Limited release for LGBT flicks
(PHOTO BY / Rhiannon Lotze) The movie marquee for Cineplex Odeon at Devonshire Mall is photographed on Oct. 20. No LGBT movies currently in theatres are being played at this theatre, most notably Freeheld which was supposed to receive a limited-to-wide release but was never screened in Windsor.
Limited release for LGBT flicks
By Rhiannon Lotze Converged Citizen Staff
Movies featuring lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender main characters are receiving limited theatre releases despite several being potential Oscar contenders.
More than 15 films and documentaries featuring LGBT main characters have been or will be released this year. However, many of them have been given limited theatre releases which means they will only be screened in a small number of theatres for a short period of time. Most of the rest of the films were screened only at film festivals.
The only LGBT film this year to be given an initial wide release was The D Train starring Jack Black, but the movie did so poorly at the box office in its first week that it was pulled from theatres after its second, according to Box Office Mojo.
At least four of these films could potentially become contenders in the 2016 Academy Awards, based on early predictions by Indiewire. Three of them –The Danish Girl, Carol and Freeheld– have Oscar-winning actors and actresses in lead roles. The fourth film is titled Grandma and stars Oscar-nominee Lily Tomlin.
While it was once common for Oscar contending movies to be released in a limited number of theatres, the annual ceremony was criticized for not being relatable to the average moviegoer. It has since begun to more commonly honour films that have been released nationwide.
Movies with LGBT main characters are not the only ones to be given limited releases but they are distributed this way more frequently than any other genre. There are many possible reasons why.
According to James Winter, a media, film and communications professor at the University of Windsor, when films are not widely released it is because they are about “anything controversial.”
Winter’s examples of controversial material include “anything critical of foreign policy or of our supposed ‘democracy,’ relationships people are not interested in such as LBGT and stories of corporate malfeasance.”
“They are controversial to the mainstream and not viewed as popular enough which of course becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy,” said Winter.
However, a local drama student who is a part of the LGBT community, but wishes to remain anonymous, said she believes the limited releases of films in the LGBT genre is for a different reason.
“The reason for this is obvious. The extreme homophobia and transphobia that runs rampant in our society,” she said. “Western society is extremely homophobic and transphobic and I don’t see that changing for a long, long time.”
The woman also used to work at SilverCity Windsor Cinemas and said during her time there few, if any, LGBT movies were screened.
For those who do not agree with Winter’s or the drama student’s reason for LGBT limited releases, Josh Murr, an animation student has one more theory.
“LGBT movies get only a limited release due to the fact that they are maybe not marketed properly,” said Murr who studies films as part of his program. “I do not see too many movies featuring the LGBT community advertised like any other movie.”
While no one can be certain of the reason for LGBT movies receiving limited releases, it may be awhile before Windsor sees one of these movies on the big screen.
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