In Celebration of Wicked Queer's 35 years we are revisiting films that made an impact on our culture and continue to resonate. Ripploh's brutally honest portrayal of a gay schoolteacher and the contrasts between his public and private lives was startling for its time (Ripploh has admitted that much of the film was autobiographical). On its release in 1980 the film was siezed by US Customs and deemed "pornographic." With its frank depiction of sexuality, the film is a loving document of pre-AIDS gay culture in West Berlin in the early 1980s and a touching comedy about the human desire for and struggle to achieve intimacy. "The triumph of "Taxi zum Klo" is that, in the midst of its portrait of isolation, Frank Ripploh himself emerges as a cheerful, open man, willing to reveal his weakness, willing to hope that things will take a turn for the better. The movie is about a person, not about his sex life. It understands that all of our identities and lifestyles are just hopeful strategies in the search for a sense of belonging, usefulness and love." www.rogerebert.com Warning! This film contains explicit images of nudity and/or strong language. Viewer discretion is advised. (Seriously though, it’s art - relax.)

Marlon Riggs, with assistance from other gay Black men, especially poet Essex Hemphill, celebrates Black men loving Black men as a revolutionary act. The film intercuts footage of Hemphill reciting his poetry, Riggs telling the story of his growing up, scenes of men in social intercourse and dance, and various comic riffs, including a visit to the "Institute of Snap!thology," where men take lessons in how to snap their fingers: the sling snap, the point snap, the diva snap.

Happiness, revenge, love, and intimacy, in my opinion, are defining characteristics in the Latinx culture and they are some of the themes that reflect the short films chosen for this year's program. Expect to go through a wild ride with turns that'll take you to the edge of your seat. Você está pronto?