Melbourne Queer Film Festival 2009 (MQFF) opens this Wednesday March 18 and it’s shaping up to be the biggest and best so far. Now in its 19th year, MQFF features an amazing program of around 150 films and is the biggest queer film festival in the southern hemisphere. Not only that, it is considered one of the top five queer film festivals in the world!

Last year, Same Same teamed up with MQFF to present the brilliant queer film Shelter, followed by an after party in the festival lounge with DJ Dan Wilson. That Same Same Culture Club event was huge and Shelter was a festival hit and 2008 crowd favourite.

This year we are doing it again, bigger and better! Same Same in conjunction with MQFF are presenting the Australian Premiere of the hot new queer film, The New Twenty.

Check out the trailer for the film below:

The New Twenty, directed by US director Chris Mason Johnson, tells the story of five New York City best friends in their late twenties, whose tightly knit connections are being tested.

Seemingly perfect straight couple Andrew and Julie seem destined for a happy marriage and life at the top of the Manhattan corporate tree, despite the spectre of her ex Felix’s continued longing for her, which has seen him fall into a spiraling drug addiction. Gay bear cub Ben avoids his low self-esteem issues with attempts at secret sexual liaisons with men via the web, whilst Tony finds his life turned upside down when he falls for an HIV+ older man.

The group try their hardest to hold their friendships together and look out for each other, but all has gone unspoken slowly starts to take its toll.

Along comes Louie – ruthless, magnetic, bad tempered but seductive, he offers Andrew (and by association Julie, Ben, Felix and Tony) a business offer they can’t refuse, and gains access into their group. An ill-conceived bachelor party that Louie plans for Andrew brings the whole charade undone, but at the same time ushers in a new honesty which provides potential new beginnings for the group.

The New Twenty is a modern, fresh take on friendship, brilliantly portraying vivid emotional realism of a new generation. A strong script, and great performances make this ensemble indie film a not-to-be-missed MQFF event. We know you’re gonna love it!

Join us and your fellow Same Samers in the festival club at ACMI after the film for the after party that will once again feature awesome DJ Dan Wilson and fun party atmosphere! Feel free to bring along your mates!

The New Twenty is a Same Same Culture Club Event in conjunction with MQFF, and screens 7:30pm Sat 21 March 2009 at ACMI Cinemas. It will be followed by a Same Same Culture Club Party in the MQFF festival club at the ACMI lounge. To get your tickets, click here.

Click here to join the Same Same Culture Club. It’s quick and it’s free.