Due to the coronavirus, many systers were forced to shelter in place. Some lost jobs, while others had their hours significantly reduced. As a result, a huge number have found themselves camped in front of the tv instead of in the woods. Hence, the resurgence of binge-watching.
By now it may feel as though you have run out of movies to watch on Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, or whatever your favorite source is. Don't worry. Cinema Systers Film Festival has some recommendations for you. If you're looking for something fresh and perhaps out of the ordinary, grab your favorite snack and check out 'Road of Bygones' by Astrid Ovalles. It was one of the films scheduled to be screened at the Cinema Systers Film Festival during Memorial Day Weekend 2020. However, that event was postponed, due to the pandemic.
'Road of Bygones' is a dark comedy with an interesting plot about a Dom/s (dominant/submissive) relationship. The film sold out during its premiere and stars Astrid and her wife, Sarah Jo Ovalles. In addition to acting, Astrid Ovalles is also a writer, director, and Indie Filmmaker. She has released other popular films, such as 'Camp Belvidere' and 'Many a Moon.'
We thought it would be interesting for you to see the interview of Astrid and Stormy Leather that aired on "Talking About" with Cara Kilduff and Jonathan Griffith. (www.talkingabout.info)
Following are a few quotes from Astrid Ovalles from the article titled "Astrid Ovalles: On Coming Out as Lesbian and Being an Openly Kinky Filmmaker." You may read the complete interview here: https://profilesinpride.com/astrid-ovalles-coming-out-as-lesbian-openly-kinky-filmmaker/
I thought I?d like to try it, and I became a professional dominatrix with men. I enjoy doing those things as a mentally stimulating or recreational exercise. One day I got an email from a woman who wanted to be a submissive, and that?s how I met my wife! She was a client! She was new to it.
Then I formed my film production company, Recluse Films, because I wanted to tell stories that were not only for LGBTQ people and women, but stories that are human and that we don?t often see. I also like to play around with the art itself. Like Camp Belvidere, I wanted to make it like lesbian pulp fiction novels. I loved those and thought as I was reading them it would be so cool if someone made a movie with this kind of vibe. Like that super dramatic and exaggerated drive, very angsty and colorful like a caricature. I decided I was just going to do it!
Wth my latest film, Road of Bygones ? I love dark comedy and French cinema. I love how in French films, they present a lot of relationships that aren?t standard. I don?t like the word ?normal,? but I?ve yet to find a word to replace the feel of the word So I?ll use ?normal,? but I don?t think anything is normal. I wanted to make a movie that was told in humor, make people laugh and show them something different. Then, while they?re laughing, maybe they won?t realize it?s that different.
Ovalles found a great day job to pay the bills, and in her free time, she launched her independent film company, Recluse Films, to amplify the voices of women, LGBTQ people, and minorities. With the help of some creative friends, she made a lesbian film, Camp Belvidere, that found some success. When Ovalles and her wife were featured in the press, they chose to be openly kinky and not hide their D/s (dominant/submissive) relationship.
Credit for the above article: https://profilesinpride.com/astrid-ovalles-coming-out-as-lesbian-openly-kinky-filmmaker/
'Road of Bygones' is available to rent on Vimeo for a small fee. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/roadofbygones
Astrid currently lives in New York. More information about Astrid Ovalles is available on her website: https://www.astridovallesofficial.com/
Cinema Systers Film Festival Fans look forward to seeing you at the Cinema Systers Film Festival next year. It's the only all-lesbian film festival in the United States. They have a variety of genres for you to watch and many forms of entertainment, as well.
If you are a filmmaker and would like to submit a film to the Cinema Systers Film Festival 2021, they will start accepting submissions in Oct 2020. The fee to submit a film is only $15.00. Learn more about the Cinema Systers Film Festival at CinemaSysters.com