STEUER FETISCHISTEN

I never go out on the weekends as I can’t stand all the loud and unruly party tourists and bridge&tunnel children from the provinces who come into Berlin to binge drink and turn the S&U-Bahns into vomitoriums.  Because the weather has finally warmed up a bit, Friday night was quite antic as I met up with the Scandinavian Muslim and hisTurkish academic pal JoFlo at HAU 2 to see the debut of Pauline Beaudry’s new music/art project Normal Love.  Passing the WAU Café I noticed the horrible bright lighting in the place and also saw the icky animal posters that won some kind of design award for rotten tomatoes.  The general verdict out on the new programming at HAU from people I’ve talked to is that the dance curation is excellent and inspiring, that the music section is consistent with Christophe Gork remaining in that position from when Mattias Lienthal was in charge, but that the theatre programming is somewhat lacklustre  and safe with a heavy emphasis on theatre groups from The Netherlands which makes since as the new artistic director is Dutch. 

It was exciting to be at an event where there was so much juicy eye candy with a mixed group of young and old with lots of beauties abounding.  I get so sick of going places where there are fugly men who look like doughy overgrown babies.  Not young like a baby but more like an unformed human.  Well getting back to the concert.  The music was fantastic and soaring at times with Ms. Beaudry sharing vocals with a fetching femme-ish young man.  My favorite moments was when they just unabashedly rocked out with joy and passion. I never got a chance to see the band that Pauline was in before called Rhythm King and her Friends, but this new project is quite invigorating.  Seen in the SRO crowd the lovesexxxy Ms. Nanna Heidenreich, super talented DJane’s Bianca Kruk & Olga Damnitz, artist Angela Melitoupolous, Anna Muelter, and sweet post porn scholar Tim Stuettgen, Anne Quirynen & galpal

UGLY MURGATROID

So sad that Annette Funicello died the other day from complications of multiple sclerosis age 70. Annette was a member of the original Mickey Mouse Club from the 1950s at age 12 and starred in its TV serials Annette and Spin& Marty that also featured 50s teen boy beauties Tim Considine who was featured on TV in the 1960s in the sitcom My Three Sons starring Fred McMurray andTommy Kirk who later turned into quite the homo studkin and scandal queen getting caught chowing down in a tea room and having an illicit affair with an underage swimming star, and getting fired by super conservative Walt Disney.

Not only was I a fan of Annette’s Disney films like Babes in Toyland, The Shaggy Dog, The Misadventures of Merlin Jones and The Monkey’s Uncle but I also actually liked her singing style with songs like “Pineapple Princess”, “Tall Paul” and “Jamaica Ska” Her AIP beach party movies are classics,but she was also quite effective in the Bob Rafelson psychedelic film Head 1968 featuring The Monkey’s.

Was back in Berlin for a short spell and was taken to bruncheon at one of my favourite eateries East London-God Save Brit Food by sweet and cuddly David Evans Frantz who is a curator in Los Angeles with the One Institute National Gay & Lesbian Archive. Had a lovely time with David and his hunky young big peniled cub lover. David works at One Institute with my former Afro Sister Clitoris Turner aka: Bud Thomas. I also had tea and was interviewed by gorgeous and talented Bianca Cassady of the band CoCoRosie for her new art magazine Girls Against God. Bianca is in Berlin working on a new collaboration at the Berliner Ensemble with Robert Wilson of Peter Pan. Bianca’s hot French beau Jean Marc who looks like Halle Berry’s boyfriend Olivier Martinez took photos of me in the Cheese Endique Trifecta studio.

With Manuel Schubert I went to Arsenal to see the last of the Cyd Charisse film the Nicolas Ray directed Party Girl from 1958 co-starring a long on the tooth alcoholic looking Robert Taylor. Director Nicolas Ray is famous for not only having been married to Gloria Graham who cheated on him with his 14 year old son who she later married, but during the filming of Rebel Without a Cause Ray fornicated with all of the films leads Natalie Wood, James Dean and Sal Mineo.

Just received this letter from my olde LA pal who just quite his job as an executive with a major insurance company.

Fechesita,

Yes, I moved to a new company. The hustle with the duck had me very non-focused. The high volume of recruiting really flooded and fucked up the brand. The big guys don't see that, but the field can feel it. When my old boss called me and asked me to meet with him, I didn't know he had joined the competition. He explained the set up and offered me the position to Manage what they call the Public Division, which included LAUSED, Long Beach Unified, Compton, Lynwood and about 5 other School districts. The position also includes the Kaiser account, which is HUGE. I would have been crazy not to accept. The position is still in sales, but I walk in with a base Over-ride, at about 60k, plus commissions, bonus, residuals and other perks. The fact that I am Vested with the Duck, I still get my monthly Residuals for the rest of my life.. so it is not a bad set up.

But Fecha, you should see the team. It is all Black. Today I was at a meeting, it was crazy, all the super well do to Black folks, dressed to the 9's! I sent my boss a text, during the meeting, my boss is also black. I said, “am I at the right meeting, Or did I walk into the Southern Babtist Church of the Rock of Gibralter.” He busted up as he read my text in front of about 25 black folks. I like what I'm doing. I gained immediate credibility with the staff. One Black Momma came up to me after my presentation, she hugged me, she said, We need some Spanish speakikng folks up in here! She said, u also look Good! I'm gonna hug u again, so she gave me a second hug. The team has been very nice. One of my agents is a sharp Dark black brother, he lives in Manhattan Beach with his White wife, and son, who is a Champion Fencer and on the Lacrosse team. Yeah, i thought What the fuck, No basketball in this family. They folks are all driving Mercedes Benz or BMW's.

But as far is business is concerned, they have done well. I will confirm my flight to Chicago tomorrow. My time has been really off. At home at Maltman, I've had a bathroom remodel, the patio is getting a make over-we had some termite issues, the side of the house is also being worked on, we knocked a tree down, and some plumbing upgrades.

At the new house, today we had the first tenant move out. So tomorrow, we start the work on the first unit. it is a cool apt, with a nice private patio. The second tenant, a hot little bubble butt White boy, moves out next week. He moved to L.A. to become a Star, once that didn't pan out, he became a Fashion designer making Couture for the Haute Welll to do. That didn't pan out either, he said, L.A. is too casual for him. So he is moving back to Texas. He is a hottie, with an Ass that I would hmmm, like to have my way with. He is handsome in a pretty dorky way.

So there you have it. The tenant living in the main house, has not moved out yet, so we wait for the bastard to move. The contract allows him there unitl June 30. So July 1, is our move in date. There you have it my Negressa.

 O and a note from kJohnny Blue of the Blue Brothers Music Kollective who will be debuting a new project see below:

Hello Living Archive folks,

my band is doing a show in preparation for the LA performance on Thursday April 18th and I'd like to invite anyone to come to be there for this event in a relaxed environment to share some music and a drink. I hope you are all well. Veteranenstraße 16. 20:00 uhr ciao, John Blue

Heather Cassils who is becoming one of the most famous body artists in the world will unfold a new piece in England soon. Read the details below and rush out and see it:

Dear Lovelies,

I wanted to let you know that will be in London, UK this coming week for my newest performance "Becoming An Image".It is being performed at the National Theater Studio at 7:30 on April 13th. My pal, the talented and darling of UK performance photography Manuel Vason, will be taking photographs as part of my performance. I have been training with a professional Maui Thai fighter at the Glendale Fight Club for the last few months. GFC is home to the female world champion MMA fighter "Rowdy Ronda Rousey." who has set a totally new precedent in relation to gender expectations and athleticism. At GFC I have been working on extending the limits of my strength and endurance to push this performance to new physical heights. You can read more about the intent and content of this piece here. On Sunday April 14th, there will be a panel discussion at the Whitechapel Gallery at noon about my work and on the greater themes of "contact" addressed by this years artist at the SPILL Festival. Come see me obliterate 2000 pounds of clay in total darkness, or come here me talk about the work and the process. I am privileged and excited to announce that Kira O'Reilly and Dominic Johnson, both interesting and splendid UK artists/academics will be taking part in the panel. I look forward to seeing you there. Here is a link to the event with time, location and ticket information: http://spillfestival.com/performance/becoming-an-image Manuel Vason: http://www.manuelvason.com Kira O' Reilly: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kira_O'Reilly

Was sent the latest news from electro soul singer Billie Ray Martin:

we wanted to share this very special video with you of billie's performance last week in new york. it's downloadable. if you like it, please feel free ot share it on all social media, embed it on your blogs and websites, post it wherever you like. https://vimeo.com/63366154#at=0

videos of billie's other performances have also emerged, such as the black party nyc. make sure to follow the facebook music page and twitter to get updates on all those goodies. the crackdown double album cd is finally getting fedx'ed to us on monday, after
much chasing and no responses from the u.s. label etc. so within a few days
things should get shipped out to you. it is of course out on itunes and all
other digital stores already https://itunes.apple.com/album/crackdown-project-vol.-1-2/id610054063
and the double cd album is available from billie's webshop
all songs have received posh remastering.
some of the tracks in their remastered forms are streamable here
https://soundcloud.com/billie-ray-martin/sets/billie-ray-martin-the-crackdown-project
of course sound quality on soundcloud is not very good.
as the u.s. label has not promoted this release, again, feel free to help spread
the word by sharing these tunes.

thank you. best wishes. brm-team.

Oh and my good friend Billy Miller of STH will be in England making several important appearances so do yourself a favour and go see him. He is incredible!

AMG @ FRINGE! Film Festival
Rare film-video from the AMG archives April 10 - 16 FIGHT CLUB Studio 1.1, 57A Redchurch Street, London, E2 7DJPrivate view: Wednesday 10th April, 6pm-9pm 11th April - 16th April, 12-6pm Info:http://fringefilmfest.com/2013-programme/bob-mizer-fight-club BOB MIZER & THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION IN TRANSITION
School of Fringe! @ The Old School, Victoria Park Road, London E9 7HD
Saturday 13th April5pm Info:http://fringefilmfest.com/2013-programme/saturday-13th-april-2013/bob-mizer-from-posing-straps-to-porn THE REALLY WAY OUT WEST
Arcola Tent, 24 Ashwin Street, London. E8 3DL
Sunday 14th April3.30pm Info:
http://fringefilmfest.com/2013-programme/sunday-14th-april-2013/bob-mizer-the-really-way-out-west-%E2%80%93-bob-mizer-and-the-athletic-model-guild

• • • •

Additional info:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/18/arts/design/bob-mizer-artifacts.html?ref=arts
http://www.invisible-exports.com/exhibitions/46_mizer/mizer_artifacts_images.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/07/bob-mizer-artifacts-erotic-gay-photographs-invisible-exports_n_2425912.html

http://www.thisisexile.com/project_bobmizer.html

http://www.thisisexile.com/Press/PressFeatures/19_Bob%20Mizer/EXile_Mizer_Artforum.pdf

http://selfpublishbehappy.com/2011/02/sp-bh-heart-bob-mizer-select-private-works-1942-1992-at-exile-gallery-in-berlin-feb-19-mar-19-2011/

http://uponpaper.com/features/bob-mizer-private-works/

http://www.thisisexile.com/Press/PressFeatures/19_Bob%20Mizer/Exile_Mizer_Eyemazing.pdf

http://www.ybca.org/bros-hos

http://www.mixnyc.org/24/programs-bob-mizer.php

STH @ The FRINGE! Film Festival School of Fringe! @ The Old Cardinal Pole Catholic School, Victoria Park Road, London E9 7HD Sunday 14th April 8:30pmSTRAIGHT TO HELL (a.k.a., The Manhattan Review of Unnatural Acts), the true-sex chapbook series founded by cult writer Boyd McDonald, presents a program of short films from STH collaborators introduced by current editor Billy Miller.

Featuring: SUPERM (Slava Mogutin, Brian Kenny), Latino Fan Club, GeminiMen, AMG, Steve LaFreniere, Anthony Viti, Kristian Kozul, Michael Economy, Randal Wilcox, Al Baltrop, AA Bronson, Justin Spring, Sam Steward, & XXXTRA SPECIAL SURPRISES!

INFO:
http://fringefilmfest.com/2013-programme/sunday-14th-april-2013/fringe-goes-straight-to-hell
http://www.straight-to-hell.net/
http://www.thisisexile.com/project_STH.html

DAS SCHWACHE GESCHLECHT

Taken to dinner by Judy LaBruce with Susanne Sachsse and Marc Siegel to Thueringer Stuebin in the former east. Stuffed myself silly with GDR comfort food hooting hollering and laughing till I burst as Ms. LaBruce told us the proverbial T about Vice Magazine and its recent North Korea connection with former basketball star Dennis Rodman. I had no idea that Vice Mag was partnered with such corporate entities as HBO and CNN. The North Korea incident started off as a prank but then they decided to turn it around as a form of so called basketball diplomacy. LaBruce is in town filming his experimental version of his stage opera of Pierrot Lunaire starring Ms. Sachsse. Judy will be back in Berlin in June to work on editing. Easter Sunday Ms. Sachsse cooked a royal feast complete with abstract Easter Egg decorations. Joining us around her famous luxury table was her beautiful young daughter Salome Gersch, film historian Marc Siegel and writer/director Derek Cianfrance.
After dinner I rushed to the New St. Marks Spa and Culture Center to get a massage from the thick Arab whose powerfull hands can send you floating, but I got there too late and had to look at a bunch of fugled sex holiday touristas and motly regulars. Not a sex champion in the bunch other then one fat tittied, well endowed Brazillian who I caught showering after his post coital connection with a dark steroided teutonic. No one was interested in The Doll, so i just enjoyed the warmth of the Finnish dry sauna and took a long nap on a wooden lounge chair, then had a light snack at the bar and headed home to finish the new series of black,white& silver Princess Marcella Borghese make-up palette paintings for my new exhibition in the States. Ran into Rainer, my sweet homo normative neighbor who is the BFF of the electro soul diva Billie Ray Martin. Rainer works as a steuerberateur or Tax Accountant here in Berlin sharing studio space with Judy LaBruce producer Juergen Bruening on the Haupt Strasse in Shoeneberg. Their office space is being turned into luxury lofts so they have to move by Summer. Rainer sez they may take over a space above the Wintergarten Theatre on Potsdamer Strasse. Several artists and film people share with tante Juergen Bruning including the German director Jochen Hick and that icky porno producer Jorg who runs Cazzo Films. How the mighty have fallen, it seems that Cazzo like a lot of porn studios has hit the skids, as people don't buy porn these days and only download it illegally from the internet. I only met this Jorg creature once, and immediately got a bad vibe from him. Juergen use to be business partners with him at Cazzo Films, but they had a falling out and then Juergen start Wurst Films. Cazzo had produced Judy LaBruce's Skin Flick which started the entire gay porno skinhead phenomena. Other then Skin Flick I never liked the Cazzo porn aesthetic. I love tante Juergen but I've never found his Wurst Films porno very titilating either. Tante Juergen is wonderful but he doesn't come across as a very sexual person, so thats why i always found the blue movies he directs as having a bit of a disconnect. Thats just my little lady opinion. The only kind of gay and or straigt porn that i like is from the 1970s and early 80s.It was through Rainer that I got my flat in the Rote Insel as Rainer was friends with the property manager of my building and was the one who recommended the apartment to Susanne Sachsse of CHEAP kollective. I hardly ever run into Rainer as we don't keep the same hours. Rainer is an adoreable goofball, and quite cute and personable. He instinctly knew for self preservation purposes it was best to keep me at a distance, as he already has a demanding diva in his life with Billie Ray Martin. Billie was living in my building when she first moved back to Berlin from years living in London,and we were hanging out a bit. She is an extremely talented singer/songwriter with a powerful voice and commanding stage presence. We both worked with David Harrow of Onu Sound fame. I did the Technova project with him that did produce my one and only semi mainstream dance hit on a major label Universal/MCA they gave me a nice advance at the time, but I've seen no other money from the project. I like Billie Ray Martin and respect her talent but she is even more self-absorbed than I am so it would be impossible maintaining a close friendship with her as we are both super divas and naturally cancel each other out. She is quite fortunate to have Rainer as a devoted pal and drinking buddy.

***

Yanna Vlautin found herself desperately trying to escape the notice of the young Ephesian poetess Minnie Reparte' but couldn't because she was the host of the art event where Minnie cornered her.Yanna liked Minnie, but could only handle her in limited doses. The affected performative voice sometimes used by Minnie made her sound like a re-annimmated connfection or mealy pastry scavenged from a hesitant dumpster dive. Yanna didn't want to believe the gossip that was circulated all of last year that Ms. Reparte has a habit of stealing boyfriends and expensive beauty products from the lavatories and purses of well heeled friends, but now she wasn't so sure.

***

So excited by Arsenal Inst fuer film und video kunst's salute to leggy Hollywood musical Texan Cyd Charisse, who is one of the most neglected figures of movie song & dance who because of adept professionalism her unique talent was often overlooked. In both Silk Stockings 1957 directed by Rouben Mamoulian and It's Always Fair Weather 1955 directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen she inhabits determined and intelligent women who are able to overcome the usual Hollywood mid century sexist standard.s Silk Stockings is a remake of Ernst Lubitsch's Ninotchka , and i actually love Ms. Charisse's performance better then Greta Garbo in the original version of the story. Ms. Charisse whose real name is Tula Ellice Finklea is a much better actor and dancer then Mr. Fred Astaire who co-star in silk Stockings and The Bandwagon 1953 directed by Vincente Minnelli. In Stockings I was loving Peter Lorre looking very much like Heinz Emigholtz and Janis Paige as Lypsinka mugging more then Jules Munschin and Mickey Rooney ever could. The superlative musical orchestrating and arranging by the brilliant Andre' Previn at the peak of his powers.
With Its Always Fair Weather the homo context beween Gene Kelly, Dan Dailey and Michael Kidd thankx to Betty Comden and Adolphe Green is ravenous, and Dolores Grey is a female female impersonating treasure creating the perfect man in a mixture of Clifton Webb & Marlon Brando. Can't wait to see Van Johnson's homo harpooning in Minnelli's 1954 BrigaOctoroon and Ms.Charisse and Robert Taylor in Nicholas Ray's Party Girl from 1958.

WO LEBST DU?

Le Science Shoppe on Passover Satyr Thursday had a line around the Brutalist Power Station ten minutes before opening hour. Ms. Yanna Vlautin was number eight in line. She surveyed the crowd who were all bundled up for the Spring frost, and she wasn't impressed by the grim ungainly faces. During garderobe check Yanna could see that it was the usual Berlin trailmix of sex lizards, slugs and warthogs bursting out of their shells. Yes it was a bit more cosmopolitan on this evening, but nothing to keep ones Prussian granny's big white Nina Blanchard panties in a bunch. During holiday seasonings Le Science Shop opens all its dusky corners and is more labyrinthian pleather then usual which is nice I guess. But the techNo! muzak was louder and more drudgier, sometimes with soaring decibles meant to Gabriel's horn an ear drum or two.
Why is it that the fugliest hedgehogs love putting on a Copa style floorshow? Various ill couplings of growling, grunty drug deluze adaisials felating each other while coon shouting at the bar. Not to mention the usual suspect tortoise shell stomachs and fecal cara wastings. And what is it with the soccer gear eh? the kneehigh sport socks, cleats, leather pouches, and fannypacks filled to the brim with sexaccessories like crisco dispensers, poppers,and other whatnots. Why do these fagulas need so much accoutremont? O and shant we forget the steroid contingent complete with bulging thyroid eyed backup singers, frog veins, crust and lumpy ruddy members bundled in a cock ring or two.
Recognized several specimen from passovers past, like the cautious Afro German with the lean body, severe male pattern baldness, fat flaccid peterfication and the face of a Negroid Granpa Walton. Also spied the Sunday nite gold chain wearing Rosie Grier looking regular from the St. Marks Spa and Utility Consortium. He is certainly one cool character-very no drama Obama and like our heroine  Yanna P. Vlautin seems to be mainly a voyeur. The few other coloreds in the joint all seem to be snow queens, who mainly just bide their time until they find the appropriate dinge queen.There was no brother2brother action to be sure. I was fascinated by this giantessa who I nicknamed Nivea of Nambibia. 
I had never seen her before so she must have come to Berlin on a sex holiday believing the hedonist hype. This nervous Nelly was blacker then the ace of spades, and bony thin.  
O I have to mention that black & white men together couple who walk the floor like Click&Clack the Tappert Bros of CarTalk. They look like interracial twins and seem cojoined.  They spent the majority of the evening at the bar scowling at everyone, especially Ms. Vlautin whose olde colleague Rip Fluestein knew the Pepper in the Salt which figures because Fluestein is also a major admirer of dinge in all its permutations.  
On this particular visit to the Le Science Shoppe the husky Sea Shanty balladeer wasn't working the door as gatekeeper and Yanna's sweet catatonic pal Fennel wasn't doing coat check. In the past when Fennel is at the door he would always comp Yanna, but giving Le Science Shop credit its relatively inexpensive with a six euro cover charge and two drink minimum.  Madame Vlautin is a tea toddler so only drank bitter lemon.
Did Ms. Vlautin get some hotsy totsy? Well she played with a few of the less repulsive men, but no one was riotiously flavouring her. The place was packed which can be nice in theory, but it also prevents the lumbars from focusing on anyone or anything flitting abouting looking for something bigger and better. Ms. Vlautin did have sweet encounter with a Mishima doppelganger who she has seen around for years especially Monday nite two4one at HeatherThom's. He isn't a radiant youth, but has a sexy occidentalness to him. This gayasian has never given Ms.Vlautin the time of day before, but suddenly showed an interest and quite slowly and shyly made his move and they wound up having their little romantic moment, before Mishima floated away giggling. A little bit later in the evening Ms.Vlautin was nursed by two skinny Swabians who managed in tandem to give the lady her proverbial gnut, afterward Ms.V sat on a mangled chaise lounge with one of the men and had a civilized conversation. As usual in these situations after the witching hour it starts to thin out, and that was Ms. V's  Q that it was time to vamoose to them thar hills.

***
Had a lovely breakfast at Mokalola with Manuel Schubert of FilmHighlights Radio Magazine. Mr. Schubert is my closest neighbor having moved to Schoeneberg from the wilds of Brandenberg a few months ago. If you get the chance please check out his recent interviewed with Canadian auteur Judy LaBruce for DeBug Magazine. DeBug is a specialty journal that Felix Knoke of Tenderloin is the editor of.Just received this missive from the lovely, brilliantly talented and extremely sexxxy Alex Jovanovich of New York City, one of five acres most exciting young artists. He has an upcoming exhibition in Chicago so I want all my cornfed midwestern followers to rush and see it when it opens April 7th. You won't regret it.

Dear Friends:

I hope this message finds all of you better than well.

If you're in town, please come and see my show "Some Poor Girls" at ADDS DONNA in Chicago, which opens Sunday, April 7!

Yours,
Alex

www.addsdonna.com | 4223 W. Lake, Chicago IL, 60624 | open Sundays 1 - 4 & by appointment

COMMUNISM RUINED MY HAIR

RSFS-WMHM was gog and magog last Sunday at Arsenal Inst für Film und Video Kunst with a dynamic crowd braving the Arctic chills for a blast of exotica via Cairo and the screening of the 1950 Egyptian film classic Zeynab. Joining Arsenal Empress Stefanie Schulte Strathaus, Nanna Heidenreich, Susanne Sachsse, DJane Olga Damnitz and the masterful Scandinavian Muslim Daniel Hendrickson on clavier was film historian suprema Marc Siegel who gave this report on the after screening wine reception:

Seen at Kino 2 the dashing Tarik El-Ariss, a professor from University of Texas, Austin, who is also on the board of the interesting art space in Beirut Ashkal Alwan where Mattias Lilienthal is teaching this year. El-Ariss has a nice sparkle in his eyes and he has a stash of fabulous Egyptian films from the late 70s with drag queens and prostitutes that he'd love to share with CHEAP sometime. He'll be in Berlin until July. The very sweet Mr. El-Ariss is a friend of my old pal Peter Limbrick. Also on hand was Juan (Nazli Kalerci´s friend, the cute Spanish teacher at Instituto Cervantes) with a hot tall big footed german colleague (in case you missed him)Erika Richter(pioneer DDR Dramaturg who worked at DEFA is also a writer on Egyptian Film History and is a longtime friend of the Arsenal)Nadja Talmi(Haus of World Cultures junior curator)young Polsky/German filmmaker Marcin Malaszak with a mustache and a bevvy of big haired girls,DAAD recipient Marie Losier.Manuela Schinina aka Sexxy DJane Bianca Kruk,a bunch of unknown Egypt fans and scholars of Arabic cinema relishing the rare opportunity to see an example from the golden age….

Plus Niloofer from Iran via Pune, India, Berlin legend Zazie de Paris who will be the subject of an upcoming documentary film of her fabulous exploits, Cecile Tollu-Polasky of The Forum, hot Jewish writer Nathan Englander with fellow Jewish thrombone Jonathan Safron Foer, French hungster Louis-Do DeLencquesaing, Trevor Powers of Youth Lagoon with stylist Leslie Fremar.

Was sent this emug about other Egyptian cinema eventas:

http://www.africavenir.org/news-archive/newsdetails/datum/2013/02/13/africavenir-windhoek-week-of-classic-egyptian-films-in-windhoek-22-27-july-2013.html

Although we are still lacking certain funding to actually pull thorugh, but i have approached some and hoe we will be able. we are adding an exhibition on classic egyptian cinema, but if no funds, we will cancel this ambitious idea.

AfricAvenir Windhoek: Week of Classic Egyptian Films in Windhoek, 22-27 July 2013

Egypt was the first country in Africa and the Middle East to establish a film-industry. Film screenings took place as early as 1896 when the works by the Lumière Brothers were presented in Alexandria and Cairo. Still under foreign rule, Egypt was the only colony in which the production of news-reels and short-films by the local population was possible. First reports about productions date back to 1909.

Within its monthly film series “African Perspectives” AfricAvenir has in the past and will in the future continue to screen high quality Egyptian cinema to the Namibian public. Due to the outstanding and rich cinema heritage and history of Egypt, AfricAvenir, in partnership with the Egyptian Embassy, the Egyptian Film Centre and the Goethe-Centre Windhoek, has decided to dedicate a full week of screenings to Classic Egyptian films. In 2013 the week, which will hopefully become an annual event, will focus on films from the late 1950’s to the early 1970’s.
An exhibition on Egyptian film directors will accompany the film week.

22.July 2013, 19h15, Goethe-Centre Windhoek -  Opening Film
Cairo Station, 1958
Director: Youssef Chahine, Egypt, 1958, 86 min, fiction

Cairo Station is the venue for a blazingly passionate drama about Kenaoui, a lame newspaper vendor, played by Chahine, and his unrequited desire for Hanouma (Hind Rostom), the Bardotesque lemonade seller. Swept away by his obsessive desire, Kinawi kidnaps the object of his passion, with terrible consequences. Chahine received international recognition when this masterpiece of sexuality, repression, madness and violence among society's marginalized played at the Berlin Film Festival, where it was nominated for a Golden Bear in 1958.
“A jewel of a film” Samir Hachem, The Hollywood Reporter
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOJpiUZphTE 
 

23 July 2013, 19h15, Goethe-Centre Windhoek – Egyptian National Day, Revolution Day
A man in our House, 1961
Director: Henry Barakat, Egypt, 1961, 93 min, fiction, starring Omar Sharif
 
A Man in Our House features a prominent political message concerning nationalism and patriotism and glorifies the Egyptian resistance to British colonialism. Using the 1952 Free Officers led revolt against King Farouk as the context, Ibrahim, played by Omar Sharif, a brave young man, hurls himself against the unjust government, assassinates the Prime Minister, and has to go into hiding in the house of ambivalently supportive citizens. His presence endangers the whole family, particularly since they are not as partisan as he is. The father has to make difficult decisions about how much can be risked, and is pulled out of his a-political stance by his son and daughter, the maternal feelings of his wife for the young man, and her empathy with the likely worries of his mother.

The screen play was written by Abdel Qoddous, a well known opposition journalist of the era, and much called-upon screen writer.
Film Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMNTxO-Ass8

24 July 2013, 19h15, Goethe-Centre Windhoek
The Night of Counting the Years - The Mummy, 1969
Director: Chadi Abdel Salam, Egypt, 1969, 100 min, fiction
 
Recognized as one of the greatest Egyptian films ever made, The Night of Counting the Years a.k.a. The Mummy is the most important Egyptian historical art-film. Based on a true story and inspired by the famous discovery of the hiding place in the Valley of the Kings of royal mummies from several dynasties, the film is centered on the quest for identity of a young Egyptian. Set in 1881, on the eve of British colonial rule, an Upper Egyptian clan had been robbing a cache of mummies near the village of Qurna, and selling the artifacts on the black market. After a conflict within the clan, the young clan members goes to the police, helping the Antiquities Service find the cache.

25 July 2013, 19h15, Goethe-Centre Windhoek
Between Heaven and Earth, 1960
Director: Salah Abu Seif, Egypt 1960, 100 min, fiction
 
When released the film was considered an artistic adventure fearlessly undertaken by director Salah Abu Seif. Working brilliantly within its limitations of time and place, Between Heaven and Earth, from a screenplay co-written by Naguib Mahfouz, is a triumph of modern cinema. In the blasting heat of a Friday afternoon in Cairo, a group of people representing the whole of Egyptian society find themselves trapped in an elevator for 12 hours. The characters – among them a movie star, a thief, a madman, a cook and a pregnant woman - are archetypes that represent the different strata and classes of Egyptian society in the 1950s – classes that are still very much in place in Egypt today. This fact alone points to the timelessness of a film that was first shown more than 50 years ago. Between Heaven and Earth remains a remarkable triumph of modern cinema.

26. July 2013, 19h15, Goethe-Centre Windhoek
Chased by the Dogs/The thief and the dogs, 1962
Director: Kamal El Sheikh, Egypt, 1962, 130 min, fiction
 
After four years in prison, the young thief Said Mahran is released and seeks revenge against those who betrayed him. His wife and most trusted henchman, who conspired to turn him into the police, are now married to each other and are keeping his six-year-old daughter from him.

This felicitous combination of film noir and social commentary, about an ex-con bent on vengeance, builds to a terrific cat-and-mouse finale. Director El Sheikh and cinematographer Kamal Karim use carefully composed lighting and a range of camera techniques to create a wonderfully moody atmosphere. Made a little more than a decade after the 1952 Egyptian revolution, The Thief and the Dogs presents a world that challenges moral judgments—after all, the protagonists are a thief and a prostitute.

The film is based on the novel The Thief and the Dogs by literature Nobel prize winner Naguib Mahfouz. Mahfouz was inspired by the life of the famous Egyptian thief Mahmoud Amin Soliman.
Film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyjisifoFGo

27. July 2013, 19h00, Goethe-Centre Windhoek Closing Film
M Empire, 1972
Director: Hussein Kamal, Egypt, 1972, 113 min, fiction
 
Based on Ihsan Abdel Quddous’ book and adapted for the screen by Nobel Prize winner Naguib Mahfouz, M Empire is one of the most loved Egyptian films. On the surface it is an enjoyable family drama, but below the surface it is a political call for liberalism and democracy during Sadat’s era. The film opens with a young Mona convincing her parents of her right to choose the man she’ll marry. It closes with a similar sentiment; her children ultimately want to demonstrate their democratic right.

The film hints on the ideal way Egyptian society should and could be. The family represents the country and highlights the crucial leader’s (or mother’s in this case) role of a multitasked educator. Without her, the family will fall apart and she’s the only one to assess her children’s capabilities and needs. At the same time, her leadership can expand outside the house’s borders. ‘Empire M’ advocates pro-democratic views.
Film:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1QCbqmFAkM

© Copyright AfricAvenir Windhoek 2013

H.-C. Mahnke
MA of Political Science
Chairperson of the board Namibia section

AfricAvenir

(Douala/Berlin/Windhoek/Graz/Cotonou)

Contact Namibia:

Cell : +264 855630949,

Email: africavenir.whk(at)googlemail.com, c.mahnke(at)africavenir.org
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Check the Namibian Movie Collection on http://www.africavenir.org/projects-namibia.html

AfricAvenir was awarded the “Toussaint L’Ouverture“ medal, an annual prize given by the Executive Board of the UNESCO for individuals & organizations for their outstanding fight against racism, intolerance, & economic exploitation

THE LAUGHTER CLUB

Rising Stars Falling Stars - with Vaginal Davis & Michel Balagué - March 2013 by Filmanzeiger on Mixcloud

I was quite sick and looked horrible when Davide Grassi aka: Janez Jansa and crew came to my Cheese Endique Trifecta studio a couple of years ago to record me for the film My Name is Janez Jansa. That is one reason why I have vowed now to appear in any more movies or do any on-camera interviews unless I can control the lighting and design of how my image appears. This documentary is taking to the road on a mini tour so if they stop in your town or hamlet run to the theatre and see a fugly Ms. Davis on parade.

Dear friends, collaborators, supporters, fan, pom-pon girls,

Little news about the movie My Name Is Janez Janša
are coming to your inbox:

We finally reactivated the English session of our blog
after few months of neglecting it:
http://www.mynameisjanezjansa.com

Keep an eye on it!

Furthermore these are upcoming screenings abroad:

- 19 March 2013 at 8.30 pm, Black Box Teater, the Oslo Internasjonale Teaterfestival, Norway
- 14 April 2013 at 6:45 pm, Kino Svetozor, 20th Days of European Film, Prague, Czech Republic
- 18 April 2013 at 8 pm, Holon Cinematheque, Print Screen Festival, Tel Aviv, Israel
- 25 April 2013 at 6 pm, Kino Art, 20th Days of European Film, Brno, Czech Republic

 We are also happy to announce the first screening ever of the TV version (52 min):
- 19 March 2013 at 9 pm, RTV Slovenia, Channel 1

Be fine and all the best, wherever you are!

Yours faithfully,
Janez Janša, Janez Janša, Janez Janša

I’m also in the Fifth Column documentary She Said Boom which has been playing at film festivals around the world and recently played in Berlin, but I was out of town and missed it so someone should send me an emug and tell me what you think. Oh and I’ve been getting a lot of comments from people who saw me on German television in Rosa von Praunheim’s Marta&Hilda which is part of the 70 Rosa films for his 70th birthday. I made this movie back in the last century but Rosa didn’t edit it till recently. The short subject stars Selene Luna as Hilde Waldo and I play the legendary German/Jewish expat and salon hostess of Los Angeles in the 1930s Marta Fuetwanger. Those in Berlin and want to take an exciting workshop, the details are below:

DANCING WITH WORDS 2 a Weekly Writing Workshop at the Kotti-Shop
by Amelia Bande
8 sessions

Tuesdays from 19:00 to 21:00
Dates: April 9, 16, 23, 30, May 21, 28 and June 4, 11
(as you see there is a 2-week break in the middle of the workshop)

All writers and their unique styles are welcome:
Poets, Narrative, Broken Language, Essays, Scripts & Plays, Lyrics for Music.
No previous experience required.
Language: English, but you can write in any language you want.
Register early, there is a limited number of participants.

at the Kotti-Shop - Adalberstr. 4 - www.kotti-shop.net
50 € for all 8 sessions.
Contact me with any questions: ameliabande77@gmail.com

Every week we will work with a specific theme or assignment leading to a piece of written material. We will experiment with various types of writing while learning about rhythm, tone and the power of what we write about. During the workshop we will run a series of simple and practical writing exercises to help develop personal style and voice in the creation of powerful texts from things we observe, experience or imagine. We will also write collectively, using cut-and-paste techniques.

This workshop wants to offer a safe space to write while learning how to give and take respectful and useful feedback. It doesn't matter if you already have a specific project you are working on, or if you just want to come and develop fragmented ideas. This will be 8 weeks of hard work mutating into a fun and experimental choreography of words.

At the end of the workshop we will produce a printed anthology of the texts written during this time in collaboration with Copyroboter, the Kotti-Shop's print workshop.

"It is the experience of writing that matters. I am driven to write, compelled by a constant longing to choreograph, to bring words together in patterns and configurations that move the spirit. As a writer, I seek that moment of ecstasy when I am dancing with words". 

bell hooks in Remembered Rapture: Dancing with Words.