Fairyland, directed by Andrew Durham and produced by Sofia Coppola, will kick-off the 47th San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival (Frameline47) taking place throughout San Francisco and Oakland.

“Fairyland is the perfect film to open Frameline47 as it’s a film anchored in the rich, gay history of San Francisco, and connected to the heart and soul of The Castro,” says Allegra Madsen, Director of Programming at Frameline. “Adapted beautifully from Alysia Abbott’s memoir, Fairyland is a quintessentially San Francisco story of a queer father-daughter relationship during the ‘70s and ‘80s. Every year, Frameline’s Opening Night screening and party are amazing events, but this year we are honored to celebrate a hometown story, made by a hometown team. Frameline47’s Opening Night will be legendary.”

Running from June 14–24, 2023 — with a streaming encore to follow from June 24–July 2, 2023 — Frameline47 will also feature Cora Bora, starring Hacks scene-stealer Megan Stalter, as its Oakland Centerpiece film. This year, the festival is presenting a Pride Kickoff film, God Save the Queens. To send guests and filmmakers off in style, the Pride Kickoff event will feature a post-screening performance by drag star Alaska and celebratory party at the iconic Oasis drag bar.

“Frameline47 is going to be a festival for the ages. Today, we are announcing just three of our 90 planned screenings to provide festival goers with a taste of all the wonderful — and wonderfully queer — films and events to come,” says James Woolley, Executive Director of Frameline. “We are delighted to open the 2023 festival with the San Francisco-set Fairyland, which illustrates the power of queer art and community. That spirit will be exemplified throughout Frameline47, in so many ways, which is why we are proud to feature not just film screenings, but filmmaker Q&As, and performances like Alaska’s.”

OPENING NIGHT FILM & GALA
Fairyland | Wednesday, June 14 | Castro Theatre, 6:30 PM
Helmed by Andrew Durham in his directorial debut and produced by Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation), this evocative adaptation of Alysia Abbott’s memoir captivates with its exhilarating depiction of the early days of gay liberation in a more bohemian San Francisco. Scoot McNairy (Halt and Catch Fire) is a revelation as queer poet Steve Abbott, who is trying to balance fatherhood and writing with an enthusiastic exploration of his sexuality. Fairyland is a moving film, which captures the way that optimistic, heady era gave way to the shattering reality of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. Following Fairyland, join us for our glittering Opening Night Gala at San Francisco’s Terra Gallery.

OAKLAND CENTERPIECE
Cora Bora | Saturday, June 17 | The New Parkway Theater, 6:00 PM
Directed by Hannah Pearl Utt, this hilarious follow-up to her Frameline43 Centerpiece, Before You Know It, gives Hacks scene-stealer and queer comedy maven Megan Stalter the star vehicle she so rightly deserves. After chasing her dreams of becoming a musician all the way to LA — think a millennial Phoebe Buffay — Cora experiences limited success, which prompts this chaotic, poly bisexual protagonist to make a surprise trip back to Portland. Eager to win back her girlfriend (Fresh’s Jojo T. Gibbs), Cora is met with a series of messy reunions, a search for a lost (and misgendered) pet, and a clumsy pansexual orgy. Following Cora Bora, join us for our Oakland Centerpiece party at the yet-to-be-opened Fluid510, a new LGBTQ+ bar in Oakland.

PRIDE KICK-OFF FILM + PARTY
God Save the Queens | Friday, June 22 | Castro Theatre, 7:00 PM
Buckle up for director Jordan Danger’s quick-witted queer group therapy film, which features a veritable roster of Drag Race royalty: Alaska, Laganja Estranja, Kelly Mantle, Manilla Luzon, and even Michelle Visage herself. God Save the Queens chronicles the highs and lows that befall four Los Angeles drag queens after they land in a desert retreat — not exactly by choice — to get their careers back on track after their respective PR disasters. Following God Save the Queens, join us for a drag party at Oasis, featuring a performance by star Alaska.