SYNOPSIS:

A FILM JOURNEY THROUGH A UNIVERSE OF FEMALE MASCULINITY AND TRANSIDENTITY. Women become men- some for a night, others for their whole lives. Masculinity and transformation as performance, subversion and existential necessity. An intimate film about people who create intermediate sexual identities.

FESTIVALS AND THEATRICAL RELEASES / DVD

National World Premiere IFF Locarno, International Premier Berlinale 2002/ Panorama,
over 50 international Filmfestivals, among others:
Singapore IFF 2002, Karlovy Vary IFF 2002, Los Angeles Outfest IFF 2002, Moscow IFF 2002, Rio De Janeiro IFF 2002, Mostra De Sao Paulo IFF 2002, Chicago IFF 2002,Taipei Golden Horse IFF 2002, Haifa IFF 2002, Warsaw IFF 2002, Sydney Mardi Gras 2003, Seoul WFFIS 2003.

Theatrical Release in 8 European countries and in USA (New York, Los Angeles, around 20 more towns). International DVD Releases and TV-Sales.

World Sale Celluloid Dreams
Distribution USA / Canada First Run Features http://firstrunfeatures.com/venusboyz.html

REVIEWS:

“A BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED EXPLORATION OF THE WORLD OF DRAG KINGS!” – Variety

“INTIMATE!” – New York Times

“ILLUMINATING!” – Los Angeles Times

“MESMERIZING!” – Time Out New York

“POWERFUL AND PROVOCATIVE!” – Planet Out

“A FEAST FOR THE EYES!” – Outfest, Los Angeles

“A MILESTONE!” – Outfest, Pink Apple

“Venus Boyz” scores as an utterly fascinating, beautifully crafted exploration of the world of drag kings — women who dress, perform and/or live as men. Gabriel Baur’s quietly resplendent docu is as carefully composed and structured as the manufactured masculine personae of the women she’s filming. Shot over a period of several years, pic profits greatly from a relaxed intimacy with its subjects who, being people that matter-of-factly flaunt a sexual duality, spend a lot of time discoursing on the nature of gender, performance, empowerment and social role-playing. Winner of the Best Film award at the Semaine de la Critique at Locarno, pic’s arthouse future seems assured, while its radically different, sometimes astonishing sexual content promises a healthy cable and video life.
Variety, Ronnie Scheib

“Mesmerizing! VENUS BOYZ challenges just about everything you always thought you knew about what it means to be a boy or a girl.”
Time Out New York, Beth Greenfield

Intriguing interviews, along with commentary from Judith Halberstam, author of the book Female Masculinity, are interspersed with fabulously entertaining and provocative performances. From NY to London to Berlin, kings transform lustfully into their male alter egos, creating characters that parody male sexuality and power. This remarkable documentary is a feast for the eyes with its striking cinematography, vibrant performances and hot drag kings!”
Outfest, Los Angeles

“It took Gabriel Baur five years to make “Venus Boyz”, her doc about the drag king movement. But it was worth the wait….. Many of the women portrayed in “Venus Boyz” say that performing as men permanently changed their lives. Watching the film may provide a similar experience.”
DOX, Marcy Goldberg

MORE at www.venusboyz.info   

D/CH/USA A ONIX Filmproduction in Co-produktion with Clock Wise Productions New York, WDR Köln, Teleclub Zürich. Supported by Stadt und Kanton Zürich, Migros Kulturprozent – visual arts, Kulturstiftung Landis&Gyr, European Media Development Agency

AWARDS

Semaine de la Critique Locarno 2001 – Best Film
International Filmfestival Berlin 2002 –Panorama Nomination Swiss Film Award 2002
Audience Award – Mostra Lambda Barcelona 2003
Audience Award – Copenhagen Gay&Lesbian Filmfestival 2002

DVD ORDER CANADA USA
http://firstrunfeatures.com/venusboyz.html