by Rex Wockner
International News Briefs
Serbian LGBT activists say the nation's first International Queer Film Festival, "Merlinka," staged in December in Belgrade, was a "success."
Ten films were shown over four days, and a public discussion titled "Gay and lesbian moments in domestic film" was attended by actresses Ana Franic and Lena Bogdanovic, actor Aleksandar Lazic and directors Mladen Dordevic and Zelimir Zilnik.
The audience award, called "Dorothy's Shoe," was given to Canadian Bruce LaBruce's gay zombie film "Otto; or, Up with Dead People."
The festival is named after the late transgender actress Vjeran Miladinovic ("Merlinka") who starred in Zilnik's film "Marble Ass."
Supporters of the festival included the French Cultural Center, the British Council, the Goethe Institute and the Center for Nonviolent Action.
