THE MALE GAZE: FRENCH CONNECTION

A love left unsaid on the football field, a third invite to a high-rise tête-à-tête, a fast-approaching farewell and a friendship that evolves into something complicated. Lose yourself in these five stories from France that are handled with grace, maturity and a tender touch.

VIDEO FILE: 1hr 30mins, HD mp4 with burnt-in English subtitles.

9TH FLOOR TO THE RIGHT dir. Andrea Romano

One evening, in his apartment in Paris, Lorenzo is getting ready to receive Marvin for the first time, a boy he really likes. Marvin shows up at the door with Thomas, a homeless man he met on the street in need of a shower. Lorenzo doesn’t dare say no.

HUGO 18:30 dir. Simon Helloco, James Maciver

During a casting session, Hugo, a young actor, is invited to be the narrator, actor, and director of a story he has to improvise. He embarks on a story about sex, illness, and emancipation.

CARY & JAMES dir. Victor Boyer

Nathan, an author with writer's block, goes out to meet his good friend Francis in town. As the day unfolds, the pair stumble into various scenarios inspired by their favourite films.

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME dir. Clément Bompart

John lives for football and will do anything to make a career from it, even if it means facing the prejudices of the changing room.

YOUSSOU AND MALEK dir. Simon Frenay

On a sprawling urban suburbia during a sweltering summer, two young boys in love are at an impasse. Youssou has an opportunity to study abroad with a prestigious scholarship, while his boyfriend Malek advances in his art degree at a local school. As the pair wrestle with these destinies that are pulling them apart, their friends attempt to untangle the ambitions of these star-crossed lovers, all while tensions rise with the police who patrol the neighbourhood.