina Kello (UK, 8 minutes 44 seconds)
An elderly woman lives alone with her plants and memories. One day, a newspaper advertisement catches her eye which invites her to explore her past.
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"Late Expectations"
Director: Laurie Arakaki; Writer: Thais Francis (US, 11 minutes 27 seconds)
India is a model student, good daughter, fun best friend and loving girlfriend. Internally, she is tormented, and hides a secret that threatens to end her most important relationships.
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"The Ant and The Cricket"
Writer/Director: Julia Ritchel (Germany, 15 minutes 8 seconds)
18-year old student Lena and her French teacher bond through a secret love, which is brought to
an end when Katharina goes back to her old ways.

LezPlay Film Festival is Pride Films and Plays' first of a variety of Lesbian themed events in the 2016 season. With the now annual event of Lezfest: A One Night Fling, held at Mary's Attic to sold out audiences in July and December, a weekend of staged readings of new works written by women with Lesbian characters and themes in September and finally the premiere of a new Lesbian play entitled Resolution in October, this film festival is just the beginning!
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LezPlay is a subdivision of Pride Films and Plays dedicated to representing queer women and celebrating lesbian themes in plays, screenplays, music and performance art. Our overall mission is to present and develop human stories with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender characters or themes that speak for the community and are essential viewing for all audiences.
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The mission of Pride Films and Plays is to change lives through the generation of diverse new work (or work that is new to Chicago) with LGBTQ+ characters or themes that is essential viewing for all audiences. We accomplish this mission through fully-staged productions, writing contests and staged readings, film screenings, and special events. We foster long term relationships with artists to create programming that is as diverse, unique, and complex as the community we represent. In 2015, Huffington Post called PFP�"A powerful and empowering entity."
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PFP's current season begins with three Chicago premieres with Ten Dollar House (January 7 to 31) at the Piccolo Theater in Evanston, Raggedy And (March 10 to April 10) and Resolution (October 10 to November 10) both at the Rivendell Theatre. In addition, our script and screenplay development programs continue throughout the year at Center on Halsted, including Gay Play Weekend (May 2016), LezPlay (September 2016) featuring plays and screenplays written by women with lesbian characters or themes.
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Pride Films and Plays is supported by The MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at The Richard Driehaus Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council, City of Chicago's City Arts Fund, the Elliott Fredland Charitable Trust, Proud to Run, and the AmazonSmile Foundation. PFP is a member of the Smart Growth Program of the Chicago Community Trust. Pride Films and Plays is a member of the Chicago Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, The League of Chicago Theaters, and the Central Lakeview Merchants Association.