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Gus Van Sant's Milk heads massive gay section – the countdown to Scandinavia's most important film festival can begin

It has now been confirmed that Milk by American director Gus Van Sant, starring Sean Penn, will get its Swedish première at Göteborg International Film Festival 2009. Milk tells the story of the first openly gay politician Harvey Milk, who lived in San Francisco and was murdered in the end of the seventies by a conservative opponent.

Others actors in the much spoken about hot Oscar candidate are Josh Brolin, James Franco, Emile Hirsch and Diego Luna.

With two months left to the opening of the 32nd festival an exciting and extensive gay section is taking shape.

– We had a highly appreciated gay section in the programme a couple of years ago, this time we have actively been looking for films to repeat this success. Worth noting is the variation among the films, ranging from documentaries about the fight for homosexual rights in Turkey to love stories in Victorian prisons or on Italian beaches. And it is extremely satisfying to be able to headline the section with Milk, by one of the world’s most interesting filmmakers, Gus Van Sant, says festival director
Marit Kapla.

The films confirmed so far are:

One Day in a Life (Un altro pianeta) by Stefano Tummolini, Italy
A hot day on a beach outside Rome.

The Other Side of Istanbul (Das andere Istanbul), by Döndü Kilic, Germany/Turkey
Documentary about a people’s movement in the shadows.

Suddenly Last Winter (Improvvisamente l'inverno scorso) by Gustav Hofer and Luca Ragazzi, Italy
Documentary about homophobia in Italy.

Private Lessons (Elève Libre) by Joachim Lafosse, Belgium/France.
Private school lessons changes into education of a more physical kind.

To Faro (Mein Freund aus Faro) by Nana Neul, Germany
A German Show me Love with mixed up identities.

Affinity by Tim Fywell, United Kingdom
Spiritualism and lesbian love in a Victorian environment.